One Year Bible, March 12

NUMBERS 16:41-18:32
(For 16:41-50 see yesterday.)

Aaron's Rod that Budded: That's every believer who has the Life of God abiding inside them as inherent power. I think about this every time I see a fence post that has sprouted leaves. That rod was placed in a public place so no one would dare to complain about Aaron's authority again. Jesus' resurrection from the dead is also prefigured in Aaron's Ron - proof of His valid priesthood to atone for sin.

Priesthood: The priesthood would bear responsibility for offences against the against the God's holiness.  And the Levites were to be paid because their only inheritance was God. The priests were paid with the best of all the offerings. As for their inheritance, God was their share and their inheritance.   It is like the difference between being given $1 million dollars, and marrying a millionaire.  We married the millionaire when we "married" Jesus (got born again).

RESPONSE:  Every year my husband asks me what I want for my birthday, and every year I tell him the same thing: "I got all I wanted when I married you."  That means that I already have all I want because he gets it for me as I ask for it.  Sometimes God even puts things in my path that I hadn't expressed a desire for yet, but He knew I'd like it!   What God is after from the priests and Levites is contentment with what HE gives them. Look at the contrast: The congregation had to have a demonstration in order to be content without complaining about leadership. The leadership was only told that they had to be content with what God gave them.

MARK 16:1-20
Who stole Jesus' Body? His enemies surely didn't, because if they could have produced it, they would have gladly done it. His friends certainly didn't, because there were guards stationed to be sure they didn't, and the stone was sealed. NO! He is risen! He left the tomb under His own power (and that of the Holy Spirit, Who raised Him up- Rom 8:11.)

Signs: First of all, there are 1005 Greek manuscripts which contain verses 9-20, and only 13 manuscripts that do not. Interestingly, the key word for this portion of Scripture is "believe". The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus must be believed for it to change your life. Contrast that to those disciples who wouldn't believe the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection. Jesus rebuked them for their "unbelief and hardness of heart and stubborn refusal to believe." As you go into the world, preach so others will believe too! Human obstacles of unbelief can sometimes be overcome with the miraculous. We don't look for trouble, but physical obstacles also become non-issues when we obey God.

RESPONSE:  It always amazes me that anyone would argue that Jesus is not alive. And I don't mean "in my heart" either.  He is truly LIVING.   His resurrection is actually said to be one of the most proven facts of history.   But then that demands a response in us.   My response is Yippee!!! That means I can know God, and then know why I'm here, what I'm supposed to be doing, where I came from, where I'll end up.  I don't have to make stuff up as I go along.

PSALM 55:1-23
Betrayal by a Trusted Friend: Ahithophel was Bathsheba's grandpa and David's intimate friend and mentor (2 Sam 15:12). He not only encouraged Absalom to rebel, but he volunteered to pursue and humiliate David. "War was in his heart." Praise and thanksgiving to God is what brought David out of danger. Fear came first, then thoughts of revenge, and finally David comes to faith in vs. 16-22. "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." When God upholds us, we become like an immovable mountain. Someone can chip away at us, but they can't take us down.

PROVERBS 11:7
Riches: You can't take it with you.

RESPONSE:   Psa 55:14 says, "We prayed together!"  I've been betrayed by someone close to me, and it hurt first, then it made me mad. My thought was, "I deserve better than this". Wow! Was I arrogant! We have more good than we deserve already, because our hearts are not only wicked, but we are deceived into thinking that our sins aren't really that bad (Jer 17:9 - read it.). Jesus was silent when He was wrongfully accused and beaten. I've never prayed like David did in v. 15: "I hope he dies and goes to hell!" I think David is being real here, and is casting the burden of these thoughts on God. Such vengeful thoughts will destroy us, because Jesus said we have to love our enemies and do good to those who spitefully use us (Matt 5:44).