pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: faith


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Necessary Steps to Take Steps

Readings: Numbers 1, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4

Numbers 1:2-3 and 46 – “Take a census… of every male 20 years old and above… All those enlisted were 603,550.”

Today is day 34 of our Bible Year reading project. Today we begin Numbers, the fourth book of the Bible. Leaving Mount Sinai in chapter 10, their journey will continue. As God leads, guides, and provides, Israel is shaped more and more into a kingdom of priests. At times they will step forward as a faithful nation. Much of the time they will allow fear to lead to disobedience. The generation that walked out of Egypt will pass and the next generation enters the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. Along the way God walks with this holy nation.

Numbers begins with a census. All males 20+ are counted. The men eligible for military service totals 603,550. The Levites are not included in this census. They are assigned to the tent of meeting. God orders the camp – three tribes will camp on each side of the tent of meeting. Then the Levites are counted and assigned places to camp. They form a buffer zone around the tent of meeting. There are 22,000 Levite males age one month and older. A tally of the oldest males is made for all the Israelites. This equals 22,273. The extra 273 are redeemed to their families by paying 5 shekels each.

Lastly, duties are assigned to the 3 Levite clans. The Kohathites are responsible for carrying the Holy items – the chest, table, lamp stand, altar… The Gershonites are responsible for carrying the coverings and the Merarites are responsible for the frames, poles, bars, bases… Only Aaron and his sons can touch the holy items. These are packed and covered in cloth and then in fine leather. In all, there are 8,580 Levite males age 30-50 responsible for taking down, setting up, and transporting the tent of meeting and all of its equipment.

These laws and counts and organization are necessary steps for the holy nation to step forward towards the Promised Land. Again today we are reminded that God is a God of order and detail. There is a plan. And, always, everything is done “as the Lord commanded Moses.” Obedience is necessary too. Likewise, may we too do all that the Lord commands us to do.

Prayer: Lord God, what efforts are made to organize this holy nation of Israel. These are practical things necessary for your people to move forward. Lead and guide us today, Lord, so that we too can move into the world to take the good news of Jesus Christ to all people. Amen.


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Questions

Readings: Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 16, Exodus 17, Exodus 18

Exodus 16:8 – “Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us but against the LORD.”

Coming fresh off of the amazing rescue at the sea, today we become familiar with an oft-repeated pattern in the wilderness. The Hebrews are lacking in something so they argue/complain/grumble against Moses. Moses, often in frustration, turns to God and God provides food, water, protection… We often see a version of this played out in our lives, just without Moses as the middle man. We go straight to God with our grumbles, complaints, charges…

At Marah the water is bitter. God makes it sweet. Those hardships or challenges that become blessings? We experience these too, don’t we? Then, in the Sin Desert, hunger sets in. They long for the meat and bread of slavery. Ever look back in the good old days? God provides meat and bread. These come with instructions. These begin to establish the Sabbath. It was not possible in Egypt. As slaves of another they worked 7 days a week. We have a choice. Do we allow ourselves to be controlled by work…? Or do we honor God and ourselves in sabbath rest?

After preserving some manna for future generations, the Israelites travel on to Rephidim. No water. They accuse Moses (read: God) of bringing them out into the desert to die of thirst. Moses hits the rock at Horeb with his staff -> water comes out! Then Amalek comes to fight them. Joshua leads the troops into battle as Moses, Aaron, and Hur go up the mountain. The staff, now held aloft, continues to represent God’s presence. Aaron and Hur help Moses and God gives Israel victory. This leads into Jethro’s visit and suggestion. He sees Moses is too busy. He won’t last like this. Following his wise father-in-law’s advice, Moses appoints judges, sharing the load. God shared the load in battle. Moses shared the load with others. Which kind of sharing is harder for you? What did you learn today about sharing?

Prayer: Lord God, it is a little scary to see how little we’ve changed since Moses’ time. We get caught in nostalgia, we lose faith quickly, we question your love. Today I thank you so much for your enduring patience through the generations and for your great patience with me. Teach me to turn quicker to you and to hold onto your hand longer and more steadily. Amen.


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Obedience and Faith

Readings: Exodus 1, Exodus 2, Exodus 3, and Exodus 4

Genesis 2:24-25 – “God heard their cry… God remembered his covenant… God looked at the Israelites, and God understood.”

Today we begin the story of the Exodus! It is the story of God’s deliverance from oppression and it is the story of the formation of God’s people. The story begins with the fulfillment of part of the covenant – Abraham’s descendants become numerous. Seventy quickly grows to be thousands upon thousands. Pharaoh fears them then enslaves the Hebrews. Growth continues. Faith is demonstrated by Shiphrah and Puah, thwarting plan A. Plan B is to drown all Hebrew baby boys in the Nile River. Moses is born and goes into the Nile – in a tarred basket. Providence has him rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. He grows up largely as an Egyptian.

Turning to adulthood, Moses defends a slave, killing an Egyptian. Moses then flees to Midian where his rescue of some shepherdesses connects him to Jethro and family. Moses marries, settles down. The Israelites cry out. At the end of chapter 2 we read, “God heard their cry… God remembered his covenant… God looked at the Israelites, and God understood.”

Out tending the flock on Mount Horeb/Sinai, Moses is drawn to a burning bush. It is holy ground – God is present. God asks Moses to rescue the Hebrews. Moses has lots of excuses. Sound familiar?! The excuses: Who am I? Who are you? How will they know you sent me? But I can’t talk well! Can’t you just send someone else?! Only the last one angers God. Yet God relents and sends a long Aaron to help. Pharaoh’s stubbornness is foreshadowed, as is the final plague.

Obediently, Moses goes. Yet obedience must be complete. On the way, God appears and tries to kill “him.” Is Moses or his son Gershom? Either way this is about circumcision – the symbolic act that identities the Israelites as God’s people. Zipporah reads the scene correctly and she acts quickly. The chapter closes with Moses and Aaron’s initial meeting with the Hebrew elders. They believe and then they worship the Lord their God.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how we are like Moses! Raised in two worlds – yours and this place we call home. We too can be confused about who and whose we are. And when you come to us, we can make excuses with the best of them. Yet, in love you lead and guide us. You desire relationship. You are not a tyrant. You invite us to be co-creators with you, loving and caring for your intended world. Thank you for the invitation. May we respond with both obedience and faith. Amen.


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Abiding Faith

Readings: Genesis 46, Genesis 47, Genesis 48, Genesis 49, Genesis 50

Genesis 50:24 – “God will certainly take care of you and bring you out of this land to the land he promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Photo credit: Niko Photos

Today we conclude the book of Genesis. In these 15 days we’ve covered the first half of the early story of God’s people. As chapter 46 begins Israel and his entire household move to Egypt, settling in Goshen, “the land’s best location.” There is a joyous reunion with Joseph and a sincere and respectful welcome from Pharaoh. This reflects the place of honor that Joseph has risen to in Egypt.

The famine worsens. The people have given all of their silver for grain. The next year they give their livestock and in the next year they give their land. All now belongs to Pharaoh. Joseph gives the people seed to plant the land. 1/5 of the crops will go to Pharaoh. The people will keep and live off the remaining 4/5.

Chapter 48 begins with Israel blessing Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He makes them equal to all of his other sons – Reuben, Simeon, Levi… Israel also blessed Ephraim over Manasseh. Ephraim will be greater. Joseph is also blessed. Israel gives him an extra portion of the promised land. Then, in the next chapter, the “blessings” continue. Judah, the fourth son, is elevated to the place of firstborn son. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi’s misdeeds have disqualified them. Judah will be the leader and the line that produces kings. The chapter closes with Israel expressing his wish to be buried with his ancestors.

The final chapter in Genesis begins with the grand burial of Israel in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. His death triggers a fear in Joseph’s brothers. So they concoct a lie, trying to protect themselves. Joseph assures them of his love and care. But even moreso, he reminds them of God’s hand guiding it all. Joseph also reminds them of the covenant promise made “to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Joseph expresses his wish to be buried in Canaan, in the Promised Land, before he dies, closing out the book of Genesis . What great faith Joseph expressed in God. May our lives reflect this abiding Faith too.

Prayer: Lord God, this part of the story ends yet points forward to the covenant promises. Throughout we see a deep faith in your plan. That plan and pointing yields the next stages in the Israelites’ journey. May our deep faith in you lead us on our continuing journey of faith as well. Amen.


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God with Joseph

Readings: Genesis 37, Genesis 38, Genesis 39, Genesis 40, Genesis 41

Genesis 39:2 – “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.”

Chapter 37 gives us some great foreshadowing. Within his family, Joseph is both the most favored and the most deeply hated. He is Jacob’s favorite. He tattles and shares his dreams boastfully, leading his brothers to despise him. The ability to interpret dreams will come in useful in the next parts of Joseph’s life. The brothers’ hatred of Joseph eventually leads them to sell him into slavery and to lie to Jacob about it.

Chapter 38 interrupts Joseph’s story with the story of Tamar. Here we become more familiar with the practice of “levitate marriage” – a method of protecting widows and of insuring possession of ancestral lands. But greed gets in the way. This places Tamar in a very vulnerable position. She takes matters into her own hands and tricks Judah into sleeping with her. Tamar becomes pregnant. One of her twins is Perez, a direct ancestor of King David and, many years later, of Jesus.

Chapters 39-41 return to Joseph’s story. Three times we see this pattern play out: Joseph is wronged, he remains true, God blessed him and brings him success. Sold into slavery he is bought by Potiphar. Joseph excels and is made #2 in the household. Potiphar’s wife lies about him and Joseph ends up in prison. Here he excels and ends up #2 in the prison. He meets Pharaoh’s cup bearer and bread maker. God gives him the interpretation of their dreams. Joseph asks the cup bearer to remember him. Two years pass and Pharaoh has a dream that no officials can interpret.

The cup bearer remembers Joseph and God once again gives Joseph the interpretation. The healthy cows and grain are 7 abundant years followed by 7 years of famine – the sickly cows and grain. Joseph lays out a plan to survive the famine. Pharaoh is so impressed that he makes Joseph #2 in all of Egypt. Joseph is married to Asenath who bears two sons – Manasseh and Ephraim. The 7 year cycles unfold exactly as Joseph said they would. Egypt has bread during the famine and the world comes to Egypt to buy grain.

Today we again see God choosing the unlikely and then transforming and shaping them, leading and guiding them, eventually revealing God’s power. In Joseph’s story we see yet again how God can work all things for God’s purposes. As we allow God to work, trusting in God’s unfolding plan, we too will see God’s power at work.

Prayer: Lord God, soften me as you need to in order to use me as part of your plan. Fill me with a steadfast faith that yields to your will and to your ways. Amen.


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What a Tale!

Readings: Genesis 28:10-22, Genesis 29, Genesis 30

Genesis 29:30 – “Jacob slept with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban seven more years.”

Photo credit: Patrick Schneider

As we wrap up chapter 28 Jacob has a dream. He sees a stairway connecting earth and heaven. The Lord appears to Jacob and reiterates the covenant promises made to Abraham and to Isaac: many descendants and the promised land. The Lord also adds promises of presence, protection, and guidance. Jacob recognizes the sacredness of this place and of this encounter. He sets up a sacred pillar and names the place “Bethel” – the house of God. And, yet, Jacob’s faith is still immature. In verse 20 he begins, “If God…” The relationship is still very conditional.

In chapter 29 Jacob arrives in Haran and soon meets Rachel and then Laban, her dad. Laban welcomes Jacob. After a month, Laban asks Jacob’s price for his labor. Jacob offers 7 years of labor in exchange for marrying Rachel. After 7 years, the night comes. There is a great banquet and much celebration. Jacob awakens in the morning to find Leah in his tent. He must work 7 more years for Rachel. Older before the younger, you know – customs!

What follows next would put the best ever soap opera to great shame. Leah is unloved so God opens her womb. She thought sons would make Jacob love her. After son 4, she instead praises God for the gift of another son. To get in the game Rachel gives her servant girl to Jacob. This produces 2 sons. To try to again win his favor (or to compete with her sister), Leah gives her servant girl to Jacob. 2 more sons. Then God “responds” to Leah again – 2 more sons and a daughter! Finally God “remembers” Rachel and she bears Jacob a son, taking away her shame.

In Genesis 30:25 Jacob declares his desire to go back home. But he has no wealth. He worked 14 years to pay the customary bride price. He had left home with nothing. Laban sees Jacob’s presence has blessed him, so he agrees to an arrangement to build Jacob’s flocks – the only measure of wealth at this time. Both men try to trick and outwit the other. Laban steals livestock and Jacob manipulates the mating. Jacob ends up “very, very rich.” What a tale we are weaving! The story continues tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord God, blessing, competition, jealousy, the gift of children, trickery and theft. Phew! Promises, a God who sees, provides, loves. Ah… Today we turn pages and read an almost unfathomable tale. And then we pause and realize that this is still our world, still our lives today. Lord, when we are tempted by status or power or possessions, remind us of where we find our true identity and worth – in our relationship with you. Amen.


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God Is So Faithful

Readings: Genesis 24, Genesis 25:1-18

Genesis 25:27: “Bless the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who hasn’t given up his loyalty and his faithfulness to my master.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

The bulk of today’s reading covers finding a suitable wife for Isaac. In the culture of the day, that meant finding a wife from within one’s kinship group. This would insure continuity of religious and cultural norms and beliefs. Abram has married from within his kinship group and knew that was essential for his son Isaac too. Living as “temporary immigrants” in a foreign land, Abraham knew how important this would be for Isaac and for his future descendants. What follows is an amazing story of our faithful God at work.

The story begins with the oldest servant swearing an oath to Abraham to try to carry out his wishes for Isaac’s wife. Abraham is sure that God will go before and will guide this process, providing the right wife for Isaac. Arriving at the well outside of Nahor’s city, the servant prays to God for a woman who will give him a drink and then will water his ten camels. Rebekah does exactly that. The servant gazes in awe and wonder as this scene unfolds. He praises God, saying, “Bless the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who hasn’t given up his loyalty and his faithfulness to my master.” Once at the family home, he recounts the whole story. Essentially asking to take Rebekah back home with him to marry Isaac, both dad and brother respond, “This is all the Lord’s doing.” The next day the journey home begins. On arrival, Isaac and Rebekah meet each other and are married.

All set in order, Abraham makes final arrangements. He wills everything to his son Isaac and sends his second wife and their children far away. Abraham dies at 175. Isaac and Ishmael bury their father with Sarah. It is beautiful that both “first sons” are a part of this. Our reading closes with another example of God’s love and faithfulness. Ishmael dies at 137, leaving a line of 12 sons/princes to build his “great nation,” as promised by God to Hagar and Abraham. Our God is so faithful and true. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, what a powerful witness to who and what you are! All unfolds exactly as you had it planned and we, like the servant, stand in awe and wonder. From that posture, Lord, may we step forward in faith each day, trusting in you to guide and lead our steps as we seek to do your will. Amen.


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Connection, Belonging, Faith

Readings: Genesis 21, Genesis 22, Genesis 23

Genesis 22:7 – “Isaac said, ‘Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the entirely burned offering?’”

Chapter 21 brings a shift in the family dynamics. Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Her laughter of doubt and shame turns to the laughter of joy and celebration. As Isaac grows so too does the tension over the inheritance. This leads to Hagar and Ishmael being sent away. God assures Abraham of their future too, so he is able to send his firstborn son away. Death soon feels near and Hagar and Ishmael cry out to God. Once again God sees her and hears their cries. God promises to make him into a “great nation.” The chapter closes with Abraham making a treaty with Abimelech. This secures water rights for an immigrant living in a foreign land. This reality comes up again in chapter 23.

In chapter 22 God tests Abraham. He is instructed to sacrifice Isaac – his one and only son, again in a place that God will reveal. Showing radical obedience once more, Abraham rises early, chops the wood, and heads out – the fire, the knife, and also Isaac in tow. Leaving the two servants behind, Abraham says to them, “The boy and I will walk up there, worship, and then come back to you.” Carrying the wood himself and seeing the fire, Isaac asks, “But where is the lamb for the entirely burned offering?” Abraham’s response – “God will see to it” – demonstrates his faith. Going so far as to raise the knife over Isaac then demonstrates his trust. God intervenes, providing a ram. Then God reiterates the covenant promise of many, many descendants.

Sarah dies at the beginning of chapter 23. After grieving for her, Abraham goes to the Hittites – the locals – to buy land to bury Sarah. He is at their mercy. Abraham is a temporary immigrant. After some culturally necessary back and forth, he buys land at a very high price. It provides a burial space and it begins a social relationship with the Hittites. To a small degree, they have now become “family.” There is connection and there is belonging, something we all need.

Prayer: Lord God, as the story progresses we see that you do not change. You are faithful, you provide, you are grace. Abraham experiences all of these things again and again as he walks faithfully and obediently with you. Encourage and guide us as we seek to walk this same walk. As we do, Lord, bless us too with your care, your provision, your grace. Amen.


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Abram – A Model Faith

Readings: Genesis 12, Genesis 13, Genesis 14

‭Genesis‬ ‭12:4-5 – “Abram left just as the LORD told him… Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all of their possessions.”

As we begin chapter 12 the stories become more personal. We explore the relationships between God and Abram and between various human characters. The relationship between Abram and God reveals the ideal human relationship with the divine. All of the relationships between the human characters run the gamut from faithful and true to selfish and power-hungry. In many ways these human relationships mirror our relationships today.

Chapter 12 begins with God directing Abram to leave Haran to go to “the land that I will show you.” Abram doesn’t know the destination or the time frame. Yet in verses 4-5 we read, “Abram left just as the LORD told him… Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all of their possessions.” Living out a radical faith and obedience, Abram heads out. Abram leaves everything to follow God’s word. He is the model of faith in the Old Testament and beyond.

But Abram isn’t perfect. That’s another thing that character after character reveals in the Bible. Famine forced Abram and family to Egypt. He lies about who Sarai is to save his own life. She becomes part of Pharaoh’s house. This brings plagues on Pharaoh and his house. Abram is figured out and expelled from Egypt. While living there, however, God has abundantly blessed both Abram and Lot. This becomes a problem when they get back to Canaan. Splitting up is necessary and Abram graciously gives Lot the first choice. He greedily chooses the best land. It is near Sodom, a place of sin and evil.

Lot then becomes a victim of a local war. He and all he has is taken away as plunder. A survivor tells Abram who goes and rescues Lot. On the way home they meet Melchizedek, who blessed them in the name of El Elyon – the God of heaven and earth. Abram returns the blessing by giving the priest a tenth of the plunder.

The question I’m left with today is this: Do my relationships with God and others seek to emulate the relationships modeled by the good and faithful Abram?

Prayer: Lord God, were I to be as obedient and faithful as Abram, how my life and faith would change! When I lean towards being selfish or sinful, bend me back to your will and ways. When you bless me, O God, turn me to others so that I may bless them in turn. Amen.


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In Love and in Grace

Readings: Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Genesis 8, Genesis 9:1-17

Genesis 6:9b: “Noah was a moral and exemplary man; he walked with God.”

Today’s readings center on the great flood. God sees that humanity has become “thoroughly evil.” Every thought was “completely evil.” The world was so bad that God even regrets making human beings. This situation leaves God “heartbroken.” Things are almost as bad as they can get. Almost. There is Noah. In Genesis 6:9b we read, “Noah was a moral and exemplary man; he walked with God.” At least there is Noah. At least there is one person that is worth saving.

Today our world is not perfect. It is far from it. Noah was an Old Testament example of piety. I wonder, as God looks down on the earth today, who are the Noahs? Specifically, are you and I modern day examples of an exemplary relationship with God?

In obedience to God, Noah builds an ark and gathers up his family and the animals – a pair of some, seven pairs of others. This gathering up insures not just Noah’s salvation, but the salvation of all of creation. God then shuts the hatch and the rains come down and the “springs of the deep sea” open up. In 7:22 we read, “Everything on dry land with life’s breath in its nostrils died.” The loss of all life is catastrophic, horrific, complete.

Eventually the waters recede. Noah sends out a dove to test the earth’s readiness for life. The third time the dove does not return. God tells Noah to exit the ark. Noah’s first acts on dry land are to build an altar and then to offer a sacrifice to God. This pleases God and moves God to make a covenant. There will never be another flood “to destroy the earth.” God placed “his bow” in the sky – it will be a frequent reminder to God of God’s commitment to stay in relationship with humanity. This is a gift that we rejoice in yet today.

Prayer: Lord God, what a horrible place the world became. Humanity broke your heart. Things deteriorated to the point that your justice required action. Thanks be to you, O God, that we had Noah – an example of faithful living. In your love you provided a way for the world to continue. In your grace you committed to us and to creation forever. Thank you, God. Amen.