March 9- Cravings, Conflicts and Cowardice

March 9, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52
Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3

Numbers 11:24-13:33

Have you ever sat around thinking about some item of food that you want to eat?  You think and you think and you think, and then, just maybe, you get the opportunity to eat the food you've been craving.  Maybe you've been pregnant.  I know you men out there can't relate to this example, but, if you have been pregnant, you really start craving certain foods. When I was pregnant with my son I craved celery and carrots.  And when I was pregnant with my daughter, I craved all things sweet, especially M & M's! 

Cravings:    Chapter 11:24-35

Today God satisfies the gluttonous cravings of the Israelites and foreigners who have been crying for something other than manna.  He sends them boat loads of quail. The Bible indicates that quail was three feet deep in the camp.  As the gluttons feast on their meat, the Lord's anger burns against them and a severe plague breaks out among them that kills them. They name the place where this happened "the graves of craving."  For these people God's manna was not enough. God anger burned because of their lack of thankfulness for His provisions in the wilderness. Manna was just not enough.
Their lack of gratitude about food represented something about their character and relationship to God. It was a harbinger of the restlessness that Israel would exhibit as they look back to Egypt and the idolatrous worship of pagan gods they had come to rely upon.

Jesus is our manna.  He is our Bread of Life.  Is Jesus enough for you?  Do you crave something other than Christ to answer your spiritual needs?

Conflict:  Chapter 12

After this incident, we get a peek into the sibling rivalry in Moses' family.  Miriam, his older sister, starts a conflict by questioning Moses' leadership because he is married to a Cushite woman.  We don't know what happened to Zippora, his Midianite wife.  This is a second wife.  Miriam questions Moses' sole leadership and tries to claim that she and Aaron can also lead the people. Moses is humble and does not respond. The Lord steps in. God clarifies to Miriam and Aaron that He, alone, chooses His prophets.  Moses is so favored that God actually speaks to him directly and not just through visions and dreams. God then strikes Miriam with leprosy.  Remember, leprosy represents sin.  Aaron is not struck because he would be unable to perform his duties as High Priest if he had leprosy.  In an act of forgiveness and humility, Moses immediately prays for Miriam's healing.  She is healed, but told to leave the camp for seven days in order to follow the laws of cleanliness given by God. Are you ever guilty of envy and jealousy like Miriam?  Do you jockey for positions of power in your life?  Consider this incident the next time you are tempted to usurp another person.

Cowardice:  Chapter 13

Now we come to the part of the story where the Israelites begin to show their lack of faith and trust in God's mightiness.  It is time to move toward the Promised Land.  Instead of marching forward with confidence in God, the Israelites desire to send spies into the land to check out the situation.  God allows this.  Twelve men are sent representing each tribe to scope out the land for forty days.  There's that number again!  The land that is supposed to be flowing with milk and honey, really is flowing with milk and honey and big clusters of grapes and big fortified cities and big-gigantic people.  Without factoring God into the equation, the majority of the spies report back to Moses that the land is unable to be invaded.  Only two members of the team reflect any faith.  Those two members are Caleb and Joshua.  Everyone else concludes that the Jews look like grasshoppers compared to those giants. You may remember in our previous reading from Genesis 6 that the Nephilim (half-breed giants from the sons of God and the daughters of men) continue to be on the earth at this time. It is there progeny that are living in the land of Canaan. These people represent rebellion and wickedness on an epic scale. For Joshua and Caleb to have such faith to rely on God and go up again this evil is remarkable and inspiring.

Do the challenges in your life look like giants to you?  Have you factored God into the equation/problem?  It is easy to be a coward when you don't have faith. Remember, with God all things are possible.

Mark 14:22-52

Today I am simply going to quote every thing Jesus says in this reading.  Here we go:

• Take it, for this is my body.  Vs. 22
• This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people Vs. 24
• I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God. Vs. 25
• All of you will desert me.  Vs. 27
• Scriptures say, "God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." Vs. 27
• But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee and meet you there.  Vs. 28
• Peter, the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.
• Sit here while I go pray.  Vs. 32
• My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.  Vs. 34
• Abba, Father, everything is possible for you.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will, not mine.  Vs. 36
• Simon! Are you asleep?  Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  Vs. 37
• Keep alert and pray.  Otherwise, temptation will overpower you.  For though the spirit is willing, the body is weak.  Vs. 38
• Still sleeping?  Still resting? Enough!  The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Vs. 41
• Up, let's be going.  See, my betrayer is here!  Vs. 42
• Am I some dangerous criminal, that you come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me?  Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple?  I was there teaching every day.  But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.  Vs. 48-49

What do you notice here about Jesus' progression into accepting his suffering?  Can you model his example in your life on a smaller scale of suffering?  We all have been betrayed by some friend or family member.  Jesus is our brother who relates to our suffering.

Psalm 52:1-9

This psalm could be said about those who betrayed Christ and came to kill him.

Proverbs 11:1-3

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  Both Moses and Jesus exemplify humility in today's reading.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton