Tag: Moses

One Mistake is One Too Many

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 8, 2013

Last week we talked about Moses’ mistake of hitting the rock instead of speaking to it. He did this in disobedience to what God told him to do. The Bible calls this sin.

As a result of Moses’ mistake, that is his sin, he was only permitted to see the land God promised to give to the people, but he could not enter into it.

This is a great illustration of the idea of following all the rules but one and then not getting into heaven because we’re not good enough.

We can’t earn our way into heaven, because just one “oops” removes that chance. Fortunately, the way to heaven is much easier; it’s called faith.

[Deuteronomy 32:51-52, Deuteronomy 34:4, James 2:10, and Ephesians 2:8-9]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags faith, heaven, Moses, sin

Bible Insights

Listen Carefully to What God Says

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 1, 2013

For four decades Moses led the people as they wandered in the dessert. Once when they were thirsty, God told Moses to hit a certain rock with his walking stick. He did and water gushed out.

Later on, the people again clamored for water. This time God told Moses to speak to a rock, but Moses hit it instead. Though the people still got their water, Moses earned a reprimand for his actions.

We don’t know for sure why Moses disobeyed God and hit the rock the second time, but it might be because hitting a rock worked once, so he did it again.

He placed experience over God’s word. Though this worked out for the people, it didn’t work out so well for Moses.

Moses’ example reminds us that it’s important to carefully listen to what God says and then to precisely obey him.

[Exodus 17:6-7 and Numbers 20:7-12]

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Bible Insights

What Does “An Eye For An Eye” Really Mean?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 30, 2013
2 Comments on What Does “An Eye For An Eye” Really Mean?

The phrase “an eye for an eye” occurs four times in the Bible.

The first three are in the Old Testament, in the Law of Moses. In these verses, it seems that Moses grants us permission to seek revenge.

However, putting it into a historical context, some scholars say it was actually a command for moderation, to have the response match the injury.

An excessive reaction to you stole my sheep is I’ll take all your animals and burn down your barn.

Or you broke my arm, so I’ll kill you and your family. No, an eye for an eye may mean that the punishment must be proportional to the offense.

Regardless of the interpretation, Jesus dismisses the concept entirely. Instead he offers a curious replacement. He says to go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and give more than required. However, it’s hard to know exactly what he means by all this.

Is this a passive-aggressive response, a prohibition against retaliation, a command for generosity, a ploy to embarrass your enemies, or a lesson to let people take advantage of you?

There’s much to consider. But the one thing for sure is that Jesus dismisses the idea of an eye for an eye. It’s old school and he has a better way.

[Exodus 21:22-25, Leviticus 24:17-22, Deuteronomy 19:16-21, and Matthew 5:38-42.]

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Tags Jesus, Moses

Bible Insights

What Do Moses and Gilligan Have in Common?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 2, 2013
2 Comments on What Do Moses and Gilligan Have in Common?

As a kid, I enjoyed watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island. One thing that amused me was that for three years Gilligan sported the same outfit, but his clothes never wore out. They didn’t fade, become threadbare, or fray.

His shirt, pants, shoes, socks, and even his hat lasted in pristine condition for as long as he was on the island.

But that’s nothing. Moses and the nation of Israel spent forty years in the desert and their clothes and sandals lasted that long. For four decades, their clothes did not wear out.

Moses beats Gilligan by thirty-seven years, over thirteen times longer.

Although Gilligan’s situation amuses me, Moses’ situation amazes me.

Even more so is the reason Israel’s clothes lasted so long: God did this so that the people would know he was God, their Lord.

That makes me ponder the things God has done for me so I will know he is the Lord, my God. That’s amazing, too.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 28-30, and today’s post is on Deuteronomy 29:5-6.]

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Bible Insights

Three People Who Played the Blame Game

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 4, 2013

Once, when the Israelites were in the desert and thirsty, God told Moses to speak to a rock and water would pour forth. Instead, out of anger towards the people, Moses hit the rock with his walking stick.

Water still gushed out, but God was displeased over Moses’ lack of following directions.

Moses’ punishment was that God would not let him go into the territory he promised to give the nation. After forty years of faithful service, one mistake cost Moses dearly.

Deflecting our faults onto others doesn’t remove the consequences.

When it came time for Israel to take the land—without Moses—Moses blamed the people for God’s anger with him and punishment.

Moses, however, wasn’t the first to play the blame game. Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate fruit from the one tree God told them not to. Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the serpent.

Even so, they still received punishment for their disobedience: God kicked them out of the garden.

It may be human nature for us to blame others for our mistakes. While doing so may deflect our faults onto others, it doesn’t remove the consequences. Just ask Moses, Adam, and Eve.

[Check out Numbers 20:7-12, Deuteronomy 4:21-22, Deuteronomy 32:48-52, Genesis 3:12-13, Genesis 3:23-24.]

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Tags Adam and Eve, blame, disobedience, Moses

Bible Insights

Two Expressions of Faith

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 10, 2013

Last week we talked about Noah’s obedience and Moses’ boldness. Both actions were reflections of their faith: the faith to obey and the faith to confront.

But what if Noah didn’t obey God, instead interceding for the people? If God changed his mind (as he did when Moses fasted and prayed), the great flood would have been averted.

What if Moses didn’t boldly approach God but merely accepted his plan, allowing the destruction of the people of Israel and making Moses into an even greater nation?

Then millions would have died. Instead of there being the “children of Abraham,” we’d have the “children of Moses.” We wouldn’t talk about Father Abraham, but of Father Moses.

Had Noah and Moses acted differently, the world would have turned out much differently.

But both acted with great faith: obedient faith and bold faith. Both provide great examples for us to follow.

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Tags Moses, Noah, obey God

Bible Insights

Are You Like Noah, Moses, or Neither?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 3, 2013

To Noah, God said I will destroy the earth. But God had a plan to spare Noah and his family. Building an ark didn’t make sense and required years of hard work, but Noah obeyed God’s instructions and survived the great flood.

We applaud Noah for his obedience to God.

To Moses, God said I will destroy these people. He promised to make Moses into an even greater nation afterwards.

If I were Moses, I’d readily receive God’s words, both getting rid of the people who continually caused him grief and the part about making Moses into a nation.

Moses, however, didn’t accept what God said. Instead, Moses sought to change God’s mind—and he did.

We greatly admire Moses for his boldness.

May we obey like Noah and be bold like Moses.

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Tags flood, Moses, Noah

Bible Insights

A Personal Note From God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 11, 2012

When Moses went up the mountain to get the 10 Commandments (the second time), God said “I will write on [the tablets] the words…“Imagine that, God providing written communication for Moses.

But it’s not just Moses, a few centuries later David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the Lord.. God wrote the instructions for David about building the temple, with all the details,” so there’d be no confusion.

Wouldn’t it be ”great if God would write things down for us?

Wait, he did—and we can read it every day.

As we approach a new year, I encourage you to read what God said every day. Consider it a New Year’s Resolution, one with eternal ramifications.

Check back next week for the 2013 Bible reading plans.

[Exodus 34:1, 1 Chronicles 28:19]

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Tags hear God, King David, Moses

Bible Insights

Is Watering Animals a Prelude to Marriage?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 4, 2012

In the Bible there’s the story of Jacob, who rolls away the stone from the well to water Rachel’s sheep. They get married.

Then there’s Moses. He rescues some shepherd girls when they are being harassed and provides water for their flocks. He marries one of them.

It’s just not a guy thing, either. Rebekah provides water for a stranger and his camels, showing herself to be the one for Isaac, son of the stranger’s master. They get married.

Sometimes performing simple acts of service result in some most amazing things.

[Genesis 29:10, Exodus 2:16-21, and Genesis 24:15-20]

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Tags Isaac, Jacob, marriage, Moses, Rachel, Rebekah

Bible Insights

The Power of the Finger of God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 19, 2012

The phrase “the finger of God” occurs four times in the Bible.

The first is when the Egyptian magicians cannot duplicate the feats God is doing through Moses and they say, “This is the finger of God.”

The second and third times are when God gives Moses the Ten Commandments inscribed on stone tablets. What tool was used to etch the message in stone? None other than “the finger of God.”

The final use of the phrase is recorded by Luke. Jesus, when verbally sparring with his detractors, says his power to cast out demons is “the finger of God.”

So “the finger of God.” is sufficient to perform wondrous acts that cannot be duplicated, etch messages in stone, and empower Jesus to cast out demons.

If the finger of God can do all that, imagine what the arm of God can do—image what all of God can do.

Now that’s powerful.

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Tags God, Luke, Moses