But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

 Numbers 33

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.” Numbers 33:55-56

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 33 - we retrace the path Israel took as  God led the people out of Egypt on their journey towards the Promised Land, and God prepares the people to enter the Promised Land.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God commands Moses to write down Israel's path towards the Promised Land (v2) - these are the second through the fifth book of the Bible. We should remember and study this journey - Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.  Upon reaching the boundary of the Promised Land - at the Jordan River - God gave Moses and the people explicit instructions (vv50-56) to destroy both the inhabitants and the idols in the land.  He warns the people that if they don't "[those inhabitants and their idols] shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell."  Scripture has limited mention of "thorn" but in context it has both negative and positive associations.  Thorns typically "choke" out more desired growth (negative).  At the same time, Paul is given this same "thorn" in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7) "to keep [him] from becoming conceited" (positive).  God is warning the people that the inhabitants of the Promised Land will entice and lure the people into idolatry, sin and away from Him - just as it has occurred in Israel's history.  Idolatry and sin separates us from Him and "troubles" and hurts us.  We must do as God commands.  Otherwise, as v56 shares God will do to us "as [He] thought to do to [those whom God sought to drive out from the land]."  He will drive us out from fellowship and union with Him - not a good thing.       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People very often are partially obedient - not fully obedient (just as God commanded).  Hence God warns the people to avoid partial obedience because He knows partial obedience means a lack of submission and surrender to God.  This leaves a gap in our relationship with Him and this will not end well - we should heed the warning from Matthew 7:21-23 and Revelation 3:15–16 regarding partial obedience and moderation. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul was given a thorn in his flesh to remind him that he was fully dependent on God - he should not believe that his life circumstances and experience were anything but God's hand.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid moderation (lukewarm) or partial obedience in your journey with God.  Claim the promise that God desires to bring you enter His rest but this requires complete dependence and surrender to Him.  Follow the example of Paul who saw that he had a thorn in his flesh and relied fully on Him.  Abide in Him and follow God completely.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Chapter 19: Pages 262-270, 2 Corinthians 12

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 3 "Providence Over Satan and Demons" - moving to chapter nineteen "The Ongoing Existence of Demons". 

Here, Piper intends to explain how, even though God is sovereign over Satan and evil and ultimately defeats Satan, there must be some reason why Satan continues to exist - essentially we must answer the question "why God permits Satan to go on living?" Piper believes that although he does not see an answer to this question directly in scripture, he does see "pointers".  He shares that God is working to defeat Satan "not with one initial blow" but through four processes: (1) showing, (2) suffering, (3) using Satan himself against himself, (4) savoring. 

Among these processes, for me this morning, (3) and (4) are key and Piper's use of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" demonstrate how Satan tormented him, but how this was used by God to keep Paul humble.  Piper writes: "[i]n ways that exceed our full comprehension, God is able to harness Satan's hatred of Paul and make it serve God's own purposes of Paul's humility and joy."

Piper then goes on to demonstrate for me the knockout blow to Satan in how "savoring" is used to defeat Satan.  Piper writes that "God allows Satan to exist and bring short term harm on God's people.  It becomes an occasion not only to show the greater glory of Christ's wisdom and power and worth, but also to show the superior satisfaction that this glory gives his people compared to what Satan can give....God intends for Satan to be defeated in this age not merely by showing him to be weaker than Christ, but also by showing him to be less savory than Christ - less desirable, less satisfying."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your design and Your ways are incredible and I am renewed each day with Your love, compassion, and mercy for me - thank You.  I am not deserving of such love and mercy.  I worry to much and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 20-21

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Genesis 20:6

Day 8 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Abraham's deception of Abimelek and the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael.

With his lie to Abimelek that Sarah is his sister, once again Abraham displays what my commentary* indicates as a "tendency toward deception" which represents the "same character flaw [that] will be seen again in his son and grandsons. It simply stands as a warning that even men and women of faith can lapse into great sin".

The commentary* goes on to state that "if there is any encouragement, however, it is in knowing that while there is bad in the best of mankind, there is also good in the worst. As a Canaanite, Abimelek is not a believer in the true God, and undoubtedly engages in common heathen practices. Yet he asserts in his defense to God that he has acted in good conscience, even if he is somehow still guilty in God’s eyes; then he responds to divine rebuke with repentance, generosity, and kindness".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

We should take comfort in knowing how God uses ordinary people such as Abraham and ourselves, as He redeems our sin and uses it for His glory - doing amazing things in the process. 

I am also comforted by John Piper's post on God's providence and sovereignty by both restraining Satan and evil AND prompting good.  He is in control.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You ARE in control restraining evil and prompting good - You redeem my sin and have saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such love and blessings.  I worry and am often very difficult with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.