The Family Bible Journey Podcast

The world is really good at getting us down on our knees by giving us more than we can handle. Thanks be to God that He has mercy on us and does the impossible for us. We would be hopeless were it not for the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus uses an illustration from this chapter, when talking to Nicodemus in John three. We will see how God had mercy on his hardhearted people by turning the instrument of death into an instrument of life. Jesus has done the very same for us, by turning death into the portal of eternal life, through his own death on the cross.

Israel continues to complain against Moses, Aaron, and the Lord, because they simply will not be satisfied with what God provides. When God tells Moses to bring water out of a rock by speaking to it, Moses strikes the rock in frustration, and because of his disobedience he is not going to be allowed to enter the promised land. In this episode, we learn of trying people in trying times, and how eve...

When Jesus says, "the first shall be last and the last first," He isn't talking about us as much as He's teaching us about Himself! We are prized and exalted beause He ws despised and rejected. It is only by His Spirit's prompting that we, in turn, are enabled to lower ourselves so that others may be exalted.

It may seem unfair that the Levites were the only tribe not to get an allotment of property in Israel. But God insists He is their portion. What a wonderful inheritance to have! Here we consider the Lord as our lot and why even priests and Levites were told to tithe as Israel's spiritual leaders.

Aaron was affirmed by God, as His priestly representative, when the sons of Koran rose up in rebellion against their kinsman. Aaron's staff bore fruit in the Lord's presence. His enemies were then swallowed up by the earth. This dramatic demonstration of wrath and favor solidified Aaron's position as spiritual leader of God's people.

A man come to Jesus with his demon-possessed son after the disciples can't cast it out. The man doesn't know how God can save his son, yet comes asking for a miracle. He receives the miracle he requests, not because of the quality of his faith, but because of the depth of God's love.

Equality was deemed vitally important to God as the basis of His nation's treatment of all people. We consider how much suffering ego and pride cause and the fact that  equal treatment under the law was a part of God's moral law for all people of all time.

When the spies went out to survey the land, two came back with a glowing report and ten with words of worry and fear. The people rebelled against the Lord and Moses yet again, saying, "we'd rather die, or be slaves in Egypt," than follow the Lord's lead. During this difficult chapter, Joshua and Caleb are going to rise and shine as faithful leaders who will be chosen to shepherd the next generatio...

 As we follow Jesus, it's good to be aware of the obstacle that worldly views of money and morality are more than a distraction. They can completely derail us if we aren't watching ourselves and listening to God's Word.

In the very first leg of their journey, God's people began complaining against Moses. YHWH answered their prayer by blessing other leaders with His Spirit. He also provided meat for them to eat in the desert. Despite, or maybe because of God's love, there were real consequences for their disrespect and disobedience. God used the consequences they suffered to teach them, so they would grow in wisdo...

One year after the Exodus, God's people celebrate the Passover, and prepare for their journey to the promised land. God gave specific marching orders to his people, and led them visibly along their way. We are encouraged in our walk with God, knowing that He goes with us and before us in our walk with Him.

The disciples were caught arguing over a single loaf of bread, right after Jesus fed 4,000. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod." What did the disciples have in commonn with these villians of Mark's gospel? What sin lurks in our souls that can spoil everything?

God provided for the spiritual needs of His people by setting up the Tabernacle. He also provided those who served in the worship life of God's people with a retirement plan. In this episode we consider the wisdom of planning for retirement by having an exit strategy that includes preparing the next generation to lead and serve.

The faithful generosity of YHWH's Old Testament people challenges us today. We will reflect on current declines in giving to religious charities and consider how we can grow in supporting the Lord's work on earth.

Here we see the basic misconception of Jesus's opponents about the source of sin. We sin because we are sinners. Not, we are sinners because we sin. It isn't until we recognize our place under God's law that we begin to appreciate the depth of His love for us.

Many of YHWH's people still today receive the blessing of Aaron in worship. YHWH told Aaron to put His NAME on His people with this special blessing. We consider how blessed, and affirmed we are in the faith as we hear these words spoken over us still today.

The priests and Levites were given strict instructions including their place in the camp, and how they were to care for the tabernacle, her furnishings, and tools as they marched. We see a few poignant "types" of Christ in their orders. We also learn how practical details show the wisdom of God revealed in seemingly mundane ways.

While Jesus is getting rejected by the people of Nazareth, the demoniac He healed chapters earlier was busy telling everyone what the love of God had done for Him. Even the disciples forgot the power of God's love in a moment of panic. But when they felt rejected, and were themselves guilty of unbelief, they crossed the sea to see God's love was still at work in the most unlikely places.

"Numbers" might better be called "Marches," because it recounts the journey of God's people from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land. We will consider the tender relationship between the Hebrew God YHWH and his people. He prepared them spiritually and militarily, for what would be a blessed, yet burdensome march to their promised home.

Leviticus ends by God reminding His people of what was His and what was theirs. We see a Biblical basis for generosity in this passage and have opportunity to reflect on our personal generosity.

Jesus was rejected by those who knew Him best in Nazareth. John the Baptist was beheaded for faithfulness. We can take heart when others reject us even though we try our hardest for God and the gospel. If God Himself can't please His people, we shouldn't be shocked when we disappoint them.

There are great blessings for obedience. When we fail to follow the Lord's will, we get in His way and suffer the consequences. When we live according to His will, faith becomes more than what we do. It becomes more and more, who we are.

How would life be better if we saved in six years enough to take every seventh year off? What would you do with that year off? How would it effect your family? We consider these things as we consider the blessings of the Sabbath year.

A demon-possessed man, woman with and incurable disease, and Jairus who lost his daughter. Each it seems, represent people whose prayers God was slow to answer. We are often waiting on the Lord. How do we process feelings of impatience or disappointment with Him? In this chapter, we learn that when God delays, He often has far more in store for us than we dared hope was possible.