May 5, 2010

Numbers 12-13

When the glory of the Lord wanes before our eyes,

The obstacles loom gigantic in size.

Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ selection of a new wife. We are not told what happened to Zipporah. Perhaps she died. Perhaps Moses was following the cultural norm by taking second wife. At any rate, Zipporah was the daughter of a Midianite Priest, not from Ethiopia. Do I detect a bit of racism here? At any rate, Miriam heavily criticized Moses for this selection. In so doing her main object was not Moses’ selection of wife. After all, Moses was 81 years old at this time, and she makes a point that God had spoken through her as well. What she really was criticizing was Moses’ authority. Why did Miriam not fear criticizing Moses? It was more important to her that others seen that God spoke to her than to respect the line of authority which began with Moses. Her view of the glory was fixed upon people not the Lord.

God commanded that spies be sent into the land. Ten of the twelve brought back a bad report. After all the miracles they had seen in the last year, why did they not believe that they could take the land? They themselves gave the answer, “There we saw the giants . . . ; and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” They had taken their eyes off of the glory of God, off of the ability of God, and placed it upon themselves. When we cannot see the glory of the Lord, it is usually because we are in the way.

What obstacles are between me and the Lord? Maybe it is my own ability. I choose to look at the glory of the Lord. I will not back down for His glory is before me. I will only back down when He makes it clear that I should. He can overcome any obstacle. He can move mountains. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Luke 23:1-25

At every graduation, schools always pick at least one person to represent the class as a whole. That person is usually the best of the best. The honors they have achieved are announced. Sometimes they are invited to give a speech. This person in a sense is to represent the whole class. They are from the class and represent the class. They represent the hopes of the class. They are in a sense without blemish or fault.

Four days before Passover the Israelites were to select a, "lamb for the household . . . without blemish . . ." For four days the lamb lived among them. It became part of the family. It represented the family. It was one of them. Then it was slain on their behalf that the death angel might pass over them.

Jesus came as the God-Man. He lived among us. He became, as it were, a part of the family. As a man, He was part of the family. As God, He was perfect. As virgin born, He had no sin nature. He was brought before Pilate who declared, "I find no fault in Him." He represents us. He did not have to die because He had no sin that required His death. Yet our King chose to go there. There is no fault in Him.

In our graduations our hopes are for our "best" to go on and achieve great things because they represent us. There is a sense in which we cannot soar any higher than they. We would never consider sacrificing them. Yet, this is what Jesus did. Our perfect representative, our perfect One, was sacrificed in our place. Yet because of His sacrifice He soared to heights undreamed of before. Because He died, our sin was taken care of. Because He was without blemish and had no fault, the penalty of my sin was paid. He is the Faultless One! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john