Tag: God

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Take care of your soul

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from Deuteronomy 4.

The monthly car payment fits into your budget. Sweet! Now, what about the maintenance and upkeep? What? A good rule of thumb is to set aside at least as much as the payment each month for things like oil changes, tires, tire rotations, filters, and cleaning supplies. Yikes. Those things add up quickly.

As he reviewed the law for the people, Moses said, “Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life” (Deuteronomy 4:9).

I know how to take care of my body. I know how to maintain a car. But how do I care for my soul? Souls get hungry, thirsty, and tired. My soul needs rest and sustenance, too. How do I do that?

Anxiety. Fear. Doubt. Worry. Panic. Restlessness. Impatience. Those could all be signs that my soul needs something. My soul needs to remember what God has done for me, the future he’s secured for me, and his mercies I’m experiencing today. When Jesus calls himself the bread of life, he invites us to come to him and drink, and is described as our Sabbath rest, he’s nothing less than a much-needed buffet for my soul.

Fix your eyes on him.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Want to see the pictures from our trip?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 33.

I’m old enough to remember the days when friends would invite you over to see the slides from their most recent trip. For those not old enough to remember, slides were transparent photos you could shine a light through and project onto a screen so a room full of people could all see them. We do the same thing now but on a big screen TV or the little screen of a phone.

Not everyone found travel slides or photographs as interesting as those who took them. But they were an important record of travel. Once I get home, I begin to forget all the places I went and all the things I saw and did. I’m careful now to journal every day of a trip. Alongside photos, this has enabled me to remember trips to Alaska, Israel, Haiti, and most recently, Hawaii.

That’s what Moses does. “These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt…Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage” (Numbers 33:1,2). He writes down the places Israel traveled and camped from their departure from Egypt to their arrival Moab, on the east side of the Jordan River. It’s not exciting reading, but it’s an important chronicle of the journey.

Before my dad died, he showed me pages in a scrapbook that listed everywhere he went while in the United States Army-Air Corps in World War II. He kept a careful record of every school he trained at and every island and atoll he stopped in the south Pacific. I was able to locate all of the places using Google Earth. Some places are nothing more than half an island out in the middle of the ocean. Others are towns in the Philippine Islands. All of them were far from home.

I’m glad he wrote it all down. When his ninety-year old memory began to fail, his part of United States and world history remained intact. Just like the nation of Israel, who often forgot about God and the amazing things he had done for them.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The pulse of a Spirit-filled life

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Rachel Loughman on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 28 and 29.

Upon learning that I was a pastor, folks would either comment, “It must be nice to only have to work one day a week” or, “You’re on duty 24/7, aren’t you?”

The truth lies somewhere in between. A lot of preparation goes into the weekly message to the gathered congregation. Shepherding a flock may be a daily commitment, but even shepherds clock in and out each day.

The priests and Levites were busy. Here’s a list of all the occasions on which were responsible for the offerings of God’s people:

  • Daily offerings, morning and evening, including a lamb, flour, and wine)
  • Sabbath day offering (weekly)
  • First of the month offering (monthly)
  • Passover offerings (14th day of first month, eight days total)
  • Feast of Weeks offerings (Pentecost; firstfruits of the harvest)
  • Feast of Trumpets offerings (Rosh Hashanah; 1st day of 7th month)
  • Day of Atonement offerings (Yom Kippus; 10th day of 7th month)
  • Feast of Booths offerings (15th day of 7th month; eight days total)

All that is in addition to vow offerings, freewill offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings (Numbers 28,29).

When I’m distracted by other things in life, whether it be myself or my things, I don’t fix my eyes on Jesus. But it sounds like the psalmist had it down, from waking till sleep:

“My voice you shall hear in the morning” (Psalm 5:3).

“When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6).

I like to think of all these instructions as a metronome that establishes a rhythm of worship. Rather than an interruption, worship occasions are the pulse of a Spirit-filled life.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

One spear; two speared

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Bakr Magrabi on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 25.

In a flagrant display of unfaithfulness and disobedience, an Israelite man brings a Midianite woman into his tent. Responding in faithfulness and obedience, Phineas, a grandson of Aaron, takes a spear and runs it through the two of them at the moment they are intimately involved in the inner room of their tent (Numbers 25:6-8).

Phineas is commended for this horrific act and promoted to permanent position of priesthood (25:12,13). Priests typically interceded for atonement. Here, it is to execute judgment.

Moses even records the names of the guilty parties. The man was Zimri; the woman was Cozbi. Their actions and their death triggered Israel’s attack on the Midianites and put an end to their seductive idolatry.

If you’re shocked by this account, I don’t blame you. But I’ll bet you’ve seen much worse in the movies you’ve streamed into your home. I’ll bet you’ve heard about even more scandalous behavior on the news. You may have even been a part of it yourself. This is our world. This has always been our world.

No one would blame God for throwing up his hands and just letting Israel (and all of us) self-destruct. But someone like Moses or Phineas or intercedes and the story goes on.

We’ll read about a future stroke of justice when Jesus is run through with a spear after he dies on the cross. He’s the priest, he endures God’s judgment, and he bleeds out in a scene just as gory as this one. Jesus steps in, and the story goes on.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Ouch, that hurts

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by ArWeltAtty Attila from pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 20.

“I’m so angry I could…” Spit. Scream. Explode. Everyone has a favorite way to finish that sentence. Unfortunately, reacting in anger or frustration rarely serves us well.

I think Moses was perturbed when he had to deal with grumpy people demanding water. Again. “What are we doing out here in the middle of nowhere? We’re all going to die.” I wonder if Moses rolled his eyes? Come on. God provided before. God will provide this time, too. Haven’t you learned anything?

God’s instructions to Moses are simple. Speak to the rock and water will come out. There will be plenty to drink for everyone.

Not far from the end of his rope, Moses says,  “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock (Numbers 20:10,11).

It sounds like another happy ending until God says, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (20:12).

No one saw that coming. But when Moses takes control of that moment, he robs God of his glory. The consequences are severe. At the end of the journey, Moses will not be entering the promised land with everyone else. He loses that ultimate reward for one brief moment in the spotlight.

Today I heard a pastor say, “Don’t give up something you want for something that feels good.” In the moment, though, it’s easy to take our eye off the prize.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

You might want to step back.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Megan O’Hanlon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 16.

“You might want to step back.”

Especially if he’s just made that second cut on a tree trunk and it’s about to fall. Or it’s time to lower the turkey into the peanut oil. Or the dog in the front yard is baring his teeth. Or a sign warns of alligators and snakes on either side of the path through the marsh.

Or when God says to Moses, “Tell everyone to step back.”

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram’” (Numbers 16:23,24).

In Numbers 16 a group of two hundred and fifty leaders challenge Moses’s leadership: “Who made you the boss of us?” In response, the earth splits open to swallow up the instigators, fire incinerates the 250, and a plague wipes out another 14,700 malcontents.

Whoa. Yeah, you might want to step back.

Those in leadership have a lot of authority and responsibility and get a lot of flak. That’s just the way it is. That’s why you should think long and hard about an offered promotion, running for elected office, or pastoring a congregation. Your approval rating will drop. Guaranteed.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A second chance? Nope.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 13 and 14.

I’m not a golfer, but I got dragged into a scramble fund-raiser for our church about twenty years ago. When I arrived that morning, borrowed clubs in hand, they asked me how many mulligans I wanted to buy. “What’s a mulligan?” “It’s a do-over.” I think I they were selling a dozen for ten bucks. What the heck, it was for a good cause. Golfers will be amused to know I used them up the front nine. Our four person team finished last, not even breaking 100. It was the last time I played. I’m not a golfer.

Who doesn’t like the idea of a mulligan? A bad note, a lousy drawing, over- or under-cooked food, a false start. Whatever. Start over. Try again.

We like to think of God as someone who gives you another chance. That’s true to a certain extent. Grace is powerful. So are consequences. After siding with the unfaithful majority, the nation of Israel doesn’t get another chance.

The vote was ten to two. Ten spies said, “We can’t go up against the people of Caanan. They are too big, too strong for us.” Two, Joshua and Caleb argued, “Let’s go; we can do it!” (Numbers 13:30-31)

God is ready to ditch them all (14:12). But Moses steps in. Moses appeals to God’s abounding love and forgiveness. “Please pardon the iniquity of this people” (14:19).

The Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers” (Numbers 14:20).

They are forgiven, that is, God doesn’t obliterate them with pestilence and disown them. However, they will live with the consequences of their unbelief. They will not enter in to the land. Forty years later, their children will. But they will not.

Wait a minute. Isn’t he a God of mercy? Isn’t he abounding in steadfast love? He sure is. But he’s also your heavenly father. A father who truly loves his children disciplines them (Hebrews 12:6). How else are you going to learn?

A police officer might let you off with a warning. But a speeding ticket might be more effective in getting you to lighten on the gas.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The obstacle course

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 13 and 14.

One rainy day when they couldn’t go outside and play, the kids decided to make an obstacle course. Jumping from chair to chair, crawling under tables, and hopping over pillows can keeps them plenty busy. The more obstacles the better!

Life can be like an obstacle course. It’s just not as much fun.

Ten of the twelve spies Moses sent across the Jordan so spy out Canaan reported, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are” (Numbers 13:31).

Joshua and Caleb insisted, “The Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:9).

Either the obstacle will block your view of the Lord, or he will obscure your view of the obstacle. Which will it be?

The obstacles were huge: strong, tall, ruthless people living in large fortified cities. They felt small. Tiny.

But it’s not just about perspective. God said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” (Numbers 14:11). It was unbelief. They chose not to trust the God who had done amazing things to deliver them.

The storm is huge. The diagnosis is grim. The cost is out of sight. Your hate runs deep. The tears won’t stop. You burned the bridge.

Get a good look at God each day before you’re faced with an obstacle. Turn over the baseball card and check out his stats. He’s brought you this far. He’ll get you through today. You can trust him with tomorrow, too. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Manna again?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Star of the Sea on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 11.

What’s something you could eat every day?

Great question. Some would say pizza. Ice cream comes up a lot. I have a granddaughter who would choose potatoes. Other granddaughters can’t get enough peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Plenty of people begin their day with a donut to go with their coffee.

Once in a while I hear someone extol the virtues of Waffle House. I’ve only eaten their once and that was enough. A friend of mine proudly tells the story of eating at a Waffle House all three meals one day. Better him than me.

Manna was the miracle provision of God to keep his people fed in the wildernss. After a couple of years, though, it was getting old. “There is nothing but this manna to look at” (Numbers 11:6). At that time they didn’t know they still had thirty-eight years to go.

In his song “So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt,” Keith Green imagines some creative ways to serve up manna (skip to 3:36 if you’re in a hurry):

Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!

So what blessings are you sick and tired of? Family? Job? House? Car? Church? Closet full of clothes? Food?

Chances are you prayed for those things. God provided. God’s been providing for a long time. And all you can do is complain.