Fri.’s Devo - The Betrayal

Read: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32 Moses was instructed to make two hammered silver trumpets to signal to the people. When both of them were blown the people were to meet at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When only one was blown it was for only the leaders to meet. Short blasts from the trumpets meant to break camp and begin to move. Different blasts were for different purposes. They were also to be blown at the time of the feasts, new moon and when they offered their offerings to the Lord. It was to remind them of God’s covenant with them. *** They finally got to move the 12th day of the second month. They traveled to they came to the wilderness of Pagan where the cloud stopped. When they traveled they traveled in this order: East: Judah Issachar Zebulun The Gershonites and Merarites with all the materials for building the Tabernacle. South: Reuben Simeon Gad The Kohathites with the Ark and the furniture for the Tabernacle West: Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin North: Dan Asher Naphtali *** When they left Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered: Let them flee before you.” and when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel” *** The people soon began to complain about their conditions. God sent fire to destroy some of them on the outskirts of the camp. Moses prayed and the fires stopped. *** Then some of the foreigners from Egypt stirred up those around them to crave the food from Egypt, especially meat since all they had to eat was manna. *** God was very angry at the people and Moses got angry at the Lord. Moses was overwhelmed with the responsibility of so many people who complained all the time. God told Moses to choose 70 leaders who he trusted and He would put his Spirit on them. They would help Moses with the responsibility of the people. Then God told him to sanctify himself because tomorrow they would have meat. It would be for a whole month and they would be sick of it by the time it was over. Moses didn’t see how that would be possible but God rebuked him and asked him, “Has my arm lost its power?” After all Moses had seen the Lord do, this was nothing. *** In Mark, it was two days before the Passover and the priests had decided to wait to kill Jesus until after the celebration. Jesus was at the home of Simon the one who he had cleansed of his leprosy. A woman with expensive perfume came and poured the perfume over Jesus’ head. When some of the people at the table saw this, they asked why she didn’t sell the perfume and give the money to the poor. Jesus rebuked them and told them not to criticize her for her act. They would always have the poor with them but she was anointing his head for burial and her act would be remembered throughout history. *** That was when Judas Iscariot left and went to the priest to arrange how he would betray Jesus. The priests were delighted and came up with a price. *** On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went and set up for their Passover meal together. At the meal, Jesus told them that one of them eating with him would betray him. This distressed the disciples as they asked him if it was them. He explained that he must die, but it would not go well with the one who betrayed him. It would be better if he was never born. *** Lord, I thank you that you notice all we do for you and reward us according to our heart. May we not be ashamed of your name and may we remain faithful and true to your Word.