The lesser-known part of Proverbs 31

Today: Proverbs 30-31

Proverbs 31 contains perhaps one of the most talked-about passages in the Bible, particularly at womens' conferences (though I think there are now books and messages about "The Proverbs 31 Man," too!). This famous part of the chapter describes characteristics of a good wife (if you want to read my thoughts about it, check out this old blog post called "The Prov. 31 Woman: Mother Teresa Meets Ivanka Trump?").

I'm not going to write more about that part of the chapter today. Instead, I thought it would be interesting to think and write about the part of Proverbs 31 that precedes it. It's a section labeled "Speak out for Justice." This section records advice given to a man (King Lemuel, to be exact). His mother warned him not go after women who are gold-diggers or promiscuous. She also encouraged him not to get drunk and to stay level-headed. Her key advice for her son the king?

"Speak up for the people who have no voice,

for the rights of all the down-and-outers.

Speak out for justice!

Stand up for the poor and destitute!"

I love this. I love that it encourages leaders to use their voices, power and hands to help those in need. Another thing I find interesting? These are instructions directed to a man (though I think they really apply to anyone). I find that interesting because today, compassion-oriented causes are often driven by female volunteers and leaders. I'm not saying that female leadership is bad or that male leadership is better. But I do wish more men realized that "compassion" causes aren't just women's causes. When we work together--as men and women, as teens and Baby Boomers, as couples and singles--the better we can serve the people who need help from all of us. If you're breathing and you've got a voice (or a laptop or a pen and paper or some influence), use it!

Tomorrow: Ecclesiastes 1-4

Rejection and the A-list God

Today: 1 Samuel 4-8

Rejection is not fun. If you've ever "put yourself out there" to attend your dream college or land a dream job, girl/guy, role or home--only to be rejected--you know what I'm talking about.

I've had a few interesting conversations with friends over the years that touched on this topic. One time, I was with a small group of Christian guys and girls where some of the girls were lamenting, "What is it with Christian guys?!? They're surrounded by these incredible Christian women, but they just don't ask them out..."

"Guys hate rejection," one of the married guys spoke up.

His statement was simple, but in some ways took me by surprise...not because I hadn't heard or thought it before, but because the guy speaking was an A-list guy. You know who I'm talking about--a guy who is simultaneously committed to God, good looking, friendly, well-mannered, etc. This guy is probably one of those people who was always surrounded by packs of girls at school and church his entire life. When he said it, my first thought was, "You were once afraid of being hurt or rejected?!? Who in her right mind would turn you down?"

It sounded crazy. But today's passage describes a rejection even more tragic--God's people rejecting His leadership in their lives. Take a look:

They presented their case:

"Look, you're an old man,

and your sons aren't following in your footsteps.

Here's what we want you to do:

Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else."
When Samuel heard their demand—"Give us a king to rule us!"—

he was crushed.

How awful!

Samuel prayed to God.
God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking.

They are not rejecting you.

They've rejected me as their King.

From the day I brought them out of Egypt

until this very day they've been behaving like this,

leaving me for other gods.

And now they're doing it to you.

So let them have their own way..."

Who could be any more A-list than our God?

In fact, A-list doesn't even come close to describing Him--He's perfection itself. I don't think God fears our rejection, but I know that it hurts Him. God gave His everything to love us, to be with us for eternity. Yet sometimes we reject His leadership in pursuit of Z-list things--money, our selfish desires, bad habits, etc.

The rationale of the people in this passage was also really lame. They said, "Appoint a king to rule us just like everybody else." It's goofy logic, because ultimately, who really wants to be just like everybody else? Most of us want to live a life of significance. People who live significant lives don't follow the crowds. I believe that the best way to live a significant life is to embrace and surrender to God's leadership in your life.

Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 9-12

Missing the Promise

Today: Numbers 18-20

Some of the most tragic stories are those of people who get inches away from their dreams...and just barely miss. Why does that happen? Sometimes, there's no way to explain it. And other times--perhaps the most tragic--it's because of one bad choice.

In today's passage, we read such a tragic story: why Moses and Aaron missed out on the Promised Land. Here's what it said:

God spoke to Moses: "Take the staff.

Assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron.

Speak to that rock that's right in front of them and it will give water.

You will bring water out of the rock for them;

congregation and cattle will both drink."
Moses took the staff away from God's presence, as commanded.

He and Aaron rounded up the whole congregation in front of the rock.

Moses spoke: "Listen, rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?"
With that Moses raised his arm and slammed his staff against the rock—once, twice. Water poured out. Congregation and cattle drank.
God said to Moses and Aaron,

"Because you didn't trust me,

didn't treat me with holy reverence in front of the People of Israel,

you two aren't going to lead this company into the land that I am giving them."

This story is fairly short. We don't get to read much about what happened. But I think there may have been a few reasons why God's punishment for Moses and Aaron was so severe. Here are my guesses:

1. At a very basic level, they disobeyed. They didn't speak to the rock--Moses slammed his staff into the rock to get the water.

2. Moses acted out of anger toward the people, allowing his emotions to overtake God's graciousness toward them.

3. Moses took credit. He said, "...Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?" That's A LOT different than, "God has shown mercy and will provide water for you, just as He continually provides for all your needs." By taking the credit and acting out of anger, Moses showed a lack of trust in God's provision, God's wisdom and God's sovereignty to govern His people.

Those are my guesses...but my thinking isn't God's thinking, either. I imagine that perhaps God was disappointed in His two strongest leaders who, after knowing Him and serving Him many years still didn't "quite get it." At the time, Moses and Aaron were acting as God's voice to His people...but in this situation, they chose to use their own voices. They missed the Promised Land because they missed the point--listening to God and leading His way--by giving undeserved and unmerited favor (grace) to others.

Tomorrow: Numbers 21-22

Leadership and leprosy

Today: Numbers 11-13

Today's passage had a lot of interesting things to read, think and write about. I could choose to write about Joshua and Caleb's excursion to the Promised Land--I've heard lots of sermons on that. I could talk about God's provision of quail to His people--another interesting part of the passage. But I thought I'd write about a strange part of the passage I've never heard anyone teach about before--when Moses' sister was cursed with leprosy.

Let's take another peek at the story:

Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses behind his back

because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite woman).

They said, "Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn't he also speak through us?"

God overheard their talk.
Now the man Moses was a quietly humble man,

more so than anyone living on Earth.

God broke in suddenly on Moses and Aaron and Miriam saying,

"Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting." The three went out.

God descended in a Pillar of Cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent.

He called Aaron and Miriam to him.

When they stepped out, he said,

"Listen carefully to what I'm telling you.

If there is a prophet of God among you,

I make myself known to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.

But I don't do it that way with my servant Moses;

he has the run of my entire house;

I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles:

He ponders the very form of God.

So why did you show no reverence or respect

in speaking against my servant, against Moses?

The anger of God blazed out against them. And then he left.
When the Cloud moved off from the Tent, oh! Miriam had turned leprous, her skin like snow.

This is a weird story. First of all, we don't know everything Miriam and Aaron were exactly saying about Moses or his wife. Secondly, I think it was strange that Miriam--only Miriam--was cursed with leprosy. Why not Aaron, too?

Here are a few of the things we do know: God's just. God hears, sees and knows everything. Miriam and Aaron were not only Moses' siblings, they were also leaders. God grants authority to leaders and wants people to respect authority He has established.

Another thing we learn from this story? God doesn't avoid confrontation. In fact, in this passage, God demonstrated the value of straight-up communication--by talking with Miriam and Aaron directly, He addressed His concerns and challenged their thinking.

To some extent, He may have been modeling the behavior He wanted them to follow (see Matthew 18:15-17). Instead of gossipping and griping behind Moses' back, as leaders, Miriam and Aaron should have gone to Moses directly to address their concerns (if they had anything legitimate)--with a spirit of love and a desire to resolve differences and maintain unity (for their sake and for the sake of the people they led together). My gut (and some of the context of this passage) tells me that their backbiting really came out of jealousy--perhaps more Miriam's jealously than Aaron's. Maybe that's why He delivered the mysterious consequence of (temporary) leprosy to Miriam alone.

I don't know if the last few sentences are true--only God knows our motives. Maybe that's one of the key take-aways from today's strange story: God knows our hearts. How we think and speak about people--in this case, leaders--matters to Him.

Tomorrow: Numbers 14-15

Leadership, example and dealing with difficulty

Today: Mark 14

"Do as I say and not as I do," is a saying I absolutely hate.

Yup, I actually said HATE (and I rarely say or write that!). I hate that it's such a cop-out. It's like saying, "I don't believe in what I'm saying enough to actually do it or be it." It's admitting you're a hypocrite. It's a saying for people who want to lead, but don't have the integrity, discipline or willingness to do what it takes.

Thankfully, Jesus definitely wasn't a leader like that, particularly when dealing with difficulty.

Let me give an example...

At the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault." How many times have people--before and after the disciples--felt exactly that way when faced with difficult circumstances?

Several paragraphs later, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane suffering. He knows the plan--He's about to die for the sins of humanity. But He also knows the Father--He knows the grace, love and all-powerful nature of God. And He has those characteristics Himself.

But the scene in the garden revealed how He dealt with difficulty--leading by example. He didn't turn up the drama and say that His world was falling apart. He didn't point fingers and say that it was all His Father's fault. He stayed faithful. He stayed focused. And He prayed, "Papa, Father, you can—can't you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?"

Tomorrow: Mark 15-16