Sunday, February 23, 2020

FEBRUARY 23, 2020

“May you live every day of your life.” 
― Jonathan Swift

NUMBERS 8-10

29Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”
31But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”
33So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. 34The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
35Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,
“Rise up, Lord!
May your enemies be scattered;
may your foes flee before you.”
36Whenever it came to rest, he said,
“Return, Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel.”(10:29-36)


MARK 5:1-20


18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolisb how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.


JOURNAL 

I really  loved reading this morning. For all the times I've read through the Bible I never remember this section in Numbers where Moses asks his Brother-in-law to stay with them and then to go into the promised land. Apparently he agrees because the Kenites eventually settled in Canaan (Judges 1:16). Also in this section is the detailed explanations of how the Israelites followed God through the desert...using the cloud that settled above the tabernacle tent as the barometer of when they should stay or go. 

Lastly this story in Mark is really amazing and strange (Jesus sending demons out of a man and into pigs who kill themselves, but then refusing to allow the man to go with them)...why is that? I think ultimately its because God's plan is for us to go into the world...into the dark places and be a light. 

Juxtaposed these two verses seem to communicate the opposite...Hobab is asked to stay and the demon-possessed man is told to go. But I think that's because we all play different roles in growing God's kingdom. But it is also why we are to seek God daily for direction. At times he may have us go and at times he may have us stay, but we will never know unless we seek him. 

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

JEREMIAH 29:11

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