Moses has a Mental Block - Numbers 29-32

Numbers 32:6-8 (ESV Strong's)

But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the Lord has given them? Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.

Moses has a Mental Block

When the tribes of Reuben and Gad came to request from Moses a new place to dwell, Moses immediately went to his memory bank and collected some raw data.    Reuben and Gad were livestock owners and, before crossing over the Jordon River with the rest of the nation of Israel, they thought, “why not just live here!”    They saw the land they were in and they thought they might as well build cities and live there.  It was great land for raising livestock.  But, since Moses had brought them to the edge of the promise land (as he had 40 years prior) and had prepared them for the next step for Joshua to lead them over to the Promise Land.  Moses remembered that in the prior step into the Promise Land the heads of the twelve tribes had allowed their fear to prevent them from entering into the promises land. Moses was afraid they, too, were acting in fear.  But, they were willing to go to war into the promise land with the nation.   Moses had a “cognitive anchor” that was formed that day of the spies rejecting God’s truth.   Reuben and Gad eventually convince Moses that their intent was Godly, but Moses still had the anchor.   We have to be careful that don’t allow actions from people in the past to formulate our minds for today.   We have to make sure that we allow God to work in the lives of new people and not frame them via the cognitive anchors of past people.   

Jesus Calls Us Brothers - Hebrews 1-4

Hebrews 2:10-11 (ESV Strong's)

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Jesus Calls Us Brothers

Because Jesus “perfected” (completed) the plan of God by coming in human form and suffering (as a human on the cross), we are “sanctified.”   That means the work of Jesus made us “holy.”   We are not holy in ourselves.  We can’t make ourselves holy.  We are sinful people.  We have failed totally before God.  EVERYONE!   Yet, Jesus came in the form of a man to live a holy, perfect, sanctified life for us.  He then suffered for us, paying for our sins, and He made us have His righteousness (sanctified us) and He took our sin.   The result?  Jesus calls us “brothers.”  Think about that!!  When someone asks you who you are, you can say, “I am Jesus’ brother.” Now, that is an identity.   “I am Jesus’ brother!!!”   That should be the center of our personal identity.   Jesus came to complete the plan of God so that He can call us “brothers.”  That means if we are “brothers” of Jesus we are “sons” of God:

Matthew 5:9 (ESV Strong's)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

We are, the “brothers” of Christ and the “sons” of God.   That is WHO we are as believers.  

Making Decisions Based Upon God’s Word - Acts 1-2

Acts 1:21-23 (ESV Strong's)

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

Making Decisions Based Upon God’s Word

In the above passage we have the disciples “waiting” in Jerusalem, as they were told by Christ.   But, in the “waiting” they decided that since Judas, one of the original twelve disciples, had both betrayed Christ and gone out and committed suicide, they needed to do something.   This “need to do something” came as a result of them looking into God’s Word and reading this passage (the verses quoted just prior to this section):

Acts 1:20 (ESV Strong's)

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,

and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

This verse is a combination of Psalms 69 and Psalms 109.  The reason they felt compelled to replace Judas was because they read God’s Word.  Apparently, why they were waiting they were studying God’s word.   Although originally just fishermen and tax collectors, they became great scholars of God’s Word (note how Peter digs into the Psalms 19 in Acts 2).   These men were waiting for Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, which He does in Acts 2.  But, while they were waiting they dug into God’s word and began to make decisions. Their decision were decisions based upon something they read in God’s Word.  They did not simply start making things up.  They began to formulate the norms of the Church that day: Decisions would be based upon fulfilling God’s Word.   That is a great basis of decision making.  

Who’s Kingdom Is It? Obadiah

Obadiah 1:21 (ESV Strong's)

Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion

to rule Mount Esau,

and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.

Who’s Kingdom Is It?

Obadiah is a message sent to the country of Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacobs ... Israel .. older brother).  When Israel was wandering in the wilderness they requested to pass through the land of Edom. Even though they promised to eat nothing, not top or take anything, Edom refused them passage.   God saw this and would punish them for it. Obadiah is that prophecy of punishment.  The “feud” between Edom and Israel was based upon Esau’s bitterness because Jacob stole his birthright.   He just never go over it.  To the day of Obadiah’s prophecy his descendants have not move passed that offense.   God sent this destruction upon them to teach us about how we treat our brothers.   Yet, there is something special in the last verse of this prophecy.  Obadiah states that “saviors” (probably, better, survivors) would return to the land of Israel.  They would once again be there to dwell in the land.  But, note the last line:

“... and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.”  

The capitalization of LORD means that this is the Hebrew name of God: Yahweh.   This is the most holy name of God for the Hebrews.  What Obadiah says, to end his prophecy, is that the kingdom (Israel) is Yahweh’s kingdom.   Edom thought the land was their land.   Just as all nations think the “land” is their land.  But, it is not. It is God’s kingdom.  God is the sovereign ruler of all kingdoms.   We may not recognize it, or affirm it, or even admit it, but God is the sovereign ruler of ALL kingdoms.   They are but pawns in His violent game vs evil and sin.   We can rejoice that God sees when others mistreat us and we can be assured that He will do what needs to be done to promote His kingdom.   

What’s in the Well, Comes Up in the Bucket - Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 27:19

As water reflects a face, So a man’s heart reflects the man.

 This is a word picture proverb. The picture is of a man who stops by a pool of water and bends down, perhaps to get a drink. Has his face draws closer to the pool he begins to see his reflection. No matter how hard he tries he cannot hide the look on his face. The pool, like a mirror, is always accurate. So, too, is do we reflect what is really in our hearts. We can’t hide the real feelings we have in our inner being. Just as the pool of water accurately reflects the expression and character of our face, so too does our life reflect the true character of our hearts. The only way you improve on the reflection of the pool is to change the face. And, the only way to change the life we act out is to change the heart. And, the only way to change the heart is to give it to the Chief Heart Surgeon, Jesus Christ. Only Christ can change a life by changing the heart. Give Him your heart and He can make life changes for you.

Thanksgiving is a Sacrifice to the Lord - Psalms 114-116

Psalms 116:17 (ESV Strong's)

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.

Thanksgiving is a Sacrifice to the Lord

When we sacrifice something, we often think we are giving something up that “we” own and are giving “over” to God.    But, in the above verse we read that “thanksgiving” is a sacrifice.   What we learn is that everything is God’s and our giving it over to Him is a recognition of His ownership.  Remember that the Israelites had to sacrifice the first born of every creature and the first born of their children were dedicated to God.  The sacrifice of the first born of their animals was to be in place of their first born child.   God decreed this because when He brought them out of Egypt He did so by killing the first born of the Egyptians, or anyone that did not put blood over and around their door posts.   God has a claim on us, whether we recognize it or not.  

We should rejoice that we can offer God anything. In this case we are to off Him our thanksgiving and call upon His name.  That is a command.   We ought to walk around thanking God for everything.  He not only deserves it, but everyone is His. Even our thanksgiving.   

Silver as Common as Stone - 2 Chronicles 6-9

2 Chronicles 9:27-28 (ESV Strong's)

And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

Silver as Common as Stone

In the beginning of Solomon’s reign as king, God asked they young man what he “wished” from God.   Solomon could have asked for anything.  Instead of riches and honor, Solomon asked for wisdom.  When he did that, here is what God said:

2 Chronicles 1:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

When the writers of Chronicles state that “silver was as common as stone,” they are telling us that God kept His promise to Solomon.  Solomon simply sought the “fear of the Lord” (that is the beginning of wisdom ... Proverbs 9:10), and God gave him above what he asked for.   God gave him what he didn’t seek.  God does not promise to everyone prosperity in the form of “silver as common as stone,” but He does promise that we can be assured of His continuous love and care as we seek Him.   We ought not to seek Him for riches and honor.  But, we are to seek Him and He will give us blessings in His way, His timing and for His glory.    We are to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  God will “add” to us what He desires to bring glory to Himself.