Thoughts

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Introduction

The book of Numbers is titled "In the Wilderness" in Hebrew, and that is really what the book is about. The previous book, Leviticus, told the story of the Hebrew people in the year after God, through Moses, led them out of Egyptian bondage. It covered just a year. Numbers covers the more than thirty-eight years they were in the wilderness.

Take A Count

In chapter 1, God instructs Moses to take a census of all the men twenty years old and older, who were able to go to war.. God was taking the children of Israel to Canaan, the Promised Land. People were already in the land, and they were going to have to take the land, so Moses needed to know how many fighting men they had. Once the census was taken, Moses knew how many men there were, and in what tribe and what families.

After taking the census, Moses organized the people by tribe and family, with leaders being named.

Note that the priestly tribe, Levi, was not counted in this census, the one that counted the potential soldiers. 

You Go Here

In chapter 2, the arrangement of the camps was described. The Tabernacle was in the center, with the twelve tribes around it, arranged according to God's instructions. They camped around four banners: a lion, a man, a calf and an eagle. Guess what. In the book of Revelation chapter 4, verse 7, there are four creatures surrounding the throne of God. The same creatures: a lion, a man, a calf and an eagle. 

Take A Different Count

In chapter 3, the Levites are counted, but not as the other tribes. In this census, the males a month old and above were counted. After the census, the Levite families were given their duties.

I like what the great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon said about the Levitical division of priestly duties: “It is worthy of note that these Levites, although they were all equally consecrated to God, had not all exactly the same work to perform. God is not the God of all uniformity. There is a wondrous unity of plan and design in all that he does, but there is also an equally marvelous variety.” 

Chapter 4 continued describing the duties of the Levitical families.

Go Out There

In chapter 5, the Lord began to deal with the effects of sin among the people that He was preparing for the journey to Canaan. He told Moses to send people who were unclean, the lepers, those who had a discharge, and those who had touched a dead body out of the camp. Each of these conditions is a reminder of what sin does.

Why did this have to be done? Remember what God is doing with His people. He is preparing them to go into the Promised Land. He wanted to remind them that they must separate themselves from sin in order to accomplish this task. 

Notice also that in giving this command, He said, "send them away so that the camp where I am living among you will not be made unclean.” God would not dwell where sin's effects were there. 

The Lord gave Moses instructions on confessing sin and making restitution, and He had a lot to say about how to deal with jealous husbands and their wives. 

He Said She Said

Jealousy, whether founded or not, can destroy a marriage. God's instructions, when carried out, would reveal the guilt or innocence of the wife. The truth, once revealed, would then allow the husband and wife to take appropriate actions. It is clear that God does not want husbands and wives to endure the turmoil tha...

Thoughts

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Young Pastors Dealing With Older Members

Paul’s advice to Timothy in chapter 5, on how to deal with different age groups is very good. I have known young pastors who went counter to this advice, very much to the detriment of their ministry. When a young so-called leader does not properly honor the more senior members, feelings are hurt and it is very hard for the young pastor to regain the respect the seniors would like to give him, had he honored their many years of service to the Lord.

This even happened to me. I used to attend a church here in my hometown of Riverside, CA. As some of you know, I ran most of the tech, for well over 20 years, at the church before this one I’m referring to. And then I got involved in doing a small bit of tech at the new church. Everything was going very well until a new, young person was hired. And this new person’s job included overseeing my area of responsibility. And this person began to micromanage what I was doing, completely ignoring my previous experience, which they were well aware of. But since I’m an “old guy”, this person edged me out. I finally quit, which was what this person was trying to accomplish. I’m not bitter about it, but at the same time, I won’t stay where I’m not wanted. There are places I can serve and be welcomed. I’m not boasting, but that church could have benefitted from my experience. 

Young Pastors Dealing With Elders and Deacons

In regards to elders and deacons in the church, Paul tells Timothy to do something that is seldom done today. Paul tells Timothy to reprimand the leaders in his church who sin, and do it publicly so that other leaders will be afraid to not live godly lives. Can you imagine that being done today? It would be good for the church to do this today, because Christians have the reputation of being hypocrites. If the world saw us cleaning up our own ranks, I believe we would have more credibility when we make moral statements about cultural issues.

Be Cautious When Choosing Whom To Ordain

Paul tells Timothy to be cautious in ordaining someone. He says that some sins are obvious, but others take time to be found out. Hence the “don’t rush to ordain” instruction. Conversely, some good and godly men are known by the nature of their service, but others serve God in such a way that they go unnoticed. Paul wants Timothy to be on the lookout for these folks, too. 

My late father-in-law was one of these types of servants. Unassuming and quiet, he did many things in the church that were behind the scenes. He was never one to draw attention to himself or what he was doing, but because of his integrity and his servant’s heart, he became known as one of the finest men in the church, and served many terms as an elder. He’s been with the Lord many years now, and is still remembered and loved by those who knew him. Including yours truly.

Stay The Course

Paul’s advice in the sixth chapter has to do with servants doing their jobs well, for the name of Christ, encouraging Timothy to remain true to the teaching he got from Paul, the damage that comes to those who lust for wealth, and a reminder to fight the good fight. 

It’s easy, when in the trenches, to get distracted by the attacks of the enemy. But when we keep the goal in mind, when we don’t stray from the basics we will make it through and accomplish the task to which we are called. This is true for pastors and it is true for the rest of us, as well. 

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 40-41 NIV, Ch.

Thoughts

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Bread

John chapter 6 begins with Jesus feeding the five thousand, then He walks on the water to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and then He points out to the people that followed Him there that they did so because he fed them bread. And He talked about the fact that He is the bread of life, and anyone who comes to Him will never be hungry and whoever believes in him will never be thirsty. 

Wait. What?

Then He says something that must surely have shocked the crowd. He says that unless you eat His flesh and drink His blood, you have no life in you. And He says, "This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."

What could Jesus possibly mean? He of course was not talking about cannibalism, as many evidently thought. So what was He saying? Throughout His discourse, He dropped hints. Jesus likened Himself to bread. The bread of life. To that culture, bread was the source of life, because it was their staple food. Bread represented life itself. Without bread, you starved. He said He was sent by the Father from Heaven. He reminded them that their ancestors had received manna from Heaven, and yet died. 

A Reminder

What is it that enables us to have eternal life? Isn't it the sacrificial death of Jesus? Isn't it his broken body and spilled blood? Of course. Every time we take communion, or the Lord's supper, whatever you call it in your church, we are reminded of his broken body and spilled blood. The bread and the wine are symbols of the sacrifice he made.

Jesus, in saying that unless you eat his flesh and drink his blood you cannot have life, is not saying that taking communion saves you, is He? Is there any place in the Bible that says you must take communion to be saved? What did Jesus say, even in this chapter? He said, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life…" Many, many verses say virtually the same thing: If you believe in the Son, you will be saved.

It Was Another Word Picture

So what Jesus was saying when he said you must eat his flesh and drink his blood, is that you must accept the sacrifice he made of his own body and spilled blood, for yourself. You must believe that His sacrifice covers your sins. You must make that the central part of what and who you are, just as when you eat and drink, that food becomes a part of you.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 40-41 NIV, Ch. 42-43 ERV

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: David Chajon on Unsplash

Obviously there is a tremendous amount of material in this book. Tomes have been written about this relatively short, 12 chapter book. I am not even going to try to explain all the things that are here, but there are some principles that we can talk about. 

End Times

Daniel is a book about the end times. Of that, there is no doubt. As a matter of fact, in verse four of chapter 12, Daniel is told to “shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end.”

A Bit of History

It’s an interesting fact that throughout history, the focus of the church has not always been what it is today. In the first few hundred years after Jesus left the church with the Great Commission, the church focused on the doctrine of Scripture. Which makes sense, right? In the early years, the church had to define what was and what was not divinely inspired scripture. And then, through the centuries, the focus shifted to the doctrine of the Trinity, to the doctrine of who and what Jesus is, to the doctrine of who and what man is, to the doctrine of salvation, to the doctrine of the church. And it really wasn’t until the last couple hundred years that the church spent much time studying the doctrine of the end days….which, as I have said, many believe we are in.

Is Prophecy Opening Up To Us?

Yes, it is true. For most of our history the biblical books of prophecy have been looked at as being impossible to understand. But that is because it was not time yet to understand them. As we read these books today, we can begin to see glimpses that make sense.

For example, it says at the end of verse four “…knowledge shall increase.” Roughly 80% of you listening to this are listening on some sort of portable device, be it a smart phone or a tablet similar device. And that device has access to most of the world’s knowledge. You can find almost anything that man has learned within seconds. That capability did not exist until about 13 years ago when the first iPhone was introduced. All of a sudden, we had an Internet browser in our pocket. 

The Internet itself first started being developed in the 60s. And in 1995, the world wide web really began to change the world for the general public. Can we even imagine going back to a world where we are not constantly connected? 

Knowledge will increase. I think we can check that one off the list of things to look for.

Don't Go Overboard

If you have an interest in studying more about the end times, there are a ton of resources available. It’s a fun area of study for some, but as I’ve said before, it’s not something that you should get all wrapped up in, because as long as the Lord has us here, we are to be busy doing what we are here for, sharing the Good News of a Risen Christ. Getting people ready to meet Him, whether is is today, next year or next century.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 7-12 ESV

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ralph (Ravi) Kayden on Unsplash

I need to let you know why there was no episode yesterday. As I told you a few days ago near the end of the show, I need to move to a new webhost. For those that don’t know, a web host is a company that has a whole bunch of computers, or servers, where people like me rent space to host their website(s). My webhost has been really falling down on the job after 7 1/2 years, and since they were unable to provide me with a server that could give *you* a reasonably good experience when on my website, I decided to move. Well, now that they have seen that I'm serious about moving, they decided to move my account to a supposedly faster server. But in doing that, they told  me I could not update the website for about 24 hours. And that meant I could not post a new episode of the podcast for you.

Now, while they were doing that, I was still doing some things in the background to make the move to a new web host happen. Because I *am* going to make the move. But this is a very time consuming process. So much so that I have not had time to study to have some decent comments for this episode. Depending on how things go over the next day or so, I may or may not have comments for a day or two more. But I am committed to at least having the reading for you each day. If there is another day over the next week where you don’t get a new episode, it will be because of the move to the new web host. Theoretically, the move should be seamless, but Murphy’s Law exists for a reason. And BTW, I am incurring new, ongoing costs with all of this. Now would be a good time to send some value my way, if you find value in this show. support.lifespringmedia.com.

Sorry for the long intro, but I think it’s important for you to know what’s going on, especially when it interrupts our daily release schedule.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 5-6 NASB, Ch. 7 CEV, Ch. 8-9 NCV

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Alex Iby on Unsplash

Timothy is pastoring the church at Ephesus, and Paul offers words of advice on how he should conduct himself and lead his congregation. 

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 NIRV, Ch. 3 GWT

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”John 4:35-38 NKJV

"There are still four months and then comes the harvest" was a proverb in that time. It meant,"What's your hurry? There's plenty of time." Jesus did not want the disciples to have this attitude. He wanted them to see that "time is of the essence". You never know when someone's last day on earth will be, beloved. *Today* is the day of salvation! No one is guaranteed tomorrow.

Jesus said,

"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" "White for harvest" was a sign that the wheat is ready to be harvested. 

As I look at what's happening around the country and around the world, I see signs that people are looking for answers. Politicians don't have answers. So-called "health experts" don't have answers. There are no answers at the bottom of a bottle, in a syringe or in a joint. There are no answers that satisfy, outside of God. Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life." 

Have you seen the show on Disney+ called the Mandalorian? He's made the phrase, "This is the way," famous. Sorry, but he does not have "the Way". Jesus IS the Way.

The field is white unto harvest, beloved. As the seasons and the weather bring the wheat into being ready for harvest, the conditions in our world are making people ready to hear the Gospel. Jesus is the answer for people looking for meaning and stability. 

We are living in conditions that just over a year ago no one could have predicted, aren't we? Lockdowns. Social distancing. Masks. You can't visit loved ones in the hospital. Schools are closed. Suicides are at record levels. On and on it goes, and we don't know when life will every get back to normal. 

God was not taken by surprise. And Jesus can still be closer than a brother. Even in the midst of chaos and despair, Jesus' promise holds true, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Don't you think people are ready to hear these promises? Of course they are. They need the assurance that there is One who is there. As David said, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Beloved, there has never been a better time to bring the message of salvation. Today is the day. The fields are ready for harvest. 

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 3 ERV, Ch. 4 NKJV

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Thoughts

Background

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Matt Seymour

The book of Ezekiel showed us the prophecies of the the beginning of Israel’s captivity. Daniel’s book is of the latter years of their captivity. The visions God gave Ezekiel were meant to be a comfort to the Jews in the midst of their captivity, and the same is true of Daniel’s visions, as their captivity dragged on. Knowing that God was still speaking to them and had plans for them was surely something that helped them make it through.

Daniel is considered one of the most prominent prophets. He lived in the courts of some of the greatest kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Darius. 

The first six chapters of this book are historical and easy to understand. The last six chapters are of a prophetic nature and are not so easy to understand. They do clearly speak of the coming Greek and Roman kingdoms, and they clearly speak of the coming Messiah. 

No One Is Beyond Hope

Going back to chapter 4, where King Nebuchadnezzar gave praise to God. Remember who this is. He is the proud and haughty king of Babylon who boasted about how great and mighty he was, how he could do anything because of his great power. He was the evil king who God used to bring his chosen people into captivity. And here, near the end of his life, he has come to know who the one true God is, and he publicly, before the whole world, gives God praise.

Is there someone in your life, perhaps a loved one, whom you think is beyond God’s reach? Someone who sees no need for God or for forgiveness or redemption? Remember Nebuchadnezzar. God can reach anyone. 

I’ve told the story before, but I’ll repeat a condensed version of it here for those who might be new. I was not brought up in a Christian home. When I became a believer in Jesus at the age of sixteen, my dad told me I was a fool. Over the years I tried several times to share the reality of Jesus with him, and what he did in my life. Nearly every time, I ended up in tears because of the hardness of my dad’s heart and mind. I finally gave up, and I prayed that God would bring someone into his life that he would listen to. Finally, when my dad was very old, just about a year before he died, a neighbor was able to bring my dad to the Lord. And today, I know that someday I’ll see him again.

If God can save Nebuchadnezzar, if God can save my dad, He can bring your loved one into a relationship with Him, too. Don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. Be faithful. Hang in there. God loves that person more than you do.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-6 ESV

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jessica Delp

Gray hairs

These days, much of my hair is gray. Not all of it yet, but a lot of it. I remember several years ago when I was getting my hair cut, that I looked down at the black drape that my barber had put around me to keep the hair off my clothes, and I had to comment that I didn’t like the color she had chosen to use. The black of the drape really showed how much gray hair I now have. Mind you, it’s not all gray yet, but it seems like every time I go for a haircut there is more and more.

I guess I shouldn’t feel so bad about it, though, based on Proverbs 16:31. “Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.” I know that the Lord is not at all interested in flattering us, but verses like this sure do help to ease the process of getting older.

Fools

So today we learned that God really detests liars and dishonest business practices, impatient and easily angered people, disloyal and unfaithful friends, and much more. Of course, that is no surprise, but remember that Proverbs was given to us as a guide, or a course on how to gain wisdom. It’s filled with examples that contrast the wise with the fool. 

Grayhairs

Ron Ploof Doing What He Does Best: Telling Stories

And given its purpose, it must be possible to learn wisdom. Of course that is true, because most of the wise people I have known are those who have been down the road a piece. They are the, as my good friend Ron Ploof of Griddlecakes Radio says, “the grayhairs”. Have you ever noticed how unusual it is to find a young person with wisdom? It can happen, but you don’t often walk away from a conversation with a young person saying, “What wisdom!”

So if your answer to my question at the beginning of the show was that there are more foolish people than wise, be encouraged. Fools can learn to be wise. What they need is guidance from the Master. My encouragement to you is to be the wise person who is available to those that need wisdom, so that you can point them to the Source of wisdom.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 16 HCSB

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Thoughts

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: hidariniart at Unsplash

I don't know about you, but I can't help but get excited when I read chapters like these. Psalm 93 declares that God is king, then proceeds to illustrate in great, majestic language how this is true. 

Psalm 94 opens by referring to Him as the God of vengeance. This is an interesting word. I think that to many people, vengeance has a negative connotation. And in the hands of man, vengeance can be an ugly and negative thing, but that's because man's vengeance is often not based on perfect justice. But listen to the definition of the word as the Oxford Dictionary has it: Punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.

Now, who better than the author of all that is right and good, to be the One to exact vengeance? Who better to judge those who injure or wrong the innocent? Psalm 94 implores God to let His glorious justice shine forth, to give the proud what they deserve, to punish the evil who kill widows and murder orphans. 

Our culture often doesn't like to hear that there truly is evil in the world. Or if they do, many do not think that the ultimate punishment (death) should be meted out. "We don't have the right to kill another human being, no matter how bad they are or what they have done," they say. Perhaps. But God does have that right, and that is what the author of this Psalm is calling for. We certainly do not have the right to play God, but God does.

And then Psalm 95 is a call for us to sing and shout joyfully to the Lord, the Rock of our salvation. It shows Him as our shepherd, and us as the flock under his care. This is a call to us to kneel before Him, trusting that we will be safe as He watches over us.

I for one am amazed and humbled that this Holy and Righteous God, creator of everything that is, takes note of me at all. I am nothing in the grand scheme of things. When I ponder the vastness of the universe, when I think of my failures, when I look at His infinite greatness, I have to ask myself why this God would care about me. But then I am reminded of the scripture that says simply, "God is love." 1 John 4:8. And John 3:15-18, "16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.18“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him."

How wonderful is His name!

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 93-95 NLT

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