One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Monday, March 14th
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Victory over the Canaanites
The Israelites came into their first battle with the Canaanites, as the King of Arad in the South attacked them. The Israelites told God if he would hand them over to them, they would completely destroy them. This was Israel’s way of saying, “We’re not fighting this battle for our own profit, but for the glory of God." Guzik
The Bronze Snake
As the people took the long away around Edom, they began to complain once again about what they had to eat and drink saying, "We hate this manna". They not only spoke out against God but also against Moses. They had obviously not learned this lesson from their fathers. This provoked the Lord and made him angry. So he sent snakes, which bit the people and some died.
But in this case the Israelites repented of their sin, specifically by saying they had sinned against BOTH God and Moses. Though they committed a similar sin, their hearts were softer and they were quicker to repent. So once again Moses interceded for the people. God had Moses make a bronze snake and had him put it on a pole. He commanded the Israelites to look up at it and be healed.
Jesus referred to this remarkable event in John 3:14-15: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus clearly said there is a similarity between what Moses did here, and what Jesus did on the cross. Guzik
Israel’s Journey to Moab
Besides the names of the places Israel passes through on their way towards the Promised Land, brief passages of poetry are also recorded, giving the sense of elation they must have felt. Guzik
Victory over Sihon and Og
Similar to the King of Edom, the King Sihon of the Amorites refused to let the Israelites pass through his land. This was despite the fact that the Israelites promised they would not travel through their vineyards or drink water from their wells. But unlike the King of Edom, the King of Sidon aggressively attacked the Israelites in the wilderness, but the Israelites slaughtered them with their swords.
The land of the Amorites later becomes the possession of Israel; the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh receive this land. Guzik
We see the writer of Numbers quoting other poets. Some of you may wonder why such quotes made it into the bible. Are they inspired? Are they authoritative? Why are they in there?
"But the mere mention of a book by the Bible doesn’t mean that the book belongs in our Bibles. We would love to see and read such ancient literature lost to history; but anything in such books inspired and important is recorded for us in passages like Numbers 21:14-15.In fact, Paul quoted from a pagan poet in Acts 17:28. It certainly doesn’t mean that everything that pagan poet wrote was inspired by God, or that our Bibles are incomplete without the full text of what that pagan poet wrote."
Balak Sends for Balaam
The word of the Israelites conquering the Amorites reached the Moabites, so Balak, King of the Moabites sent messengers to Balaam, a well known seer.
We do not know how he came to be estimated as a prophet or a man with spiritual powers, but Balak certainly knew his reputation. Guzik
The messengers tried to convince Balaam to curse the Israelites, but Balaam told them he would have to consult with the Lord first. The Lord appeared to Balaam and told him not to curse the Israelites because they had been blessed. When the men went back to King Balak, he sent an even larger delegate of people to try and convince Balaam to curse the Israelites. This time the Lord told Balaam to go with them, and he would tell him what to say,.
Some commentators think Balaam's motives were less than honorable, and he was only looking to profit from the situation.
This carries the sense that Balaam wanted to go, but God wouldn’t let him. We can easily picture Balaam saying it just this way to the messengers from Balak. “I would really like to go with you, but God won’t let me.”It was as if Balaam is saying, “God doesn’t want me to do this, but I can be persuaded.” Balak would exploit this invitation. Guzik
God sent the angel Gabriel in the six month of Elizabeth's pregnancy to her cousin Mary to tell her she was pregnant. Not only would she bear a son, but this son would be a king in the line of David and his kingdom would never end. You talk about a bombshell. Mary must have thought she was hearing things. But Mary was cohernet enough to ask him a most relevant question, "How can this be, I am only a virgin".
And the angel of the Lord told her, "The Holy Spirit will overshadow you and the baby born to her would be holy and would be called the Son of God!"
Knowing Mary may have needed a little evidence to back all of this up, the angel said Elizabeth was now in her sixth month.
Then we hear Mary's great statement of faith, "I am the Lord's servant may it be to me as you have said,"
“Let it be to me according to Your word” is the proper response of every believer to every promise of God. All this took more trust in the Lord than we might think. Mary agreed to receive a pregnancy that would be seen as suspicious, and this in a culture that had a potential death penalty for adultery. Mary identified herself with sinners so that the purpose of God would be fulfilled." Guzik
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Mary not only responded in faith, but she acted in faith. She got up and hurried to Elizabeth's home in the hill country to verify what the angel said was true. This distance is estimated between 80 and 100 miles, so this was quite a journey.
As Mary came into Elizabeth's home, the same Holy Spirit who had spoken to Zechariah and Elizabeth, the same Holy Spirit who had spoken to Mary, now spoke through the little baby who leapt in Elizabeth's womb. Elizabeth was filled the Holy Spirit. Remember Luke's gospel emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit more than any gospel.
Elizabeth's song of praise affirmed all that the angel Gabriel had spoken to Mary. Importantly she said, "The mother of my Lord". Clearly this was affirming that Mary's son would be the Son of God!
The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise
After Elizabeth confirmed Mary's faith, Mary responded with her own song of praise. This song is often called the "Magnificat", after the Latin translation of the first few words. As you read her words, you can see that she is bursting with joy. She humbly realizes that God had chosen her not because of any wealthy background or powerful position. He had done great things for her because of his mercy and because he had kept his promises to Abraham and her ancestors.
This song mainly celebrates God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power. Mary’s song shows the futility of trusting in self, of trusting in political power, or of trusting in riches. Mary’s trust was in God, and it was rewarded.
"What Now" Study Questions:
The people grew impatient with God. How often do we find ourselves in this predicament? Ask God to forgive impatient times and to seek His strength for more patience in the future.
'...nothing is impossible with God.' (Luke 1:37) This Scripture (Luke 1:37) is often misconstrued. So often we think that God will do anything we want Him to do, but rather it teaches that God can and will accomplish His purposes in all situations. How does God want to do the impossible through you today in order to accomplish His plan?
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