Num 23-25 Semi-Obscure, Interesting Bible Story

February 21st, Numbers 23-25

       Welcome to the world of the wacky intermixed with God's interaction. Here's the main characters...

Balak: Playing the role of nervous King wanting to undermine the threat of the Israelites.
Balaam: Professional curser
Donkey: Donkey...that talks once in awhile

       So Balak is nervouse about this nation of people moving his way. Wants to hire Balaam to bring a curse on them. God tells Balaam "You can only say what I tell you to say." Balaam seems to be okay with this even though he is turning down a fortune. Balak expects money will solve it and goes ahead with his evil plan. Balak gives Balaam three chances to curse God's people. Each time Balaam offers a blessing instead!
       Interesting statement from the morning is the reaction of Balak after the third blessing. Numbers 24:10-14
       ¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.¹¹ Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

¹² Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ¹³ ‘Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lordsays’? ¹⁴ Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

       Here's my great promise from today. God is in control of things beyond our ability to know. As much as an evil person with evil intent wanted to hire someone to bring a curse, God changed that curse into a blessing. It reminds of the verse about "no weapon formed against shall prosper."

       This story has more to come. These two will be back on the scene. It's safe to say this... God's not gonna let an outsider pronounce a curse over his people, but...

Num 21-22 Symbols: Offer Meaning or Confusion

February 20th, Numbers 21-22

       I enjoy the fact that some symbols stand the test of time. A snake wrapped around a stick as a symbol of healing is still used 4000 years later. If you get bit by a snake can you look at the symbol on an ambulance and get healed? It's worth a shot. I live in a place too cold for venomous snakes. I'll let others give it a shot.
       Symbols intrigue me. It seems that they lose their meaning over time and yet we seem to feel their importance. This bronze snake on a stick was orignally sought after as it would save your life, now it's just a picture on a vehicle and yet for some reason it stays around.
       Our churches are filled with symbols. Someone asked me this Christmas what the "INRI" stood for that was on the cross on the stained-glass window in church. I kinda knew, but I had to confess I couldn't give a 100% sure answer. I began to look at other stained glass windows in our church. I decided there are other symbols I am unaware of as well. Things that are meant to tell a story, and yet I and many others are deaf to the meaning.
        I begin to think about the rituals of Christian behavior. Why do we do the things we do? Do we even know why? Is it a cultural command or a biblical command? Much of what we do is a cultural command. One hour services, required dress codes(dressing down is a dress code, if that's what everyone has to do to feel welcome), music choices, service formats. I see shirts and ties on African tribal members in the bush in the heart of Africa. What symbols have we brought, how do we separate our culture from the instruction of God.
        The cross is probably the most common symbol for the church. What does it mean? How is that meaning different from the people of Jesus day?  It's pretty cool that the snake gets attached to a stick, lifted up and people get to live, and Jesus gets attached to a larger stick, lifted up and people get to live. Some meanings are easier to remember, Praise God for life and healing and the hope he brings. Remembering the symbol is limited compared to the story behind the symbol.
        Tomorrow we'll talk about all of the Balaam story and not leave you hanging like chapters did today!!

Num 18-20 Endings and Beginnings

February 19th, Numbers 18-20

       It's nice that there could be several great topics today. The idea of Levites having God as their portion and inheritance rather than land like all the other tribes. Would I be satisfied in their shoes?
       There is certainly the story of the  leadership failure of Moses. More is expected of us when we are leaders. That would be a good lesson to take to heart as well.
       But today I am basking in the end and the beginning of things. Everything has it's time...

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens;
a time to be born and a time to die, 
a time to plant and a time to uproot
a time to kill and a time to heal, 
a time to tear down and a time to build
a time to weep and a time to laugh, 
a time to mourn and a time to dance
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them 
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
a time to search and a time to give up, 
a time to keep and a time to throw away
a time to tear and a time to mend, 
a time to be silent and a time to speak
a time to love and a time to hate, 
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3

       Aaron had his time and then he died, people mourned their loss and it was passed on to his children. It's now time for someone else. People ask me God's will questions a lot. Sometimes it seems like they are searching a "one answer for all things" type of answer. Is it a time to gather stones, or a time to scatter stones?
       When I look at that list and think about times in my life when it was time to do one or the other, the great thing is that God is with us in the midst of it all. Whether it's time for an old thing or a new thing, it's a time when Christ walks with us. Whether it's time for Aaron or his son Eleazar, God's presence with us is what we worship.
       To me there is a simple peace in this story that overwhelms me this morning. Death has a moment of clarity about life. Maybe that's part of Christ's invitation to fall to the ground and die, so that many seeds will be produced. A time to die and a time to be born

Num 16-17 Korah Should Have Thought This Through

February 18th, Numbers 16-17

       Note to self, people lack clarity. When accusations begin to fly it's interesting to take note of the things people say. I'm not sure if it's because people don't see things clearly, if our view is jaded by what we want to see, if we allow rumor to fester into fact, if we have to jam reality into our limited view, but be careful the sides you choose. 250 men sided with Korah.
       The people who sided with Korah were distinguished, they were chiefs. They sat in tents and listened to the intense ramblings of a grumbler. This isn't fair, we deserve better, why are we out here, things were better when, if only we had_______, etc, etc, etc...
       The heart of this controversy is an example of rewriting the story to form a scapegoat. Verse 14 "moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards." On it's face the statement is true and accurate. Moses has not brought them to the promised land. Often times the positions people hold are built on a true statement. It's what's behind the statement that matters.
       Behind the true statement is another true statement. You choose to listen to the faithless fearful report of the 10 spies and ignored the faithful report of two spies. That in fact is why we didn't enter the promised land. If you need further proof, note the ten plagued dead spies and ask which side the reported on.
        Lesson one, try to see the bigger picture in life and ask the Lord for clarity. Lesson two, when two choices are ahead of you, choose faith instead of fear. Lesson three, siding with grumblers is a really bad idea. It not only undermines what God is doing, it puts you in a position for God to stop you. Being opposed to God seems like a bad idea.
       Korah is a great model of what not to do. Learning from other's mistakes is a great source for wisdom.

Num 14-15 I Want to Want What God's Already Offered

February 17th, Numbers 14-15

       This is one of those moments when our choices set forth a series of ramifications. Like a "Back to the Future" movie, everything could have been different.
       Everything that God wants to give us is on the other side of the hill. For hundreds of years God has been waiting to give his inheritance to his people. You lead a horse to water , but you can't make him drink.
       God has a lot he wants to bless us with. I'm fairly certain we're not much different than the Israelites. Trusting God seems to be a big of a step of faith. Many don't get to live in the fullness of what God has for us. This story is really a sad story to me. As much as it is about disobedience, it's also about people missing the greatest thing. I see that in people's lives all the time.
       I pray that we could learn to enter God's promise the first time it's offered.

Num 11-13 The Better Way is Obvious

February 16th, Numbers 11-13

       Because of my interest in St Francis of Assisi, reading of Benedictine Heritage, and Bonehoeffer's work entitled "Life Together" I have taken hold of one very common thread. It's the same thread spoken of here in these verses this morning. It's an issue that will wreck a community of people and be a cancer worthy of the greatest fight we could muster. Benedict was famous for his statement regarding how to deal with the issue when it arises in their community..."Let the Abbot send two stout monks to explain the matter to him."
       What's the issue? The issue drives a wedge between people. The issue undermines a healthy out look, the issue is rooted in pettiness, or one person, or a small group not getting their way. It's can be related to leaders not listening, but more often related to the selfishness. It's always rooted in fear or envy. Fear of loss related to money, power, things. Envy in regards to all the meat we used to eat back in Egypt.
       Sometimes the people we lead don't have clear moments. "I wish our diet included more than manna,life was so good back in Egypt why did we ever leave." Clarity remembers, our sons were murdered when they were born back in Egypt. I don't know about you but I'll trade a fish for manna and my children getting to live.
       Grumbling is the enemy of every community out there. Home, church, workplace, friend groups, teams, organizations take your pick. Which of those places will function better when people grumble? Honest, direct communication one on one is how this works. In the movie "Saving Private Ryan" one great quote about groups and expressions of doubt is "Complaints go up the chain of command, they don't go down the chain of command." There is a place to go with the things on our mind, it's just that they need to go to the God Honoring place.
       This story is the precursor to the spies checking out the promised land. It's no wonder they didn't have faith to step into what God was offering. The church is the same, God says the fields are ripe for harvest...are we grumbling or moving out for the harvest?
       We are part of forming a "Relational Covenant" at our church. A promise for how we will walk hand in hand when we don't see eye to eye. I am excited to see what God's up to as we grow to become a place of harvest and loving one another is modeled for another generation seeking Christ.Seek out healthy ways to deal with conflict and be ready to take what God has already offered to us.

Num 8-10 Not so Serious, But Still Moving Forward

February 15th, Numbers 8-10

       It's Friday, I'm sick and have more of a desire to be off the cuff than offer some heavy devotional thought. So here goes...
       The Priests are clean and that seems like a good thing. Ever since the Passover in Egypt the firstborn are consecrated to God. I was the first-born male, so I'll go with that. After the discussion of consecrated first-borns, God is gonna go with the Levites. He's God, he does what he wants, who am I to question that? (that's not sarcasm, it might be the thought for the morning).
       I was always told, retirement was not a biblical idea. Priests got to go at 50. Pastor Dennis Bradley (yo Dennis) would inform you that's about 150 in "preacher years"!!!
       If you miss Passover because you touched a dead body you can make it up next month, but make sure you do. It's really important to remember God's greatness.
       "That person has a cloud hanging over them" maybe you've heard that saying. In the OT is was true and good. Next cloudy day, just imagine that God has you right where he wants you! Instead of "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day," it could be I've got God's presence on a cloudy day."
       I love trumpets. I love "The Trumpet of Jesus" for those of you old enough to remember the Imperials. Make sure when you blow one you make a difference between  a call and an alarm. Also blow it the right number of times. (lesson for us: speak clearly so you won't be misunderstood. Also listen clearly so you know what's going on).
       Finally, see when God is moving and move too. Being with God isn't a chore but a delight. Be delighted today!!