Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching
the Surface of Numbers
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I'll never forget
Pearl.
Reflecting the
sense of audacious entitlement, defiance, and rebellion of the people
constantly complaining to Moses about everything including their hardships,
diet, living arrangements, and God's leadership through him, I'll never forget
how she rushed past my secretary into my study, plopped down in the chair in
front of my desk, exhaled, inhaled, and blurted, "I hate your beard!'
Though I didn't
take the bait and took the time to peel the onion to discover what was really
bothering her - her estranged son had a beard and she was transferring her
frustrations to me - I made a terrible mistake by offering, "If it will
make you feel better, I'll shave off my beard."
Unlike the
Nazirites of Numbers who symbolized their devotion to God and set the standard
for John the Baptist as well as succeeding generations of hippies by letting
their hair grow long along with other funky stuff with no regard to popular
fashions, I shaved off mine to curry her favor.
When I saw her
coming through the receiving line at the end of worship on the succeeding
Sunday, I expected her to shower me with affirmation and affection.
Instead, she
exhaled, inhaled, and blurted, "Now about your moustache!"
The Nazirites or
anyone else truly devoted to God would never curry favor with anyone at the
expense of their relationship with God; knowing everyone is going to be
responsible to God a lot longer than anyone else which makes establishing Him
as the #1 priority of life for eternity a no-brainer.
Even a jackass
can understand that; or as a prophet's jackass in Numbers explained to him when
tempted to curry a politician's scheme over the instructions of the Source, Starter,
Sovereign, and Savior, the only way to make it in this world and beyond is by
living out a familiar chorus: "Praise God from whom all blessings
flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye
heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Or as God began
His summary of how to honor Him along with the consequences of doing and not
doing that at the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land, "No other
gods before Me...No idols...As for those who are not loyal to Me, there will be
bad consequences...As for those who are loyal to Me, they will experience My
loyal love."
Essentially,
Numbers is about life being a journey of getting closer and closer and closer
to God to experience His best in and
after time.
It shows how God
does not allow anyone to enter His Promised Land of peace and prosperity here
and now and hereafter apart from proving trust in Him through obedience to Him.
As a biker, I
often hear, "It's about the journey not destination."
Yes, I understand
that means to enjoy the trip; and Genesis from the very first chapter proves
the truth of those hats and shirts that sport, "Life is Good!"
And as Genesis
and Numbers and all of Holy Scripture verify, life is good when we trust and obey Him.
This life with
all its wanderings comes to an end; but eternity lasts, uh, forever; which is
why the Psalmist said, "You get 70 or 80 or more years in this life;
so number those days in the right way so life beyond those days will be everything
promised by Him."
Simply, trust and
obey right now to guarantee His best forever.
That's why
Numbers spends so much time organizing for the journey - counting, identifying
resources, considering who and what and how in a Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12
kinda way.
Even a jackass
knows you've gotta pack the right stuff to get where you want to go.
Everybody wants
to get to the Promised Land; and Numbers shows how to do it.
Unlike my mistake
with Pearl, believers know there's only One who really, really, really deserves
our focus and favor.
He has the only
divinely trustworthy directions on how to get to the Promised Land.
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...to be continued...
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Blessings and Love!
1 comment:
Bob,
Amen! His way is the blessed way, the way of favor and certainly is the right way! May God bless Pearl and open her eyes to what matters the most!
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