Week 54, Day 3: Arguing With God
Today’s Reading: Numbers 23:1-30
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
As Chad pointed out in the last post, Balaam was determined to only report to Balak exactly what God had said. But, that was not satisfactory to Balak. He had in mind the message that he wanted to hear from Jehovah. He had called Balaam to curse the people of Israel, and he wasn’t going to be satisfied until that was accomplished. Twice in Numbers 23 Balak tried to get Balaam to change his report from a blessing to a curse. He was convinced that there had to be some way that Balaam could do what he asked, if he just gave him enough opportunities.
In reality, what we see in this chapter is Balak was arguing with God. The message had been delivered, but he was unwilling to accept it. He kept sending Balaam back to try and get the answer that he wanted. Balaam once responded:
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Balak could keep sending Balaam to inquire of God, but the message concerning Israel was not going to change! People today seem to have the same tendency as Balak. They act as if they are willing to accept an answer when inquiring (praying) to God, but when they get an answer they don’t expect, or don’t like, they try to argue with God. They are sure that they are right about what they want, and that God just doesn’t understand what they are asking for, or what they are saying. If they could just give God a different perspective, surely He would see it their way, and give the answer that they want. And so, they climb to the top of a different mountain, and inquire again of the Lord.
This idea should not be confused with “persistence.” Consider Luke 11:5-10. There, we are told of a man who, because of his persistence, received what he asked for. Sometimes, we might have to ask God for something that we desire more than one time. But, even in that process, we need to remember that we must ask within the confines of His will. If we are persistent in asking for something that is contrary to His will, the recurring answer will be “No!” Balak was told that his desires were outside of the will of God, and that should have been enough to make him stop asking. No amount of persistence would change the outcome, and no change of perspective could make God do what what he wanted done. The same is true for us! If we ask amiss, then no amount of persistence will change God’s response for us. It is not God who may need a change of perspective, but us!
Question: What types of things do people ask for that are not in keeping with the will of God?
Week 49, Day 4: Obedient in the Details
Today’s Reading: Numbers 2:1-34
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
One of the themes that resonates throughout the whole Bible is the need to be obedient to the details. In Numbers chapter 2, God gave the children of Israel instructions pertaining to their camping order. Surely they would be able to camp in whatever order they desired. Surely it would not be a big deal for them to decide that they could come up with a better, and more acceptable camping order than what had been revealed to them. Surely God didn’t mean that they had to camp just as He said; perhaps it was just a suggestion! In fact, God demanded that they be obedient right down to this detail. And, we can see that the children of Israel did just as they were commanded to do.
This is the same mentality that God requires of His people today as well. He requires that we heed every command that He has given, that we are obedient to Him. It is not our place to try and decide what must be obeyed, and what are just “suggestions.” We have no right to decide that we can come up with a better way. We cannot decide that we can simply do whatever we want, and think that God must accept it. If we are not obedient, then we are not the children of God, and will not be pleasing to Him. Far too often, Christians think that they are exempt from these biblical principles. If they don’t like the command, then they think they can change it. If they decide something is more important than obedience, then they think God will understand. God requires submission, which leads to obedience.
Question: Is there any situation in which it is acceptable to be disobedient? Does our own desires, or our personal relationships change our obligations to God’s commands?
Week 37, Day 2: Beginning of a Nation
Today’s Reading: Genesis 46:1-34
Some thoughts from the reading…
God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him. Several times, we have seen God repeat the idea to both Isaac and Jacob. God said that the descendants of Abraham would be innumerable, like the sands of the sea, or the stars of heaven. That was a bit difficult to believe (at least from man’s perspective) when Abraham didn’t have his son of promise until he was 100 years old! However, by the time we get to this point in Jacob’s life, we see that his family has expanded to 66 people. God would now use the time that the people would be in Egypt to grow them into a true nation. It will be interesting to watch this process, and note some of the tools that God uses to make sure that His people remain His people, and that they are productive and grow quickly. They will become a huge nation in a relatively short period of time.
We see in this process the fulfillment of God’s promises. This will also be the basis on which God will fulfill many other promises. In fact, all three parts of the promise made to Abraham will be fulfilled through this process. We will see the great nation that comes out of Egypt equipped for the conquering of land–the land of Canaan. We will also see the blessing of all mankind (the coming of the Messiah) coming through this people who will be kept separate from the people of Egypt, even though they would be living in their land. God had a plan to bring all of these promises to fruition. It would be impossible for a man to devise a plan like this, and even if he could make the plan, there is no way that he could cause it to come to pass. This shows the wisdom of God, His foreknowledge, and the way that He can and does work in the kingdoms of men. Because God can do all of this, we should put our faith and confidence in Him!
Question: What other promises can you think of that were fulfilled by God throughout the scriptures?
Week 37, Day 1: God’s Purpose for Joseph
Today’s Reading: Genesis 45:1-28
Some thoughts from the reading…
When we read the story of Joseph, it seems that it would be easy for him to be angry with his brothers for what they had done to him. He had ended up a slave in a foreign country, and then he was imprisoned because they had sold him out of jealousy. But, even knowing what had happened, and how things had worked out for him, Joseph was not angry with his brothers. Certainly, in the position that he had risen to, he could have had his brothers arrested, and perhaps even killed in retribution for their acts against him. But, he showed no atrocity toward them. Instead, Joseph showed his attitude of putting his faith and confidence in God. In Genesis 45:8, Joseph told his brothers that it Was God who sent him to this place. God was using Joseph to save His people from the famine that was striking the land of Canaan.
This story should be an encouragement to us today. Sometimes, we may not realize how God is using us to fulfill His will, but He can be using us even if we aren’t in the best of circumstances. We could become angry about our circumstances, or we can look around us and figure out how we can use our setting to be of service to God. Instead of moping about our terrible “luck”, maybe we should look for better opportunities. If we trust God, and are being obedient to Him, then we should realize that He can use our talents in many different ways, even if we don’t see the end of His plan for us!
Question: What types of conditions can God use His people in today that may seem odd at the time?
Week 36, Day 1: Serve Wherever You Are!
Today’s Reading: Genesis 40:1-23
Some thoughts from the reading…
Some people seem to need ideal circumstances before they are willing to serve the Lord. If they are unable to have perfect comfort, or perfect conditions, they find an excuse to avoid their responsibilities. Or perhaps, under certain circumstances, people feel justified in trying to ignore God, and His expectations. However, when we see the account of Genesis 40, we see God’s expectations for His people. Joseph was in prison, and yet, he was able to work diligently, and continue to serve God. How many of us would have ended up being dejected because of our circumstances (unjustly imprisoned)? Perhaps we would sit in our cell, moping about how miserable we were if we were in Joseph’s sandals. But, that is not what Joseph did. He worked his way up, through honesty and good character, to be in charge of all of the other prisoners. Even in the worst of circumstances, he was able to prosper.
In his position in this prison, Joseph was given the opportunity to serve God by giving the interpretation of the two dreams of his fellow prisoners, a butler and a baker. Of course, Joseph had good news for the butler, but terrible news for the baker. This would lead eventually to the release of Joseph from prison, as he would be given the opportunity to interpret dreams for the Pharaoh (in the coming chapters). But, notice that Joseph gave all the credit for his abilities to God (Genesis 40:8). He was doing this in service to God.
Sometimes we may not know why we are in a given circumstance. Perhaps Satan is trying desperately to defeat our spirit, and cause us to give up our service. Perhaps we have made mistakes that cause us to live with certain consequences. Perhaps we simply have “bad luck”, after all, time and chance happen to all men (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Whatever the case, Joseph shows us that we can serve the Lord, and that we are expected to serve the Lord, regardless of our circumstances. It is not always easy to serve God. But, during the difficult times, we may be even more productive, and more valuable in the service of God. We cannot give up just because the going gets tough!
Question: What are some difficult circumstances under which people today serve God?
Week 35, Day 4: Flee Sexual Immorality
Today’s Reading: Genesis 39:1-23
Some thoughts from the reading…
In 1 Corinthians 6:18, the Apostle Paul told us to “flee sexual immorality.” There is no better passage to illustrate the idea that Paul was conveying than Genesis chapter 39 and the account of Joseph in Potiphar’s house. Joseph was sold into slavery and ended up in Egypt as a servant over Potiphar’s house. He was in control of everything that Potiphar owned, the only thing held back from him was Potiphar’s wife. But, Potiphar’s wife was intent on causing Joseph to commit adultery with her. Joseph refused to commit such an atrocity against God and fled from Potiphar’s wife, leaving his cloak in her hand. Joseph was then accused by Potiphar’s wife of sinning against her, and he was put into prison.
This is a very interesting passage to consider. Many people think about sin from the standpoint of what they can get by with. Joseph, for example, could have gotten by with this sin, at least from the standpoint of other men knowing about it. His family would never have known about it. How could his father have been disappointed in him? Jacob thought that Joseph was dead. Joseph could have thought that God had given up on him, stranding him in this heathen country. Surely, Joseph could have come up with any number of excuses to succumb to Potiphar’s wife’s seduction. But, in the end, he simply could not sin against God! He was determined that he would do what was right, even if that were to cost him dearly.
We should remember that God is always watching us. Even when no one else may know of our sin, God knows. Even if we think we can get by with something sinful, God will see. We can hide our sin from our family, and from our brethren, but God is aware of everything that we do. We cannot hide anything at all from Him.
When we read that we are to “flee sexual immorality” we should think of Joseph. We should be willing to run away from this sin against the Lord and against our own bodies in the same way that he did. If we try to stay close to sinfulness, it will not be long until we are caught up in it ourselves, and we will be guilty of sinning against our God!
Question: What can a young person today do to flee from sexual immorality? How might they insure that they do not succumb to the temptations of the world?
Week 35, Day 3: Double Standards…
Today’s Reading: Genesis 38:1-30
Some thoughts from the reading…
We are given an interesting story in Genesis chapter 38. Judah, one of Jacob’s sons, went among the Adulalmites and took for himself a wife. He then had 3 sons. To the first, he gave a wife, Tamar. This son, however, was wicked and punished by being struck dead by the Lord. The second son of Judah was sent to Tamar to rise up a son for his brother, but also sinned against the Lord. He too was struck dead. Judah promised Tamar that he would give her his third son, when he was old enough to be wed to her. But, when that third son was old enough, he withheld him from Tamar so that he too would not be destroyed by the Lord.
As time progressed, Judah’s own wife died, and he went to Timnah to shear his sheep. There, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot, and went to Judah to seduce him into her bed. He gave her his signet ring and his his staff as a pledge for the goat that he would send in payment. Tamar disappeared after their tryst and took Judah’s “pledge” with her. Later, when it was discovered that Tamar was expecting a child, Judah was angry. He called for her to be brought out so that she might be burned to death. However, when she was brought out, Tamar presented him with the signet ring and staff that he had left with her, proving that he was the father of the children she was going to bear (she would have twins).
One thing I find very interesting in this passage is that Judah was going to punish Tamar for committing the very same sin he was guilty of. Surely he remembered that he had gone in to a harlot (even if he didn’t know who she was at the time). This is an obvious example of having a “double standard.” There was one standard that would be imposed for Tamar, and a second one that would be imposed on Judah. Obviously, Judah was not going to impose any kind of judgment on himself for his sin!
This type of idea is not good for anyone, and is certainly not biblical. God has given one standard for which He will hold all people accountable. We cannot try to hold some people accountable under certain rules, and then turn around and do the same things ourselves! Jesus conveyed this very idea when he said (Matthew 7:1-5):
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
We cannot have “double standards” today. We have the responsibility of teaching the one standard, and living by it. We should not try to make exceptions for ourselves, or others. Let us remove the plank from our own eyes!
Question: In what way have you seen a “double standard” imposed today?
Week 35, Day 2: Envy, a Dangerous Thing
Today’s Reading: Genesis 37:1-36
Some thoughts from the reading…
In Genesis 37, we read the first indications that Joseph would have dominion over his brothers. According to his dreams, his brothers and his parents would bow down to him. This angered his brothers, and because of envy, they sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites then sold him into Egypt. We will see how this affects Jacob and the rest of his children over the next few chapters.
Envy was the core problem with the sons of Jacob. It is amazing to see how people have the same characteristics now as they had back in Jacob’s time. Envy causes people to do terrible things to others today, just as it did then. Matthew 27:18 tells us that Jesus was handed over to be crucified because of envy. The New Testament is full of warnings against envy. Grab a concordance (or search on your computer) and see just how often God warns us to avoid this danger.
Why is envy such a dangerous thing? Because it causes men to do things that they would not normally do. When we are envious of someone else, it causes us to do something to bring harm on them. Perhaps when we are envious we try to make others look bad. Or maybe we will go even further than that, and try to cause some real, physical harm to them.
Some may look at their co-workers, and see their success, and try to sabotage their progress. Some may become envious of their own physical relatives, and try to cause damage to them, such as trying to damage their reputation. The worst situation is when envy creeps in between Christian brethren. It is a tool that Satan uses constantly in the Lord’s church to cause division. In fact, if you look at many of the passages dealing with envy, you will see that other sins are coupled with the envy.
We need to guard our hearts against envy, else Satan will use it to destroy our faith, and our relationships with our brethren and friends.
Question: How can we avoid being envious of others?
Week 35, Day 1: Answered Promises
Today’s Reading: Genesis 36:1-43
Some thoughts from the reading…
Sometimes, chapters like Genesis 36 can seem to be a bit boring as we read through them. Many may wonder what the purpose of chapters such as these serve. I believe there are at least a couple of good reasons for this type of chapter. When we understand the purpose, perhaps we won’t think of them as being boring. So, consider a couple of reasons that God may have included chapters such as our text today into the Bible.
First, this chapter shows that God fulfills His promises. Before the birth of Jacob and Esau, God promised that there were two nations in the womb of Rebekah. In this chapter, we can see how God began that development. It connects the dots for us from the point of Esau to the formation of the nation of Edom. This chapter shows how the Edomites came from the descendants of Esau, listing his own sons and then their descendants.
Second, this chapter serves to answer many Bible critics. Often, critics will make the claim that certain things just couldn’t happen. For example, many say that the world could not be populated from only two people (Adam and Eve), and yet we can look at a similar chapter of genealogies in Genesis chapter 5. Here, we can see just how a large nation descended from one man. Historians may go back and argue that the source of this people is impossible to discover. However, it is clear from the Biblical history just how God brought this nation into existence.
The Edomites play a significant role in the history of the Israelites from this point until the end of the Old Testament period. We will certainly see these two nations “striving together” throughout their histories. It will be interesting to watch how they interact as we continue our reading of the Old Testament!
Question: What other purposes do you see for these type of “genealogy” chapters in the Bible?
Week 34, Day 5: Giving Up False Gods
Today’s Reading: Genesis 35:1-29
Some thoughts from the reading…
In Genesis 35, God spoke to Jacob and sent him back to Bethel to live. As Jacob was preparing his family to move to Bethel, he gave some instructions. One thing in particular that he instructed was that they were to give up any gods that they brought with them. He collected them all, and buried them under a tree, before moving on.
I find it very interesting that Jacob took these gods, and buried them. He separated them from the people, and then made sure that they could not get them back. These gods were not acceptable, and if they were going to accept Jehovah, they had to be willing to give them up. Remember, these gods meant a lot to the people. Rachel had stolen her father’s god, and brought it with her. Laban was willing to attack Jacob’s men (he was held back by God) over the god. Rachel was willing to steal, and deceive to keep the god. Now, Jacob was saying that they had to give them up!
We have already written quite a bit about the dangers of idolatry, and we will certainly be writing much more about it as we follow the history of Israel. Here, we are shown the need to get rid of any kind of idolatry that stood between the people and God. God would provide all that they needed, and these gods couldn’t give them anything. How could they, as they were the creation of men? Jacob’s actions showed the people just how useless, and helpless these gods were. Would a real god allow their image to be buried in the ground, and left behind in such a symbolic way?
Sometimes we need to do the same type of thing that Jacob did. We allow things to stand between us and faithful service to God. It probably won’t be an idol in our case, but we often have other things that need to be “buried in the ground” (either literally, or symbolically). Any time we find that we allow worldly things to keep us from doing what is right, we need to have the courage, and the dedication to get rid of those things, and put our service to God first and foremost in our lives.
Question: What types of things do you thing people today need to “bury in the ground” to make sure they don’t interfere with their spiritual faithfulness?