Numbers 11:24-13:33 ~ Mark 14:22-52 ~ Psalm 52:1-9 ~ Proverbs 11:1-3
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Old Testament - Today in Numbers chapter 11 we read about God's Spirit resting upon 70 leaders! I loved verse 29 where Moses responded to Joshua's protesting of Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp: ""Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!"" This is great humility on Moses part! He was not threatened by others using gifts of the Spirit in public. "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets." These words of Moses remind me of a more modern day quote I read somewhere that went something like this: "We are all called to be saints." I like that... Do you believe that you are called to be a saint? How will you be made to be a saint? Or, perhaps I should ask, through Whom will you be sanctified?
Below is an image for Numbers chapter 13, where we read about twelve scouts exploring the Promised Land, and Moses sending them out in verse 17 & 18: "Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: "Go northward through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many."
New Testament - This week we will be reading about Jesus' passion in the Gospel of Mark. Today In Mark chapter 14 verses 35 & 36 we read this about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” What a powerful prayer here from Jesus! Jesus knows what is coming. He knows what the road to Calvary will bring. He knows that God has the power to take this suffering away from him – BUT, here’s the amazingly important piece of this prayer, which I think each of us would do well in praying in our prayers – “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” This is such a powerful prayer from Jesus to God. We get a glimpse here of a prayer from the Messiah to the Father – and again, I think we would do well to pray this in our prayers as well. This of course is very similar to the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught in Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount, when we pray – “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done.” Not our will, but Thy Will be done. In your prayer life, do you model Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and in the Lord’s Prayer? Do you pray that not your will – but God’s perfect will – be done?
In today's readings in Mark we also read about Jesus' betrayal and arrest. This image below from artist Ambrogio Bondone Giotto from around 1300 A.D. called "The Kiss of Judas" captures the unfortunate scene:
Commentary from Bible.org on Mark chapter 14 titled " A Follower's Test" is at this link.
Psalms - Verse 9 in Psalm 52 stood out to me today: "I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people." Are you looking forward to praising God forever? Are you willing to wait for God? If things don't seem to be moving as quickly as you would like them to in your spiritual life, will you still wait for God? And will you do so in the presence of God's people? Do you believe that being part of a church community can help you during a time of waiting for the Lord? And do you believe that you can help others in your church to wait as well? Then, together you can look forward to praising God forever for what he has done and will do.
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 11 verse 2 is so true and is something I personally need to be reminded of constantly - "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Let us pray for humility...
Worship God: Psalm 52:9 reminded me of the song "One True God" by Mark Harris. Here's a great live version of this song:
Do you know our One True God? Click here to meet Him!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray for humility in your life. Pray for wisdom today. Pray that you won't be trapped by pride.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Have you ever struggled with pride issues? How did you overcome those issues? Do you agree with the Proverb today that pride can lead to disgrace? Do you think it's true that wisdom comes with humility? Do you ever pray to God to keep you humble? Do you think this might be a good prayer to pray on occasion? Or maybe even very often? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Love, Trust and Obey Jesus,
Mike
Numbers 11:24-13:33
Exodus 19, 5 Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
7 So Moses called for the elders of the people and told them all these words which the Lord commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. (Amp)
Exodus 20 18 Now all the people perceived the thunderings and the lightnings and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as [they] looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off.
19 And they said to Moses, You speak to us and we will listen, but let not God speak to us, lest we die.
We begin one of my favorite sections in the Bible, a section that so typifies the natural man, man controlled by the flesh instead of by the Holy Spirit. I copied in the above two passages found in Exodus 19 and 20 because it shows me how double minded we can be and that double mindedness leads to an instability that is unable to handle the things of God. James states in his letter to the New Testament church, 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (NKJ)
The next fifteen chapters or so reveal an Israel with a double mind, unstable in all her ways, the next fifteen chapters reveal how man will justify his/her actions and behaviors to validate a personal agenda which centers on self-interest. The next fifteen chapters or so lay out case studies for us to observe, take note and be forewarned on the traps the enemy will use to block us from receiving our promise, and that enemy is more us than Satan.
We can also observe how sedition and rebellion begins with leadership, Aaron and Mirium, Moses’ older sister and brother, and filters down to the crowd.
The Book of Numbers has always been a place of personal conviction exposing tendencies in me that are selfish and self-serving every time I go through this book.
1 Corinthians 10:
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did …11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Mark 14:22-52
27 "All of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say,
`God will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
28 But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."
Never argue with God when He tells you something about yourself, even if you don’t agree with Him. Just accept what He say, “You’re greedy; you’re stingy; you have a temper.” Just accept it and move on and allow God to work it out within you. If you disagree with Him what He has said about you will be proved in public.
29 Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." 50 Meanwhile, all his disciples deserted him and ran away
All means all, no one left out. Striving to prove God wrong dealing with something He’s shared with us about us, is a waste of time and energy. Something I know full well by experience.
Psalm 52:1-9
When there seems to be relentless persecution and there is someone who we once admired out to take our life, literarily and figuratively, this is a great Psalm to mediate on. I don’t think any of us have been hounded like the soon to be King David as he waited for God to bring to pass, in His timing, David’s true purpose: King of Israel the shepherd of Israel.
Proverbs 11:1-3
A man or woman of “pride” is a stubborn man because he/she refuses to submit to words of wisdom that does not come from out of their own mouths. A man or woman of “pride” will do anything to anyone to maintain his or her reputation, even at the expense of truth. And anything built on a lie will collapse, even a “white” lie because half the truth is a whole lie.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | March 08, 2010 at 09:31 PM
What I noticed in Numbers I didn't notice before is when all twelve went to the promised land to check out the 'giants', 10 of course came back murmuring and complaining and Caleb was the one that spoke up and said "We can do this, we are well prepared and able to take the land. I always thought Caleb and Joshua came back and spoke up. I know that they were the only two who make it amongst the original tribe into the promised land, however I thought Joshua chimed in the same as Caleb. In every group, there is a leader, who stands on their own and is courageous and very convicted in their beliefs. Where there is a leader in bunch, there usually is at least one follower to back them up, in this notion, the follower who sided with Caleb of course is going to be Joshua, the same one that tried rebuking Moses(or God) for having the two elders prophesying at the camp. How amusing..
Mark 14:22-52
Today we were exposed to the communion they shared, which I always enjoy, the openly active part of "remembrance" of Christ and what He did and they actually got to break bread with the Fathers Son prior to His crucifixion. I always thought that was neat. I agree with Ramona though about the conviction and teaching in Jesus' voice about all will desert Him. Poor Peter, always opening his mouth when he needs to keep it closed. It makes me think of what Judge Judy on tv says to lots of people in court which is so true and wise: God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice, speak once. In this case, Peter should just nod and listen and not speak immediately, because God will have the last word when it is all said and done.
Psalms 52, I am with Mike in the commentary today on mentioning the "wait on the Lord" and congregate with other believers. I truly believe that is the best medicine when you are going through something is to fellowship and minister to others with same or common needs. Wait it out together so to speak until God's deliverance comes, because it is coming, we just have to trust and "wait" on Him and live our life each day in and through Him.
Yes, I do pray for wisdom each day, and more memorization of Bible verses. That is something every Christian could strive for and aim at each day, to armor up with the Word of God, when we are in the Wilderness and being attacked by Satan, the Word will make you a free creature, free from bondage, depression, anger, sickness, and whatever the devil is dealing, we have our defense which is the ever present Word of God!!! Amen
Posted by: Dee | March 09, 2010 at 04:08 AM
Numbers 12:1-3 is quite impressive in several ways.
We have a major leader marrying someone outside his faith and the Lord disciplines NOT the one who married the cushite woman, but the ones who complained against the one who married a cushite woman. The phrase that lingers and is worth pondering is "And the LORD heard it!" The LORD hears my complaints and criticisms. And sometimes, as in this passage, complaining provokes God to act. Hmmm.
Posted by: Luch | March 09, 2010 at 04:59 AM
If we stay humble we do not have to worry about becoming boastful.
Posted by: Raeann | March 09, 2010 at 09:59 AM