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Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Numbers 9-12. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you.  I’m calling today’s episode “Move Out.”  







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Comments on Numbers 12







I don’t recall ever hearing a message, or a sermon on Numbers 12. So that’s what I’m going to talk about today. It seems like somewhat of an unusual chapter to me. Does it seem that way to you? Let’s dig in.







1Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan." (GW)







Miriam and Aaron were the brother and sister of Moses. And because of the way the sentence is constructed in Hebrew, and the fact that Miriam is listed first, she is probably the instigator of this confrontation. We'll talk more about that in a moment.







Out of the 35 translations I checked, this is the only translation that says Moses was married to a woman from Sudan. Most other translations say she was a Cushite woman. Others say she was Ethiopian. The original language says Cushite. The Cushites were descendants of Cush. Cush was the oldest son of Ham. Ham was the son of Noah. So Cush was the grandson of Noah. Interestingly, one of Cush's sons was Nimrod, who is thought to be the ruler of Babel when the Tower of Babel was built. So the great-grandson of Noah probably built the Tower of Babel. (There's another reminder that it is imperative to teach faithfully each generation the Word of the Lord. Just because you're a believer is no guarantee that your children will be, or their children. Be diligent in living in such a way that your children see that God is real.) 







The land of Cush might very well be, and probably is synonymous with Ethiopia. Though the Ethiopia of the Bible is not exactly the same as the Ethiopia of today. However, the Ethiopia of the Bible included an area of what is Sudan today! See how it all comes together?







Given this background, it is probably not going to surprise you when I say that the Cushite people were dark skinned. As a matter of fact, Cush means "black." 







One last thing about Cush. I found this at gotquestions.org: Significantly, Cush is also a nation that received the gospel and will be involved in the millennial kingdom. The evangelist Philip gave the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, who would have been referred to as a Cushite in Hebrew, and the eunuch was one of the first converts of Ethiopia to Christianity (Acts 8:26–39). He undoubtedly took the gospel back to his land, where he had great influence as a royal official to Queen Candace (Acts 8:27). During the millennial reign of Christ, Jesus will receive honor from Cush/Ethiopia: “From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings” (Zephaniah 3:10).







So the fact that Moses was married to a Cushite woman is the reason Miriam and Aaron gave for their complaint. It was not forbidden for Israelites to marry Cushites, so that is not likely to be the basis for the complaint. It is possible, and maybe even probable that their reason was because of the color of her skin. Something she had no control over. 







But this was not the real problem. As is often the case, there was something deeper. 







Verse 2 says, " 2They asked, 'Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn’t he also speak through us?'” 







Can't you just hear Miriam? "Who do you think you are, Moses? You think you're so special because God speaks through you. He speaks through me! And Aaron, too!"







In a way, she was right. God spoke through Aaron in Exodus 4:30,

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today 2 Timothy 1-2. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Before There Was Time.”  







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Comments on 2 Timothy 1







The apostle Paul wrote this to Timothy from a Roman prison, shortly before he was executed by Nero. The book of 2 Timothy was the last writing we have from him. 







There is a place in Rome that is said to be the place Paul was imprisoned. It is basically a cave in the ground with a small opening in the ceiling where they dropped his food down. It is windowless and small, with bare walls. It would have been a very uncomfortable place, especially in the cold winter months.







Knowing that he would soon be put to death, he wrote this letter to his "dearly loved son", Timothy. He was, of course, speaking of his spiritual family. We have seen Paul use this language for Timothy before. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy in his work with some last important words.







In verse six, Paul said, "6Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands."







Have you ever tended a fire in a fireplace or a campfire? In order to keep the fire going, you have to stir it up once in a while. If you don't, it will go out. Paul is saying, "My son, God has given you a gift, but you have to work at it to keep it going." 







Beloved, we can't just sit back and expect God to work through us. He expects us to take what He has given us, whatever those abilities are, and put effort into making the most of them for His glory, for His Kingdom. You can't, for example say, "I have the gift of teaching," and then just wait for someone to come to you for instruction. You have to actively make yourself available to use the gift. If there is a need for Sunday School teachers, volunteer. Don't wait to be approached. 







It seems that Timothy may have been somewhat timid or fearful to making the most of his gift, because Paul said, "7For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." Going back to the example of the gift of teaching, if you have been gifted this way but feel fearful or shy about making yourself available, understand that that feeling does not come from God. With the gift, God also gave you the ability to make use of it...he gave you the power to use it. If it is from God, it is backed up with His power. And His love. And the mental ability to use the gift.







When you are given a gift, God expects you to use it. It is part of His plan for you. So be bold in its use. That does not mean to be obnoxious about it, but be confident.







Verse 9 says, "9He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."







Beloved, we have been called by God, not because of anything we have done, but because He had a plan for us before time even began. A plan for His purpose. God thought of you before time even began. Think of it. It's a little like this. My fifth grandchild is being formed at this very moment by the hand of God. Do you think that Grandma and Grandpa, and especially her parents, have hopes and dreams for her? And do you think they're making plans for her arrival? Of course they are! She isn't even born, and her family is already filled with expectations about her and for her. And just as her mom and dad have picked out a name for her, God knew your name before he even set the universe in motion. 

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today John 10-12. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Therefore.”







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Comments on John 11







In this chapter we read about perhaps Jesus' greatest miracle...the raising of His friend, Lazarus, from the dead.







Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, had sent word to Jesus that, "...the one whom you love is ill." In the Greek, the way the word "ill" is used tells us that he had been sick for some time. This was not something that just came up suddenly. They had watched their brother in his sickness, and now felt the need to call for Jesus. 







Again, I'm not entirely happy with the way the CEB translates Jesus' response. "This illness isn't fatal. It's for the glory of God so the God's Son can be glorified through it." The fact is that the illness was fatal. The illness did, in fact kill him. In the Greek, what Jesus said was, "This ailment will not end in death. It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it." The difference in the two translations is subtle, but I think it is important. 







So in my comments, I am going not going to use the CEB as we move forward. There are more of these differences, and I want us to look just at what the original language wants us to see.







After Jesus said that the illness will not end in death, we are told that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus, and *therefore* stayed two more days in the place where He was. I have always been taught that when you see the word "therefore" in Scripture, ask yourself, "What's the therefore there for?" And in this case, the therefore is there for a very specific and incredibly important reason. "Therefore" ties two thoughts or events together. What are they in this case? 1) Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 2) Jesus stayed two more days. He loved them, therefore he stayed two more days. 







Jesus could have healed Lazarus immediately. He did not need to travel to Bethany, where the sisters and Lazarus was. But there was something to be accomplished in their waiting, and in the death of Lazarus. Jesus told us what it was, "It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it."







Jesus knew that in going back to Judea, where the Jewish leaders had wanted to stone Him to death, He was walking into danger. And He knew that when He raised Lazarus from the dead, that would be the beginning of His final chapter. 







Therefore, because he loved.







Beloved, because He loves us, He sometimes allows us to go through difficult times. In difficulties, in heartbreaks, God can accomplish great things. He knows what it is to grieve. We saw in verse 35 that Jesus wept. Even though He knew that He was about to raise Lazarus, He wept because of his compassion for His friends. He is not a God that is far off, removed from us. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."







The miracle that Jesus did in raising Lazarus from the dead was part of the plan that ultimately took Him to the cross where He shed the blood that brings salvation to any who will believe in Him. And His resurrection proved that He had power and authority over death, confirming that He is indeed God. 







Therefore, because He loved.







Don't doubt His love for you when life seems to be falling apart. Hold Him tight. He loves you.







Today's Bible Translation







Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 10 NIV, Ch. 11 CEB, Ch. 12 NIRV

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Hosea 8-14. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Boundless Love.” 







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Comments on







In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked by a Pharisee what the greatest commandment is. His response was, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." 







In Hosea, God judged His people because they were not faithful to Him. 









7For my people are determined to *desert* me.They call me the Most High,but they don’t truly honor me. (NLT)

Hosea 11:7 NLT







How many times had He told them that judgement was coming, but that He would forgive them if they would repent and come back to Him? 









1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down.







2Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,







so that we may offer you our praises. 3Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”







4The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your *faithlessness*; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever..."

Hosea 14:1-4 NLT







The same Hebrew word is used in 11:7 "for my people are determined to desert me" and in 14:4 "I will heal you of your faithlessness". The word means "backsliding" or "apostasy". To desert or to backslide or to be an apostate means that at one point they were *with* God, but then they turned away. 







Notice what God said here in 14:4: I will heal you of your faithlessness, your backsliding, your apostasy. He didn't say forgive. He said heal! Listen to what Spurgeon wrote about this: “as though he said, ‘My poor people, I do remember that they are but dust; they are liable to a thousand temptations through the fall, and they soon go astray; but I will not treat them as though they were rebels, I will look upon them as patients, and they shall look upon me as a physician.” 







After telling them that He would heal them of their apostasy, He said, "...my love will know no bounds...". And it is because of His boundless love that he looked at their backsliding as a disease instead of a willful crime. 







Oh beloved, what a God we serve! Isaiah 53 speaks prophetically of the coming Messiah, Savior, Jesus. And in verse 5 it says, "5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;







The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." That healed is the same Hebrew word as in Hosea.







Jesus came to earth as a man so that He could be in the same "stuff" as us, the same flesh. But He never backslid, He never sinned. When He was tempted, He never gave in. And so He was the perfect, spotless sacrifice for our transgressions and our iniquities. 







Beloved, the healing that God promised in Hosea was begun on the cross and completed with the empty tomb. And this work was all because of God's boundless love. Hallelujah! 







God loves you more than you could ever hope to comprehend, and He longs to have you respond to that love by accepting His gift of mercy and grace. I hope you've done that. 







What a God! He is worthy of praise, don’t you think? I sure do.







Today's Bible Translation

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Proverbs 20-21. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Avoiding Strife.”  







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Comments on Proverbs 20-21







Just a few comments today. Most of the verses, or proverbs, speak for themselves. They just need to be rolled over in our minds and made a part of who we are.







Comments on Proverbs 20







My wife, the lovely lady LeeAnn, has been in the car business for several years now, and God has blessed her. She is the director for the internet sales department at her dealership, and every month she’s almost always the top sales person because she treats her clients openly and honestly. Verse 14 of Proverbs 20 makes me think of the sales process that so many people seem to want to go through. “Bad, bad," says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts.” It’s the give and take of, not just the car business, but any financial transaction where negotiating is involved. The buyer points out the problems with the merchandise, the seller extolls the virtues. If the process is done properly, both parties are winners. The buyer comes away feeling like he’s gotten a good deal, and the seller makes a reasonable profit. 







And Verse 24 says, “Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” That last part is better translated, “How can a man understand his *own* way?” It’s true. Our lives are in God’s hand. He knows where He wants us and what He wants us to do and be. We sometimes think we are planning and running our lives. And to a certain extent we are, since we do have the freedom to choose. But God’s ultimate, overarching plan for creation will be accomplished. Doesn’t it seem foolish to think that we can challenge God? Doesn’t it seem wiser to acknowledge His lordship and follow Him one step at a time, and allow ourselves to be in harmony with His plan? If our plan is in conflict with His, all our planning will be for nothing. There’s an old Jewish proverb, non-Biblical and somewhat cynical that says, “Man makes his plan, and God laughs.” I would much rather give myself to Him and have the assurance that my life will have meant something when I stand before Him at the judgement. I’ve told you many times that my ultimate goal is to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”







Thoughts on Proverbs 21







I’m sure you noticed Solomon’s comments about living with a disagreeable woman. In some circles this is fodder for the fallacy that the Bible is anti-woman. I disagree, and here’s why.







Proverbs was written by Solomon, a man who was a king with not only great wisdom and great wealth, but he also had a large amount of concubines. (And yet he is still credited with having wisdom. Haha!) I’m sure that he was well acquainted with what it was like to live with easy-to-get-along with women and some who were not so much.







The purpose of this book is what? To impart wisdom. Why? Because with wisdom comes many things, one of which is peace. 







Solomon was writing from a man’s perspective, so he talked about marital peace from that vantage point. So he wrote about living with a quarrelsome woman, and the disruption of peace that causes.







One could just say, “Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling mate.” Do I hear an amen from the women? Haha. I thought so. This scripture doesn’t give men the right to be quarrelsome. And it doesn’t denigrate women. 







How do I know that the Bible is not anti-woman? There are many reasons,

Associate Producer







John from Canada.







Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Psalms 102-104. I’ll have a brief introduction to each chapter, then after we read all three, I’ll have some comments for you.







I’m calling today’s episode “Through It All.”  







Design and Photo: Steve Webb







Comments on Psalms 102 and 104







Psalm 102







Psalm 102 reminded me of a song by the great Andrae’ Crouch. It’s called “Through It All.” I’ll have a video on the show notes page if you’d like to hear it.  Verse three is especially good. 









https://youtu.be/iB2pPCydEjs









I can’t listen to this song without joining Andrae in praising the Lord. It’s so good. It’ll be on the show notes page at /s12e238. If you want to have a time of praise, go listen. 







Psalm 104







When I was a young man, I did quite a lot of hiking and backpacking and rock climbing. One of the greatest trips I took was in the High Sierra. Some friends of mine and I hiked from the area around Mammoth Mountain, where a couple of years later I became a professional ski patrolman, to Yosemite Valley, truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. As the crow flies, the distance is about 35 miles. Our hike was about 70 miles. We took 10 days to make the trip, because we took some days exploring the area around our camps and fishing.







Why am I telling you this? Because I really love seeing God's creation, and I get how some people can look at it and worship the creation instead of the creator. I get it, but I feel sorry for people who do that. To see the beauty of a sunrise over a mountain meadow, or hear the trickling of a stream teeming with brook trout, or to gaze upon majestic mountain peaks, or hear the thundering of crashing waves on the shore, and fail to acknowledge the awesome Creator of these wonders and all there is, is tragic in my eyes.







I have often wondered how people fail to realize that all of these things come from God, but then I remember that it is Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. And Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them to Him. So beloved, people can't know that the beauty we see was created by God unless He reveals Himself to them. 







Knowing this compels me to do at least two things. Number one: I must praise God for calling me to Himself. It is not because I'm so smart that I love Him, it is because He revealed Himself to me, and He gave me the faith to believe. And number two, I have tell others about Him. Because Romans 10:17 tells us that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is our job to plant the seeds of faith by telling others the Good News, and it is God who takes it from there. 







God gave us a beautiful world to live in that illustrates His creative and mighty and orderly nature. Praise HIM, the Creator, for that, not the creation.







Today's Bible Translation







Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 102 NIRV; Ch. 103-104 CEV







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The Team