So many things to write about from the past several days' passages. If anyone has thoughts on the following please feel free to comment:
Moses' humility
Numbers 12:3 says,
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
This is a peculiar, but an arguably true statement. We see Moses humility time and again as he shepherds Israel through the wilderness. Of course, Moses burned with anger at the sight of Israel's rebellion and he himself was not without shortcomings and sinful behavior. Even, still his humility is noteworthy. (Traditionally, it is believed that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible; even Jesus and Paul attest to this. It's funny to think that he would write a statement about his own humility. Perhaps it was an insertion made by a later editor, which would explain the parentheses.) When Israel rebelled, Moses interceded for them when God sought to destroy them in holy anger. The phrase, "Moses fell face down before the LORD." is often repeated (Num 14:5, Num 16:4, Num 16:22, Num 20:6). Internally, Moses seemed to have a deep sense of God's character and intentions. At times, Moses was even bold enough to converse and reason with God concerning Israel's ultimate fate (Num 14:17-19).
God himself said of Moses,
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”(Num 12:6-8)
His relationship with God was special, to say the least. I believe that Moses was humbled through many years of training as a shepherd and a fugitive. There is a saying, "If God will use a man, he must first break that man." I've found this to be true in my own life. Through the years, I've come to realize that God is who the Bible says he is. He is absolutely holy and I am but a sinful man apart from his grace; he is totally justified in punishing me for my sin, apart from the merciful work of Christ done on my behalf. This leads to an internal stance of humility before God. I realize that the moments when God reveals himself powerfully in my life are the times when I humbly submit before him and seek to follow his will. The question is, is how can we be truly humble before God. Can we have the humility of Moses and a relationship with God such as his (or even greater, cf. 2 Cor 3:12-18)?
Faith vs. Presumption (contrast between Joshua, Caleb and unbelieving spies)
Ten of the spies who came back with bad reports about the land of Canaan. Most notably, they were punished because they instilled a sense of fear and mistrust in God and his appointed servants Moses and Aaron. They essentially rebelled against God and cursed him for not allowing them to stay in Egypt, the land of slavery. The sentiment was that God was leading them into a trap; hence God is not good and his promises are not trustworthy. This is an egregious act of rebellion. When they finally realized that God had judged them for their sin, they lamented and then wanted to go back and take the land of Canaan by force. The author says that they did this in a presumptuous manner. They presumed that God was with them, despite their rebellion, when in fact God was surely not with them. From beginning to end, the impetus for their actions were both self-centered fear and pride. They looked at themselves and thought surely they could not conquer the Canaanites. Then they looked at themselves again and the prospect of losing God's promise and in pride and presumption erroneously charged into battle. Relying on ourselves, instead of God, usually produces these two outcomes.
My question is, is how often do we presume that God is with us in whatever we do? Do we first pray, seek his general will from the Bible as well as wise, godly counsel? Or in other words, do we trust in God or ourselves? How can we contrast the attitude of the ten faithless spies with that of Joshua and Caleb?
Korah's Rebellion (warning for us concerning God's judgment)
First of all, wow. This is like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. I note it briefly here as to mention the reality of God' just judgment to come. Apart from Christ's salvific work, we all deserve to be judged by God. What do you think about this event and God's judgment? Do you acknowledge the fact that naturally, your heart is rebellious towards God? And if so, what do you do about it?
Paul writes about this event and others like it 1 Corinthians 10,
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
The Reward of the Levites (is God himself)
According to Numbers 18:20, the LORD himself was to be the inheritance of the Levites, not mere material possessions including land and offerings. Compare or contrast this to our lives as a Royal Priesthood (1 Pet 2:9); in some sense we are to be content as pilgrim's in the earth (1 Tim 6:8, Heb 11:10); in another sense we should prudently use what God has given us to steward the earth as well as enjoy his creation (Gen 1:28, 1 Tim 6:17); but our permanent home is not to be made here. Our ultimate inheritance and reward is the Lord himself (Gen 15:1). Every day, it is a struggle to hold onto these truths; we are tempted from within and without. Martin Luther in fact says that our hearts our idol-making factories. How do you personally battle (or rest in God's work) to keep the Lord as your reward on a moment by moment basis?
Moses' humility
Numbers 12:3 says,
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
This is a peculiar, but an arguably true statement. We see Moses humility time and again as he shepherds Israel through the wilderness. Of course, Moses burned with anger at the sight of Israel's rebellion and he himself was not without shortcomings and sinful behavior. Even, still his humility is noteworthy. (Traditionally, it is believed that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible; even Jesus and Paul attest to this. It's funny to think that he would write a statement about his own humility. Perhaps it was an insertion made by a later editor, which would explain the parentheses.) When Israel rebelled, Moses interceded for them when God sought to destroy them in holy anger. The phrase, "Moses fell face down before the LORD." is often repeated (Num 14:5, Num 16:4, Num 16:22, Num 20:6). Internally, Moses seemed to have a deep sense of God's character and intentions. At times, Moses was even bold enough to converse and reason with God concerning Israel's ultimate fate (Num 14:17-19).
God himself said of Moses,
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”(Num 12:6-8)
His relationship with God was special, to say the least. I believe that Moses was humbled through many years of training as a shepherd and a fugitive. There is a saying, "If God will use a man, he must first break that man." I've found this to be true in my own life. Through the years, I've come to realize that God is who the Bible says he is. He is absolutely holy and I am but a sinful man apart from his grace; he is totally justified in punishing me for my sin, apart from the merciful work of Christ done on my behalf. This leads to an internal stance of humility before God. I realize that the moments when God reveals himself powerfully in my life are the times when I humbly submit before him and seek to follow his will. The question is, is how can we be truly humble before God. Can we have the humility of Moses and a relationship with God such as his (or even greater, cf. 2 Cor 3:12-18)?
Faith vs. Presumption (contrast between Joshua, Caleb and unbelieving spies)
Ten of the spies who came back with bad reports about the land of Canaan. Most notably, they were punished because they instilled a sense of fear and mistrust in God and his appointed servants Moses and Aaron. They essentially rebelled against God and cursed him for not allowing them to stay in Egypt, the land of slavery. The sentiment was that God was leading them into a trap; hence God is not good and his promises are not trustworthy. This is an egregious act of rebellion. When they finally realized that God had judged them for their sin, they lamented and then wanted to go back and take the land of Canaan by force. The author says that they did this in a presumptuous manner. They presumed that God was with them, despite their rebellion, when in fact God was surely not with them. From beginning to end, the impetus for their actions were both self-centered fear and pride. They looked at themselves and thought surely they could not conquer the Canaanites. Then they looked at themselves again and the prospect of losing God's promise and in pride and presumption erroneously charged into battle. Relying on ourselves, instead of God, usually produces these two outcomes.
My question is, is how often do we presume that God is with us in whatever we do? Do we first pray, seek his general will from the Bible as well as wise, godly counsel? Or in other words, do we trust in God or ourselves? How can we contrast the attitude of the ten faithless spies with that of Joshua and Caleb?
Korah's Rebellion (warning for us concerning God's judgment)
First of all, wow. This is like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. I note it briefly here as to mention the reality of God' just judgment to come. Apart from Christ's salvific work, we all deserve to be judged by God. What do you think about this event and God's judgment? Do you acknowledge the fact that naturally, your heart is rebellious towards God? And if so, what do you do about it?
Paul writes about this event and others like it 1 Corinthians 10,
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
The Reward of the Levites (is God himself)
According to Numbers 18:20, the LORD himself was to be the inheritance of the Levites, not mere material possessions including land and offerings. Compare or contrast this to our lives as a Royal Priesthood (1 Pet 2:9); in some sense we are to be content as pilgrim's in the earth (1 Tim 6:8, Heb 11:10); in another sense we should prudently use what God has given us to steward the earth as well as enjoy his creation (Gen 1:28, 1 Tim 6:17); but our permanent home is not to be made here. Our ultimate inheritance and reward is the Lord himself (Gen 15:1). Every day, it is a struggle to hold onto these truths; we are tempted from within and without. Martin Luther in fact says that our hearts our idol-making factories. How do you personally battle (or rest in God's work) to keep the Lord as your reward on a moment by moment basis?
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