Wed.s Devo - Arise, O Lord!

Read: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32 God told Moses to make two silver trumpets to call the community to assemble and to tell them when to march. If the signal for meeting was sounded on one trumpet only then just the leaders were to meet but if both trumpets sounded they all met. Different signals were given for their annual feasts and sacrifices. When they marched, a trumpet was sounded and they marched with the tribes that camped on the east side first: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Then the priests and Levites would march carrying the Tabernacle and its furnishings. By the time all the tribes arrived at their next camp, they would already have the Tabernacle set up. After the Levites, the tribes that camped on the South, then West then North would march. Whenever the Ark would set out to march, Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!” And whenever they set down to camp, he would say, “return O Lords, to the countless thousands of Israel.” The people began to complain about the hardships of their lives so God sent a fire to devour some of them. The foreigners from Egypt began to lust for the delicacies of Egypt. They stirred up others to remember what they had left. They complained that all they had to eat now was manna. The manna was food from heaven but they didn’t recognize that. They wanted something different. Moses was exasperated with the people and their complaining. He went to the Lord and presented his complaints about the people. God had a solution. He told Moses to pick 70 men he could trust and tell them to meet with him. God would put his spirit upon them and they would help him rule and judge the people. They would help carry the burden of the people. He told the people that they were to purify themselves because tomorrow He was bringing them meat. It would be for a whole month. They would have so much they wold be sick of it. When Moses questioned how God was going to bring meat for 600,000 men, God asked Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” In Mark, it was two days before the Passover and Jesus was staying at Simon’s house. A woman came in with an expensive bottle of perfume and began anointing Jesus with it. This act upset the religious people. Jesus explained that she was anointing his body for burial and that she would be remembered for this.They thought that the perfume should have been sold and the money go to help so many people who needed help. Judas Iscariot saw it and was so upset, he left to betray Jesus… for money. Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of them to Jerusalem to set up the place where they would eat the Passover. I don’t know if he spoke it all into being or he just saw into the future of what God had set up, but either way, it happened just as he said it would. When Jesus arrived, everything was ready. Jesus announced that there was a betrayer among them and that it would be far better for that man if he had never been born. Lord, thank you that your arm has not lost its power. Save us and our nation. Arise and let your enemies be scattered