BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “…none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”  Numbers 14:23,24 ESV

It is easy to blend in and go along with the crowd. But to stand against the tide of the masses requires conviction and courage. That is what we see in Joshua and Caleb.

Caleb is specifically commended by the Lord as one who has a “different” spirit and has followed the Lord fully. Caleb was one who was able to see God above the obstacles. He took the Lord at His word and had a “the-bigger-they are-the-harder-they-fall” kind of attitude.

Ten of the spies looked at big people and became discouraged and fearful. Joshua and Caleb looked to a big God and was confident and eager.

Because Caleb had a “different” spirit, he received a different destiny than the rest of those who rebelled and refused to enter the promised land. Although he had to wait for forty years, he would enter the land the Lord had promised to his ancestors and his descendants would possess their inheritance.

It would actually be 45 years before Caleb received the promise. But he was as eager as the day when he spied out the land.

“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart….And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war…Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day…” (Joshua 14:7,10-11 ESV)

There you have one feisty octogenarian. We read this conclusion and fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.” (Joshua 14:14 ESV)

Hebron became a prominent city in Israel. It was a city of refuge. It was the city in which David ruled before he became King over a united nation. This city would be of significance because of the man who was willing to fully obey the Lord and to wait for the promise he had be given to come true.

Prayer for today…. Lord place in us a “spirit” that sets us apart from others. Help us to always fully obey You, knowing that as we do, it is the gateway to receiving great things from You. Grant us as well the patience until Your promise is fulfilled in our lives.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:1-4 ESV

You can count on it every time. Fear and rampant emotions cloud clear thinking and good decisions. I wish that I could say the I was immune, but I realize that it can be the downfall of any of us if we are not careful. We see it when Moses was at his “breaking point” as a leader. The people in the their constant complaining wore him down to a point that it became overwhelming.

The bad report about the land of Canaan and the prospects of success wore down the people. Their fears and outlook became exaggerated in their minds and emotions took over. We it described in vivid terms. “…the congregation raise a loud cry….people wept that night.” After a restless night filled with fear and anxiety, the looked for the most convenient scape goat. They found one in Moses. In the response of the people, the faithless spies were heroes and Moses was the villain with evil intentions. This is one situation where the view of the “majority” was wrong and the “minority report” was the one representing the Lord’s will.

They accepted defeat before even trying to work up their courage and trust in God to fight. It is interesting that their proposal was to replace God’s theocracy with a democracy. They want to choose a leader whose campaign slogan was “back to Egypt and the good ole days of slavery.” You have to be pretty desperate or suffer from a short memory to desire whips on your back and hard labor over trust in an all-powerful God.

Then we see God was ready to go to “Plan B.” The Lord says to Moses, “I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” (Numbers 14:12 ESV)

Moses in his meekness, intercedes for the people. The Lord listens to the intercession of Moses, pardons the people, but they still face the consequences of their unbelief. “Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word…. But…none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.” (Numbers 14:21-23 ESV)

In the end the grumbling Israelites received what they spoke. They refused to enter the land. They said it would be better to die in the wilderness and that is what happened. Forty years, one year for each day they would continue to travel in the wilderness until the generation of slaves all died and a new generation was prepared to enter into the land promised by the Lord to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Mass hysteria is difficult to control. But on an individual basis, it is important to get control of our emotions in critical times and to say even out loud, “STOP! Think!” We then can begin to refocus from a mind driven by fear and emotion to the promises and reality of God who is greater, bigger and stronger than that which confronts us. He is able to by His peace, “keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:8,9) Paul told the Corinthians, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV) At times those “arguments…against the knowledge of God” can come from us as much as those outside of us.

Prayer for today….. Lord how easy it is for our emotions to take control and to dictate the direction and perspective of our situation. Enable us by Your Spirit to have a “time out” in order to allow You to speak to our hearts and to quiet the run-a-way thoughts and wrong conclusions that our fears, frustrations and disappointments would drive us to.

The busiest days of my week are coming to an end. I had two campaign meeting today and a follow up newspaper interview for tomorrow. The next 30 days will be important for my efforts. Your prayers are appreciated.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large…. But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:27,28,30

The Children of Israel are at the threshold of the promise land. The Lord directs Moses to send spies into the land. One man from each tribe to spend 40 days touring one end of the land to the other. They return to an eager crowd anticipating their report.

They give their factual report. It is a good land “flowing with milk and honey” with fortified cities inhabited by strong people. To this assessment Caleb speaks up and says, “let’s go take our inheritance and possess the land!” He is not looking at what is, but what will be and the promise of the Lord being fulfilled.

The other spies look at what is as an insurmountable obstacle. “…We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:31 ESV)

In the contrast of these two views, we see Caleb with his eyes on the “milk and honey” and the bounty of the land and the others spies look at the walled cities and strong people who stood between them and the bounty of the land.

Caleb had his eyes fixed on a “big” God and the other spies on a “big” enemy. As a result they begin to exaggerate the challenges. “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height….and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” (Numbers 13:32,33 ESV)

Joshua and Caleb focus on what the land has to offer and the greatness of God. “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.” (Number 14:7,8 ESV)

We can observe what is inherit in human weakness and that is, negative reports are given greater credence than positive ones. There is a natural tendency to be motivated more by fear than by faith.

Often in our minds we can find the dialogue of the ten spies being played out. The opportunity is great, but the risk seems greater. Our minds can battle between faith and fear. Between looking for our own abilities and trusting in the Lord’s intervention.

The key as Joshua pointed out is pleasing God and obeying Him. There is an old saying, “Where God guides, He provides.” The New Testament proclamation is, “If God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Prayer for today…. Lord enable us to choose the report of faith and confidence in Your provision and protection. It is Your love that drives out fear and gives us the assurance that the “battle belongs to the Lord.” 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.” Numbers 12:1,2 ESV

Numbers details a series of challenges to Moses’ leadership and a test of his character and God’s choosing of Moses as the leader of His people.

It is one thing to face criticism from those you lead, it is another when the rebellion comes from within your own family. In this account we see the attack coming from Moses’ sister and brother. Miriam and Aaron question Moses’ authority and representative as God’s voice to the people.

We see them attempting to elevate themselves and to take on authority not given by the Lord. However, it this was more than an issue of “who is in charge?” and “Who does God speak to and through?” The complaint arises because of Moses taking a Cushite woman as his wife. We don’t know if this was a wife addition to or to replace Zipporah, the Midianite wife of Moses whose father was Jethro.

What we do know is that Miriam and Aaron were upset with their brother and they made it into a leadership qualification issue and an occasion to questions Moses’ authority.

So often we see this in relational dynamics. There is the “issue” and then there is the issue. What is really troubling or what has upset someone is cloaked in a more reasonable sounding complaint or accusation. The examples of this in the course of human history and church life are legion.

We see Miriam and Aaron standing before the Lord and the Lord comes to Moses’ defense. They found that God did speak to them, but His words were not what they wanted to hear. The Lord says of Moses, “…He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.” (Numbers 12:7-9 ESV)

Miriam must have been the instigator because God’s judgment comes upon her and she becomes stricken with leprosy. Moses prays for his sister and the Lord responds, but Miriam is isolated outside of the camp for seven days. The result is not just the impact on her, with being removed from the camp, but it shows how her sin impacted the entire congregation.

As people are sitting around in the wilderness questioning why they are breaking camp and moving the answer is, “Because of Miriam.” The judgment on Miriam becomes a warning to all the people. It is one that the record will show they have a hard time paying attention to, but it is an obvious warning nonetheless.

We need to remember when criticism arises, that the “issue isn’t always the issue.” The Lord knows the hearts of all people, both leaders and followers and He is able to reveal the truth. We need to remember that attacks against leaders and sowing discord and division has ramifications that impacts many others.

Prayer for today…. Lord keep us from falling into the Miriam and Aaron trap. Help us to be honest when we are upset over an issue and be willing to confront in honesty and truth. Lord, when we are unjustly criticized help us to know You are able to come to our rescue. You know the hearts of all people. 

Today ended up being a busy day with my City Council campaign activities. I met with some friends for a small fundraiser, had an interview with the Home Builders Association and then met with some leaders of a Water Conservation District. This will be a busy but productive week.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?” Numbers 11:10,11 ESV

A denomination leader received a Monday morning phone call from a pastor. The pastor asked, “Have you ever told a congregation  ‘off”?” The leader said he hadn’t. The insight came when the pastor responded, “I wish I could say that!”

Have you ever been at a breaking point? That point where you have done your best, but the challenges grow bigger, not smaller? Have you ever voiced your frustration and complaint to God?

Once again we find the Children of Israel complaining in the wilderness. This time because they did not have meat to eat. They were tired of manna. Moses had had enough! He even cried out to God to “kill him” so he could be free of the burden of leadership. The people complained to Moses, Moses complained to God. God intervene for both the people and Moses.

What I observe is that before God addressed the complaint of the people, He took care of the leader.

 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. (Numbers 11:16-17 ESV)

Moses wasn’t the first and certainly  the last leader to be at his wits end. Death even looked like a desirable option, but God had a different plane. Just as Jethro intervened for Moses in his practice of sitting alone in a place of judgement over the people, now the Lord intervenes for Moses at his breaking point.

God has seventy elders come before Him, sanctify themselves and then places His Spirit on them. “Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied….” (Numbers 11:25 ESV)

The Lord also brought quail into the camp by the thousands and all the people had their fill and more as God provided and then judged them for their hard hearts and complaining. “While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.” (Numbers 11:33 ESV)

God accomplishes His work through human servants and leaders. But He is concerned about the well being of the leader and we should be as well. The Lord wants many to share in the task and for the leader to remain strong and for the people to be blessed. Complaining and demanding our own way brings judgment. Faith and obedience bring blessing and provision.

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You that You don’t abandon us at our point of need. You come to our rescue and provide not just encouragement and strength, but practical solutions to meet a need. Enable us to keep our eyes on You in trust and obedience as we follow You to our “heavenly promise land.”

We enjoyed a beautiful and very meaningful wedding ceremony yesterday afternoon. Congratulations to my niece Kate and David Martin on heir marriage. My son Christian performed the ceremony for his cousin. My brother gave a moving speech at the reception that placed a great capstone on the celebration.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ^‘The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side….'” Numbers 2:1,2 ESV

The days the Children of Israel spent at Mount Sinai were critical for their journey to the promise land. There was the giving of the “Law of Moses” that involved the ten commandments and all the laws regarding the lives and conduct of God’s people with the Lord and with each other. They were receiving instructions on how to live as God’s Holy people in relationship with a Holy God.

But in addition to the “law” dimension much attention is given to the structure and organization of how God’s people were to operate. How do nearly 2 million people get to a destination in an orderly manner? Who is responsible for various tasks and duties? Who is to be ready to fight if there an attack from an enemy?

What we see in much of the early chapters of Numbers covers all these topics. There was an order with the twelve tribes. Each tribe was arranged in a specific order around the Tabernacle. When they set out from camp, they left in a specific order. Specific duties were assigned to the Levites and their families. Each had their own “job description.” The efficiency and effectiveness of the nation would depend on how each individual and group carried out their delegated duties.

That sounds like a principle that applies to any church, business or organization today. As an organization grows, so the need of more leaders, clear roles and expectations and better defined duties. There were 22,000 Levites to assist in the care of the Tabernacle and to serve the priests. Special duties were given to a group of about 8,600. Anyway you look at it that is a big staff!

We can observe in the Book of Acts the needs of widows  becoming a drain on the focus and priorities of the Apostles. As a result twelve men were chosen and assigned to those duties.

We see that every aspect of organizational life for God’s people was covered. There are many details, because many details are needed. There were trumpets that sounded one sound to summon the entire congregation and another to summon only the leaders of the tribes. There was a blowing of the trumpet that called the fighting men to prepare for war.

The bottom line is the God of the universe is able to give us the instructions on how to live in right relationship with Him and others and to provide the needed order to our lives and organizations that reveal His wisdom and character. The Lord is concerned about all aspects of our life and we can look to Him and trust Him to help us in what ever that challenge before us may be.

Prayer for today…. Lord, when we read in scripture that, “God is a God of order” we can see it in vivid detail in the Book of Numbers. Help us to trust You to provide for us all that we need as we seek to live our lives for Your glory. Use us as people of wisdom in our workplace, community and church.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:18,19 ESV

Basketball was not my main sport in my teen years. However, I still recall one coach that was very poetic in his coaching style. When I hesitated or was slow to see an open drive to the basket he would yell. “Summers, you have to make up your mind!”

In our spiritual life we need to constantly “make up our mind.” Will we go all out for God or will we struggle to let go of that which is holding us back? In this psalm we see an important connection between holding on to sin and that which is displeasing to the Lord and confidence in our prayers being heard.

Isaiah the prophet addressed the ability and willingness of God to act, but at the same time the barrier that disobedience plays in our life. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1,2 NIV)

More often than not the disconnect in our lives with God is not on God’s part, but on ours. We see this concept in the New Testament in John’s epistle,

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1 John 3:19-22 ESV)

God by His Holy Spirit is able to keep us on track in our relationship with the Lord. I notice the key word of Psalm 66 is the word, “cherish.” It is not just, “if I have sin.” It is “if I cherish sin….” That challenges us to ask, “Do I love sin, more than God? Am I want to get the most out of God, by giving the least to God?”

I have always felt that times of prayer should begin with confession of any known or unknown sin. That is an aspect of  the worship order in many liturgical churches. It is an important practice. But it goes beyond, just recognizing the need for forgiveness to pushing us on to “repentance.” Confession of sin recognizes the wrong, repentance reveals a willingness to change. It is, “I’m wrong forgive me and I will lead a new life, I will change my actions and attitude.”

Psalm 66 recognizes the hindrance of sin, but it celebrates the joy of connecting with the Lord out of a relationship of love and obedience. “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” 

Prayer for today…. Lord, enable us to live in an open and free relationship with You. May we lay aside and turn from all that would hinder our prayers and our obedience to You. Thank You for Your grace that doesn’t require human perfect, but does call for the affection of our hearts to be toward You.

We are in Westminster in northwest Denver for my niece’s wedding. Kate is the daughter of my older brother Don and his wife Claudia from Monterrey, California. She is working as an occupational therapist at Porter Hospital. She met David, her fiance over a year ago. The wedding is tomorrow afternoon. So, part of the plans for this weekend is going to Flatirons Church where they attend. David told me they wanted their family and friends to experience an important part of their “weekend life.” As my New Zealand friend would say, “Good on ’em” for that commitment.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3,4 ESV

In this psalm we find a focus on the Lord who meets the most critical needs of our life. Our relationship with the Lord must be viewed as vital and foundational. Just as we think of physical, basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter, our relationship with God must be viewed in such terms. In other words, it is not an “add on.” It is not, “if I have time for God.” It is not a “take it or leave it” option in my life. It is understanding that a meaningful, growing relationship with the God of the universe is a “main course” of life and not “desert.”

This psalm opens with this vivid word picture, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 ESV) We are correct in saying, “what water is to our physical bodies, so is God to our spirit.”

My only trip to Israel, was when Debbie and I joined a tour in the July of 2000. There is a reason most tours to the Holy Land are in the fall. When you experience the summer heat of Israel, you gain a whole new appreciation for water. During our trip the thoughts often ran through our minds, “I need water and I need some now!”

As I read the opening verses of this psalm, I have to ask myself, “Has my desire for the Lord ever matched that kind of desperation?” Have I ever found myself crying out, “Lord, I need You and I need You now!” As I near a “health crisis anniversary” (it was this time of the year three years ago, I almost died of septic shock) I can say that there were times when that was my plea. But how often is it outside of a literal life and death crisis?

The old hymn confesses, “I need thee every hour.” When we live our life with that kind of dependence, it will bring a whole new dimension to our lives. We will have our life set on a firm foundation.

It is then we find that the Lord’s “…steadfast love is better than life…” It is never in short supply. It is never a cause for fear or concern over its limits being exhausted. That is a reason for us to live our lives with a sense of praise and thankfulness. The water supply for communities may be threatened by times of drought, natural disasters and changes in weather. But the love of God will never be in question. It is steadfast, it is long-suffering, it is what we need to sustain our lives.

Prayer for today…. Lord, may we never take for granted Your love and its consistency in our lives. May we ever recognize our need of You and what You offer. With You at the center of our lives, we have all that we need.