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2 Kings 1:16-18

Because There Is No God?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 27, 2023

It’s often said that the books of first and second kings are not so much about the kings as they are about the prophets. The story of Ahaziah bears that out. Ahaziah, Rehoboam’s son, reigns in Judah for only two years. He had sought healing from the god of the Philistines rather than looking to the one true God. He sent for the prophet Elijah, whose name means “Yahweh is my God,” with a company of fifty soldiers. Ahaziah took his role as king way too seriously and thought everyone should bow to his wishes. This is not the way to approach God. Elijah called the “fire of God” to come down and devour the soldiers. After this happens a second time, the third commander humbly bows down before Elijah and pleads with him to spare the lives of his soldiers. This is the way to approach the man of God. He humbly asks Elijah to meet with the king. 2 Kings 1:16-18 continues the story, “Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So he arose and went down with him to the king and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?”

 Over 125 years ago, Barlow wrote, “It was a public and practical declaration that he esteemed the fly-god of the Philistines above the living God of Israel, and it was a formal degradation and contempt of, and an insult to, Jehovah. Such a crime had not previously been committed by a king, and, if ever, then certainly now, the time came for the zealous defender of the name of the God of Israel to emerge from his concealment and announce to the bold scoffer the Divine retribution. All idolatry is an insult to the majesty of heaven and will not be allowed to pass unchallenged or unpunished. Idolatry is purely a human creation and is, therefore, imperfect and limited. While all goes well, the infatuated worshipper may be amused and satisfied with the delusion; but when trouble comes, then does he discover the vanity and helplessness of the imagination in which he had misplaced his confidence. The man who has forsaken God is without refuge in his distress.”[1]

We still have idols that we look to for help, meaning, and purpose in our lives. Identity has become an idol in the 21st century. We have largely abandoned who we are in Christ and place our identity in other things. Whether it be our social media following, our position at work, our abilities/skills, or the achievements we are after, many have their identity wrapped up in the wrong thing. We worship money and material things.  Western culture has bowed to money and possessions for generations. The pursuit of money and the acquisition of things is a guiding force for many. It’s an idol. Jobs used to just be a means to an end. For most people, it was just want you did to provide for your family. Now, what you do has become who you are. You don’t have to look very far to see an advertisement that promises to “fix” our physical appearance. To make us look better, younger, or like your favorite celebrity. We are obsessed with being entertained. From Netflix to vacations and podcasts to TikTok. We LOVE entertainment in many forms. Love might not be strong enough; we are obsessed. Sex might be the only thing we think about more than money. It’s everywhere in our culture. We have taken a gift from God and made it into the god of our lives. And for many, their lives are controlled by sex. There is an endless list of products promising to simplify and add comfort to your life. We have made our lives much easier and much more comfortable than at any other time in history. Tasks that used to take all day can be done in minutes. Many menial tasks are now automated. While that’s a good thing, our pursuit in life should not be comfort alone. Smartphone addiction is increasingly becoming a worrying trend. This is especially true for Gen Z and Millennial generations, but it’s certainly not confined to them. For many, they simply cannot live without their phones (or online presence). Finally, with the advent of social media, almost anyone has the opportunity to become famous and gain influence. All it takes is one viral video or one hot take, and suddenly, you can have thousands and thousands of followers. Is it because there is no God in America?

[1] Barlow, George. 1892. I & II Kings. The Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary. New York; London; Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

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1 Kings 1:9-10

We Need Preachers!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 26, 2023

One of David’s sons, who rejected the religion of his father, decided to recruit the people who wanted to be free from the restrictions of the Law of Moses. To Adonijah and his followers, the religion of their forefathers was an archaic, out-of-date, and suppressive set of rules that kept them from enjoying all the pleasures of life. It was just an ancient superstition that needed to pass away into history. If he could gather enough political support, he could usurp the Kingdom for his own demented purposes and pleasures. 1 Kings 1:9-10 tells us, “Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-Rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon, his brother.” In his attempt to overthrow his father, David, Adonijah declared himself king and had himself anointed as such by some of the rebellious leaders of David’s kingdom. It appears to me that the very place of his anointing speaks for itself. It was by “The Serpent’s Stone.” According to Harper Collin’s dictionary, “that was a place of Jebusite worship prior to the capture of that city by David.”[1] David’s heart was to build a temple, a house, for the God of the Israelites in Jerusalem. Only at the temple or the Tabernacle were sacrifices to be offered. Adonijah was offering a variant form of worship to the people in opposition to his father.

Satan is often referred to as the serpent. He usurped God’s role in the Garden of Eden and turned Adam and Eve against God. He deceived our first parents into believing God did not have their best interest foremost in mind but was keeping good things from them. According to Merida, Adonijah “Acts as the serpent in this story. He represents the evil one. He tried to become king by the ‘Serpent’s Stone.’ The word means ‘slithering.’ Because of his serpentine character, Solomon will put him to death. The enemy always opposes God’s plan. Adonijah is about to reap the harvest of shamefully opposing God’s king.”[2] It’s interesting that under Solomon, the nation thrived and became the most powerful in the world. It ushered in the highest point of Israeli history for all the citizens. Although Solomon was to have his own troubles with women, he hung onto the worship of his father’s God and enhanced God’s purposes for His people.

Adonijah attempts to divide the nation against his Father David and David’s plan to put Solomon on the throne. He appealed to all those in official positions that would possibly oppose David. He threw a party for them and bribed them with promises of free stuff and positions in the government above what they had under David. But Adonijah knows that there are some who would always remain loyal to God’s rule. House observes, “Those not invited to this premature coronation are prominent persons. Three names are highlighted. Nathan has religious authority, while Benaniah bears the sword. They pose religious and military threats to Adonijah’s plans. Solomon is also mentioned for the first time. Gray notes that the exclusion of these individuals meant that Adonijah relied on ‘the strength of his party to liquidate the opposition’ rather than on any notion of negotiating peace with them.”[3] This book of the Bible might be called Kinds, but throughout, prophets often take the lead. That in itself may challenge our own perceptions as to who are the ‘history makers.’  Is it those with political power, commonly associated with military and economic might or people who are open to the word of God and understand his purposes?[4] It was the Prophets that direct the hearts of people. It’s not the political leaders nor the priests who are often corrupt. The Prophets “Are the champions of righteousness and integrity in political life, not less than of purity in the individual. They are the witnesses for God and the ruthless denouncers of all idolatry and defection from Him. They comment upon the social vices to which more developed people are liable. Government and people are summoned to instant amendment, and before the nation is held up a lofty ideal. The prophets are not only the preachers but also the philosophers of the people, and they direct men’s minds to the spiritual and ideal side of things, inveighing against worldliness and materialism.”[5]

[1] Powell, Mark Allan, ed. 2011. “Zoheleth.” In The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated), Third Edition, 1134. New York: HarperCollins.

[2] Merida, Tony. 2015. Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.

[3] House, Paul R. 1995. 1, 2 Kings. Vol. 8. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[4] Olley, John W. 2011. The Message of Kings: God Is Present. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. England: Inter-Varsity Press.

[5] Alexander, Arch. B. D. 1915. “Ethics.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, edited by James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Y. Mullins, and Morris O. Evans, 1–5:1020–21. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.

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2 Samuel 1:19

How The Mighty Have Fallen

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 25, 2023

David grieved deeply over the death of King Saul and Saul’s son, Jonathan, who was David’s best friend. He did not see this as a personal victory for himself but a great loss for the Nation. It was about Israel, God’s people, not about himself. He begins his song of lament for the king and his son in 2 Samuel 1:19, “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” In some translations, you will see that instead of “Your glory,” there will be “Your beauty” and even “Your Gazelle.” The words are close in Hebrew. But from the song that follows, it appears to me to be referring to Saul, the Kind of Israel, to be representative of the Nation as a whole and therefore is said to be Israel’s “Glory.” The place where Saul was killed is “Mount Gilboa.” This is what is meant by “high places.”

The relationship between Saul and David is extremely complicated. He was best friends with Saul’s son. He married Saul’s daughter. He served in Saul’s army even though Saul had attempted to kill him several times. But David was thinking about the nation itself and the humiliation it experienced at Saul’s defeat. Further, David had such affection for Jonathan that David lost one of the most important people in his life. Although we cannot miss the personal nature of David’s sorrow, we can’t overlook how death, in general, brings grief to every human being. One web writer says, “Following Saul and Jonathan’s death, David cried out for silence in the streets and for a curse to descend on the mountain where the mighty of Israel had fallen. Although David’s lament was personal, he led all of Israel in mourning the nation’s calamity. As Alistair Begg explains, his sorrowful grief was a biblical response to death. When we take time to mourn, we show a watching world that death is indeed the last great enemy, even as we look forward to the return of Christ, who alone conquered death.”[1]

I expect that everyone has heard the phrase “how the mighty have fallen.” It’s often used today to refer to a great decline in importance or wealth or a serious lapse into sin by someone powerful and influential. The origin of the phrase is in David’s lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan in battle. The expression occurs three times in 2 Samuel 1, in verses 19, 25, and 27.[2] I wonder if the writer might be focusing on the three episodes of the fallen angels in the Bible. In Isaiah 14, the greatest of God’s angelic creations, Lucifer, thinks too highly of himself and falls from his great position with God to be God’s great enemy. Genesis 6 speaks of demonic disembodied spirits that inhabited the bodies of men to cohabit with women. They are now imprisoned for their transgression. It might be well said, “how the mighty have fallen” of them. At the Judgement of Babel, the lessor gods were allotted to the nations as they rebelled against God’s divinely assigned position for them. Saul was in rebellion against God, and it was said of him, “How the mighty have fallen.” All mankind celebrates the strength of humanity. We compete to prove we’re the best in sports. We gather riches to show our superiority to the world. We go to schools to earn degrees that we can hang on our walls. We boast of our achievements, but the end of it all is always the same. Solomon tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes that all the money, pleasure, power, and wisdom in the world will not put off the inevitability of death. It’s all vanity of vanities, and we should think about this because meditating on death improves life. Even a Greek Philosophy said, “An unreflected life isn’t worth living.”

 [1] https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/how-mighty-have-fallen/

[2] Manser, Martin H., Natasha B. Fleming, Kate Hughes, and Ronald F. Bridges. 2000. I Never Knew That Was in the Bible!. Electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

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1 Samuel 1:8, Hebrews 4:15

Where To Find Sympathy?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 24, 2023

The treatment that the barren Hannah received from her rival Peninnah was very abusive. She tolerated this harsh treatment year after year until it became unbearable. But Hannah did not retaliate but wept bitterly and did not eat or sleep. Elkanah, her husband, had a deep fondness for Hannah even though she bore him no children. He saw the hurt and pain in her life and addressed her. In 1 Samuel 1:8, we read, “And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’” Elkanah didn’t have the pleasure of a joyful wife at the great celebration. He wanted to cheer her up and help her look at the positive aspects of her life. He wanted her to see him as a sufficient replacement for not having children. Most commentators take this as a revelation of what a great husband Elkanah was. The reference to being better than “ten” sons may look back to Jacob’s experience, referring to his love for the Barren Rachel, while Leah and the two concubines gave him ten sons, but his love for Rachel never paled. Elkanah might be suggesting that his love for Hannah was parallel to Jacob’s love for Rachel. No doubt, Elkanah was hoping that this would comfort Hannah.

I think it might take a woman’s point of view to understand this situation more fully. Mary Evans writes, “As for Elkanah, he could observe the pain but did not really understand it. Because Peninnah had many children, including several sons, Hannah’s childlessness, to her an unbearable tragedy, was for him simply a minor inconvenience. It did not matter to him that she was childless, so why should it matter so much to her? He loved her, and he did not mind that she did not have children. Surely, that was enough? For Hannah, daily reminded by Peninnah’s very existence, that for him, love without children most certainly had not been enough. His attitude might even have rubbed salt in the wound. Perhaps if he had said, ‘Don’t you mean more to me than ten sons?’ rather than ‘Don’t I mean more to you?’, Hannah might have been a little more convinced. Elkanah seems to have been incapable of seeing Hannah’s position from anything other than his own perspective. It is tremendously encouraging to all who feel their misery is not understood, not just women, to know that the account itself and, more especially, the Lord who stands behind the account do not share Elkanah’s limitations. It is a challenge to all of us to try to get beyond our own perspective and see through the eyes of those loved ones that we would seek to comfort.”[1]

It is extremely difficult to move out of ourselves and focus on the pain of others from their perspective. Elkanah had this problem also. He only saw Hannah’s pain from his own perspective. Empathy is a truly difficult trait to cultivate. It is simply the ability to identify with another person so much that you feel what he or she feels. It’s seeing the world from their eyes. It’s understanding others’ situations and pains as they experience them. I think this is impossible because of our sinful natures. But there is one person who did this perfectly. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that God became man in order to show us that He understands our pain and struggles and feels for us taking our pain on himself.  It says, speaking of Jesus, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.”

[1] Evans, Mary J. 2004. The Message of Samuel: Personalities, Potential, Politics and Power. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.

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Ruth 1:9, Various

May God Grant You Rest

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 23, 2023

Naomi blesses her two widowed daughters-in-law with “Hesed.” She announces God’s loving kindness to these two Moabite women. The term “Hesed” as used predominantly in the Psalms, is reserved for God’s attitude toward his people Israel. But here, Naomi extends God’s special blessings to these two Gentile women. Then, in Ruth 1:9, she extends her blessings on the girls by saying, “The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.” Naomi prays for her two daughters-in-law for two specific things. Then she expresses her love for them, and with deep emotion, Naomi prepares to leave them in Moab as she returns to her home and family in Israel.

The idea of “covenant” between God and His people appears frequently in the Old Testament. Smith says, “The covenant concept is used to describe the marriage relationship, and as such, it speaks to us of the fact that the covenant is not just a legal contract but is also a loving relationship, a continuous fellowship between the parties involved. Associated with the Biblical covenants is the idea of mercy or lovingkindness (hesed). God is represented as a faithful, covenant-keeping God, even when his people are not always faithful.”[1] As “hesed” is extended to these two gentiles, it is extended to all believers in Jesus. We make up the bride of Christ, and the loving, covenant-keeping God brings us into the family.

Naomi wants what is best for Ruth and Orpah. She prays that the Lord will grant them rest. Interestingly, Naomi prays to the “Lord” of Israel. She has not been converted to the worship practiced in Moab but retained her faith in the God of Israel. God had promised “rest” to the Israelites if they drove out the Canaanites from the Land. But for women in that culture, the idea of security and rest had to do with marriage. As Fruchtenbaum points out, “The term rest in the context of this book refers specifically to the state of marriage. In the Book of Joshua, rest did not merely mean the end of the war but also security and the blessing of the Lord. Here in this book, the word rest implies both husband and home, but the primary emphasis is on the husband. In a society where women could not find security alone, it was her husband who would be the one who would provide it. And that is where the problem came in for the two Moabite daughters-in-law. In Israel, it was unlikely they would find husbands since they were both Moabites. So, in the end, they will only end up sharing in Naomi’s poverty, and therefore, would not have the rest.”[2] In the modern society that we live in, such an attitude would be ridiculed as sexist by many. But regardless of gender, everyone needs the bond of lovingkindness, and it’s offered free for those who receive the bond of God’s love expressed to them, men and women alike. He offers “rest” to all who would receive His love. God so loved us that He sent His only Son to establish a new covenant with all who would believe. He offers “eternal life” to each believer. Jesus speaks to His disciples and us in John 14:27. He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

[1] Smith, Morton H. 1978. “The Church and Covenant Theology.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 21, no. 1: 48.

[2] Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. 2006. Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Books of Judges and Ruth. 1st ed. San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries.

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Joshua 1:8-10

Expelling the “Ites”

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 22, 2023

Judah recruits Simeon’s help to defeat their common foe because Simeon’s land is within the borders of Judah’s land. They joined forces as they attempted to clear their inheritance of all the pagan influences that remained after the initial battles. After Judah’s soldiers defeat Adoni-Bezek, they turn their attention to what would become their capital city in the future. Judges 1:8-10 tells us, “And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.”  Fleenor informs us, “Pre-Davidic Jerusalem was a small city located on the western side of the Kidron Valley along the central ridges and was naturally defended by steep terrain on the south, east, and west. Along with the military advantages that came with occupying Jerusalem, the Canaanites had a propensity to build religious cultic centers in elevated and central locations. Although, prior to the temple, the Israelites had not used Jerusalem as a center for religious activity, the military advantage of Jerusalem was obvious. Judah captures the city and, from there, moves to the south and west to capture the Negev and the foothills.”[1] The book of Judges continues, “And afterward, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland. And Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.”

It appears that the tribe of Judah, with Simeon’s help, had great success in driving out the pagan Canaanites from their various territories. Many take exception to the cruel treatment of the Canaanites by their foreign invaders. They often ask, “How could a good God condone the murder of innocent people?” Much can be deduced from the way the law God gave Moses regarding the treatment of foreigners. We see that there were many of the various Canaanite tribes that found a home under divine rule amidst the Israelites. I think Hamlin is correct when he suggests that any who wishes could be safe in the family of God. He says that to the core of the tribes of the Israelites “were added oppressed Canaanites who were alienated from the city-state system. There were debt slaves, sharecroppers, landless farmers, artisans, and even rural brigands. These Canaanites threw in their lot with the ‘tribes of Israel.’ When, in the covenant ceremony, they took the oath to serve the Lord, they were accepted as ‘descendants’ of the tribal ancestors such as Asher, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh, Judah, and so forth, and became part of ‘the people of Israel.’”[2] This was clearly seen in Joshua’s conquering of Jericho, where Rahab and her whole family were added to one of the tribes. She actually appears in the genealogy of Jesus.

Unfortunately, as we read further in the book of Judges, we see that as the people settled the land, they neglected to complete their task of driving out all the Canaanites. This was to have some devastating effects in the years ahead. Although they had a great start, they did not often finish well. Gingrich applies this to the Christian life we all live today. He says, “If we Christians are to live victorious Christian lives, we must through the power of Christ drive ‘the ites’ (the evil carnal appetites) from our hearts (our Jerusalem) and keep ‘the ites’ from reentering by being so occupied with the things of the Christ life that there is no room in us for the things of the self-life.  If we permit the expelled ‘ites’ to re-enter, they are much more difficult to expel the second time.”[3]

[1] Fleenor, Rob, and Mark S. Ziese. 2008. Judges-Ruth. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Company.

[2] Hamlin, E. John. 1990. At Risk in the Promised Land: A Commentary on the Book of Judges. International Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.

[3] Gingrich, Roy E. 2006. The Books of Judges & Ruth. Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing.

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Joshua 1:8, Various Psalms

Biblical Meditation

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 21, 2023

The Book of Ephesians talks about the armor of God. It lists the breastplate, shield, helmet, and boots, along with the only offensive item, the “Sword of the Spirit.” Since we are at war with spiritual forces, not physical, the sword is also spiritual. God’s Word—the Bible—is described as “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus used this weapon when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. To each of Satan’s efforts to lead Him into sin, Jesus replied, “It is written.” He would then quote from the Bible to ward off the temptations of Satan. It was like a sword fight. The Devil would parry using the scriptures but perverting their intended meaning, and Jesus would answer with a more powerful stroke by correcting Satan’s attempt to pervert the passages he quoted. God’s Word, the Bible, is God’s truth. That’s why it is so powerful and effective in our daily battles. Getting it right, however, takes some focus and study. Sometimes our desire to see it one way might lead us into trouble. I’ve always argued that we need to give it our prime time. Joshua 1:8 tells us to do that as well. It takes time, effort, and focused attention. Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

I’ve had interesting discussions with people who argue that they like to do their devotions in the evenings rather than in the mornings. I’ve always been a morning person. I’ve always argued that the best time to pick up your sword is in the early mornings when you are going out to do battle. You don’t put your armor on and pick up your sword when you’re going to bed. However, in the end, the important thing is that we feed ourselves on God’s Word. It is from God’s Word that we get the nourishment to fight the fight, whether we feed in the morning or at night. As a matter of fact, Joshua instructs his readers to do it both day and night. When he says not to let it “depart” from your mouth, he means you shouldn’t stop talking about it.

God’s promise of being prosperous and successful is not a promise of wealth and fame. It’s a promise of a healthy, happy, and satisfying life. The value of spending time alone with God meditating on His word cannot be over-emphasized.  “It’s more than a spiritual exercise to be checked off as you move through your schedule for the day. It’s a vital part of your growing relationship with Jesus Christ. In Eastern forms of meditation, we’re encouraged to empty our minds.  The biblical idea is different. “Meditation means ‘the act of focusing one’s thoughts: to ponder, think on, muse.’ Meditation consists of reflective thinking or contemplation, usually on a specific subject, to discern its meaning or significance or a plan of action. Some synonyms would be contemplation, reflection, rumination, deep thinking, or remembering in the sense of keeping or calling something to mind for the purpose of consideration, reflection, or meditation.” The Psalmist says a lot about this. Psalm 63:6 says, “When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches.” Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doings; I muse on the work of Thy hands.”[1] David sings, in Psalm 119, about the beauty of God’s Word. He says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.” Lift it, and you will see where you’re going. Hold it low, and you’ll avoid things that make you stumble.

[1] Keithley, Hampton. n.d. Hampton Keithly Studies from Bible.org.

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Deuteronomy 1:9-10, Various

Nations Need Wise Leadership

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
October 20, 2023

Moses reminded the children of Israel that God had kept His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and was now keeping His promise to them, their descendants. Having been delivered from Slavery in Egypt, having received the law, and their constitution, having been disciplined for disobedience for 40 years, and after having been fed and watered in the wilderness, the nation was about to receive the promised land. Moses knew he would not be with them and began to prepare the nation to function without him.  He reminded the nation that they were too much for one man to handle. God had indeed fulfilled his promise to make Abraham a great nation. In Deuteronomy 1:9-10, “At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself. The Lord, your God, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven.”

I can’t help but believe that Moses was well aware of God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants as “numerous as the stars in heaven.” When Abraham looked up in the night, he saw only what was visible. When I was aboard the USS WALLER, a Navy Destroyer, we were in the waters of the Persian Gulf. I remember being at sea where there were no lights of a city. We went to “darken ship,” which cut off all the lights that would be visible to anyone else near us. We only had infrared lighting. As I stepped off of the bridge onto a catwalk, I looked up at the sky and was astounded by how many stars I could see. It was the same night sky that Abraham saw. I suppose this is what it looked like to Abraham and Moses as well. Moses suggests that the number of children of Israel that he led from Egypt already matched the number of stars in heaven. He said, “Today” you are as numerous as the stars. Well, we know now that it isn’t true. The stars are actually innumerable, but the point Moses is making is that just as the number of stars in heaven is unmanageable, so too is the number of Israelites.

Moses is preparing the nation to think about the organization of so many people. We’ll see them organized and assigned portions of the land by their tribe and the number of people in their tribes. Moses knew that the people needed wise and godly leaders. Payne observes, “No single individual, however gifted, could personally look after a whole nation’s needs; but God had already given his approval to a careful system of leadership and control. Every generation has its ‘wise, understanding, and experienced men.’ Not even a Moses is indispensable.”[1] With Jesus, the number of people counted in the household of God is increased even more. All those of faith are now grafted in and included in this great number of people. Ephesians includes us in the count of descendants of Abraham. Paul says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” In Acts Chapter Six, when Gentiles were beginning to be added to the church in Jerusalem, it became apparent that the Apostles were going to need help taking care of the flock. Brown recognized this and suggested that the resolution that the Apostles made to manage the increase was one that followed the pattern established by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy.  He writes, “In this case, men were appointed to care for the concerns of the widows, leaving the apostles free to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. When churches grow considerably—and we must pray that they will—and when problems increase—and they usually do, though we hope that they won’t—it becomes necessary to ensure that leaders are not overburdened and that wise and spiritual people are appointed to meet the needs.”[2]

[1] Payne, David F. 1985. Deuteronomy. The Daily Study Bible Series. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

[2] Brown, Paul E. 2008. Deuteronomy: An Expositional Commentary. Exploring the Bible Commentary. Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

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