May 5

NUMBERS 12-13

When the glory wanes before our eyes,
Obstacles loom in gigantic 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 see 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 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

PSALM 124
We always wanted Steve on our side. When dividing up sides in grade school for football or baseball, it was always advantageous to have him on our side. He was strong, athletic and fast. Usually, whichever side had Steve was the side which won. What a contrast to myself. I remember clearly times in ninth grade basketball when we would divide up sides to scrimmage; a groan was usually let loose by the team when they found that I was to be appointed to their side. Anyway, it was always good to be on the side of the talented and able guys.
Isn’t it good to know that we can be on the Lord’s side? I want the Creator of Heaven and earth to be on my side when I am in the midst of a Hurricane Sandy. Then I know that I will either come through it victoriously, or I will be heaven with Him. No flood or wave can defeat me. No emotional turmoil will overcome me. Yes, it will be hard, but He will save me. After all, His very name, Jesus, means Yahweh saves. I will hide in His name, because there I will find salvation! If He can make heaven and earth, He can save me. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

ISAIAH 35
I traveled a little in Senegal. Senegal is on the west coast of Africa. It is as close as you can get to the United States and still be on mainland Africa. It is on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is not the only desert in Senegal. Of the 5,000,000 Wolof people in Senegal there are only about 120 believers. That is about 1 believer for every 41,667 unbelievers. In the city of Stillwater, where I live, there are about 47,000 people living. If we had the same ratio here of believers as among the Wolof people in Senegal, I would be the only Christian in Stillwater. That is a desert of the word.
Right after the Lord reveals His glory in His wrath, He will reveal His glory in a more pleasant way. He will do many things that will be very encouraging to us. He will make the deserts blossom. Can you imagine the great deserts of the earth being made verdant? Think about the deserts of Sahara, Arabia, Gobi, South Africa, Australia, Antarctica, North America etc. We will have more than double the current capacity to grow crops for the peoples of the earth. Even the desert places will see the glory of the Lord! But also after the revealing of His wrath, He comes to save us who believe. A Highway of holiness will be built which will lead to His residence as the Millennial King. We will travel it. There will no longer be a desert of the word or of geography. Now that is Glory! 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