March 24, 2010; Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29, Luke 6:12-38, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 11:27

Lord, we ask for your blessing and compassion as we commit our lives to you. May your light so shine through us that others may see that we too are your children, and give glory to you. Heavenly Father, together, we seek to share in praise unto you as we get to know your children throughout your world. Help us to understand your purpose and to see the power of your salvation among all nations. We seek to praise thee O God! With all people, we seek to praise your Holy Name.

Response to Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29

The Historical Background and Setting Deuteronomy 2:1-25

http://bibleatlas.org/full/mount_horeb.htm (Deuteronomy 2:1-3, the Exodus through Numbers 21:3) Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Mount Sinai, Sinai Peninsula, Wildernesses of Sinai, Zin, and Paran, Kadesh Barnea, Mount Hor, Arabah Valley, Seir Mountains

http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-route-kadesh-barnea-jordan.htm (Deuteronomy 2:4-37) basic route from Ezion-geber at the Northern tip of the gulf of Aqaba east of Edom and up to the Jordan.

http://net.bible.org/map.php?map=map11 Topographical detail of Deuteronomy 2:4-37. (vs 8. slightly southeast of G-3) East of the Edomites in the Seir mountainous region east of the Arabah, turning north toward Moab: (Deuteronomy 2:13) Cross over the Zared brook (river in E-1 is probably a brook in G-1), Ar probably affected the region of the Arnon River and Aroer (C-1/vs. 9 and 18) The land of the Ammonites lies above this map (east)

For background information on the Moabites and Ammonites: Genesis 19:36-37 "So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father.  The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today." 

This was after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah and the death of Lot's wife in Genesis 19:24-26.  Most geographers place Gomorrah, then Sodom in the Arabah valley from Zoar north to the waters of Nimrim between the Zared and Arnon rivers. (perhaps just east of the bluish/turquoise (D-2) in the above map)

How Thick is Your Blood? Deuteronomy 2:1-23

How strong is your faith? When someone says to you, we need to get back to the foundational beliefs of our Father's, how far back are you willing to go?  The 12 son's descendants (tribes) of this man, Jacob (Israel) were willing to work together as one nation under God.  They chose to work as a community - or rather, God chose to combine them as a nation.  They were willing to (or God spoke to them in such a way) live peacefully (for quite a bit of history at least) with one another as the larger community.  They traced their lineage beyond their common ancestor (Jacob/Israel) to Abraham, whom they saw as God's chosen one. And yet, their history revered a man from outside their culture (Melchizedek) as a great High Priest" 

We find from our story that Abraham was not the only Patriarch (scriptural father of the human race) that left his Father's house to "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28).  In fact, Abraham had struggled to find a place to call home and these Israelite people eventually succombed to slavery which scripture reveals was the curse upon Ham (or perhaps just Canaan the son of Ham) (Genesis 9:25). (go ahead, imagine this has something to do with the unclean nature of pork in kosher laws).  Eventually, God brought these people out of Egypt with great power which has been witnessed by people worldwide throughout the remainder of history.  They were stubborn and rebellious and would have rather stayed in Egypt and complained for eternity, but God chose to bless them to be a blessing to all mankind. 

In Deuteronomy 2, we find peace among brothers as long as they feel like relatives.  Jacob and Esau, siblings through Isaac, leave one another alone.  The Moabites and Ammonites (relatives through Abraham's Dad, Terah) and the Israelite's leave each other alone and respect ancestral lines. 

So I ask again, How strong is your faith?  How far back are you willing to trace your lineage and the hand of God at work despite the hostilities of man?  Are you willing to consider all men brothers through that first of men? Whether Adam lived 5770 years ago (Hebrew calendar), or whether you believe some common ancestor evolved millions of years ago tying us all to the creation itself and to the creator God and sustainer of us all; how far back are you willing to honor our common bond?  Perhaps you are the type of person who still places more emphasis in the curses of our Holy Books - the adversity and the afflictions of man!  Perhaps you would rather justify bigotry and bloodshed through religious faith, instead of reaching back to the beginning of time and finding our common bond - the one who is, and who was, and forevermore shall be. The way, the truth, and the life. And God said "I Am"

Forgetting the Past and Pressing on Toward What Lies Ahead Deuteronomy 2:24-3:11

Perhaps you would have rather I focused on the Giant's, if so, check out Steve Quayle's article:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/2579230/The-Giants-After-the-flood Sihon's and Og's Overthrow.

http://bibleatlas.org/full/arnon.htm land of Sihon, King of the Amorites (Heshbon) Deuteronomy 2:23-37.

http://maps.google.com/?q=31.4288,35.677009%20(Arnon)&t=k&z=8 Note the topography of this area shows the valley of the Amorites is bordered by the mountains of the Ammonites to the east.

http://bibleatlas.org/full/bashan.htm Og, King of Bashan

Following a short visit with the first and second cousins (near relatives if you will), the Israelites meet up with more ancient ties with the Amorites beginning in Deuteronomy 2:24.  Moses has done us all a service in recounting, in very short detail, the history of the land as numerous people - people of great stature and prominence - dinosaurs among men - have subdued this region of the earth.  As God is preparing them to enter their promised land, they now subdue these territories which shall become their own, eventually being occupied by Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

For most of those Israelites, as well as most people today, ancient relational ties have now been forgotten.  Genesis 10 recounts these ancient ties as all men can trace their ancestry - their very DNA - to Noah and his sons.  Thus, all cultures have a story to tell about this flood which was enshrined once again in the recent movie, 2012.  Indeed, the curse had been placed on these people - all sons of Canaan in Genesis 9:27 and Genesis 10:15-20.  More of the history of the wars of the region are reflected in Genesis 14:1-12 with the Amorites mentioned in verse 7.

Today, I feel a different call of God than "search and destroy!"  This word of God reminds me that we are all brothers.  The purpose of the ancient curses as been resolved.  God has provided Salvation through Zion, symbol of His Holy Hill.  Through His Salvation, He has called all men to himself.  The time for wars and the dominance within our lives of the adversary must come to an end and we must celebrate our unity.  I know well that religion imagines wars and rumors to signify the end of time, but I must remind you, the children of God, brothers of creation or evolution or whatever you believe, that these are but the beginning of the birth pangs.  We have only begun to emerge from the adversity of the darkness of the womb.  We have not yet witnessed the beauty of creation of our Everlasting Father - our Prince of Peace.  If you still don't believe me, allow me to quote Old Testament Scripture that back up this proclamation of the Holy One of God, Jesus Christ who spoke those words in Matthew 24:8.  Remember, all the law and the prophets can be summed up in two simple commands; 1. Love The Creator.  2. Love His Creation.


Leviticus 26:18-29 "If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.
     If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.
     If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. And I will bring the sword upon you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.
     If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.

Deuteronomy 28:58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name - the Lord your God - the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. (this greater passage includes tragedy I would rather not mention - but these things have happened to Israel as a sign and seal to all of us of what will happen if we do not choose to follow this law of Love) For more reflecting Romans 1:18 (The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness) see Isaiah 9:12-21, Isaiah 10:4.

As I am very aware there are verses like I Thessalonians 5:3 which make this teaching difficult, but I find the Bible is packed with prudence towards Love, Joy, and Peace and the rewards that will come with such virtue.  I Peter 4:17-18 states: " For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" It is not only our responsibility as Children of God to exemplify these virtues, but to protect the sanctity of these virtues - the sanctity of Life itself - worldwide.  Allow me to finish with the rewards of those two Levitical passages which can be ours if we strive to seek after our God with Love and Peace:

Leviticus 26:3-6 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.  " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country"

As Leviticus 26:7 continues with success in battle, I suggest that following God's gift of salvation and His command to Love all men as He calls all of creation back to him that this represents not our battle with flesh and blood, but with our adversity - our afflictions - our constant battle against our common adversary, the evil within that keeps us from following the will of God.  (See Galatians 5:13-26.)

Deuteronomy 28:2-6 "these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

So, will the end come as a time of wrath or a time of love?

Matthew 24:12-14 "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Micah 4:1-4 "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken."

Matthew 24:45-47 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions."

Fill the Earth and Subdue It! Deuteronomy 3:12-22

Isaiah 26:1-5 "We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.

Our message towards one another must no longer be "We shall triumph over you!", but "We shall triumph with you".  Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord, They shall overcome! Isaiah 26:12 "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.  This is nothing less than the new covenant in His blood: Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you."
I've Been Born Again! I Have Seen The Promised Land Deuteronomy 3:23-29

As with Moses, I may not see fulfillment of this promise in my day.  However, I have ascended the mountain and seen the promised land.  I encourage you to take this blessing and pass it on!  We have been born again!  If we must cross that threshold in death before every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, at least we can enable our children to press on with that hope of this new covenant, the Kingdom of God!  This indeed is our new birth - our new life! Isaiah 66:12 "says it this way "For this is what the Lord says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees." This is the word of the Lord from the people He chose to bring forth His Salvation in the flesh, the people He chose to make Holy, The Hebrews. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Response to Luke 6:12-38

Choosing His Apprentices Who would Evangelize and Serve in His Ministry Luke 6:12-16 (see also Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19)

Up until this passage, Jesus had been speaking primarily in the Temples and Synagogues within the region.  As was common in that day, many began to follow his teaching - not only for the wonderful things he said and His authority with the scriptures, but also because of the thrill of the power of healing that accompanied his ministry. 

May we assume that Jesus did not know which of His many followers would become his closest companions, and the leaders of that early church, before committing His way to the Lord?  He spent all night in prayer, relying on God to help Him make the decision.  On the morrow, He chose 12.  One would die with Him three years later and the other 11 would be baptised by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), lead the early church in the furtherance of His teachings, live lives and suffer deaths worthy of His name.
http://agards-bible-timeline.com/q6_apostles_die.html

Claiming the Prize Through Perseverance In the Face of Hostility - Finishing the Race Luke 6:17-38 (see also Matthew 5-7, Mark 3:7-12)

http://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/israel-first-century.html Map of first century Israel.

Matthew 5 sets the scene upon a mountain, Luke 6 sets the scene on a level place, and Mark places them by the sea.  None tell us of an exact location, but proclaim the draw of this master teacher upon the region.  Mark gives the greatest description; from as far northwest as Sidon; south along the Mediteranian coastline beyond Judah to Idumea, and west beyond the Jordan. Mark's focus is on the healings and casting out of demons, Mathew's on the teachings and Luke shares a bit of both.  

Many religious cultures past and present take the teaching of Luke 6:19 "Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God." combined with Luke 18:24-25 "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." to mean that poverty is a religious virtue.  Personally I disagree.  However, I do find that the more weight of responsibilities I carry in life, the more difficult it becomes to spend time with God.  The more treasure on earth I secure myself with, the more difficult it is to rely on God.  To see Him more clearly, it helps to keep life uncluttered.

I have heard the statement; "Things are good, I don't need God!" Considering Luke 6:21, if we have everything that we want in life, and imagine God was not involved in that blessing, we shall struggle to see our need for Him.  If we don't sense that need or His Love, what motivation do we have to serve Him?  And yet, in our need we cry out - and when our needs are met, we experience that Love and we understand just a bit more of God's providence.

When we suffer for righteousness sake (Luke 6:22), we experience adversity just like those mentioned in the previous verses who hunger or experience poverty.  In that moment as we suffer, we gain strength in Christ as we share with Him the cross!  And yet, His was not a burden of pride, but of humbleness as He died that even those who stood as His accusers might live.  Your joy in that moment is that you have been counted worthy to share in the burden of the gospel with the Saints in glory! Romans 8:29-30 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."  Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Because of your good work, may all people say 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."

Luke shares the adversity that the wealthy face. When the fabric of the flesh dies away - when our comforts of life are lost, the human response too often is to blame God.  And yet, many of those same individuals will place the reasons for their success on their own efforts. Therefore, Philippians 4:11-13 claims "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

It is fitting that Luke finishes Jesus teaching in our reading today by reflecting much of the truth we discussed above from Deuteronomy 2:24-3:11. The bond the Israelites shared with God against their fellowman does not apply to our lives today. Through Jesus Christ, God has opened the door for relationship with all men.  He is not willing that any should perish.  Luke shared Jesus words regarding his Father's desire for the unrepentant like this ""Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:4-7. As Children of God, we must Love our fellowman. Judge not! Condemn not! Forgive! Patiently endure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wOLQDAgiy4

Response to Psalm 67

Psalm 67 begins with the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:25 which follows the rules regarding the vow of a Nazirite.  If we will make the choice to dedicate ourselves to serving the Kingdom of God we might apply this Psalm to our own lives in prayer.  Will you commit your life to spreading His Love worldwide?

Lord, we ask for your blessing and compassion as we commit our lives to you.  May your light so shine  through us that others may see that we too are your children, and give glory to you.  Heavenly Father, together, we seek to share in praise unto you as we get to know your children throughout your world. Help us to understand your purpose and to see the power of your salvation among all nations.  We seek to praise thee O God!  With all people, we seek to praise your Holy Name.

Open our eyes, Lord!  Open the eyes of our world that we may all get to know one another with gladness, bringing glory to you our Father in Heaven.  Lord, we believe that you created all things and that they are precious in your sight.  We believe that your Spirit is at work calling men and women to you from all nations on earth!  We want to see your Kingdom Lord - on earth as it is in Heaven.  We desire that great and glorious day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that you Oh Lord have become our salvation!  We thank you Lord in that you have provided the Lamb, your only begotten Son, that we might share eternity in your presence!  We lift up our voices in praise with all people Lord! We desire to join with all nations to sing praises to our Father, our Savior, our Lord.

You have provided abundance and have sustained your love for us throughout generations.  All that we have, you have provided and we offer it back to you with praise and worship! With all of your children, may we marvel in the strength of the joy of your salvation, as we stand in awe and reverence before you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5_xrh7QVU "Praise You in this Storm" Casting Crowns

Response to Proverbs 11:27

Here's the Proverb: "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it."

What do you seek; Peace or War? Do you imagine a God of supreme Love would desire the end of the story to be one of Peace or War?  As we are finding plenty of Bible prophecy leading us toward a resolution to His-story of Peace, would you rather seek Love in the world or enmity and adversity?  Will your faith allow for a major adjustment to pursue this Love of God with a belief that your Father has the power to save all men? Or must you believe in a coming day of wrath and judgment as God banishes rebellious children from His house in eternal fire? Same book, different conclusion. No tricks or gimmicks, no exclusions. Are you willing to give this new track a try? Seek good and find goodwill - or...

Until Tomorrow!

Rick.