In the book of Numbers, Moses was about to die and God was raising up a new leader by the name of Joshua. He would not lead in quite the same way. He wouldn’t have the “face-to-face” relationship with God that Moses had. But Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land. This should encourage us that God will use each of us in His way, with our own gifts and talents. We don’t have to be like someone else. If you compare yourself to others and are afraid to step out and be used by God, know that God has a unique plan to use who you are.
Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day.” This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the daily posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
Today’s Readings:
Numbers 27 & 28
Psalm 34.8-14
Proverbs 11.29
Mark 14.1-26
God Can Use You!
Numbers 27 & 28:
According to Our Gifts
Moses was at the end of his life and he was still concerned about the people.
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd (27.16-17).
But God had already prepared another leader. He would not lead in quite the same way and he would not have that “face-to-face” relationship with God that Moses had, but he would be used by God to bring the people into the Promised Land.
That should encourage all of us that though we may be gifted differently from someone else, God will use us, too.
And now a few thoughts about today’s other readings:
Psalm 34.8-14:
God Teaches His Children
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD (v. 11).
God does not want to withhold His wisdom from us, He is always ready to teach us if we will just ask and listen.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (Jas. 1.5).
Proverbs 11.29:
The Result of Mismanagement
He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
John MacArthur says it so well, “The one who mismanages his house will see all he has blown away … He will serve the one who manages well.”
The Alabaster Jar
Mark 14.1-26:
1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
Simon was most likely someone who had been healed by Jesus and was no longer a leper. And since Jesus was eating at his house at this time, he was probably part of the wider group of disciples.
According to John 12.3, Mary was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. The “pure nard” was a rare and costly perfume imported from India. Its value of “three hundred denarii” mentioned in verse 5 was equal to a year’s wages in the first century.
Anointed for His Burial
Verse 4:
4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
John said that Judas Iscariot was one of the ones who objected.
6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
What she did recalls the precious ointment poured over Aaron when he was anointed High Priest. It was an act of pure worship on her part.
Betrayed!
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.
This emphasized the deeply personal nature of Judas’ betrayal.
The Last Supper
21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about vows, authority, soul winning, and ask the question, “Could we be acting “dumb as an ox?”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them.
If you have a prayer request or a question, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I will do my best to answer and would love to pray for you.
And if this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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