Sunday, 3/1/2015

“That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” ~ George Carlin

NUMBERS 23-27

Balaak again is pushed by Balaam to curse the Israelites.  He again tells him that it is impossible for him to do this no matter how much wealth he promises...

“May those who bless you be blessed

and those who curse you be cursed!”

10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

Chapter 25 then begins with the Israelites being seduced by Moabite women and falling prey to worshiping their Gods.  God causes a plague to sweep through the camp and in the end 24,000 Israelites die as a result of their rebellion.

Chapter 26 and 27 contain the numbers of a second census and finally at the end of chapter 27 Moses passes the leadership to Joshua

18So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,^a and lay your hand on him. 19Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”22Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

MARK 8

Jesus again has compassion on the crowds that are following him...since they have nothing to eat he again takes seven loaves and a few fish and feeds all 5000.  From there Jesus is confronted by a blind man whom he heals.  Then Jesus tells predicts his death and Peter takes him aside and rebukes him and tells him he will never let this happen.

33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Jesus then tells them the way of the Kingdom

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life^b will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

JOURNAL

Here we find the Israelites being tempted and indulging in the women of another kingdom.  Balaak thought that sending down curses on the Israelites was the way to defeat them.  Little did he realize that all he had to do was expose them to his it's women.  This will continue to haunt the Israelites and all mankind.  Our entire culture is consumed with the promises and lies that all that we are looking for is found outside of the blessings God has given.  We continually wax and wane over what we don't have and thereby dismiss all that we do.

Jesus confronted this head on with Peter...even calling him Satan.  Peter's only concern is the here and now and ensuring that earthly pleasures, position and power are achieved.  Yet Jesus knows that this is a distraction and is completely missing the point of his life and ministry.

A good friend of mine sent me the following clip...it is a tough message and one that puts me in the position of Peter...blind to my own sin and how I often miss the point of it all!

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^d is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)