Tuesday, March 15th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Numbers 12-14 - Mark 14:27-53

In today's passage we see the Israelites completely self-destruct. No matter how many times I read this, for some reason everytime I try and will them to believe and change the outcome of the story. Of course, it never works.

We already know the Israelites are grumblers, and persistent grumbling is reflective of unbelief. This unbelief becomes full fledged - and the sad thing is - they never learn from it, not even during the ensuing 40 yr punishment.

Anyway, our passage starts with Aaron and Miriam giving in to envy. This is a pretty universal problem, even to true believers (as Aaron and Miriam obviously were). But they made some pretty audacious claims which were really insults directed to God and His choice of leader for the Israelites - completely forgetting the fact that they were only the leaders they were because of their relationship to Moses.

The amazing thing is that Moses does not defend himself against this libel. And, as indicated in the passage, this is an act of true humility. I'm sure we can all attest to the fact that it is incredibly difficult not to defend ourselves against unjust accusations.

The good thing is that Aaron and Miriam both see the error of their ways, repent and learn their lesson - something the other Israelites unfortunately do not do.

This story is a good lesson to us - nobody is immune to envy, even to spiritual envy. And we need to be on guard lest we fall into that easy trap.

And then the disaster of the spies report. I loved what Rev Rayburn said about the difference between the 10 faithless spies and the 2 faithful spies.....

One commentator helpfully notices that the difference between the majority report and the minority report was where to put the “but.” [Duguid, 169] They were in substantial agreement about the facts. No one disputed that the land was wonderfully fruitful, flowing with milk and honey. No one disputed that there were fortified cities and impressive people inhabiting the land. No one disputed that the population of Canaan represented a formidable force to be overcome. For the ten scouts the “but” came after the account of the prosperity of Canaan. Sure the land is fruitful, just look at these grapes! But… But the people are powerful, the cities are fortified, there are individual Canaanite men that make the twelve Israelite men look like schoolboys. How was Israel to contend with such opposition?

For the two scouts in the minority, Joshua and Caleb, the “but” came later. The land is wonderfully fruitful. Can’t wait to move in and begin enjoying the wealth of the country. And, to be sure, the cities are fortified and the Canaanite armies impressive. But the Lord has promised us this land and, as Caleb puts it in v. 30, “let’s go; we can do this. If we can cross the Yam Suph on dry ground, if we could leave the vaunted Egyptian army buried in the sea, if we could walk out of Egypt no one molesting us and in fact loading us down with gold and silver jewelry, if we can survive in the wilderness without the wherewithal to grow any food, we can certainly take possession of this land. Besides, Hebron is there, the tombs of our ancestors, the very ones to whom the Lord made the promise of this land.” The ten had only the appearance of faith because their faith, such as it was, did not render the presence, power, and promise of God real to them. The two had genuine faith because they were quite ready to act on the strength of God’s presence, power, and promise.

The question is - Where will we put the "but"?

Tomorrow's passage: Numbers 15-16 - Mark 14:54-72