“Snake on a Pole”

April 1, 2024

 April 1, 2024

Read Numbers 21, Psalm 91, Mark 15

Most people are fearful of snakes and who would blame them since the first time we find on in the Bible it is busy deceiving Adam and Eve. Here in Numbers 21 we find an instance of snakes that were scary and that saved some lives. “They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way” v. 4. Their impatience turned into talking bad about the leaders again. “they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’” v. 5. Here is where the snakes come in. “Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, ‘We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.’ So, Moses prayed for the people” vv. 6-7. The people realized just how their actions had stirred the Lord’s anger, and they confessed their sin. The solution to the snakes was another snake. “The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived” vv. 8-9.  Jesus mentioned this another snake on a pole in the Gospel of John. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” – John 3:14. The verb “lifted up” in John 3 has a deeper meaning than we might know. It’s not referring to being “lift up” as being praised, rather it refers to being lifted up on the cross. A few chapters later we see this in John 12. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die” vv. 32-33. This is another symbolic reference in the New Testament that Jesus and the disciples connected to Jesus.

What else stands out to you in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes do you notice?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Speak Not Strike”

March 31, 2024

March 31, 2024

Read Numbers 20, Psalm 90, Mark 14

Have you ever had directions to follow and you may not have followed them close or carefully enough? What happened? Did you leave an ingredient out of a recipe, miss a turn when you were driving, or maybe it was something more costly? In Numbers 20 we have what seems to be a very harsh punishment for Moses from the Lord simply because he struck the rock that God told him to speak to. “The LORD said to Moses, 8 ‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so that they and their livestock can drink’” vv. 7-8. There was a problem, Moses in his anger did what he had done before. He struck the rock with his staff and while water did come out, it was not how God had wanted him to do it. Why? We might find a clue in Moses’ comment to the Israelites. “He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank” vv. 10-11. Moses and Aaron had gathered the people together to give them a lecture. Moses said, “must we bring you water out of this rock?” v. 10. This could either been seen as “we” meaning Moses and Aaron or “we” meaning Moses and God. Either way Moses was equating himself with God or leaving God out of the whole process of providing water for the people. It might have been just as much about his words that he actions. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses chooses to speak about himself rather than the Lord.

We must be careful to follow God’s commands when know God is instructing us. There are plenty of examples in Scripture of people who only half-heartly obey and God was not pleased.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“The End is Near”

March 30, 2024

March 30, 2024

Read Numbers 19, Psalm 89, Mark 13

Anytime big world events come up there are always plenty of questions concerning the “End times.” The war between Hamas and Israel is just the latest one to arise. Years ago when America was attacking on 9/11 the churches were flooded with people for about two weeks. People had questions and they came to the church for answers. In Mark 13 Jesus taught on the end times and what many of the signs would be at the start of the end times as well as during the last days. From false prophets, wars and earthquakes that are just the beginning of the “birth-pains” v. 6. Jesus tells them they will undergo persecution and be flogged and placed in prison. But even in the times like these Jesus assured them not to worry. “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” v. 11. All these are just the beginning, it will get worse.

What is our responsibility? What should we do as Christians? Jesus tells us to be ready and be on our guard. “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch” vv. 33-34. Even if the end times don’t come for hundred of years, we still must be ready. We do not know when God may call us home. We do not know when we might get news of a terminal illness or face something life-ending. We must be ready every day and live each day like it is our last. We must tell other that Jesus died for them we must tell others that we love them and do not miss an opportunity we are given.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“He Had One Left to Send, a Son”

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Read Numbers 18, Psalm 88, Mark 12

What’s your most prized possession that you own? Would it be something expensive and special? Would it be something extremely ordinary but hold a significant meaning to you? Maybe it’s a new car, a valuable piece of jewelry, or a Bible or book that was given to you by someone special. Whatever you are thinking about, now imagine giving that up and giving it to someone else. Not only for them to borrow but for them to mistreat, abuse, or even destroy it. Would you still want to loan it to them? Probably not, but that is what God did when He sent his Son to come to earth, to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. The people rejected Jesus, they took him and murdered him, and they tried to take what was His.

In Mark 12 Jesus tells the parable of the tenants. “He then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey” v. 1.  The owner of the vineyard sent some servants to the vineyard to collect some of the fruit, but the tenants killed the servants that the owner sent. These tenants represented the religious leaders of Jesus day, and the servants were the prophets from the Old Testament. Last of all the owner sends his own son. The owner remarks, “They will respect my son” v. 6. The comparison of the son is with that of Jesus. In this parable Jesus is showing that He knew what they would ultimately do to him, they would crucify Jesus as God’s Son. The final verse tells the interpretation, “Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them” v. 12.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stories, verses or elements stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“A House of Prayer”

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

Read Numbers 17, Psalm 87, Mark 11

What’s one of the benefits that you enjoy from the church that you are a part of? Churches today have a wide variety of ministries that they use to reach people in their community. Programs for children, students, or parents. They have all sorts of resources available for those in need and other resources that can be made available. I’ve seen churches with playgrounds inside, workout facilities, and many more things. They may use these to help connect people to their biggest need, their relationship with Christ. I’m not here to comment on these ministries one way or the other, but we should never lose sight of the primary purpose of the church. In the week before Jesus went to the cross, He came into the temple in his day formed a whip and then drove out the money changers who were buying and selling in the temple. “He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’” vv. 15-17.

What does it mean to call the temple or our churches today, “a house of prayer?” Prayer is a spiritual discipline in which we communicate with God. The church should be a place where we go to worship, seek guidance, or confess our sin. I’m not saying that every church with a bookstore is evil, but we should keep the purpose of the church just as that, a house of prayer. Jesus went as far as to call the people’s actions as robbery. They may have been some cheating and stealing taking place.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stands out to you most as you read?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Against Moses”

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Read Numbers 16, Psalm 86, Mark 10

Have you ever had a time where you did not want to do something, but because you were in charge or the leader you knew what had to be done? Maybe it was a task or perhaps even dealing with a relationship with someone that was not the most kind or easy to be around.

Moses was God’s chosen leader to lead Israel out of Egypt and into the land of the Canaanites. Israel had already messed it up with a bad report and it cost them 40 years in the desert before everyone over the age of 20, who was counted in the census would pass away and then they would enter. Now it seems that some of the leaders had not learned their lesson. Numbers 16 says that a group of leaders “became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council” vv.1b-2. These were not just typical members of Israel, they were leaders. They had gotten to the point where they thought Moses was no more special than they were. “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” v. 3b. I can see why Moses “face down” when he heard this. He was doing a job that He didn’t want to do, but now was dealing with leaders who wanted to take his place.

God dealt with these leaders in a most unusual way. “The ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community.” vv. 31-33. God wasn’t done yet either.  Other people began to complain after this too. “The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the LORD’s people,” they said” v. 41. God sent a plague through the community, and it killed 14,700 people. The thing that blows mw away is the reaction of Moses to the Lord when God starts His judgment. They pleaded for God to stop, and they wanted to save the very people that were mad and complaining toward them. This shows you what kind of leader Moses was. He cared for the people under his leadership, even when they were difficult and hard to love. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“The Servant of All”

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Read Numbers 15, Psalm 85, Mark 9

The religious leaders were not the only ones that didn’t completely understand Jesus’ mission. His disciples even though they spent time with him, they still had misunderstood his plans. The Jews, including the disciples, had been looking for a Mesiah that was coming to ride in on a white horse kick Rome out of the land and bring back the glory days for the nation of Israel. This being a couple of days past Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus rode in on a donkey and his fist appearance was not like they thought it was. In Mark 9 we get a glimpse of their thoughts in this area. The disciples were arguing about something while they traveled. Jesus knew what it was and decided to make this a teaching moment. He asked them, ““What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest” vv. 33-34. Apparently, they had envisioned Jesus taking his throne after his great military conquest and the disciples were arguing for their seat at the table after it was all said and done. Like many statements of Jesus, he offered a counter-intuitive one for them to think over. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all” v. 35. Jesus would continue to work on this mentality for them later, most of all when He washed the disciples’ feet in John 13. To drive home the point even more he grabbed a little child that was nearby (in a safe and good way!) to use as an example. “Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” vv. 36-37. We must keep in mind that children did not hold anywhere near the power that they do today. In the biblical world, children were to be seen and not heard, they were considered useless until they reach the point where they could work and contribute to their society. Now Jesus was saying they had to value the things that culture did not. They had to serve and welcome in the “little children” to be great. Jesus was a great leader, the greatest of all time, but He was a servant leader and not one who led with an authoritarian hammer or as a dictator. How can you and I be more servant-minded?

What else do you see in these chapters? What stood out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Dwelling Place”

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Read Numbers 14, Psalm 84, Mark 8

What are some of the most amazing places you have visited before? What do you love about them? Are you a beach or mountain person? We all have had places that we have gone to and wanted to go back and spend more time there. There is a difference between a visit and then dwelling. Often many people “visit” with the Lord. They pop in and out occasionally when it works with their schedules and desires. Very few will take time and “dwell” in the house of the Lord and in his presence. In Psalm 84 the author describes the “dwelling place” where the Lord is. The psalmist wants to go and be there with the Lord. “How lovely is your dwelling-place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” vv. 1-2. The thought that comes is the blessing of those who get to dwell in the house of the Lord. “O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you” vv. 3-4. The psalmist has discovered the real blessings are when we make our dwelling place with the Lord. The world may look like they are having fun but the long-lasting blessings come when we stay in the relationship with the Lord. He can truly say, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” v. 10.

What are some of the blessings that you have experienced in your time spent with the Lord?
What else do you read and see in these three chapters? Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Bad Report”

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

Read Numbers 13, Psalm 83, Mark 7

Mark Twain once said, “a lie travels around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” We all know the negative political ads always get more tracking and that people 75% of the time our own thoughts are negative in nature.

Here in Numbers 13 we have another case of where the negative over powers the good. Moses had selected 12 spies to go into Canaan and bring back a report and samples of the foods in the land. “They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there” vv. 26-28.

Ten of the twelve spies said they could not take the land. “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” vv. 31-33.

As the old hymn states, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” In this case, the bad report spread like wildfire throughout the camp and incited the people to give into fear rather than trust the Lord and obey Him. We have to be very careful when we talk about various things with people, we might not mean to start a wildfire but just a few negative comments can be dangerous.

What else do you read or see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Follow the Leader”

March 23, 2024

March 23, 2024

Read Numbers 12, Psalm 82, Mark 6

What are your aspirations in leadership? Do you see yourself as more of a leader or as a follower? Often many people want to be the leader. Children in school want to be a leader and for adults the same is true in work and play. God had chosen Moses as the leader of Israel, to be the one to lead them out of Egypt. Moses reluctantly agreed to do it. This did not make everyone happen and we read about this in Numbers 12.

“Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this” vv. 1-2. Did you notice that the complaint against Moses as leader started because his sister and brother didn’t like that Moses had married a non-Israelite. This was the seed of the complaint against his leadership to start with.

God heard about this and wanted to teach them a lesson. He called them all to the tent of meeting to let them know that Moses was not just any leader. Prophets were informed by visions and other means, but with Moses God said, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” v. 8. Being a leader is difficult and not being a leader can be equally difficult as well. Learning to follow and not complaining when we can easily do so is hard.

What else do you see in these three chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

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