A Striking Example

S: Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:2-13, 27:12-23

O: Back in Exodus 17, God had told Moses to strike a rock with his staff when the people complained that there was no water, and water gushed out. They called the place Massah and Meribah (testing and quarrelling).

Then in Numbers 20, the people complained again about there being no water. This time, God told him to speak to a rock. But instead of doing that, Moses scolded the people: “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” He struck the rock twice, and water gushed out.

But God said to him, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” That place was called just Meribah.

Why was God so upset that Moses struck the rock? Numbers 27, when God was preparing to have Moses pass the leadership over to Joshua, gives a clue. Yahweh said, “When the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honour me as holy before their eyes.”

See, Moses claimed the credit for himself: “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” instead of ascribing the power to God.

I read an anecdote years ago: there’s a shrine in New Mexico called El Santuario de Chimayó, where the dirt from the chapel’s pit has long been associated with healing. Pilgrims would come and take some of the dirt home with them for healing.

In the 20th century, a sceptical reporter went to that place and saw the priest refilling the dirt with new dirt. So he asked the priest, “What are you doing?”

The priest said, “I’m refilling the dirt, as you can see.” “Oh, boy!” thought the reporter. “I’ve got the dirt on this scandal now!”

So he said to the priest, “You’re refilling the hole with new dirt? It’s not the original dirt?”

The priest replied, “Of course not! Thousands of pilgrims come here taking away a bottle of dirt. Don’t you think after so many years all the dirt would be gone? Yes, of course, I’m refilling the dirt.”

Going in for the kill, the reporter asked, “You mean this is not the real dirt that heals?”

The priest sighed: “God heals, not the dirt!”

Photo of the dirt pit at El Santuario de Chimayó

(Note: I’m retelling the story from memory, and there are many versions of this story circulating, but the gist is the same — that God heals, not the dirt.)

A: When God uses us to bless people, let us make sure not to take credit for ourselves. Give the glory to God!

P: Father, keep me away from pride. Let me take joy in being used by You to bless others, and not aggrandise myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Heart Matters More Than the Gift: Reflections on Balaam

S: Numbers 22-24

O: Balaam was a true prophet of God, as the Spirit of God would come upon him, and he would speak true prophecies, e.g., Numbers 24. He also said Yahweh was his God (Numbers 22:18). Yet he advised the Moabites and the portion of Midianites who opposed Israel to use girls to seduce Israelites to be unfaithful to Yahweh and worship the false god Baal of Peor (Numbers 31:16) and ended up being killed by the Israelites (Numbers 31:8).

A: Balaam’s story is a cautionary tale. God can give people genuine spiritual gifts, like the great gift of true prophecy in this case, but if they don’t keep their hearts true to God and let themselves be lured away by greed, ambition, or self-interest, they can leave the realm of God’s good plan and be destroyed.

When Balaam advised the Moabites and the faction of anti-Israel Midianites to use seductive girls to draw them into apostasy, it showed that although he did worship Yahweh with his lips, his heart had strayed from Yahweh—for where our heart is, there our treasure would be. Otherwise, how could he advise people to seduce followers of Yahweh away from Yahweh? That was very telling.

Usually, we’re not so explicit. We tend to be more subtle—slowly drifting away from prioritizing Yahweh into prioritizing our material wealth, power, etc. In a way, that’s even more insidious.

This is especially so if God has gifted someone greatly. The history of the church is littered with such examples—Jimmy Swaggart, Ravi Zacharias, etc., are all object lessons.

P: Father, search my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me. Let me be humble and repentant when you reveal that to me, and not persist in my wicked ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Curses with a Hidden Door: Repentance Always Possible

S: Numbers 20-22

O: When reading Numbers 20–22, I noticed how many nations opposed Israel as they entered the Promised Land, even though they had promised to only pass through and pay for any food or drink they might consume along the way. Later, God pronounces a judgment on the surviving nations that did this: “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down to the tenth generation” (Deuteronomy 23:3–6). Yet people like Ruth the Moabite were accepted into the assembly of the Lord despite this curse.

Every time God pronounces a curse, there is also the implied “unless they repent.” It’s not stated explicitly, but it’s understood. Ruth the Moabite, Rahab the Canaanite, Uriah the Hittite, and Araunah the Jebusite were all accepted into the assembly of the Lord. The story of Jonah also illustrates this concept: God never told Jonah to say explicitly, “unless you repent,” yet both Jonah and the Ninevites clearly understood that was an option — and they did, and God saved them from impending doom.

I also think of the New Testament condemnation of the Pharisees, who were accused of the “unforgivable sin” of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22–28). Yet many of them came to Jesus, and some later became the Judaizers or “men of the circumcision” that Paul had to contend with, insisting that Gentiles must become Jewish proselytes to receive salvation in Jesus (Acts 15; Galatians 2; Galatians 5; Philippians 3).

A: When God pronounces a curse, there’s always the implied “unless they repent.” So repent and come to Jesus! Do not stay condemned!

If you feel condemnation, know that it’s not what God wants. As God says in Ezekiel 33:11: “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!”

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Feeling conviction is from the Lord and should drive you to repentance. Feeling condemned is from the devil, to keep you from coming to Jesus in repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

P: Father, thank you for your love and grace. Thank you that you always want us to repent and come back to you, and that you want to save us. When we feel condemned, may we turn to you in repentance and not wallow in it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Caleb & Joshua: Different but still Blessed

S: Numbers 13:26–14:38

O: The twelve spies returned from exploring Canaan. Most reported fearfully, doubting that God could give them the land. But Caleb silenced the people and declared, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (13:30). The rest of the people grumbled: “If only we had died in Egypt! … Wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt?” (14:2–4).

Later, Joshua also joined Caleb in urging the people to trust God, reminding them of the Lord’s protection and urging them not to be afraid (14:6–9). The crowd’s response? They talked about stoning them (14:10).

God’s judgment was clear: of all the adults, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh would survive to take possession of the promised land (14:30).

A: I notice that Caleb was the first to speak boldly, while Joshua joined in later. Yet God rewarded both equally. Even if you are “late” in obeying God, do it anyway—He still honors faith.

My wife pointed out something interesting: Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, was bold like a lion. Joshua, from the tribe of Ephraim, was likely more reserved—God often had to tell him to “be strong and courageous.” Later, Caleb asked Joshua for the hill country where the Anakites (giants) lived, and conquered it (Joshua 14:6–15).

Two very different personalities—one a pioneer, one a quieter leader—yet both mighty in the Lord. Whether bold or hesitant, first or second, God rewards those who remain faithful. So trust Him!

P: Lord, help me trust You whether I am the first to step forward or the one who joins later. Make me faithful in every season and give me courage to obey, knowing that You will keep Your promises.

 Note: The ideas are from me and my wife, but I had ChatGPT copyedit this.

 

Crazy magical bitter curse water?

S: Numbers 5

O: The quarantine law makes good medical sense. The restitution law makes good social and moral sense.

But then this crazy magical bitter curse water? 🤯

It’s been pointed out that this water—with just a bit of dust from the tabernacle floor and ink from the scroll—would not naturally cause a miscarriage or abdominal swelling. So for anything to happen, God would have to directly intervene and miraculously cause it.

In ancient patriarchal cultures, an unproven accusation could lead straight to execution or divorce without rights. But here, the woman is not punished unless a miraculous sign confirms guilt—God is judge, not the man or priest. The public ritual may also have discouraged false accusations, since the husband had to go through a costly and humiliating process himself.

So it could be that this protects a woman who is unjustly accused.

It’s also noteworthy that there is no historical record of this ritual ever being carried out. Perhaps its very existence in the Law of Moses discouraged people from acting rashly.

A: This ancient ritual sounds strange to my modern, scientific mindset. But alongside the quarantine and restitution laws—which focus on protection and fairness—it seems that even this bitter water test was, in its context, a safeguard. It prevented punishment without divine confirmation, and may have discouraged baseless accusations. Even in a patriarchal society, God made space for justice. In my own life, I want to resist quick judgment. God sees what I cannot. He calls me to pursue truth and justice with humility, fairness, and love.

P:  Father, I usually see things from my own limited perspective. You see everything. Help me to trust in You and work with You to treat others fairly with love. In Jesus’ name, amen.