I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.
The passage describes how the Israelites were to prepare water to be used to ceremonially purify those who touched dead bodies and objects that had been made ceremonially unclean by exposure to dead bodies. The passage says that those who have touched a dead body or were in a tent when someone died in it and the tent and all of its furnishings need to be sprinkled with the water of purification. The passage is translated as “sprinkled”, but to me it reads as if the concept would be one that we would think of as “showered”.
One thing I find interesting about this book is how it intersperses descriptions of the journey through the wilderness with commands from God about how the Israelite community should live. The Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Zin, where Miriam died. They had trouble finding water there and the people became rebellious against Moses. Moses and Aaron prayed to the Lord who told Moses to speak to a particular rock formation in the presence of the people. The Lord told Moses that when he did so, it would pour forth water for the people. Moses called the people together and went over to the rock, but instead of just speaking to it, he struck it with his staff. God told Moses because he had not trusted God’s instruction to merely speak to the rock, he would not enter into the promised land. How often are we like Moses? We think that in order to bring forth the results God has promised we must take some kind of action. It is hard for us to accept that sometimes we only need to speak the words that God has given us.
While they were camped here, Moses sent emissaries to the king of Edom requesting permission to pass through that land. The king of Edom refused the Israelites permission and mustered his army to prevent them from passing through his land. It was shortly after this that Aaron died.
Today I begin reading the Gospel of Luke. The writer tells us that he carefully investigated the accounts of Jesus’ life and used the results of his investigations to write his account. He tells us that he based his account on eyewitness reports. Luke thoroughly investigated the accounts which he was aware of and then wrote a careful account of what his investigation indicated had actually transpired. This is a model that we as Christians today should follow. When we hear stories about God’s miraculous working, before we share these stories far and wide we should carefully investigate them so that we can give a careful account of what happened (otherwise we should refrain from sharing the stories with those who are likely to be skeptical).
Luke begins his account with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. We are told that Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous. Elizabeth had been unable to bear any children and both she and Zechariah were getting along in years. Zechariah was a priest and on one occasion when he was serving in the Temple an angel appeared to him. Zechariah was startled and somewhat frightened. The angel told Zechariah not to be frightened that he had come in answer to Zechariah’s prayers. Elizabeth would bear him a son and he was to name him John. The angel told Zechariah that his son would bring many of the people of Israel back to God and prepare them for the coming if the Lord.
Zechariah’s response was, “How do I know that what you are saying will happen?” We can hardly blame him for being skeptical. He was getting old and Elizabeth was also well along in years. The angel tells him that because he did not believe the angel’s words, he would be unable to speak until the child was born. The people who were outside worshiping were wondering why Zechariah stayed inside for so long. When he emerged, and was unable to speak, they realized that he had seen a vision. At the end of his period of service in the Temple, Zechariah returned home and Elizabeth became pregnant.
Zechariah thought that he was too old to have children. He thought that God had no great plans for him. he thought he was too old for that sort of thing. This story is a lesson that we should never think that God does not have further use for us. There is also the fact that rather than believe the words of God’s messenger Zechariah wanted a sign that those words would come to pass. He was given a sign, but it was not one which he would have chosen. We need to think carefully before we ask God for a sign that He will do what He has told us He is going to do.
What a great psalm to meditate on today (and any day). The psalmist turns to God and requests His mercy. Then he makes a great statement of faith (I will use the NIV here):
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
This phrase has often been one of great comfort to me. If I trust God, what possible reason can I have to fear mere mortals? What can they possibly do to me that can overcome God’s protection? God will record our misery and our tears and hold those who have caused them accountable. Of course, He will also hold us accountable for the misery and tears we have caused others. I strive to answer when God calls, but I know that He is more reliable and will answer when I call. His answer may not be the one I am looking for, but it will be the one I need.
What can man do to me?
I use the NIV for these quotes because I think it captures the thought more succinctly than other translations. I will seek to walk before God in the light of His will.
Those who behave righteously avoid trouble which falls on the wicked in their stead.