Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 8-12

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟠:𝟚-𝟛

"And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might 𝕙𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖 you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he 𝕙𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕕 you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

God seeks humility in man! God wants us to be people of humility. That's what we see even in the incarnation of Jesus, our Lord. Paul in Philippians 2 exhorts us to have the mind of humility which was in Jesus Christ to the point of His death. The good news of this is humility precedes exaltation. And pride goes before destruction!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟡:𝟝-𝟞

"It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ‘Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people’."

Two things are clear:

1. Israelites are unworthy.

2. Canaanites are too wicked.

Some stupid people mocked the Bible saying, God is so cruel to chase out native people to give lands to Israelites. They see cruelty when in reality is a demonstration of grace!

No matter what, Canaanites deserved to perish just like any sinners, more so because of their wickedness. The unworthy Israelites given land they didn't belong to, is a grace.

This world is a story of God's people. Whatever happened to the wicked people is not relevant compared to what happened to God's people. It always is this way. Even the secular world says, "Histories are written by the winners," Indeed, History is His [God’s] Story.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟘

"I, moreover, stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights like the first time, and the LORD listened to me that time also; the LORD was not willing to destroy you."

Deuteronomy 10 is by the far the most impressive passage in this book so far, especially v12-22, but since I have known that for quite some time, it will be laziness of me if I share from this passage this time again. So, I've chosen v10 for my sharing today.

Notice the word "like the first time"

1. God was angry with Israelites that He decided to annihilate them. (No wonder why Hitler and Hamas wanted to annihilate them as well). God proposed to make Moses and his descendants great ones. (Which Moses humbly denied, and no wonder why God called him the humblest man on the face of the earth). BTW, apart from Moses, his descendants were quite ordinary. Aaron's descendants were some of the most popular people in biblical history. Moses had that offer from none other than God; he turned down because Moses wanted the glory of God than anything (his greatness).

2. Not only God was angry with the Israelites, but Moses was angry too. (Moses, a great shepherd of Israel, prayed for forgiveness, not for the sake of Israelites, but for the sake of God's Name, that the nations around them will not mock God for His “inability” to fulfill His promise of bringing them to the promised land.) Moses concluded that the Israelites didn't deserve to have Yahweh as their God, so, he destroyed the tablets. (He received those tablets after 40 days and nights of alone-time with God without food and water. Who would waste such tablets received through such perseverance?) However, like God, Moses was forgiving, he went up to the mountain again, without food and water for 40 days and nights spending alone-time with God for the [new] tablets for the sake of the people.

Two more Observations:

1. God and God's leaders would do anything for the godliness of God's people.

2. When God's people are ungodly, they weary the bones and life of God's leaders and God!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟟

"Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you."

I am not an Israelite nor a farmer, but I never take rain for granted. I always see the majesty of God in the rain.

Rain is a great leveler. It makes everyone still. Even the busiest street takes a pause when there's rain!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟚: 𝟠, 𝟛𝟘

v8. "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes."

The theme of the book of Judges is "everyone’s doing what is right in his own eyes," which Moses sternly warned against it. Moses was right. How chaotic their life was!

That's why we have church, leaders, teachers, and pastors. We all have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, yet we are too foolishly ignorant and arrogant to live rightly before God.

Some professing Christians never become a member of a church. Even some of them who became a member hardly attended a church. Their life is displeasing to God, and most probably they aren't truly saved at all!

v30. "Beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’"

The word of God is sufficient to instruct us on how to please God, or on how to run a church, how to do a mission, or how to reach out to people. Some Christian leaders sought to learn from the world—the world of business, mass media, psychology, etc. on how they have reached out to people (customers) and insist to practice in the church. Moses warned the Israelites not to seek how other nations have served their gods because Yahweh is different.

Churchgoers aren't customers. We don't do anything to please the attendees or members primarily, we do to please God.

Worship is to please God, not to make people comfortable or feel good. This, we need to recover again. When we do this, worship will be both pleasing to God and members again!

Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 1-7

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙:𝟚𝟞-𝟚𝟟

"Yet you were not willing to go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; and you grumbled in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us.’"

I see the expression of this serious sin in self-pity. It is also not lacking in the one who lacks courage, confidence, and conviction. Complaint and Grumbling are the deeds of the flesh! Trusting, Watchful, and Diligence are the companions of a spiritual man.

To accuse the most loving person in the universe that He hates them is a blasphemy! Not Loving? If people can accuse God of not loving enough, don't worry, they will hurl at you [that you’re not loving]. But unfortunately, it could be true when it's against us!

I was reading Malachi 1 in another group [WhatsApp Bible group]. And there [in the times of Malachi], the people dared to question the love of God!

And again, how often have we? And how dare we commit such treason, insult, blasphemy, sin against God? 🤦‍♂️

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚:𝟚𝟝

"This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you."

God really does this even today. He puts the fear of man in the instincts of animals and reptiles. And He puts fear in some people in a unique way. Some people fear to harm godly people.

While I was in Shillong, I had a friend who was a drug addict. He would steal our (hostellers’) phones to fund his drugs. One night, he broke into a phone booth two times and stole many phones. But somehow, he restrained himself from stealing my phone because he recognized my phone, but he stole some of our mutual friends' phones anyway! While I don't mean to say I was godly, but he knew I was one of the young student Christian leaders.

{BTW, a story is told about Billy Graham's stolen Bible. He couldn't understand why people would steal Bible [God’s book], and that also with his name written on it. And as he was narrating his perplexity, his patient listeners laughed out loud saying, "that's the reason why it was stolen" In fact, even I myself might get tempted to steal Billy Graham's Bible, especially if his name and signature and notes are in there! 😬😂}

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛:𝟚𝟞

"But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter.’"

While the Scriptures exhort us to be importunate in prayer, there are some instances where God forbids the saints to stop asking for certain things!

Sometimes, it's difficult to discern when to continue or stop praying for certain things. In my life, I normally got the impression that I should stop, but I think, actually, I should continue. Because to stop is much easier than to continue. In the case of Moses, he would continue and God had to tell him to stop.

Would we continue until we make sure beyond doubt not to continue!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟜:𝟚𝟠-𝟛𝟙

"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them."

Moses knew the psyche of man. He predicted their idolatry. Moses also knew the faithful of God. He promised them salvation if they repent!

The Faithfulness of God is one of the dominant themes of the Bible!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟝:𝟙

"Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: ‘Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully.’"

Moses reminding them who God is and what He has done for them. Sometimes, reminders are boring, yet how necessary they are. We are a forgetful people!

Casual Reading of Deuteronomy could be boring, but if we seek to understand it is not boring.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟞:𝟜

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!"

This is one of the most famous and well-memorized verses of all the households of Israel, known as Shema.

In a Hebrew Class, we, seminarians were encouraged to memorize in Hebrew, and I still remember: "𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚊 𝚈𝚒𝚜𝚛𝚊𝚎𝚕 𝚈𝚊𝚑𝚠𝚎𝚑 𝙴𝚕𝚘𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚞 𝚈𝚊𝚑𝚠𝚎𝚑 𝙴𝚔𝚑𝚊𝚍! " The Israelites are said to recite this section twice a day, morning and evening!

It teaches that there's no other god for Israel, but Yahweh alone; and there's no other god that can be called Yahweh than their God. Yahweh is totally different and far above any gods. He alone is to be worshipped and loved as their God, Yahweh, the God of the Bible!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟟:𝟟-𝟠

"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Deut. 7:7 is a great verse to commit to memory. This is true in our personal life too. God does not choose us to be Christians because of who we are or what we can become. It doesn't and never depends on us. We are just pathetic, worthless, filthy people. God chose us in His love. God preserves us by His faithfulness. And God will perfect us by His glory!

Have a high view of God, and a low view of man! Big God, puny man!

Bible Reading Reflection from Numbers 26-36

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

"The sons of Korah, however, did not die."

Korah rebelled against Moses. In doing so, it was against God who had chosen Moses to be the leader of the Israelites. God killed Korah and his men, but God spared his children who were innocent of Korah's rebellion. God knows whom to punish and whom to spare.

Another man in a different episode, Achan, was killed along with his family members! Most probably because they [Achan’s family members] were guilty of covering up. And interestingly, it was man (the Israelites, not God by natural calamity) who stoned them to death!

God knows who are His!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟛

"Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons."

These daughters of a [sinful] father weren't abused, mocked, jeered, looked down, but were taken care of by the leaders. That's how it ought to be.

Children shouldn't be discriminated against by the actions of their parents. That's what we see in the genealogy of Jesus as well. Jesus was a great, great-grandson of many people of ill reputation: like Ruth the Moabite, Rahab, the prostitute, Bathsheba, the adulteress, and oh those wicked kings as well.

Stand up for the orphans, illegitimate children, children of outcast people. They are innocent, like the rest of the people. They aren't their parents!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟛𝟙

"Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥."

Notice how many times the phrase "without defect" is used in this chapter: v3, 9,11, 19, 31.

God deserves the best! Use your best pen to underline your Bible 😂 Bring the best notes of currency for an offering. Come to the church in your best dresses.

Will you go to hell if not? Should your salvation be doubted if not? No. But it shows what's in the heart!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟟

"Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, And you shall ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖 yourselves; you shall ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝔻𝕠 𝔸𝕟𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜."

Man takes pride in their works, achievements, successes. God wants us to stop sometimes and gives Him the glory He deserves. Indeed, it's God who gives life, renews life, sustains life. Make your practice to honor God in your works by knowing it's God who produces the fruits in your work no matter how you work. Then, we shall realize it's in vain we work hard without resting which God commands.

When I was in my senior student days, I never opened my textbook or Academic books on Sunday. I just read Bible, Christian books, or attend multiple church programs. I love it. (Maybe I hated textbooks as well 😂) But, nobody smiles brighter than me in the examination hall. I worried nothing, feared nothing. I didn't dream to be a topper and never was. If I dreamt and desired, most probably I would a few times!

All this to say, God commanded us to rest. Rest. Honor God!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟚

"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."

A chapter is written concerning taking a vow. It just reminds us to be very careful of our words. We must really be a man of our word.

I hate those people who say they will come to church and don't come. I hate those who say they will call back later on (when they are free) and don't call back. Why tell a lie?

They have the freedom not to come, not to pick up a call, not to talk, whatever they like. They just shouldn't cook up a lie. I want to make an imprecatory for such lying people who do not take their words seriously!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. And Moses said to them, ‘Have you spared all the women?’"

Moses' wife was a Midianite woman. Yet he had no mercy upon them (the Midianites). Rather, he was angry when they spared the women.

Moses was zealous for God. Jesus was zealous too when he overturned the tables of money changers and drove away animals by a whip.

Godly leaders are both gentle and ferocious!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟛

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out."

There's no excuse for any sin. Because any sin and all sin are ultimately against God. So, there's no hiding from God.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟛-𝟜

"They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had struck down among them. The LORD had also executed judgments on their gods."

What a change of fortune! The Israelites who were living in fear of Egyptians were bold now. And The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. Israel’s Yahweh was shown more powerful than their [Egypt’s] Pharaoh.

Bible is full of such contrast, irony, and examples for us to learn a lesson and live wisely and joyfully!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟡

"These are those whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the sons of Israel in the land of Canaan."

Division or Apportioning is good. It's wise to make things clear.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟝

"These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there."

Man loves vengeance, revenge. We even enjoy the MCU movie, Avengers!

God makes sure that man does not sin in his wrath. So, there are cities of refuge where the guilty ones can flee to before justice is properly given!

Don't underestimate the sinful nature of man, especially in his wrath!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟟

"Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers."

Land, Inheritance, and Tribalism are what defined the Israelites. They did so because God commanded them.

The tribalism of our modern times, fighting for land (Kuki-Naga), fighting for inheritance in our times is devoid of God. Anything even heaven devoid of God is a place of horror.

A God-centered theology reflecting Land ownership, inheritance, and tribal identity made them distinct. Unfortunately, they weren't able to live up to that standard!