SOAP 03/08/2014 Deuteronomy 8:3

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 7, 8, 9; Mark 15

S) "³ He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 8:3  (NASB)

O) Being humble is required by God, to the point that He will humble His people directly, if they aren't humbling themselves. How the LORD humbles us is also significant. He did not starve His people, but just let them be hungry. He let them be hurt, but not destroyed. He also provided in a way that was unprecedented and inexplicable. Over and over, God proves Himself in ways that will remove all doubt or coincidental explanations, not so that the world will know, but so that His children will know. He wants us to realize that He is the one who provides, He is the one who saves, He is the one true living, loving God.

A) I feel hungry right now. Whether or not I am humbled by that hunger, depends entirely on whether or not I am acknowledging God through the process. Right now, this passage is directly relatable if I replace the food with money...
"He humbles me and lets me be poor, and provides me with means which I did not know, nor did my fathers know, that He might make me understand that man does not live by money alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD."

P) Father, I have been struggling lately, to understand how I will get by. Looking at my budget, over and over, the numbers simply do not add up, for my family to live on the salary I'm making. In the past, I know that You have provided through outside sources. Recently, You have provided by giving me more work to do, so I can make more money. Right now, I cannot see how You will be providing. But, I am determined to believe that now, as You have forever, You will provide for my family. Whether it's directly through me, or through someone else, or through some means that I do not even know, I am choosing to believe that I live  by everything that proceeds out of Your mouth, LORD, and not just by money alone. Increase my faith, give me peace, and let me have patience. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/07/2014 Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 5, 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

S) "⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:7-9  (NASB)

O) This command is strongly written and thoroughly defined. Teaching diligently takes dedication, intent, and effort. The opposing phrases describing when we sit and walk, lie down and rise up; these are basically saying, "At all times." The use of actual examples, though, makes it clear that it isn't hyperbole. The parents' roles of teaching children about the LORD should be taken very seriously and given a very high priority. The second of the verses gives some light as to how it can be executed. Basically, plastering everything around, with the actual words commanded.

A) I had a math teacher in 7th grade, named Brad Fulton, and he said something I'll never forget. He said, "Write this down, because a paper brain will never forget." I have heeded that advice many times over the years, and it has proven quite useful. That's what verses 8 and 9 are about. The problem (at least with the Israelites, then Pharisees), is that eventually, people will go through the motions without a true understanding of what the scriptures meant, even though they may have them tied to their very personage. It's well and good to have my house full of Bible verses. We have artwork, or scripting, or just printed cutouts, all over our walls; Bible verses abound. However, If I fail at verse 7, then verses 8 and 9 mean nothing. Even worse, they could be a detriment to my children, if their heads are full of fragmented Bible verses, without true understanding of the Bible, or God, or how to apply things to their lives. The most important part of parenting, is the active role Kristin and I play, in teaching our children how to be children of the LORD. It's exhausting, but necessary, and few things are more important in my life, let alone my parenting.

P) Father, strengthen me to this task. Let the Holy Spirit draw me constantly to remember the importance of this call. I want to, forever, be a good example to my children in all things that pertain to serving you, but I also want to take an active role in actually teaching them. I don't just want to hope that they learn by example (although I do hope it), I also want to hope that they learn by direct instruction. By Your grace, use me to raise these children to fear and serve You. By Your grace, draw them to You and let them respond in humility and submission. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/06/2014 Deuteronomy 3:23-26

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 3, 4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

S) "²³ I also pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ^24 'O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? ²⁵ Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.' ²⁶ But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the Lord said to me, 'Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter.'"

Deuteronomy 3:23-26  (NASB)

O) There are several examples, throughout the Bible, of righteous men and women pleading with God. There are some of those encounters that even boarder on straight argument. In pretty much all of those cases, though, the pleading is answered with favor. This is a rare example, though, when the request is rejected. Clearly, God does not grant every request, but it seems like the Bible is mostly full of answered prayers. So, when I read this passage, I was a little surprised. I guess I never realized that Moses made such a request, trying to get into the Promised Land, after his sin. The only other example that comes to mind today, is Paul's request in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. There is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that two of the most godly, important men in the entire Bible, had prayers that God denied.
(It's also worth noting that God specifically tells Moses not to ask again)

A) It's a tough thing to balance faith with humility, sometimes. We have to make our requests without doubt, but we have to accept that God can still say no. The most important thing for me to keep in mind, is that God is sovereign, omniscient, and good; whatever His answer, it is justified and blesses me. So, the most important thing for me to do, is to react properly. In this instance, Moses is granted to see, with his eyes, the Promised Land from the top of Pisgah, and then he is charged with getting Joshua ready to succeed. Maybe God will grant me some shade of my request, but however it comes out, I need to pick myself up and do what He commands after my request is heard.

P) Father, in all of my requests, let me approach You in humility. Let me acknowledge Your holiness. Above all else, let me accept Your answers. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear, so I can clearly and correctly know Your responses. Let me see Your answers in Your Word, or hear them in prayer, or receive them from other righteous men and women in my life. Beyond that, let me act in obedience to Your words, God. I want to be completely given over to Your will in my life. I choose now, to accept the decisions You make for me, because I know You are a good God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/05/2014 Deuteronomy 1:15

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 1, 2; Mark 12

S) "¹⁵ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes."

Deuteronomy 1:15  (NASB)

O) The plans of the LORD are perfect. He knew that it was logistically impossible for Moses to lead a million people by himself, so God set up a system of government. It's important to know that it was still appointed according to God, not an election.

A) God calls us to positions of responsibility. At times, I've worried about where my place should be, in terms of leadership, because the idea of leading thousands scares me a lot. The thought of leading hundreds scares me. But, this verse is very encouraging. The thought of leading 10 people is appealing to me. I don't know where I'll be in 5 years (in terms of what kind of ministry work I might do), but I do know that I need to be used by God, and He knows my place. I'll continue to pursue Him and His Kingdom, and allow things to come as He wills them. He knows me better than I know me, but I am encouraged to think that my place can be (at least to start) relatively small.

P) Father, I want to be obedient to Your will, above all else. Forgive me for obstinence, laziness, and pride (and all other sins). Clear my mind of preconceived ideas and increase my faith. Show me the place to which You are calling me. Show me how I am to be used, and let me respond with zeal. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear, so that I can answer the call to leadership. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/04/2014 Numbers 35:25

Today's reading: Numbers 34, 35, 36; Mark 11

S) "²⁵ The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil."

Numbers 35:25  (NASB)

O) This is a very intriguing passage of law, to me. A "manslayer" was essentially someone who is found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. What is remarkable to me, is that God's judgement in the Old Testament is often seen as severe and invariable. It seems like so many things were immediately punishable by death, that it sometimes takes us by surprise when something doesn't require the death of the guilty. But here, we see foreshadowing of the mearcy that has always been there with God, coming in the form of variable punishment. Justice is still served, but it's a compassionate justice that allows for extenuating circumstances. There is still a consequence (and indeed, if you read on, you see that manslayer may still be killed by the blood avenger), but that consequence is softened, based on the inidividual story. God wants to lessen our punishments without compromising His perfection.

A) When I was a kid, my dad used a phrase that absolutely demoralized me. If I was in trouble, he would tell me he doesn't want my excuses. I don't know if I was ever able to accurately convey that I was never trying to excuse myself. I only wanted him to understand why I did it; to understand me. This is what God shows us in this verse. He understands the reasons, even if it doesn't excuse our transgression. As a father myself, I want to emulate my Father in Heaven. I want to deal justly with my children, but not severely. I want them to be heard and I want them to see that their words, their hearts, matter. We can spin our wheels, going nowhere, with all of the intent of a racecar driver, and the intent can mean nothing. But sometimes, the intent is everything. I thank God that He sees my heart and hears me out about my intent.

P) Father, I want to emulate You in my own fatherhood. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear, my children, in their cases before me. When I have to discipline my kids, speak to me about the justice I must enforce, but also about the mercy their hearts need. Let my discipline go further than simple punishments, and help me to find consequences that accurately fit their transgressions. Thank You for the mercy I have received, myself. Help me to be gracious and compassionate, especially to my own family. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/03/2014 Numbers 32:15

Today's reading: Numbers 32, 33; Mark 10

S) "¹⁵ For if you turn away from following Him, He will once more abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people."

Numbers 32:15  (NASB)

O) The tribes of Gad and Reuben decided not to cross the Jordan to settle in the Promised Land. Instead, they determined that the land in Gilead, which was suitable for livestock, would much more easily handle the large amount of livestock their two tribes had. This alarms Moses, since it is a strikingly similar stance to the one held by the generation who previously doubted God's ability to deliver the Promised Land to them. While this decision was not driven by the same fear that cost their fathers' lives, I also wonder what kind of blessings these tribes may have forfeited in this decision.

A) Sometimes, it can be a very difficult thing to evaluate my own heart about something. It becomes quite important, though, when a behavior is similar to what had been determined to be a sin. Many times, things become sin based on our heart condition. Idolatry, adultery, rebellion, etc., all have outward manifestations of sin, but they all start from the heart (and indeed, every sin truly does). The key is absolute honesty with ourselves and with God, coupled with genuine submission to His will. If my motives are pure, but the action is still sinful, I must repent. If the action is benign, but my motives are sinful, I must repent. Considering the consequences, or even the potential consequences, may also be a determining factor I need to consider. Ultimately, in humble prayer, seeking God's will is always how such a thing will be settled.

P) Father, continue to uncover hidden things in my heart. I welcome the Holy Spirit to come burn in me, to reveal impure motives and misused gifts. Show me every sin in my heart, especially when my actions seem outwardly appropriate. Lord, make me more and more sensitive to Your will, and aware of my sins. I want my heart to be fully submitted to You, in Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/02/2014 Numbers 30:14

Today's reading: Numbers 30, 31; Mark 9

S) "¹⁴ But if her husband indeed says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them."

Numbers 30:14  (NASB)

O) On the one hand, this seems like an outdated, controlling, and chauvinistic passage. On the surface, it says husbands can veto the decisions of their wives. However, looking a little deeper, we can see two significant points. First, this is a safety net for wives. The ideal is that her husband will respect and understand her, to know the potential value of whatever vow she has made. So, then it's a blessing to her, so that she can confidently make vows, knowing that her husband is covering her with an added protection. Second, this is a warning for husbands. One of the greatest sins that traps men is inaction. Going all the way back to Adam, man's refusal to step up to a responsibility has gotten him in all sorts of troubles, especially when it pertains to his wife making decisions without him. Unfortunately, it's often times the failing of a husband that even prompts his wife to take action without him, in the first place.

A) In our society, there is no such law to allow me to veto something my wife does. I mean, lots of stores have return policies, but that's not the same thing. If my wife signs a contract of some kind, I cannot simply find out about it and go negate the contract. However, in my marriage, my wife understands that no one has a more vested interest in her wellbeing than I do. She also understands that I am held ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of my family. So, with proper communication, she can bring things to me that she knows are a good idea, ahead of time, knowing that I will give it full consideration (since she also knows what I think of her intelligence, research, and decision making). We can hash things out ahead of time. Even though God puts a supernatural authority on me as her spiritual head (Ephesians 5:23), I also respect her enough to give her the same consideration, bringing to her the things I want, so we can discuss them ahead of time. As for the warning, I need to heed this example by having an active interest in my wife's desires and interests. I need to proactively involve myself in her decisions by genuinely caring about the things she likes, seeks, or wants.

P) Father, continue to make me into an effective, loving, responsible husband. I want to be obedient to You, as a husband, first because of Your authority, then, because it blesses me, and also, because my wife should have such a husband as You have called me to be. Continue to give me a heart that desires to know her more and more. Help me be a man of action for my wife. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.