Do many of you receive This is True? I enjoy it immensely, although I haven't let my money speak my satisfaction by upgrading my account. Anyway, there was a cool story in there this week about a man by the name of Robert Fida whose phone started to receive Emergency 911 calls. The comment left by Randy Cassingham pointed to the ineptitude of Qwest, the man's phone service, but didn't say anything about Mr. Fida.

In a similar situation, most people would have called Qwest to complain that they were getting 911 calls, demand to speak to a supervisor and tie up their phone (and the area's 911 access). If this couldn't be fixed, how many people would stay at home and relay those messages?

This reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of us don't have a hatred of our fellow citizens to the same degree as the hatred the Samaritans had (have) for Israelites. What many of us have, though, is a nearly polar opposite love of ourselves. This love of self is what caused the priest and the Levite to pass on, leaving the robbery victim to his own means.

The selfless acts of Mr. Fida likely saved lives that day. Is our society as bad as Israel/Samaria? Probably not, but on a dark street, do you prefer to know who that is walking in your general direction? Mr. Fida showed love for his fellow man. My first thought was that he deserves a medal, but that seems to be too shallow a reward. But then, rewards weren't even on his mind as he relayed those distress calls, were they Mr. Fida?

I tip my hat to Mr. Fida for his stand of love!

In Christ Alone,

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This passage serves to tell us about the numbers that we're dealing with when we read about the Israelites. The men who were over the age of twenty and able to serve in the army were over 600 thousand! This doesn't include women, children, the disabled, the elderly, or anyone from the tribe of Levi.

All of these people and all of their animals and surroundings belonged to God, and He only asked for a small amount of that to be given to Him or redeemed in some way. This reading also gives instruction on just how that is to be done.

Day 2

The tribes were also given instructions about how they were to arrange their camps. God had a reason for this, but I don't see it at this time. Not that I don't think his reason was good, mind you. I just don't see it. His ways are not our ways, and even if we don't understand them, we need to respect His wishes.

I do love the idea of the firstborn sons becoming the property of God. The firstfruits are to be His, not the seventh child. Perhaps it's just figurative, but if God isn't getting the first of everything, what are you putting before Him?

Day 3

Now there's an interesting way to determine whether a woman has been unfaithful. Other wrongs can be amended by making restitution plus a fifth, but this method for an unfaithful wife would cause much pain to her and she will be smitten with a curse. What does that tell you about the purity that God demands of His people? Marriage is a solemn institution in the eyes of the Lord and is not to be counterfeited by some godless judge. With the current events out there, I don't think I have to go any farther on this topic, do I?

Day 4

Some of this reads like the passages from last week, but it is another verse and another book altogether. I did enjoy the blessing the priests were to give to the Israelites here: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." That's all we really need, isn't it? One other thing, the people were walking through the Sinai Desert, a hot and desolate place, but the cloud of the Lord remained over them during those hot days to shelter them. They were walking His path and he made sure they were cared for.

And He'll do the same for you as you walk the path set before you by God.

Day 5

Despite the care God was showing, the people began to complain their hardships and He consumed the edges of camp with fire. Moses had to intercede to make it stop. They were well cared for, but I suppose even manna from Heaven can be a bit tiresome if that's all you're eating.

So the people ate quail. Talk about an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord! While they ate, a plague settled on them for their whining. I guess that's God's way of telling them to 'choke on it'!

I'm a little surprised at the jealousy of Miriam and Aaron. I'm glad to see that God put them in their places quickly, though. If God has your back, you can continue to look forward to His purpose.

Finally the end of the journey arrived...or did it? The spies were sent in and they came back with stories of a land flowing with milk and honey, but also fortified and defended by giants. <sarcastic> Way to go, guys. </sarcastic>

Day 6

The effect of the warnings from these spineless spies took its toll. The people began to rebel, fearing the conflict that would come if they entered. At least Joshua and Caleb kept their heads and tried to remind the people that God would go before them to remove their foes. The people were unconvinced at this and angered God. For a second time, God offered to destroy them all and start over with Moses. Once again Moses talked Him out of doing this, but this time, a harsh punishment was to be levied. None of the people who had been fearful would enter the Promised Land. To accomplish this, the people began wandering the desert until the last of these men had died. Forty years they were to wander without land to call their own.

Then the spies who had been sent to scout the land were struck down and killed by God. I do wonder why spies were sent in the first place. Hadn't God promised to fight their battles for them? Hadn't He been true to his word up to this point? For shame!

Day 7

How many times does Moses have to save the Israelites from their own stupidity? OK, so they were upset at the thought of 40 years of wandering until they were dead and perhaps angry that they would never see the land promised to them, but God had showed them time and again that Moses and Aaron were to be the leaders of the group and only Aaron and his sons were to assume the duties of the priesthood. Some of those people were so full of themselves that they just couldn't accept the fates that were theirs due to their own doing.

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Thanks for sharing my goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year!