Our spiritual journey

[Deborah_]

Leadership again (Numbers 16 & 17)

During the long years of aimless wandering, it is hardly surprising that some of the Israelites become frustrated and resentful. A group of high-ranking men, led by Korah, misunderstand God’s insistence on holiness for everyone and assume that it means all should have direct access to His presence, just like Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:3). But it soon becomes clear that they are interested only in the prestige conferred by holiness, and not in its responsibilities. Moses realises the implications of their demand, and is horrified. He himself would be as happy for all God’s people to be priests as for all of them to be prophets (Numbers 11:29); but these offices can only be bestowed by God - and they already know what is likely to happen to anyone who approaches Him without His authorisation. So if Korah and his supporters really believe that they can all be priests, let them put it to the test by offering incense, and see if God agrees with them!

At the same time, the Reubenites have a more prosaic complaint: that the Promised Land has not materialised. They too are resentful of Moses’ leadership (perhaps all the more so as their own tribe has been demoted from its ‘firstborn’ status), and accuse him of making the whole thing up in order to become a self-appointed tribal chief. They seem to have forgotten that it isn’t Moses’ fault but their own that they are stuck in the wilderness! They will not even respond to his summons, which is in itself a calculated rejection of his authority. It shows that they are not really interested in resolving their grievances, only in making trouble (Numbers 16:12-14). Since they will not come to Moses, he has to go to them. He doesn’t attempt to argue with them, for the opportunity for repentance has already passed. Instead he prophesies what God will do to them: a punishment without precedent, that will refute the charge that Moses has been acting entirely on his own authority. And no sooner has he finished speaking, than his words are fulfilled. Exactly as he has predicted, the ground beneath their tents suddenly gives way, and they vanish without trace, as if they had never existed (Numbers 16:23-34).

Meanwhile, Korah and his associates have had a whole night to reflect on the dangerous experiment they are embarking on. But none of them appear to have had second thoughts; all present themselves at the entrance to the Tabernacle, eager to act out their reckless ambitions. And they suffer the same fate as Nadab and Abihu, burned alive by the fire of God’s holiness (Numbers 16:35).

All this looks to us as though God takes delight in striking people dead just for being a bit ‘uppity’. But that would be far from the truth. We underestimate the importance of submission to authority: if this large mass of people are ever going to reach their destination safely and together, they must trust and obey the men He has chosen and appointed to lead them. And so, to put an end to the controversy (and to the fatalities), God offers them a sign that will confirm Aaron’s status and authority as high priest once and for all (Numbers 17). This time it won’t be a sign of death, but a sign of grace and life. Twelve staves (representing the twelve tribes) are left in the Tabernacle, in God’s presence, overnight. The one belonging to His chosen priest not only comes to life, but blossoms and fruits in the space of a few hours. At this clear miracle, the Israelites are finally convinced - and Aaron’s position is never challenged again.

In our day, in a culture that has become suspicious of all authority, church leadership (and indeed the whole idea of the church as an institution) is regularly under attack. We know that we are all given the Holy Spirit (I John 2:20), we latch onto the concept of ‘the priesthood of all believers’; and some of us interpret these truths as a licence to plough our own individual furrows, independent of any recognised church - which means having no accountability, either in what we believe or how we behave.

But Scripture tells us to “have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” (Hebrews 13:17) God still chooses and calls certain individuals to lead His people - and for the sake of good order within the Church, the rest of us must submit to their authority, without jealousy or discontent. And now, as then, the best evidence of a divine call to ministry is the fruitfulness of that ministry. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)

 

[Deborah_]

Leadership yet again (Numbers 20:1-13)

After about 35 years of wandering in circles, Israel again find themselves near Kadesh-Barnea. This time the water supply fails, provoking yet another volley of complaints - and the airing of all their old grievances. And as usual, the people ignore God’s existence and blame Moses and Aaron for all their problems - problems that they had brought upon themselves by their disobedience so many years ago! This grumbling, resentful attitude must have been absorbed from their parents, for by now only the very oldest of them have any memory of Egypt; most have lived their whole life in the wilderness.

Once again Moses and Aaron turn to God for help; and He tells them how to find and release the hidden water. They are to speak to the rock, which will obey them and thus put God’s rebellious people to shame. But on this occasion - quite uncharacteristically - Moses doesn’t follow his instructions faithfully. Years of relentless criticism must have taken their toll, and something inside him seems to ‘snap’, releasing all his suppressed anger and frustration. He strikes the rock instead of speaking to it (which is disobedience); but his sin is worse than that. In calling the people ‘rebels’, he sets himself up as their judge; in saying, ‘Must we bring you water?’ he sets himself up as their deliverer. Thus he usurps the place of God and dishonours Him.

The people are happy with the outcome; they do not suffer as a result of Moses’ sin. But God is furious. He had been willing to be gracious to His people, but Moses’ words and actions have given the opposite impression. It’s a terrible lapse for a man of such spiritual stature, and his punishment is correspondingly severe: he and Aaron will also be denied entry into the Promised Land.

Leadership in God’s church is a tremendous privilege; but it carries with it a corresponding responsibility. The larger the group of people under someone’s authority, the greater the temptation for that leader to behave ‘like God’ to them. And we who follow them are also tempted to idolise them, forgetting that they are as human (and sinful) as we are. Church history is littered with the names of popes, bishops, and other powerful men who started their careers full of promise but eventually tripped up by abusing their authority. Tinpot tyrants, physical and sexual abusers, and those who just enjoy the adulation of the masses… they leave a nasty taste in the mouth, and dishonour both God and the Church. So we need to pray for our leaders, that they may finish their course as well as they started…

 

[Deborah_]

Facing death (Numbers 20:22-29)

Not long after the incident at Meribah (Numbers 20:1-13), Aaron is told that he is about to die, in fulfilment of God’s judgement. He will not enter Canaan, but will go straight to the final home of God’s people (verse 24). He is given due warning, so that he can hand the office of high priest over to his eldest surviving son Eleazar (symbolised by the transfer of Aaron’s sacred garments).

Aaron accepts his fate with dignity, and without protest. With Moses and Eleazar, he heads up the hill for his final appointment, and never returns. “By this solemn procession Aaron lets Israel know that he is neither afraid nor ashamed to die, but, when the Bridegroom comes, can trim his lamp and go forth to meet Him.” (Matthew Henry)

Few of us are given even a rough idea of when we shall die, but unless Jesus returns soon there will be a time for all of us when our pilgrimage is abruptly terminated. Will we then be able to say, like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7)? Will we ‘go forth’, like Aaron, to meet our Bridegroom with courage and joy?

 

[Deborah_]

Grumbling (Numbers 21:4-9)

Now the Israelites are in the final stage of their prolonged journey. But it must seem to them as though they are never going to reach their destination! Within weeks, discouraged by the unusually arid terrain they are obliged to traverse, they are complaining again - yearning for ‘the good old days’ in Egypt (a country that few of them have seen for themselves or are able to remember!) and grumbling yet again about the monotony of their diet.

But suddenly they are faced with a really serious problem - ‘venomous snakes’ (probably an outbreak of guinea worm infestation). As the worms emerge from the body, they cause intense pain and ulceration, and often death (from secondary infection, gangrene or tetanus). And the people, as always happens when they are in a desperate situation, know that only Moses and God (the targets of their complaints!) can help them.

But God’s response is unusual - and interesting. Instead of simply taking the ‘snakes’ away, He uses the situation as an opportunity to teach the Israelites a lesson about salvation. The remedy presented to them for the consequences of their sin is a bronze representation of a snake coiled round a pole. Winding the worm slowly onto a rod is the only way to extract it safely, and thus prevent the fatal complications. And everyone who follows this instruction survives.

The details of this story are so sketchy that it is easy to misunderstand it. After a few hundred years, the Israelites began to treat the bronze snake as if it had magical healing powers of its own, and eventually King Hezekiah had to destroy it as part of his drive against idolatry (II Kings 18:4). But no magic was involved, just a basic principle: if you want to live, you must trust in God’s way instead of following your own instincts. And this is also the message of the Gospel: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” (John 3:14,15) We cannot save ourselves from the consequences of our sins by our own efforts, but must put our faith in the means that God has provided - in this case, the death of His Son.

 

[Deborah_]

Idolatry again (Numbers 25)

Finally the Israelites come to the east bank of the River Jordan, on the border of the country of Moab and within a stone’s-throw of their goal. And at this point, at the very end of their long journey, they very nearly throw it all away. For those who could not be defeated by sword or sorcery (Numbers 22) are overcome by the prospect of good food and sex…

After a lifetime of austerity, an invitation to join in one of Moab’s festivals must be very tempting for Israel’s young men. But what probably begins as ‘harmless’ socialising quickly leads to ritual prostitution and idol-worship. Whatever excuses they might make for it, this is idolatry - and it arouses God’s jealous anger.
“When they came to Baal-Peor,
they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol
and became as vile as the thing they loved.” (Hosea 9:10)
Yet the tribal leaders apparently do nothing to restrain or discipline the guilty men - which makes them participants in their sin. Moses has to warn them that unless they take action promptly, they themselves will be subject to the death penalty (verses 4,5)!

And at this critical moment, while people are dying in their thousands from a plague of judgement, and their representatives are weeping and seeking God’s mercy, Zimri ben Salu comes brazenly into the camp with a Midianite princess at his side. As if it were not bad enough to be unfaithful to God, he has to do it publicly within the supposedly holy camp of God’s people! If he is allowed to get away with such provocative insolence, the situation could get completely out of control - with disastrous consequences for Israel. Phinehas is the 'man of the moment' who realises what is at stake and takes decisive action. Following the couple to their tent (and catching them in the very act of having sex), he kills them both with a single spearthrust (verse 8). And God approves (verses 10-13).

If we find this brutal and shocking, it is because we have not grasped the seriousness of the issue. To participate in idol-worship is ‘consorting with the enemy’, and is the spiritual equivalent of adultery. Can we do that and expect God to bless us regardless? “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (I Corinthians 10:21,22) Idolatry is a perennial temptation; even those of us who have been Christians for many years are not immune from the lure of such things as money, ambition, or extramarital sex. It can have disastrous consequences - for our spiritual lives and for our ministries. And if we are in positions of leadership we need to be particularly careful not to compromise our faith, because other people will be encouraged to follow our example.

 

[Deborah_]

Eyes on the prize: five wise virgins (Numbers 27:1-11)

In an intensely patriarchal society such as ancient Israel, daughters do not normally inherit any share of the family estate. But a certain Israelite (Zelophehad) has died at some point during the nation’s wanderings without leaving a son to claim his promised inheritance in Canaan. His five unmarried daughters perceive the traditional system to be unjust, and dare to challenge it. Moses seeks God’s advice - and not only does God uphold the women’s claim, but He commands that the principle of female inheritance be written permanently into Israel’s lawcode.

These ‘five wise virgins’ are remarkable not only for their initiative but also for their faith. Even though the land of Canaan is as yet unentered, let alone conquered, they petition for a share in it as if it were already in Israel’s hands! They believe (probably with good reason) that once the land allocation actually begins, the men won’t give them a chance to put their case. So by staking their claim in advance, they are making sure that they won’t miss out.

Could this passage shed some light on the notoriously hard-to-understand parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-10)? What makes five of them wise, and why are the other five foolish for not being prepared? The wise virgins are thinking ahead; they are determined not to run any risk of missing out on their places at the wedding feast. Like the daughters of Zelophehad, they want their inheritance - and they make sure that they get it. But whether through lack of faith or lack of desire, the foolish ones are less motivated; and they suddenly wake up to the fact that they may get left out at the last moment. So we must ask ourselves: do we give the Kingdom of God a high priority in our lives? If we do not think it sufficiently important to invest in it now, might we risk losing it altogether?

 

[Deborah_]

Handing on the baton (Numbers 27:12-23)

Like Aaron, Moses has excluded himself from the land of Canaan by his failure to uphold God’s honour at Meribah. With Israel now poised to cross the Jordan, the time of his death is rapidly approaching - and his main concern, as always, is for the wellbeing of his people. The conquest of Canaan will place exceptional demands on them, and without exceptional leadership they will be desperately vulnerable - “like sheep without a shepherd” (verse 17). So he prays earnestly for a suitable successor.

Moses himself could not take the responsibility for making such an appointment; only God (who knows us all intimately) can choose the right person for such a vital job. And God announces His decision: the leadership will not pass to either of Moses’ two sons, but to Joshua - a man already marked out by his close relationship with God. The transfer of responsibilities will begin straight away, so that the people will get used to taking orders from Joshua before Moses departs from the scene.

Once again Moses displays exceptional leadership qualities. Instead of hanging on to his power and position until the very last moment, he takes immediate steps to ensure a smooth transition between him and his successor. After forty years, it will be hard for the Israelites to come to terms with Moses’ departure. And his will be a particularly hard act to follow, because his role has been unique and his performance of it exemplary (Hebrews 3:5). But Joshua has been called and commissioned for his task by God Himself, so he can undertake it with confidence: God is with him, and will not let him fail.

Human leadership must change from one generation to the next; but God is always the same, and He will never abandon us.

 

[DPMartin]

the Israelites were not wandering aimlessly. they were guided constantly, a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night, every day every night. they also heard God Himself speak the ten commandments to them from the mountain. Moses after his face shown brightly, his face shown brightly every day afterwards. every time they moved there was a certain order to the packing and unpacking, every time they camped there was a certain arrangement of the tribes round about the tabernacle, the Presence of God signified by the pillar of which ever, rested on the tabernacle. of which all could see.

so none of it was aimless, even the leaving from Egypt wasn't aimless. so its apparent you don't get that much, so its quite likely and obvious you don't get the rest.


if you are in the presence of that kind of manifestation of power, and you revolt that's your problem. stand in front of a police line and provoke them to anger, what happens next, that's your problem.


you're selling authority of the church and its leaders, you seem way naïve, leaders promote there own kind like unto themselves, so mid management is a refection of what's at the top. and the seminary factories ain't much better.

a true group of believers seek someone who it taught by the Lord. Jesus held no position in worldly terms, in worldly terms He was a transient.

 

[Deborah_]

the Israelites were not wandering aimlessly. they were guided constantly, a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night, every day every night. they also heard God Himself speak the ten commandments to them from the mountain. Moses after his face shown brightly, his face shown brightly every day afterwards. every time they moved there was a certain order to the packing and unpacking, every time they camped there was a certain arrangement of the tribes round about the tabernacle, the Presence of God signified by the pillar of which ever, rested on the tabernacle. of which all could see.

so none of it was aimless, even the leaving from Egypt wasn't aimless. so its apparent you don't get that much, so its quite likely and obvious you don't get the rest.


if you are in the presence of that kind of manifestation of power, and you revolt that's your problem. stand in front of a police line and provoke them to anger, what happens next, that's your problem.


you're selling authority of the church and its leaders, you seem way naïve, leaders promote there own kind like unto themselves, so mid management is a refection of what's at the top. and the seminary factories ain't much better.

a true group of believers seek someone who it taught by the Lord. Jesus held no position in worldly terms, in worldly terms He was a transient.

God led the Israelites, but also acted through human leaders (Moses, Aaron, Joshua, etc). Jesus appointed twelve apostles (human beings!) to lead His church. They in turn appointed elders to oversee every church, and in their letters commanded us believers to submit to our church leaders (e.g. Hebrews 13:17, I Peter 5:5, I Thessalonians 5:12,13).

So why do you have a problem with the whole concept of church leadership? It was God's idea! (I won't deny that some leaders and denominations abuse their authority, but that doesn't discredit the church as a whole.)

 

[101G]

The crossing of the Red Sea marks the final, definitive break with Israel’s old life and the beginning of their new life with God.

GOOD topic, the one I like the best is, "the crossing of the red sea". that baptism put an end to our sinful lives, so that we can worship the Lord in Spirit and truth. it remins me of what the apostle paul said, Philippians 3:13 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before". too many christian can't forget the old man, and repent toward the NEW MAN, Christ Jesus. verse 14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". thanks for the post, be blessed.

 

[bbyrd009]

the Israelites were not wandering aimlessly

so you say, but God told them none of them were going to the Promised Land, and assured them that they would all wander aim...do exactly what they were complaining about, from their own mouths:

28Tell them: As surely as I live," this is the LORD's declaration, "I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.
29Your corpses will fall in this wilderness...

not to put too fine a point on it, but i'm pretty sure we could go ref what God "heard them say" and it would sound a lot like "we are wandering aimlessly in this wilderness."

Although they were not Israelites yet anyway, and granted two of them, mentioned, were not wandering aimlessly, so then three of them were not.

 

[bbyrd009]

you're selling authority of the church and its leaders, you seem way naïve, leaders promote there own kind like unto themselves, so mid management is a refection of what's at the top. and the seminary factories ain't much better.

my eye is similar to yours there, but tbh i think it speaks more about us than the bosses you ref, who are not leaders, even though leaders might arise from that system also i guess. So, the diff in a boss and a leader there, and we are maybe focussed on the bosses and giving the leaders short shrift, iow.

 

[bbyrd009]

a true group of believers seek someone who it taught by the Lord. Jesus held no position in worldly terms, in worldly terms He was a transient.

i def agree, Christ will not be found inside any camp. But one can find Jesus there, and be led outside the camp if they seek it imo.

 

[DPMartin]

God led the Israelites, but also acted through human leaders (Moses, Aaron, Joshua, etc). Jesus appointed twelve apostles (human beings!) to lead His church. They in turn appointed elders to oversee every church, and in their letters commanded us believers to submit to our church leaders (e.g. Hebrews 13:17, I Peter 5:5, I Thessalonians 5:12,13).

So why do you have a problem with the whole concept of church leadership? It was God's idea! (I won't deny that some leaders and denominations abuse their authority, but that doesn't discredit the church as a whole.)

yes it does discredit the church as a whole, or they are not the person the whole of the organization has entrusted such responsibility. a CEO makes a disastrous decision the whole corporation suffers, the owner of a enterprise makes bogus decisions the business suffers if it doesn't go under. the leaders of nations make bad decisions and the nation suffers the consequence, a general makes a tactical error and the soldiers die, and the nation defended is lost. a leader of a religious organization does what he shouldn't the religion as a whole suffers the consequence.

the organization as a whole suffers or benefits from what ever the entrusted person does.

just what imaginary utopia do you live in?

 

[bbyrd009]

imo a lot of it is likely "how do you define Church?"

 

[Deborah_]

Settling for less (Numbers 32)

The tribes of Reuben and Gad (who have been camping close to each other for 40 years) suddenly come up with what they think is a brilliant idea (verses 1-5). The plateau east of the Jordan (which gets more rain and is therefore relatively fertile) has an abundance of good grazing, and is absolutely perfect for their livestock. Not only that, but its inhabitants have already been killed or driven away, leaving the land empty and ready for resettlement. So they can move in right now, without having to cross the Jordan or do any more fighting.

But for Moses, this apparently reasonable request rings alarm bells. It will set a dangerous precedent: if two tribes are allowed to opt out of the risks and rigours awaiting them across the Jordan, why should the others not follow suit? It’s also a rejection of God’s declared purpose (which is to settle the whole nation in Canaan). They seem to be showing the same contempt for His promise as the previous generation did at Kadesh-Barnea. Their reasons might ostensibly be different, but it comes down to the same thing in the end: a refusal to take what God is offering them. In this instance, their desire to be happy, wealthy and secure is not godly but sinful - and it’s a serious threat to the unity and well-being of God’s people. They are thinking only of themselves and forgetting that they are part of a larger body (verses 14,15).

Having listened to Moses’ concerns and conferred amongst themselves, the Reubenites and Gadites put forward a compromise solution: they will settle in Transjordan, as they want, but will send their best troops into Canaan with the other Israelites to do their share of the fighting. They even offer to be in the vanguard of the invasion, the first to face the enemy (verse 17). Thus they can’t be accused of shirking their responsibilities, or of diminishing Israel’s military capabilities. And Moses finally agrees - but he gives them a solemn warning. “If you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” (verse 23) We can’t order our lives just as we please, without reference to the needs of others or the will of God. Our decisions will have consequences, not only for ourselves but also for other people. And to some extent Moses’ fears are justified; once the request has been granted, a large portion of the tribe of Manasseh decide to join the defection.

Like Lot hundreds of years earlier (Genesis 13:10,11), the Reubenites and Gadites thought that they could do better living outside the land of God’s choosing than in it. And many Christians seem to be under the impression that they can enjoy all of God’s blessings without being fully committed to doing His will. But Lot lived to regret his choice to settle in the lush Jordan valley; and the self-willed decision of the Transjordan tribes was to have a considerable negative impact on their descendants. Transjordan might have been fertile, but it lacked natural frontiers and was vulnerable to invasion. Also, the Jordan river cut them off from the other tribes, leaving them without easy access to help and support. Although they could pride themselves on being the first tribes to receive their inheritance, they were also the first to lose it.

 

[bbyrd009]

so none of it was aimless, even the leaving from Egypt wasn't aimless. so its apparent you don't get that much, so its quite likely and obvious you don't get the rest.

imo a point of view is being expressed that is legit, regardless of what we now know to be true because hindsight.

 

[Deborah_]

Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3 & 4)

At long last, the Israelites are standing on the east bank of the River Jordan - as close to Canaan as they can possibly get without getting wet. And there they pause, to prepare themselves for what is to come. There is a feeling of tense anticipation in the air, mixed with trepidation. For this is the worst possible time of year for making the crossing, as the river is swollen with melting snow from the mountains of the Lebanon (Joshua 3:15). And what challenges await them on the far side?

But a river is no barrier to the Lord of all the earth. He commands the priests to carry the Ark - the symbol of His presence - into the deep, fast-flowing water. And as soon as they step into the water, the current suddenly subsides to a trickle, as if a tap has been turned off. (Actually, an earthquake or landslide has dammed the river several miles upstream - Joshua 3:16.) The river bed remains dry for several hours, allowing the whole nation to cross safely and easily. They are home at last!

God does not demand ‘blind faith’ from us; He always gives us evidence on which we can base our trust. Because we have seen what He has done for us in the past, we can be assured that He will take care of us in the future. But what happens when we reach the end of our pilgrimage? Is there still a ‘future’ for us then? Is death a literal dead-end, or is it a fordable river? And even if it’s the latter, it’s still a daunting prospect for most of us: an overwhelming flood, rather than a trickle.

So we find ourselves in the same position as the Israelites, walking into the unknown. But our Lord, having led us all the way through life, will continue to lead us through death. “Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” (Joshua 3:4) We have not been that way before - but He has (John 14:1-6)!

“When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee…” (William Williams)