Doubters and Skeptics. Numbers 14:11-12.

Are you a doubter? Do you trust God, or do you question God? The Israelites found it hard to trust God—and Moses. Even after ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, they doubted God.

When God sent spies into the Promised Land, they reported it was a land flowing with milk and honey, but the people were too strong; “we can’t possibly win.” The whole nation wept and said, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt!” God was angry:

“How long will these people not trust in Me despite all the signs I performed among them? I will strike them with a plague and destroy them.” Numbers 14:11-12.

Israel Doubted God dozens of times; here are five:

  1. At the Red Sea.
  2. When they made the golden calf.
  3. After the spies said the men in the Promised Land were so tall “we were as grasshoppers.”
  4. Korah and 250 others told Moses “you have gone too far; what makes you special?” God destroyed those men when the earth opened up and swallowed them.
  5. But the people blamed Moses for those deaths! God then sent a plague and killed 14,700 of the doubters.

Are you a doubter? Do you trust God or do you attack Him with questions that come from a heart of rebellion? That is the key—the state of your heart. We must strive to have obedient, grateful hearts, hearts that recognize God’s goodness and blessings, that are not fighting Him and accusing Him of not being good and kind and loving. Can you submit to God no matter how much it hurts? Do you trust Him with questions you cannot answer? Or do you secretly think He’s holding out on you?

In Job 13:15, Job says of God, “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I PRAISE HIM.” Can you say that?

Dear God, give us hearts that trust you! Show us where we need to surrender our opinions and attitudes to you, and fill us with your truth. Help us to submit ourselves to the authority of your word!

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Supply Chain Management.

Last night the grocery store’s bare shelves held one bag of Pedigree dog food.  It was puppy food and the whole bag would not feed our dogs for one day.  Where were the fifty-pound bags of adult dog food?  Where were they when I shopped on Friday?  And again on Sunday?

This is a supply chain problem.  HEB is waiting for Pedigree to deliver dog food.  Pedigree is suffering a low supply of eggs and other ingredients needed to manufacture dog food.  Completely out of food at home, I bought a bag of Rachael Ray.  It smelled like lima beans but the dogs were excited. 

I did not encounter the phrase “supply chain” until I began teaching in the college of business.  There are courses offered in supply chain management, and professors with doctorates in the field, but for me the phrase (coined in 1982) was a new concept.  It’s simple enough–there is a chain of steps supplying products to the consumer: 

  1. Raw materials
  2. Supplier
  3. Manufacturer
  4. Distributor
  5. Retailer
  6. Consumer.

Problems with a single link in this chain will create supply chain nightmares, leaving consumers without dog food, toilet paper, eggs, medicines, and more.

Israel faced a supply chain problem.  God brought a million people into a wasteland and miraculously provided both food and water, feeding them manna—which they grew tired of.  “There is nothing to look at but this manna!” Numbers 11:6.  They became unruly begging for meat and God said He would send so much meat they would eat until it made them sick. 

But Moses had doubts, pointing out to God the supply chain problem:

“If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” 11:22.    

“The Lord answered Moses, ‘Is the Lord’s power limited?  You will see…’” Numbers 11:23.

God sent so much quail the birds were piled three-feet deep.  Everyone gathered quail and “the one who took the least gathered fifty bushels” 11:32.  God does NOT suffer a failure of supply.  There are NO supply chain problems with the Lord. 

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Tempus Fugit.

The hardest thing to comprehend when you are young is getting old. How many teenaged boys think they are invincible? When you are young, life seems like it will go on forever. When I was still in high school one of my friends had a car load of buddies in his car when he decided to race a train to a railroad crossing.

They lost. Four teenaged boys died that day. And to this day, my friends talk about Jimmy’s sad death. Jimmy was a nice guy. But he did not “number his days.” He thought he would live forever.

He did not.

And neither will you.

Moses wrote a psalm with wisdom for the young:

“Our lives last seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty years.

Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;

Indeed they pass quickly and we fly away….

Teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90: 10-12.

Tempus Fugit is Latin for “time flies.” It is true. Time flies, and you must use your time wisely. Think about your days, your free time, your weekends, your spring break, your summers. Are you using your time wisely? Are you getting to know your Creator? Are you reading His word? If not, how do you plan to gain wisdom? How do you expect to make good decisions? Do you want to look back on your life when you are old and feel satisfaction? That only comes if you make a lifetime of wise choices.

Dear God, teach ME to number my days. Help me to remember death. I know I will not be here forever. Today is the only chance I will ever get at today. Help me to make the most of it. To love people. To love your word. To be a blessing. To work hard. To store up treasure in heaven. To prepare for my future. Help me to please you and grow every day. Make me more like you.

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Doubters.

Would you doubt Moses? He’s been a hero for thousands of years. But what if he were your little brother? What if he had been floating in a basket and you were the one God used to secure for him a home with the Egyptian princess? 

God spent 80 years preparing Moses for a unique role. But after the plagues, the passover, and the exodus, and a few years into the wilderness journey, his older siblings decided they were as good as he was:

“And they said, ‘Hath not the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?”

They were calling themselves his equal. Guess what the next verse says?

“And the Lord heard it.” (Uh oh.)

God called to them and said, I speak to prophets in dreams and visions, but with Moses I speak face-to-face. “‘Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’ And the anger of the Lord was kindled… and Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.” Numbers 12:1-10.

Aaron was distraught and apologized to his little brother, begging Moses to intercede on Miriam’s behalf. Moses prayed and God said she would be punished for one week and then healed.

God knows our hearts. He knows when we are wrongly criticizing His servants. Miriam and Aaron sinned against God when they rebelled against God’s servant. We do the same thing. God places authorities in our lives—they represent God to us. Do you understand that? Your pastor stands in a role he was given by God. Rebelling, judging, even criticizing him may mean you are rebelling against God. There is a chain of command, and God is at the other end of that chain. It is often the same with bosses, professors, and especially parents and grandparents: God put them in our lives to represent Him. Sometimes ignoring their wisdom or bucking their authority is rebellion against God.

In the same way, honoring God’s authorities is honoring God.

Honoring parents = honoring God. He sees and promises to bless you. May we humbly submit to God’s authorities on earth.

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Be Careful What You Wish For.

The Israelites were tired of being vegetarians. Or manna-tarians.  It was all-manna, all the time.  Manna tasted like a pastry made with the finest oil—it was delicious.  At least the first time.  But anything could get tiresome. Yet the people did not simply wish for variety.  They let their hearts become rebellious. They cried out:

“Who will give us meat? We remember the fish we ate in Egypt, and the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone. There’s nothing to look at but this manna!” Numbers 11:4-6.

The people were so ungrateful they angered God. So God told Moses he would send meat: “You will eat not for one day, or for two days, or five days, or 10 days, or 20 days, but for a whole month—until it comes out your nostrils and becomes nauseating to you—because you have rejected the Lord, and cried ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt’” 11:19-20.

But Moses had a question. “I’m in the middle of 600,000 foot soldiers … all the fish in the sea could not provide enough meat.” Yet God sent quail into camp until they were piled 3 feet deep.  The people gathered quail for three days, “and the one who took the least gathered 50 bushels” 11:32.  Why gather so much? Because they did not trust God to provide all month long.  So without meat, they were rebellious and angry, then when meat arrived, they hoarded the meat rather than trust God to provide.

So God sent a PLAGUE.  “While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord’s anger burned and He struck them with a severe plague” 11:33.

God, never let us forget your GOODNESS.  When we are satisfied, make us grateful. When we are not, help us trust you. Teach us Paul’s secret: “I have learned the secret of being content in any situation, whether having abundance or suffering need: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me” Philippians 4:12-13.

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Prayer for the Traveler.

People like rituals to ensure safety while traveling.  One of the most famous is praying to Saint Christopher.  For centuries Catholics have prayed to Christopher for “traveling mercies” when setting out on a journey.  According to Catholic.org, Christopher, a tall, strong man known for helping people cross a dangerous river, is the patron saint of bachelors, transportation, traveling, storms, epilepsy, gardeners, holy death, and toothaches.  Some wear necklaces of Christopher hoping for his protection. In the 1950s, many kept statues of Christopher on the dashboard of their cars for protection while traveling. Today (according to some brief online shopping) it looks like visor clips and various medallions that attach to the car are more popular than the statues, which, even with a magnetic base, must be prone to falling.

However, the Bible forbids us to pray to anyone but God Himself, see Deuteronomy 18:10-13 (and other verses).  And why bother Christopher anyway, when you can talk to the Omniscient God of the Universe, the Creator who made you, who loves you, and who knows what is best for you?  God says “Call unto ME and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3).  Why would you ever pray to anyone else?

Nevertheless, prayer when you travel is an excellent idea.  Moses and the children of Israel traveled forty years in the wilderness.  Moses had a prayer for every journey.  (I bet it was a good one!)

“Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say:

‘Arise, Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and those who hate You flee from Your presence.’

When the ark came to rest, he would say:

‘Return Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel’” Numbers 10:35-36.

Although I had not thought about it when reading this passage before, today I think I will put these words in the car and consider praying them as I begin and end my journeys.  Why not?  A prayer to GOD HIMSELF, based on GOD’S WORD (actual scripture), and used for forty years by Moses, certainly beats a prayer offered to a dead man who never saw an automobile, a freeway, or a traffic accident.

“Arise, Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered!”

In other words,

“LET’S GOOOOOOO!”

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Don’t Just Stand There! Do Something!

Wait. Is that cliche^^ Biblical?  Everyone says it. I’ve had bosses tell me “when in doubt, do something; take the initiative.” They want their people hustling, busy, working, go, go, go!  That may be sound advice for employees. But I wonder whether God would tell his children, “don’t just stand there! Do something!”  As a young believer, I questioned my motives, and was more comfortable waiting on God’s leadership. I would pray and prepare myself for any answer—but I would not move until I sensed his direction.  Yet I felt alone in that approach.

Then I read Henry Blackaby’s words on the subject.  He says we are impatient and must learn to slow down with God. We need to learn the discipline of WAITING ON THE LORD.  He writes that too often Christians say “don’t just stand there, do something!” as if taking action—ANY action—is better than being still before the Lord.  It is not.  Truly Biblical advice would be, “DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING. STAND THERE!”  Consider how God led Israel in the wilderness:

“When the cloud was lifted above the tent, the Israelites would set out. Where the cloud stopped, there they camped. At the Lord’s command they set out, and at the Lord’s command they camped. [Whether many days or a few days], they would camp at the Lord’s command, and set out at the Lord’s command. Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning. When the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out…. Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle” Numbers 9:17-22.

Dear God, teach us to WAIT on you. Help us seek you and wait patiently for your answer. Don’t let us run ahead, causing problems. Give us the faith to BE STILL AND KNOW that you are God, YOU will be exalted among the nations. You will be exalted in the earth, Ps. 46:10.  Thank you for guiding us!

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“LORD TEACH US TO PRAY”… FOR EACH OTHER. Numbers 6:22-27.

Some Bible passages will forever remind me of acting out certain scenes on stage. In one scene, a disciple turned to me and said, seemingly out of the blue, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  And, playing the part of Jesus, I answered, “You should pray like this: Our Father, who art in heaven, your name is holy….”  This scene of course, is from Luke 11:1-4, wherein Jesus gives us the model for prayer commonly known as “the Lord’s Prayer.”

But there is an older prayer given to us in the Bible, a prayer that is entirely other-centered.  Do you remember it?  It makes an excellent prayer guide to use when praying for your family or anyone you care about.  God dictated it to Moses specifically to help the Israelites know how to pray for and bless each other:

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying… ‘in this way shall you bless the sons of Israel. You are to say to them:

‘THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.

THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU.

THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARD YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE.’

In this way you will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them” Numbers 6:22-27.

I know you’ve heard the popular song with these words—and the song is amazing.  But I memorized these words years ago and have prayed them for my family many times.  Think about it—how awesome is that, that God told us how to bless our families, and gave us exact words to use.

NOW DO THESE TWO THINGS—

  1. Read the prayer again and see if you understand all the phrases. 
  2. Then pray the words over your family and friends.  Take the time to actually ask God to bless them in each of these ways.

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A Blessing.

Today my Bible reading included my favorite blessing in the Bible. This is my prayer for each of you—God not only wrote this prayer, but He also told Moses to use it as Israel’s official blessing:

“Tell Aaron and his sons that this is how you are to bless the Israelites:

‘May the Lord bless you and keep you,

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,

May He turn His face toward you [smile on you] and give you peace.’”

Numbers 6:24-26.

That is my prayer.

*The brackets [ ] indicate a paraphrase added to provide a more modern wording.

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Giving and Giving Back.

When I was a child, our church launched a building campaign so we could replace our decaying building downtown with a new and much larger building on the west side.  Everyone knew the slogan “two by two” meaning we would give two times as much for two years. That is, we would “tithe twenty percent” for two years.  But how do you “tithe” 20 percent, when the word “tithe” literally means “tenth”?  (We learned to call it a “double-tithe.”)

People sometimes ask whether God requires a tithe from believers today.  He clearly released us from the law.  No one preaches we should keep kosher (and give up shrimp and catfish!).  But God always required His people to give something back.  Farmers would give the first fruits of the harvest.  Ranchers would give the best of their sheep, goats, and bulls.  And God even laid claim to the first born males among the human children:

“Every firstborn belongs to me.  At the time I struck down the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and beast.” Numbers 3:13.

Rather than take the firstborn male from every family, God takes the tribe of Levi in their place.  Then the men are counted.  “The total number of all Levite males is 22,000” 3:39.  But the total number of firstborn males in the other 11 tribes was 22,273.  So there were not enough male Levites to “redeem” the nation’s firstborn males.

“As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, collect five shekels for each person…” 3:46-47.

God has always asked us to give back.  Who gave Israel fruit, grain, livestock, and children?  God.  Couldn’t He have simply given them 10% less?  Yes. But God wants His children to actually do the giving.

Giving to God from what He has given us is the way we worship Him and show our gratitude.  Whether you give 10% or more or less—give generously out of obedience.

“The Lord loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7.

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