But my servant Caleb [and Joshua vv30, 38], because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Numbers 14:20-38

But my servant Caleb [and Joshua vv30, 38], because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Numbers 14:24 [30, 38]

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 14:20-38 - the Lord responds to Moses' prayer of intercession on behalf of the people - He is full of righteous anger as He describes the punishment for those who do not trust in Him and instead grumble and complain.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Based on Moses' prayer in vv13-19, God relents from the punishment described in v12 to disinherit the people.  Yet God still plans punishment for those who did not trust and instead grumbled and complained - including those among the spies that shared a bad report from the promised land.  They (and their children will suffer until their parents die) will not be able to enter the promised land and will die in the wilderness (vv22-23, 29-30, 32-35).    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Unlike the spies and the people who did not trust God to fulfill His promise to give the people the promised land (by giving Israel victory over the existing inhabitants), Caleb and Joshua were men of a different spirit as they followed God fully.  This description in scripture reminds me of similar descriptions from scripture for not just David, but other men such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, and Daniel, among others (see Genesis 5:24, 6:9, 6:22, James 2:23, Job 1:1, Daniel 10:19, 1 Samuel 13:14).  While none of these men are perfect - no one is (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) - we do see for each of these men a portrait of Godliness where there is fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  See also this post on Job.  For Caleb and Joshua, it was trust in God.  For believers, we know that Jesus is faithful and that we can trust in Him - 2 Corinthians 1:20.
• 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 fear. Claim the promise that God is faithful.  Follow the example of Caleb, Joshua, Moses, David, Daniel, Enoch, Job, Abraham, Noah, etc. Trust God. He is with us always. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that is always with us and with You who can stand against us?  No one or no thing!  Thank You Jesus that You have already defeated sin and death and removed their sting.  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 continue to 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.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3

I pause my study of Numbers, to review Proverbs 21:3 - text discussed during my Friday morning men's Bible study.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The most important commandment (per Matthew 22:37-40) is to love God.  However, many church going folk go through the motions with attendance at worship, etc. - at one point in this was me.  I was worshiping a God I did not earnestly know because I was not actively reading the Bible.  For sure there is more work for God to do in me, but I know there is fruit. The text today emphasizes how God wants all of our heart - in everything we do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  A key litmus test is that we find obedience to God is not burdensome (1 John 5:3) - ask yourself this: is obedience to God (think deeply on this and ask for tougher sins like envy, hate in heart, anger, lust in heart, etc.).  Ultimately, God wants all of our heart and life to reflect Him - if we renew our minds through spiritual formation (Bible reading, prayer, etc.), our thoughts and ways are more aligned with His and THEN our offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) is more acceptable and pleasing to God.  
• What do we learn from the text about people: We are all guilty of the sin of obedience out of obligation instead of as a natural response to how He loves us and we seek to please Him.  Turn to Him with all of your heart and not only will you find him but he will do a work in and through you to make you more like Him. 
• 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 forced obedience to God. Claim the promise that if you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the example of David who was a man after God's heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Seek and love Him with all of your heart.

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 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loved me while still hostile and an enemy to You.  You reached down into the pit pulled me out by Your hand and saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You loved me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy, and strength.  Please continue to 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.

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

1 Samuel 28, 31, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, and 2 Samuel 1, 4 

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

Day 93 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 Saul and Jonathan's death, as well as David's reaction.  1 Chronicles 10:13-14 states the reason for Saul's death.  On the other hand, we have David who is a "man after God's heart" (see 1 Samuel 13:14, and Acts 13:22).

Saul sought affirmation and satisfaction from others.  Instead, God wants us to seek Him out and to gain satisfaction from Him.

This reference includes many verses about how God cares about a heart for Him.

We are all longing for something and too often we seek satisfaction from creation, not the creator. We should hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) as ONLY God will satisfy and fill the longing we all have. See John Piper on this.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who HAS filled me...well beyond what I deserve!  Thank You Jesus for satisfying my longing and then some!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...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.