March 2 - Numbers 11:1-13:33

Good morning everyone,

How are you all doing today? Not complaining, I hope. Chapter 11 is full of complaints. Complaining by the people of the camp, I read the word “rabble” which means a violent disorderly crowd, and Moses complaining about their complaining. The difference in the two were, the people complained amongst themselves creating confusion and death while Moses took his problem to the Lord and received help. It made me chuckle a bit when Moses said “Just kill me, God, I’ve had it. I can’t do this any more. The job is too hard.” Who has not felt that way at some time or another? Oh my word … right?? But, how encouraging was it to read that God immediately set a plan in motion to get Moses the help he needed. I was so blessed by that.

In chapter 12 apparently the first wife of Moses, Zipporah died because we read he takes a Cushite woman for his wife and though there is valid concern for this because she is not a Jewish woman it is merely a masquerade to the real problem which is envy and jealousy. “Why is Moses your little brother in charge” Miriam asks “God speaks through us too-ooo (hear the whine)” That does not bode well with the Lord, He calls the three of them into a meeting and tells them, “Listen up. I speak through prophets but I speak directly, face to face with Moses. So why is it you are okay with mean mouthing him?” (total paraphrase) Miriam’s consequence of choice was seven days outside the camp and really, God went easy on Miriam. My guess is she was pretty humbled and never did that again. Lesson learned.

In chapter 13, Moses, at the Lord’s command, is sending twelve spies out into the Desert of Paran, the Promised Land. In verse 16 we read that Moses changed Hoshea son of Nun’s name to Joshua which means “The Lord who saves”. Big plans down the road for kid Joshua.

After forty days the spies come back to camp with pomegranates and figs and a single branch of grapes so large that they had to carry it on poles between them. Okay, stop for a moment and see this in your head, here are a people who for more than two years have had mana only, except for the episode with quail, to eat and now fresh fruit!! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Imagine, if you will, how marvelous that would have been for them. - So they get back to the camp and give the report of, yes, the land is flowing of milk and honey however the people are big and scary. But Caleb jumps right in, silences the crowd and says, “ We can totally do this, we should go take possession”.

But ten of the spies who went were afraid, and said, “We can’t, they are stronger and we look like grasshoppers to them”, and they spread a bad report among the Israelites about what they had seen.

These ten frightened spies saw intimidating foes where Joshua and Caleb saw God’s promise, of an abundance of fruit. The ten spies saw giants where Joshua and Caleb saw God.  Our God is such a big God who can do incredibly big things. The question is, how big is your faith? Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” So I ask again, “How big is your faith?”

Have a super great day and to God be the glory!

God bless you all …