Steven Wales

Leadership is a Group Project. Deuteronomy 1.

Image from an article on Medium.com: https://kevin-gordon.medium.com/hierarchy-of-leadership-f5a82b589342 Leaders like to complain that it’s lonely at the top. We think a leader is a one-man band. A single conductor leads the entire orchestra. A single quarterback leads his team. A single pilot flies a plane. A single teacher leads a classroom. Nations are often led byContinue reading “Leadership is a Group Project. Deuteronomy 1.”

Why Do Some Societies Develop into Complex, Modern Civilizations While Others Do Not? Numbers 36.

Just before the Israelites moved into the Promised Land, a group of tribal leaders came to Moses with a question. All had agreed that the daughters of Zelophehad would inherit the land that was to have been assigned to their father. But the leaders of their tribe feared that if those daughters should marry outsideContinue reading “Why Do Some Societies Develop into Complex, Modern Civilizations While Others Do Not? Numbers 36.”

Moving into the Promised Land. Numbers 34.

Painting: the Prayer at Valley Forge, by Arnold Friberg. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries: … Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, cross south ofContinue reading “Moving into the Promised Land. Numbers 34.”

Conflict Resolution. Numbers 32.

“Breakfast Table Political Argument” by Norman Rockwell, on permanent display at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. (The husband and wife appear to be arguing over the 1948 presidential race in which Harry Truman (right) defeated Thomas Dewey in an upset. My mother reports that 1948 was the first year her widowed motherContinue reading “Conflict Resolution. Numbers 32.”

Voidable Contracts and Voidable Vows. Numbers 30.

Here’s a conversation I have every semester: “If my sixteen-year-old son goes to the Ford dealership and convinces them to sell him a Ford Mustang on a payment plan, there may be problems. What are some of those problems? “First of all, as a tenth grader, Marshall doesn’t have any money. But what ifContinue reading “Voidable Contracts and Voidable Vows. Numbers 30.”

Worship During Wartime: Moses Brings a Boring Message to a Distracted Audience. Numbers 28.

Image: Could you read on a crowded train? President Lincoln was one of many lawyer-politicians. But Lincoln did not become a lawyer because he had his eye on a career in politics. Instead, Lincoln actually hung out a shingle, becoming a small business owner, a day-in, day-out lawyer for some twenty-five years, handling both civilContinue reading “Worship During Wartime: Moses Brings a Boring Message to a Distracted Audience. Numbers 28.”

Jesus and the Red Heifer: He is the Only Sacrifice that Can Cleanse Us from Death. Numbers 19.

Under Old Testament law many things could render you ceremonially unclean, including childbirth, skin diseases like leprosy, certain bodily discharges, and contact with unclean animals. To be unclean was to be unfit to participate in temple worship. Various ritual washings were required to restore a state of cleanliness. Being ceremonially unclean was not necessarily sinfulContinue reading “Jesus and the Red Heifer: He is the Only Sacrifice that Can Cleanse Us from Death. Numbers 19.”

God Uses LIFE to Resolve Conflicts Among His People: You Will Know Them By Their Fruits. Numbers 17.

Image: Almond blossoms. When men enter their most bitter conflicts, how do they resolve them? When men fight over land, religion, power, and money, what tool do they use to determine the winner? DEATH. We’re talking about war, of course. Yes, we try to negotiate. We try to work out our differences. The worst ofContinue reading “God Uses LIFE to Resolve Conflicts Among His People: You Will Know Them By Their Fruits. Numbers 17.”

What is the Purpose of the Sabbath Day? Numbers 15.

“Hey, Jim! Where have you been?” I asked my neighbor. He was entering his apartment as I was leaving mine. “Oh, you know. Working.” “But I haven’t seen you in weeks!” “Well, I’ve been working a lot.” “Every day? I mean, you’re not even around on the weekends?” “Oh, yeah. I work every day.” “Seriously?Continue reading “What is the Purpose of the Sabbath Day? Numbers 15.”

Change is Hard: Get Organized and Keep the Faith! Numbers 13.

My wife and I are experiencing the most unexpected coincidence. This year both our places of employment have been acquired by larger institutions. We are each reading a raft of emails about all the changes. The meetings are constant. Our workplaces are moving. I am moving out of my office this week; she will moveContinue reading “Change is Hard: Get Organized and Keep the Faith! Numbers 13.”