SCRIPTURE
Numbers 11:21-23
But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”
OBSERVATION
This occurs while Moses and the Israelites are wandering in the desert. They have been eating nothing but manna and are getting pretty tired of it...they begin to moan and whine to Moses about wanting meat. He is frustrated about having to shepherd all these people and is tired of the whining. Moses turns to God and asks him to help - God says, sure, but rest assured, I will give them more meat than they bargained for...and Moses starts to question God on that, scoffing at the idea. So God chimes in and says, "is my arm too short?", saying "do you really think I cannot accomplish this??".
APPLICATION
This passage gets me thinking about all the times in scripture people question God's ability to follow through on His promises. I think of this passage, then of Abraham and Sarah, and her laughter at getting pregnant, then I think of all the times I question God's ability to do what seems to be impossible. It's so easy think of God in terms of our physical realm and the scientific parameters we know, and to disregard the fact that He is outside these restraints. He truly can do ANYTHING, and we need to train ourselves to not restrict God in this way.
PRAYER
Father, when I think of you, help me to not hold you to the restrictions of the world. You surpass the world, you created the world, and I need to recognize your power and might. You can do all things, even things I could never imagine. Let me not question your promise, remind me of all that you have done and how faithful you are to your word, and remind me of my place. Teach me humility and awe for your power and grace. In the name of your Son, who came to earth as a man born of a virgin, to die for our sins. Amen.
More info on the book of Numbers: http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
February 13, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 5:1-5 - If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible. If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.
OBSERVATION
Leviticus can be a difficult read, mainly because it is basically a long list of instructions and also so much of it seems (to me) incongruent with our current society. However, when I was reading this passage it really stands out as relevant. Obviously the whole Bible is relevant as God’s Word for us, but since culturally we are very different from the ancient Hebrews, it’s a little difficult to comprehend the descriptions of what kind of animals to sacrifice for which sins, the technical details about the building of the tabernacle, and so on. What I like about the passage I have chosen is that this illustrates the principle of individual responsibility. Each statement says “when they learn of it and realize their guilt” then they are responsible to confess the sin and take steps to atone for it.
APPLICATION
We all do thoughtless things every day, and when we become aware of the inappropriateness of what we’ve done (either by having someone point it out or by self-realization) we are under obligation to do something about it. When we raise our kids, and we witness some wrong they have done, we ask “What did you just do?” and once they figure out what part of what they’d done was wrong, then we apply the punishment for it. The significance is in realizing what we’ve done – this is God’s way of teaching us to be better the same way we teach our kids to be better. All scripture is pertinent and full of God’s truth and this passage illustrates that humanity is humanity, little has changed in the thousands of years since this was written as far as the way we behave; it’s just the context of the behavior that is different. Truth is eternal!
PRAYER
Lord, let me be always aware of my own wrongdoing. Help me to prevent it when possible but if I thoughtlessly sin, let me recognize it and repent. To get closer to You, God, is my desire, and only by refuting my sinful nature and following your teaching can I learn more about Your goodness and how to be more like You meant me to be. God, please give me courage to confess my sins and bring them to the light so that I can be redeemed from them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
More about Leviticus:
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
February 7, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 4:10-13 - Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
OBSERVATION
Moses was in front of the burning bush, listening to God speak to him. An Angel of the Lord had called Moses over and he was surely feeling pretty weird about it all, as he heard God speak through a bush that was on fire yet not consumed, and considering what he was being asked. God was asking Moses to go to Pharoah, King of Egypt, and speak to him about letting the Israelites go. Now, Moses had been in trouble prior to this, having killed an Egyptian and fleeing to Midian to escape punishment. I'm sure he was thinking "NO WAY am I going back to where I was wanted as a murderer..." on top of all his other fears and misgivings. I try to put myself in Moses' sandals during this scene. He seems, of all the people in the Bible, one of the most approachable and fallible; and is so easy to relate to. That's why this passage speaks to me - when God says, "Who gave human beings their mouths?" - saying, 'I created you and everything else and I will give you the words to say and the strength to say them', Moses still replies, essentially, "Um, thanks, but no thanks."
APPLICATION
How many times have I said to God, "Please send someone else."? How many times have I felt the Holy Spirit's prompting to speak to someone, or to raise my hand to volunteer, or felt that internal push telling me to do something outside my comfort zone, and yet I did nothing? God has said over and over in Scripture that HE will provide the words, the wisdom, the softening of heart, the strengthening of spirit, for us as we go out and serve Him, and yet it is SO easy to forget that and think we have to rely on ourselves - who we know to be weak. God came through for Moses, and Paul, and everyone else who trusted Him, so we need to trust Him too.
PRAYER
Father, help me in my insecurity and my weakness to know that you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that you are the God who gave Moses the words to change the history of the world. That you are the God who gave words to Paul as he spread your message throughout the ancient world. That you are the God who has sustained His church thousands of years - You will not fail me in my hour of need, when I am serving You. Help me to recognize those moments when You are urging me to act and speak in Your behalf, give me courage and strength to share You with all. When you ask me, Lord, don't let me say "Please, send someone else" - let me say, "where & when". In Jesus' name - Amen.
More information on Exodus: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/exodus/
Exodus 4:10-13 - Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
OBSERVATION
Moses was in front of the burning bush, listening to God speak to him. An Angel of the Lord had called Moses over and he was surely feeling pretty weird about it all, as he heard God speak through a bush that was on fire yet not consumed, and considering what he was being asked. God was asking Moses to go to Pharoah, King of Egypt, and speak to him about letting the Israelites go. Now, Moses had been in trouble prior to this, having killed an Egyptian and fleeing to Midian to escape punishment. I'm sure he was thinking "NO WAY am I going back to where I was wanted as a murderer..." on top of all his other fears and misgivings. I try to put myself in Moses' sandals during this scene. He seems, of all the people in the Bible, one of the most approachable and fallible; and is so easy to relate to. That's why this passage speaks to me - when God says, "Who gave human beings their mouths?" - saying, 'I created you and everything else and I will give you the words to say and the strength to say them', Moses still replies, essentially, "Um, thanks, but no thanks."
APPLICATION
How many times have I said to God, "Please send someone else."? How many times have I felt the Holy Spirit's prompting to speak to someone, or to raise my hand to volunteer, or felt that internal push telling me to do something outside my comfort zone, and yet I did nothing? God has said over and over in Scripture that HE will provide the words, the wisdom, the softening of heart, the strengthening of spirit, for us as we go out and serve Him, and yet it is SO easy to forget that and think we have to rely on ourselves - who we know to be weak. God came through for Moses, and Paul, and everyone else who trusted Him, so we need to trust Him too.
PRAYER
Father, help me in my insecurity and my weakness to know that you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that you are the God who gave Moses the words to change the history of the world. That you are the God who gave words to Paul as he spread your message throughout the ancient world. That you are the God who has sustained His church thousands of years - You will not fail me in my hour of need, when I am serving You. Help me to recognize those moments when You are urging me to act and speak in Your behalf, give me courage and strength to share You with all. When you ask me, Lord, don't let me say "Please, send someone else" - let me say, "where & when". In Jesus' name - Amen.
More information on Exodus: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/exodus/
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