Wed.’s Devo - God’s Promises are True No Matter What it Looks Like

Read: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3 God had put his Spirit on 70 elders to help Moses rule the people. When the Holy Spirit fell on them, they all prophesied, even two of them that didn’t come to the Tabernacle. Joshua didn’t understand how this could happen outside Moses’ eye but Moses had no problem with God manifesting wherever he wanted to. God sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fly all around the camp making them easy for the people to catch. The people who had craved meat gorged themselves on these quail. God’s anger brought a plague that killed those that had craved meat and complained. They died and the place was called “Graves of Gluttony”. They left there and moved to Hazeroth where they stayed for a time. Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman - Zipporah. Moses had been married to her for a while so I’m thinking that when he brought in the 70 elders, they felt their power was lessened and they were just looking for something to criticize Moses about. God had the last say in that. He stood up for Moses and Miriam was left leprous and was removed from the camp for seven days. Then the traveled to Paran. God told Moses to send out men to explore the land of Canaan. Moses sent out the twelve tribal leaders. They were to find out about the people, their cities and the land and its richness. It was the time of the grape harvest making it in the fall. They brought back a cluster of grapes that was so large it took two men to carry it. They also brought back other fruit like pomegranates and figs. But they reported that the sons of Anak lived in the valley who were giants that lived in fortified cities. Caleb wanted to go at once and take it because God had given them a wonderful land. The other spies, except Joshua, could only see the giants. They spread fear throughout the camp that there was no way they could take the land. All of God’s treasures on their earth are hidden in the midst of hard situations and trials. We have to have Caleb’s eyes to see the promise instead of the obstacles surrounding it. In Mark, Jesus and his disciples were enjoying their Passover meal when Jesus picked up the bread, broke it and passed it out to his disciples, telling them that it represented his body. Then he took the wine and gave thanks to God. He passed it out telling them that this was his blood which confirmed the covenant between God and his people. It would be poured out as a sacrifice for many. They sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told them that all of them would desert him but after he was raised from the red he would meet them in Galilee. I wonder what was going on in their heads. Peter let us know what he was thinking. He spoke up and said he would never desert him. Jesus told him he would deny him three times before the night was over. Peter couldn’t believe it. They went to Gethsemane where the disciples slept and Jesus anguished in prayer. He knew what was coming and prayed that it would pass him but he wanted God’s will over his suffering. Every time Jesus checked on his men, they were asleep. After the third time, he told them to wake up, his betrayer was here. Judas arrived with a crowd of armed men sent by the priests. Judas kissed Jesus and they grabbed him. Peter took out his sword and cut off the ear of the high pries’t slave. Jesus asked them why they were coming in the middle of the night to arrest him when they could have done it in daylight anytime they wanted. The disciples ran, along with a man in a linen shirt. The men who took Jesus caught him by his shirt and he ran off naked. There are many mentions throughout the Bible of men dressed in linen who came from heaven. I believe that this man was one of them - a watcher. I think they are priests in God’s Temple in heaven that come down to watch and report. Lord, help us to stand on the promises you have given us no matter what it looks like in the natural. Give us eyes to see.