Numbers 25-26

God’s message to me: Political correctness would tell us that we should be tolerant. It even claims to be a biblical principle. The fact is, that you can not tolerate sin. It’s one thing to be a witness and to even be friends with unbelievers. It is something entirely different to tolerate what you know to be wrong.

Promises: Obedience to God and a willingness to stand up for His principles will lead to His grace, mercy and blessing.

Commands: Do not tolerate sin and do not remain with those who promote it. People often think that, because Christ had dinner with sinners, they can be friends with and hang around unrepentant sinners. This is not the case. Christ came among sinners in order to witness to them and bring them out. Those he kept company with for extended periods were the people who abandoned their old ways and followed Him. Remaining among sin places undo temptation on you and makes it easier to fall into sin.

When Israelites began to join in the sins of the Midianites God sent a plague and killed 24,000 of them. Some left the camp and The son of the High priest killed an Israelite who was openly taking a harlot to his tent along with the harlot. His zeal in putting a stop to this open rebellion against God convinced God to stop the plague. God ordered that they attack the Midianites and drive them off so the temptation would be gone.

Timeless principles: Tolerance leads to acceptance. Whenever the righteous spent time close to those who were not it was not long before they turned against God’s law. Being near Idolaters they began to spend time with them, they accepted invitations to dinner where meat of a sacrifice to Idols was the main course, they followed by worshiping with the idolaters and become idolaters themselves. Prostitution was common among the neighbors so they tolerated it and eventually joined in it.

The old saying says, “if you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas”. This story shows that principle and reminds us why we cannot be tolerant of sin. “hate the sin and love the sinner”. I always get a kick out of people who call me a “homophobe” and then try to accuse me of hypocrisy because I associate with some gay people. I don’t fear homosexuals I just accept that they are directly and unrepentantly violating God’s law. I make no secret of how I feel about their lifestyle. I don’t hang out with them but, inasmuch as our paths cross(one is a neighbor, others I have worked with) I act in a civil and even friendly manner. I am willing to help them when they need it. I do as God would have me do in acting out of Christian love and condemning the sinful lifestyle. This is not phobia and it is not hypocrisy. The same goes for drug addicts and alcoholics and the “dogs” that think sex is a recreational sport with no boundaries.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Do not hang around when others are doing wrong. Don’t tolerate their sin. Call them on it. If they don’t stop walk away from the situation. If they encourage you to join their sin they are not friends they are evil and will bring you down. Get away from them.

more to learn for in-depth study: After their years in the wilderness, a new census was taken. Except for Moses, Caleb and Joshua, all of the people who had been counted in the first census were dead. Only their children remained. Their numbers had grown a little despite the plagues and disasters that had fallen as a result of their rebellions against God.

tomorrow: Numbers 27-30

Numbers 11-13

God’s message to me: Be content with what God has given you. He promises more and He will deliver. It’s even alright to ask for more. Don’t complain about what you have been given and don’t whine. Just picture the kids in the back seat on a trip. “Are we there yet? I’m hungry. I don’t like this food. I wanna go home. I want...” You can’t stand it and neither can God.

Promises: God delivers what He promises. The land of Canaan was as fruitful and plentiful as they had been promised and much, much more.

Commands: Trust God to deliver on His promises. Nothing can stand in the way of something God has promised to you no matter how hard the objective may seem.

Timeless principles: God’s power is limitless and eternal. When Moses asked how God would feed the Israelites enough meat to keep eating for a month he should have shut up and remembered recent history. the plagues of Egypt, parting the sea, manna every morning, quail every night, water from stones and even the burning of some of the complainers near the outskirts of camp were all signs that God could make anything happen that he said He would.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Have confidence in the Lord as Caleb and Joshua did. They saw the bounty of the promised land and wanted to take it, confident God could overcome the obstacles in their way. The rest of the spies saw only the problems and the dangers and decided the bounty was unreachable. Joshua and Caleb were there to see God conquer the obstacles and enjoyed the bounty. The rest were left behind in the wilderness. (OK, I’m reading ahead again, sorry). Just over a year from escape this nation found it’s homeland, then wasted 40 years not going there because they didn’t trust God’s power and promise.

more to learn for in-depth study: Remember what the Israelites had to eat. They were given manna in the morning and quail at night. The standard was about a 2 liter bottle worth of manna per person per day. Quail are small birds but one makes a fair meal for a single person and it wouldn’t be hard to get two. The Israelites were just not allowed to keep any food, including the quail, overnight except what they gathered the day before the Sabbath.

In addition they had their flocks. Given the circumstances it would be bad business to slaughter them wholesale. The need for mobility, manpower concerns, and the lack of a permanent home would require that they not expand the herds to much. There was enough for sacrifices and feasts. God ordained these feasts and the sacrifices and would not leave them without the means to hold them.

Primarily, the Israelites were complaining about variety. As bread goes manna is “good eats” and would be fine for most. I know a lot of people who eat the same white bread for years on end without complaint. Quail could be a bit boring after a while I suppose but, with several ordained feasts involving beef and sheep. there would be variety. They couldn’t farm to get the leeks and other veggies they were used to in Egypt but many grew wild in the land they passed through.

Mostly, the Israelites were just whining. The result was that God gave them what they asked for. So many quail came to the camp that they spread out several miles around the camp and around 3 feet deep. Many who gave into the craving for meat were killed by the plague God sent with it.

RACE RELATIONS: Moses married a black woman.(some say Cushite, others say Ethiopian). His brother and sister spoke out against this interracial marriage and even went so far as to say they didn’t need him because the Lord spoke through them as well. God reminded them that He spoke to Moses directly and allowed him to see Him directly. He did not treat anyone else that way. Anyone with sense would see this as a good reason not to question Moses actions. God punctuated His point by covering Miriam in in leprous sores for a week. For those who wonder why he didn’t treat Aaron the same, consider that Aaron was the high priest. Leaving Aaron intact left the nation, and Miriam, with a priest to tend their needs.

It would be unwise not to see God’s opinion of racial intolerance.

Tomorrow: Numbers 14-15