13 March 2014 - Balaam: Blessing and Judgment

Balaam saw what pleased God, per Numbers twenty four

He turned his face and did not resort to sorcery anymore

“The Spirit of God came upon him” and he uttered an oracle

Which talked of Israel’s blessings in ways not just allegorical

“May those who bless [Israel] be blessed”, he did conclude

“And those who curse [Israel] be cursed” as Egypt viewed

In Numbers twenty five, some Israelite men began to stray

They “indulged in sexual immorality” with Moabites each day

They also worshipped the Moabite gods, making it worse

“The Lord’s anger burned” and these men He would curse

In First Corinthians six, Paul says “flee from sexual immorality”

For it is a sin against his own body if someone sins sexually

The “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” to treat very nice

“Honor God with your body” which was “bought at a price”

God told Moses to “take vengeance on the Midianites”

One thousand men from each tribe prepared for fights

They fought as God had commanded and killed every man

They took the women and children, but that was not the plan

For it was the women who had turned the Israelites astray

That had led God to launch a plague due to His dismay

12 March 2014 - Israel Tests God in the Desert (part two of two)

Of how God crushes rebellion, Numbers sixteen does tell

Some became insolent; against Moses opposition did swell

Moses was aggrieved, saying that they had gone too far

He found the Levites’ lack of gratitude to be quite bizarre

Korah and his men gathered at the tent, not on bended knee

Then “the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly”

Moses warned all the other Israelites to keep their distance

God opened the earth around Korah, ending his resistance

Moses disobeyed God in Numbers chapter twenty

There was no water, so there was grumbling plenty

Once more, the people were ungrateful and did criticise

God told Moses to speak to the rock before their eyes

He promised that water would flow out from the rock

Thus providing a drink for them and their livestock

Moses did as he was told, but then used his staff

Water gushed out but this was quite a big gaffe

The Lord said that because Moses did not fully trust

The plans for entering Canaan He would have to adjust

“Because [he] did not…honor [God] as holy” in their sight

Moses would not get to enter the promised land outright

The Israelite people grew inpatient, per Numbers twenty one

They spoke against God despite what He had often done

The again complained about the lack of water and bread

God then sent “venomous snakes among them” instead

After many deaths, the rest to God and Moses did repent

Moses prayed to God to take back the snakes he had sent

To put a snake up on a pole was the instruction God did give

In that way, anyone bitten by a snake could look up and live

Jesus referred to this incident in John chapter three

“The Son of Man must be lifted up” for all to see

“For God so loved the world that He gave His...only Son”

“Whoever believes in Him”, God for eternity will not shun

“For God did not send His Son…to condemn” the earth

“But to save the world through Him” through a rebirth

After the Amorites were destroyed, per Numbers twenty two

The Moabites were terrified of what the Israelites might do

So their leader Balak sent a messenger to Balaam find

After praying to God, their offer he initially declined

Balaam was hired to curse Israel after God did agree

But God protected Israel, per Deuteronomy twenty three

11 March 2014 - Israel Tests God in the Desert (part one)

Per Numbers nine, the Tent of the Testimony a cloud did cover

The Israelites would set out and follow wherever it did hover

“From evening till morning the cloud” appeared to be fire

But about where to go, the Israelites never had to enquire

Sometimes the cloud of God stayed for only a day over the plain

Other times, for a month or even a year it did in one place remain

“At the Lord’s command” they either encamped or set out

The Israelites followed God’s daily guidance, without a doubt

“They willfully put God to the test”, per Psalm seventy eight

The Israelites demanded “the food they craved”, it did state

“When the Lord heard them”, he was angry and upset

Somehow, they did not believe in God’s deliverance yet

Nonetheless, he opened the skies and let manna rain down

Eating the “bread of angels”, the Israelites should not frown

God “rained meat down on them’ which they ate until overly full

“He had given them what they craved” but they were not grateful

God killed the sturdiest ones because He was far from grinning

Despite all of this, they did not believe but just kept on sinning

God asked a leader of each tribe to explore the promised land

They went and came back but most did not fully understand

There was an abundance of fruit, milk, and honey to be found

But most of the group were afraid it would be a burial ground

Caleb said to proceed confidently and of the land take possession

Others feared that powerful inhabitants would impede progression

That night people wept and grumbled, per Numbers fourteen

Wanting to return to Egypt, forgetting the way things had been

By rejecting the promised land and doubting God’s strength

The Israelites merely added to their wilderness stay’s length

Per Numbers fourteen, Moses and Aaron fell face down

Along with Joshua and Caleb, who spoke to the town

“The land we passed through…is exceedingly good”

“If the Lord is pleased with us,…give it to us” He should

Into the land of milk and honey, God would surely lead

But the people grumbled and never with Joshua agreed

God heard the “wicked community grumble” and complain

He told Moses that His wrath He would no longer contain

He would give the Israelites what they complained about

Saying “in this desert your bodies will fall”, He left no doubt

That the grumbling masses would suffer before too long

Except for Caleb and Joshua, whose belief was strong

“Not one of you will enter the land I swore…to make your home”

Instead, they would suffer and for forty years in the desert roam

There is a need to listen to God’s voice, per Hebrews three

Quotes from Psalm ninety five talk of when God was angry

“See to it…that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart”

Otherwise, like the Israelites who from his ways did depart

Disobedient and hardened hearts cannot enter God’s rest

But by encouraging each other, believers can be blessed

9 March 2014 - The Attributes of God (part two of two)

In Psalm eighty six, to God David did earnestly pray

“Hear…and answer me, for I am…needy” he did say

“You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you”

“Have mercy on me” for I call to you in everything I do

“Bring joy to your servant, for to you…I lift up my soul”

For God is “abounding in love to all”, David did extol

Per Ephesians two, all were dead in their transgressions

“Gratifying the cravings” and desiring many possessions

By following the “desires and thoughts” of our sinful nature

“We were by nature objects of wrath”, the law does ensure

But our God is merciful and “made us alive in Christ”

Proving that His love and grace more than sufficed

“Job replied to the Lord”, Job chapter forty two reported

“You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted”

In Psalm sixty eight, the power of God David did proclaim

For God is all-powerful and awesome, deserving acclaim

Jeremiah, in chapter thirty two, did on God praise shower

God “made the heavens and the earth by [His] great power”

“Nothing is too hard” for the “great and powerful God”

His great purposes and mighty deeds are no facade

For His “eyes are open to all the ways of men”

He rewards everyone’s conduct, time and again

In Revelation four, John said that worthy is the Lord

His “glory and honor and power” should not be ignored

In Psalm one hundred thirty nine, David did declare

He could not flee from God, for God is everywhere

In the heavens, on earth, and “on the far side of the sea”

To guide and protect, God’s right hand would there be

Jeremiah twenty three emphasized God’s great worth

He is nearby and far away, filling “heaven and earth”

The disciples were commissioned in Matthew twenty eight

His authority over everything, nobody should ever debate

“Go and make disciples of all nations”, Jesus did say

“Everything I have commanded you”, “teach them to obey”

His last words were “and surely I am with you always”

“To the very end of the age”, throughout all the days

God knows everything, per Psalm one thirty nine

He knows our actions and thoughts for He is divine

Before we speak, He knows the words on our tongue

This is true even if we are very old or very young

In Romans eleven, Paul talks about God’s knowledge

It is unfathomable no matter how many years of college

“The word of God is living and active”, per Hebrews four

It is sharper than any sword, so every heart it can explore

Since “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”

“Everything is uncovered and laid bare”, Paul did write

Moses told Israel “the Lord is One” in Deuteronomy six

Love God with all heart and soul, so there are no conflicts

God “will be king over the whole earth”, per Zechariah fourteen

Then, only one Lord, his name being the only name, will be seen

Romans three says God is of the Jews and the Gentiles too

Since there is only one God, he will justify all without ado

“There is but one God”, in First Corinthians chapter eight

“From whom all things came”, the apostle Paul did state

“There is one body and one Spirit”, per Ephesians four

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism” Paul did implore

About God, Psalm one hundred twenty four imparts

“O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts”

“End the violence of the wicked”, David did then plea

“Make the righteous secure”, for righteous God will be

God talks of a righteous Branch in Jeremiah twenty three

“The days are coming” when “a King will reign wisely”

Then “Judah will be saved” and Israel will not be mauled

“The Lord our Righteousness” is the name He is called

Jesus will speak to God in our defense, per First John two

He is the atoning sacrifice for sins the world does accrue

9 March 2014 - The Attributes of God (part one)

In Exodus thirty four, “the Lord came down in the cloud”

And stood there, proclaiming his name Yahweh out loud

He told Moses that He was “compassionate and gracious”

And “slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”

Due to His love, God forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin

Yet he punishes the guilty, mush to their descendants’ chagrin

Moses asked the Lord to favor the Israelites with His presence

To forgive their wickedness and take them as His inheritance

Then the Lord said “I am making a covenant with you”

For the people, never-before-seen wonders will I do

God is compassionate says Psalm one hundred forty five

“Slow to anger” and from His people love He does not deprive

In Second Corinthians one, this message Paul does repeat

God is “the Father of compassion” whose comfort is complete

He “comforts us in all our troubles” so we can do the same

Passing along His comfort to anybody, no matter the name

And although many sufferings in life Paul did know

“So also through Christ our comfort” does overflow

God forgives transgression and pardons sins, per Micah seven

He does not stay angry but showers mercy on us from heaven

He will “be true to Jacob” and to Abraham, mercy show

As He “pledged an oath to our fathers in days long ago”

Per First John one, “God is light; in him there is no darkness”

If we claim fellowship with Him but walk in the dark, we transgress

John added “but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light”

We have fellowship and Jesus’ blood makes everything right

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves” badly

But “if we confess our sins”, “faithful and just” will God be

“If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar”

Then “His word has no place in our lives” no matter our desire

“The Lord is gracious and righteous”, per Psalm one sixteen

“God is full of compassion”, protecting the needy it is seen

John one says “The Word became flesh” and among us dwelled

The glory, grace, and truth from the Father were never withheld

“From the fullness of His grace” we have all received blessing

After the law of Moses, grace and truth Jesus was professing

In Ephesians two, Paul said “it is by grace you have been saved”

The road to our seat in the heavenly realms with Him was paved

We are saved through faith, a gift from God and the Holy Ghost

Paul stated that it is “not by works, so that no one can boast”

In chapter six, Isaiah spoke of “the year King Uzziah died”

Exalted and amidst seraphs, on a throne God did reside

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” the seraphs did call

For God is holy and on the whole earth His glory will fall

Per Isaiah fifty seven, God lives in a high and holy place

He revives lowly spirits and contrite hearts with His grace

No matter what happens, God will not stay in an angry state

Or faint would be the spirit of the man, whom God did create

Per First Peter one, “as obedient children, do not conform”

“To evil desires you had” when ignorant living was the norm

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do”

“For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” is the right view

8 March 2014 The Golden Calf

Per Exodus thirty two, Moses was away so people did rebel

To their desire to make other gods, his brother Aaron fell

With all their gold jewelry, they made a golden calf

Thinking that this was a god was indeed a big gaffe

God told Moses about this and thus to go down

Their actions angered him a lot, making him frown

Due to the “stiff-necked people”, God wanted to be alone

Planning to destroy them for actions He could not condone

But Moses pleaded for the people despite their great sin

Saying other nations would view angry actions with a grin

About God’s covenant with Abraham, Moses did remind

So the Lord relented and his threats He did then unwind

Moses went down the mountain, with the two tablets

Seeing the golden calf and dancing, he had regrets

In a fit of anger, he threw the tablets and they broke

He burned the calf with a great fire and some smoke

The ashes were ground and across the water spread

Moses made the people drink it, each and every head

About this in First Corinthians ten Paul did write

Warnings from history and the Exodus he did recite

There was idolatry, pagan revelry, and more immorality

“God was not pleased with most of them”, evidently

But He will not tempt beyond what man can bear

He provides a way out, as for us He does care

8 March 2014 - The Law (part three of three)

Hebrews nine spoke of the tabernacle and worship

The Israelites took the tabernacle and ark on every trip

The first room had a lamp stand, table, and consecrated bread

It was The Holy Place, where priests entered without dread

The ark was in the Most Holy Place, behind another curtain

Only the high priest entered once a year, that’s for certain

There were also Aaron’s staff and an altar of incense

And the stone tablets which did the covenant dispense

When the high priest entered, he did so with a sacrifice

To offer for the people’s sins and various acts of vice

But when Christ came, the tabernacle became perfect

Because He was not man-made and thus had no defect

The Lord spoke to Aaron in Numbers chapter eighteen

The Levites were to become the priesthood, it is seen

They were to care for the care of the sanctuary and altar

God’s wrath would not fall as long as they did not falter

This role was given as a gift to Aaron and his close family

Death awaited anyone else who approached the sanctuary

From the holy offerings, the priests were to take a share

They would have no land, but they were not to despair

For God would be their “share and [their] inheritance”

And they would always have a place of holy residence

Deuteronomy seven spoke of driving out the nations

The Israelites would win because of their foundations

For although the others were larger and stronger

God would ensure that Israel would last longer

But God told them that after victoriously emerging

From His instructions, there should be no diverging

“Make no treaty with them” and mercy do not show

Don’t intermarry or the Lord’s anger would grow

For God loved the Israelites and kept his old oath

He redeemed them from slavery and tyranny both

In Deuteronomy thirty, God gave yet another command

It was not too difficult for those headed for the Holy Land

“The word is very near;…it is in your mouth and in your heart”

“So you may obey it”, take the right path, and do your part

The choice is life and prosperity or death and destruction

The command is to love God and follow His instruction

For then “the Lord your God will bless”

“In the land you are entering to possess”

But “if your heart turns away and you are not obedient”

The path to your destruction God will make expedient

So “choose life, so that you are your children may live”

For then God will keep his covenant and His land give