The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Even as Joshua is commissioned to lead God's people, Moses sings a song of Israel's future disobedience. God is going to have to discipline His people when they go astray. He will redeem them, but not until they've learned their lesson in a foreign land.

The dawn of salvation was dark for the women. Even when an angel told them the good news of the resurrection, they didn't understand. We too are slow to believe God's promises. Yet we are redeemed, so that God's love may dawn even in our deepest darkness.

Grandpa Moses frames the law of God as the life of His people. His ways are good and just. To walk in any other way is foolishness and evil. Even today, we do well to listen to the Lord and will be blessed by the faithfulness we can muster by God's grace.

Grandpa Moses puts the responsibility fully on Israel's shoulders for their success or failure. God has given them a good foundation for their society in His laws. Whether or not they receive His blessing now depends on their faithfulness.

We hear God's pain when Jesus cries from the cross. He suffered as One of us and for us because we grieve God's heart when we sin. Yet, even as we hear His cry of pain, He suffers and dies so that we may be forgiven and accepted by the Father.

The end of Grandpa Moses's "random" rules safeguard and protect community by fair and equal treatment. Even practices that are foreign to us made sense when we understand how they protect the vulnerable. Caring for the needy is so important to God that the first fruits offerings of His people, when they crossed into the Promised Land, were reserved for those in need.

A seemingly random list of rules gives the impression of a rambling grandpa Moses struggling to finish his speech. But there are important themes in these "random" rules, as Moses tells God's people how they will witness to His character in this section.

Jesus was surrounded by strangers in His dying hours because all His friends had abandoned Him. We thank God that Jesus was undeterred by His friends' absence, because we often turn our back on Him. None the less, He continued and finished His work so that we can be forgiven when we flee from Him.

In the middle of Moses' last discourse we stumble across mighty types fulfilled by Jesus. Disobedient sons were liable for death. Those hung on a tree were cursed by God. Put the two together, and you see a prophetic picture of God the Father's view of His Son on calvary. He was killed and cursed, so that in Him, we may be blessed and live.

Like an eclipse, that darkens and alters our perception of the sun without changing the sun, lies have the power to completely alter perceptions of the truth. Grandpa Moses warned about the dangers of lies and proposed harsh penalties for those who falsely accused others. Learn how God expects His people to live as beacons of truth.

Have you ever been left by someone you love? If so, you know a measure of Jesus's pain when He was left by all who loved Him. He was forsaken, so that in Him, we would never be forsaken by God.

It does a soul good to know that God knows the future and sees around corners. In providing rules for a monarchy, God was addressing a need His people would have four hundred years in the future. How does it help you to know that God is already providing for future needs you couldn't even imagine?

How does God expect His people to deal with economic desparities that emerge due to human greed and sloth? How do work and worship play nicely together? In these chapters, we reflect on how faith provides the finances to be generous with others, and the time to spend with God in worship and His word.

When Jesus gave His disciples the blessing of His body and blood in communion, was He ushering in a new covenant? Or was He fulfilling the old? Or was He doing both?

God told his people that even if their dearest loved ones tried to lead them astray, they must trust and love the Lord above all others. He goes on to tell them specific ways that they would be distinct as his chosen people. In the purity and dietary laws of God people, we see how he protected them from unseen diseases.

As Israel moved into the Land of Promise, God told them to break idolatrous altars and pillars and to burn Asherah poles. We will learn why these hotbeds of paganism were destroyed in this fashion. We also consider how the "easy way" is still a temptation to God's people today.

Too much time on Christian airwaves is spent speculating on the day of Jesus's return. Instead of worrying about when it happens, how about we live as if today is the day of His return? This way, we make the best use of the time He's given us.

Grandpa Moses encourages God's people to listen to God because He intends to bless them. Common sense laws promote individual and community welfare. God knows what's best for His people and we will do well when we listen to Him.

Grandpa Moses reminds Israel that their goodness flows from the love and mercy of the Lord. They were not chosen for who they were, but rather by God's love, to become His great people. We consider how God's Word forms us as His people, as we seek to walk in His way.

"Work as if everything depends on you. Pray as if everything depends on God." ~Martin Luther. Jesus prepared His disciples for His inevitable departure and their inevitable suffering by blessing them with His Holy Spirit. In this episode we consider how, in one sense, there is nothing for us to do to be prepared for His return. On the other hand, there is a world of preparation for us to do.

As Grandpa Moses lays out God's law, he begins by reminding God's people that who they are flows from who God is. Just as He is the God of love, mercy and justice, so too they are to live lives of love, mercy and justice. Not because that's what they do. But because of who we are.

God blesses His people simply because He loves them. After recounting how the Lord's favor gave Israel victory over past foes, Grandpa Moses encourages Israel to future faithfulness. As God's chosen people, there is tremendous blessing when we listen to the Lord in faith.

Each of the major power players in Jerusalem tried to trick Jesus into saying something they could use to convict Him. Instead, He answered every question perfectly. He was, after all, wisdom and love personified. But in order to prove it, He would need to fulfill God's law by showing them the depth of His love.

Moses speaks to Israel as a loving grandfather, who blesses his grandchildren with his wisdom. We will learn how we are blessed when we listen to the Lord in faith. his law is love. We also learn the consequences of fear and disobedience.

Three classes of vulnerable citizens are given protection in the final chapters of Numbers- the Levites, those accused of murder, and women who are at risk of losing their inheritance. We consider how good governance provides for all people and the wisdom of God in protecting each of these groups.

In reponse to the leaders' hard-hearted rejection of Him, Jesus quotes a familiar parable from the prophet Isaiah and a popular line from a worship song of His day. We consider the unlikely allies who were Jesus's opponents, while we ponder His undaunted determination to fulfill God's will for His people.

Israel's "marches" since the exodus are recounted before God sets the boundaries for Israel in Palestine. Numbers recalled God's faithfulness to His people, and ends with an admonition to drive-out the inhabitants of the land. Israel's faithfulness to God, we are told, will be their success or their undoing.

As Israel inches closer to the Promised Land, Moses has two final battles. In one battle, Israel is avenged on Midian and Balaam. The other battle discussed is yet another internal squabble with leaders of Israel.

Jesus used the fig tree to teach His disciples of the destruction of the Temple, and all sacred institutions that no loger fulfill God's purposes. Church scandal is rampant and it is destructive. Here we learn how sin corrupts even sacred institutions, and how they can be restored in the same way sinful humans are restored.

God's laws about vows provided many protections for women and men. While some may suggest God was putting women into their place, you could also argue women had more protections under the law than men. Here again we see how God's governance protected all parties.

Good governance provides for the needs of all people. This principle is demonstrated when God's laws for inheritance were given to Moses. Too many people blame God for systemic injustice. Here we see how He provides good governance and leadership for His people Israel.

The Palm Sunday praise sung to Jesus was the very same praise the people had been singing to God in their annual ascent to the Temple. For hundreds of years they had sung these songs of worship. When Jesus came on Palm Sunday, they praised Jesus for lifting them up in love and looked for Him to fulfill all of God's promises.

In this chapter we see a repeat of the idolatry Israel commited when they worshipped the Golden Calf at Sinai. Their passionate worship of Baal aroused the Lord's passion. Many died for their adulterous idolatry. We will consider our passion towards the Lord, and our passion for sharing His love with others.

Balaam utters prophecies for Israel that wouldn't be fulfilled for a over a thousand years. We learn how they were fulfilled. We also see that he is not paid for his services, but rather threatened by the king who had hired him to prophecy against Israel.

James and John look like a couple of heels, asking Jesus for positions of power and influence when He comes into His kingdom. They left disappointed. Blind Bartimaeus comes asking for heals and leaves rejoicing in the Lord. Here we get an opportunity to reflect on what we ask the Lord for and the blessing of seeking mercy in Him.

Balaam heeds the Lord's warning and prophecies for, not against, Israel. We learn about some of the practices of ancient Hittite religion as King Balak of Moab tries to buy God's favor. His attempt works about as well as you'd expect.

Balaam is an intriguing character who the King of Moab paid to prophecy against Israel. In this hilarious chapter, Balaam's ass has more sense than her master. When the beast speaks, and Balaam sees the Angel of the Lord, he is warned that he treads a dangerous path by opposing the Lord and His people.

The world is really good at getting us down on our knees by giving us more than we can handle. Thanks be to God that He has mercy on us and does the impossible for us. We would be hopeless were it not for the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus uses an illustration from this chapter, when talking to Nicodemus in John three. We will see how God had mercy on his hardhearted people by turning the instrument of death into an instrument of life. Jesus has done the very same for us, by turning death into the portal of eternal life, through his own death on the cross.

Israel continues to complain against Moses, Aaron, and the Lord, because they simply will not be satisfied with what God provides. When God tells Moses to bring water out of a rock by speaking to it, Moses strikes the rock in frustration, and because of his disobedience he is not going to be allowed to enter the promised land. In this episode, we learn of trying people in trying times, and how even the best of us can strike in frustration.

When Jesus says, "the first shall be last and the last first," He isn't talking about us as much as He's teaching us about Himself! We are prized and exalted beause He ws despised and rejected. It is only by His Spirit's prompting that we, in turn, are enabled to lower ourselves so that others may be exalted.

It may seem unfair that the Levites were the only tribe not to get an allotment of property in Israel. But God insists He is their portion. What a wonderful inheritance to have! Here we consider the Lord as our lot and why even priests and Levites were told to tithe as Israel's spiritual leaders.

Aaron was affirmed by God, as His priestly representative, when the sons of Koran rose up in rebellion against their kinsman. Aaron's staff bore fruit in the Lord's presence. His enemies were then swallowed up by the earth. This dramatic demonstration of wrath and favor solidified Aaron's position as spiritual leader of God's people.

A man come to Jesus with his demon-possessed son after the disciples can't cast it out. The man doesn't know how God can save his son, yet comes asking for a miracle. He receives the miracle he requests, not because of the quality of his faith, but because of the depth of God's love.

Equality was deemed vitally important to God as the basis of His nation's treatment of all people. We consider how much suffering ego and pride cause and the fact that equal treatment under the law was a part of God's moral law for all people of all time.

When the spies went out to survey the land, two came back with a glowing report and ten with words of worry and fear. The people rebelled against the Lord and Moses yet again, saying, "we'd rather die, or be slaves in Egypt," than follow the Lord's lead. During this difficult chapter, Joshua and Caleb are going to rise and shine as faithful leaders who will be chosen to shepherd the next generation of God's people all the way into the promised land, despite the misgiving of Israel.

As we follow Jesus, it's good to be aware of the obstacle that worldly views of money and morality are more than a distraction. They can completely derail us if we aren't watching ourselves and listening to God's Word.

In the very first leg of their journey, God's people began complaining against Moses. YHWH answered their prayer by blessing other leaders with His Spirit. He also provided meat for them to eat in the desert. Despite, or maybe because of God's love, there were real consequences for their disrespect and disobedience. God used the consequences they suffered to teach them, so they would grow in wisdom and faith by learning from their mistakes.

One year after the Exodus, God's people celebrate the Passover, and prepare for their journey to the promised land. God gave specific marching orders to his people, and led them visibly along their way. We are encouraged in our walk with God, knowing that He goes with us and before us in our walk with Him.

The disciples were caught arguing over a single loaf of bread, right after Jesus fed 4,000. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod." What did the disciples have in commonn with these villians of Mark's gospel? What sin lurks in our souls that can spoil everything?