March 8- Somebody Call the Wambulance!

March 8, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21;
Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32

Look with favor upon a bold beginning. 
~Vergil, The Aeneid

Numbers 10:1-11:23

When I was a kid people rarely flew on airplanes to go on vacation.  Back then everyone piled into the family car and slugged it out for mile upon mile until they reached their desired destination.  My parents were typical. They took us all over the United States via car.  From Seattle, Washington to Captiva Island, Florida, we traveled this land as hardened road warriors. I would like to say that each trip reflected our good humor, patience, and ability to adapt to change and face hardships without complaining, but in reality not long after we pulled out the driveway the complaining began. Soon the complaining could easily escalate into a full blown fight between siblings. My dad would attempt to swat us by reaching his arm across the seat as he precariously steered the car with his left hand, but nothing could stop us our discontent. We kept complaining and fighting. Oh the joys of a family outing.

Today the scene is not much different as the Israelites embark on their first camping trip into the wilderness. The Tabernacle is disassembled as directed by God. A local Midianite who knows the wilderness area well is recruited to stay and be a guide. The cloud of the Lord comes over the group and off they go. Whenever the Lord hovers over them, Moses cries out, "Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered!" I love that. Moses recognizes that as they attempt to take the Promised Land and fight the evil in their midst their only hope is that the Lord will fight for them. As the leader of the Jews, Moses begins the journey on a noble note.

Too bad this tune goes sour so quickly. By verse one of chapter eleven the Israelites are complaining so loudly that God's anger blazes forth and destroys the outskirts of the camp. This reminds me of my dad swatting us. People are screaming to Moses for help, so Moses prays for them and the fire stops. The next complaint is one about food.  The foreigners among them start a laundry list of the foods they miss from Egypt.  Manna was apparently yellow in color and sweet like honey and they were sick of it. Day after day the people ate manna.

This ingratitude makes God furious. Moses, always the mediator, steps in and has a heart to heart with God, "Why don't you just kill me?  The burden of all this complaining is too much for me!" I wonder if that is how my dad felt on our long road trips!

God listens to Moses and puts His Spirit on seventy of the elders of Israel so that they, too, are able to lead with Moses and share the responsibility. One reason it is good to have two parents in a family is that there is shared burden when the complaining and conflicts start!

God decides to grant them the request of meat, but as a punishment they will eat only meat for a whole month.  Moses questions how God will feed this multitude. God answers, "Is there any limit to my power?"

This is what we will now contemplate...is there any limit to God's power?  How about in your life?  Do you complain and whine about everything?  Do we all need to call a wambulance?  Think about it.

Mark 14:1-21

Here we are two days before the Passover feast and there are different individuals in the story reacting very differently to Jesus.  On the one hand, we have the religious leaders who are trying to find a way to kill Jesus as Judas Iscariot meets with them to arrange how this can be accomplished. On the other hand, we have a woman giving her extremely expensive perfume as a burial preparation gift to Christ. We have a scene of good and a scene of evil.  The woman acts according to her faith in Christ's future sacrifice, while the wayward disciple, Judas, betrays the Lord and provides the evil means by which Christ will be sacrificed.

Jesus eats the Last Supper, which is the Passover meal that we have read about in the Old Testament, with the disciples.  Jesus reveals to the disciples that one of them will betray him.  He is not ruffled in this statement because he has an eternal perspective. Jesus understands his mission. Jesus does say that it would have been better for the person who betrays him to have never been born. Wow. Strong. Do you believe in hell as a real place of eternal destruction?  Jesus does.

Who are you in the story of God?  Are you one of the good guys?  Would you be the religious leaders or the woman who gave perfume?  Your place in the story matters.

Psalm 51:1-19

Here are some fundamental spiritual principles laid out in this psalm:

• Only God can wash you from the guilt of your sins.  Vs. 2
• You are born a sinner. Vs. 5
• God desires honesty from us about this.  Vs. 6
• God creates a clean heart in us and renews a right spirit in our souls.  Vs. 10-12
• When we are made right, we can become teachers to others. Vs. 13
• God wants the sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart from you.  Vs. 17

Proverbs 10:31-32

Godly words help people.

What did you learn today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton