The Family Bible Journey Podcast

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?

God provided for the spiritual needs of His people by setting up the Tabernacle. He also provided those who served in the worship life of God's people with a retirement plan. In this episode we consider the wisdom of planning for retirement by having an exit strategy that includes preparing the next generation to lead and serve.

The faithful generosity of YHWH's Old Testament people challenges us today. We will reflect on current declines in giving to religious charities and consider how we can grow in supporting the Lord's work on earth.

Here we see the basic misconception of Jesus's opponents about the source of sin. We sin because we are sinners. Not, we are sinners because we sin. It isn't until we recognize our place under God's law that we begin to appreciate the depth of His love for us.

Many of YHWH's people still today receive the blessing of Aaron in worship. YHWH told Aaron to put His NAME on His people with this special blessing. We consider how blessed, and affirmed we are in the faith as we hear these words spoken over us still today.

The priests and Levites were given strict instructions including their place in the camp, and how they were to care for the tabernacle, her furnishings, and tools as they marched. We see a few poignant "types" of Christ in their orders. We also learn how practical details show the wisdom of God revealed in seemingly mundane ways.

While Jesus is getting rejected by the people of Nazareth, the demoniac He healed chapters earlier was busy telling everyone what the love of God had done for Him. Even the disciples forgot the power of God's love in a moment of panic. But when they felt rejected, and were themselves guilty of unbelief, they crossed the sea to see God's love was still at work in the most unlikely places.

"Numbers" might better be called "Marches," because it recounts the journey of God's people from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land. We will consider the tender relationship between the Hebrew God YHWH and his people. He prepared them spiritually and militarily, for what would be a blessed, yet burdensome march to their promised home.

Leviticus ends by God reminding His people of what was His and what was theirs. We see a Biblical basis for generosity in this passage and have opportunity to reflect on our personal generosity.

Jesus was rejected by those who knew Him best in Nazareth. John the Baptist was beheaded for faithfulness. We can take heart when others reject us even though we try our hardest for God and the gospel. If God Himself can't please His people, we shouldn't be shocked when we disappoint them.

There are great blessings for obedience. When we fail to follow the Lord's will, we get in His way and suffer the consequences. When we live according to His will, faith becomes more than what we do. It becomes more and more, who we are.

How would life be better if we saved in six years enough to take every seventh year off? What would you do with that year off? How would it effect your family? We consider these things as we consider the blessings of the Sabbath year.

A demon-possessed man, woman with and incurable disease, and Jairus who lost his daughter. Each it seems, represent people whose prayers God was slow to answer. We are often waiting on the Lord. How do we process feelings of impatience or disappointment with Him? In this chapter, we learn that when God delays, He often has far more in store for us than we dared hope was possible.

Moses continues to intertwine the ceremonial and civil law of God's Old Testament people because they complement, not contradict, each other. When many are confused and lost in a society that is losing valuable institutions, we can find our place with the help of institutions that God has given to bless us along life's way.

The liturgical calendar of God's Old Testament people complemented their agricultural lifestyle. As we review the annual calendar of worship, we discover a few types of Christ. We grow in our appreciation of the God Who blesses us in earthly and eternal ways.

Jesus continues teaching about the blessings of His Word sown into our lives. What are you going to do with it? How are you going to share it? What can God do through you when you share His love with others? The only way you will find out is by joining Him in His work of generously sharing His Word.