Tag Archives: Moses

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2017 movie “Wonder”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. ²⁸ So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: ²⁹ In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. ³² But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. ³⁴ For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die,” Numbers 14:26-35.

Biblical Connection:

Auggie has a rare medical facial deformity which makes students feel uncomfortable. To protect him, Auggie was homeschooled through 4th grade before entering Beecher Prep, a private school. Although the teacher gives Jack a way out of working on this class project, he stood up to all the boys who shunned and teased Auggie for his mandibulofacial condition.

Jack’s act of redemption in Wonder reminds me of Caleb and Joshua who spoke out against the negative reports given by Israel’s other 10 spies. Today’s passage follows Israel’s complaining and murmuring about wanting to go back to Egypt. One translation of the Bible refers to Israel’s lack of faith in God’s power with infidelity to God. God reveals the consequences for Israel’s unbelief.

Closing Song:

The best way to respond to wrong acts is confession. This is why Jack wrote a letter to his principle/headmaster, pleading for forgiveness. This is also how Christians should approach God, begging for mercy. May today’s devotion help you balance standing up for what’s right with acting in a sensible and godly manner.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2019 movie “Knives Out” (language warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. ² All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! ³ Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” ⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ⁸ If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ⁹ Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” ¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? – Numbers 14:1-11

Biblical Connection:

The concept of a will dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. However, modern wills must be documented in a certain legal manner less it becomes null and void. Subsequently, as the public reading of Harlan Thrombey’s will is revealed, family members can’t believe their ears. This will suggest that the only person Harlan trusted prior to his death was his maid.

The words of Number 14 reveal why Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the promised land in Canaan. Isreal could have entered less than 2 years after their exodus out of Egypt. Yet, doubt, unbelief and thankless hearts poisoned the minds of Israel. The only 2 optimistic people in Israel were nearly stoned to death for trying to change the narrative.

Closing Song:

Fear convinced 10 of 12 Israeli scouts that the giants living in Canaan would not be able to be conquered by God. This lack of thankfulness led to a spirit of complaining. Perhaps, learning from the mistakes of Israel will accelerate God’s plan for your life. Before wandering another day in a spiritual wilderness, chose thankfulness over complaining.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the television series “The Chosen”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. ¹¹ He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? ¹³ Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin,” Numbers 11:10-15.

Biblical Connection:

To anyone educated in public schools, students are taught that suicide is a decision people make when life gets too hard. This is the overwhelming feeling that consumed Judas Iscariot’s life in today’s featured scene. As Judas wrestled with the consequences of betraying Jesus, a whisper popped into his mind, “kill yourself!” This is the evil spirit of suicide, alive and prevalent today.

Moses just began his second year leading Israel in the wilderness following their Exodus out of Egypt. When God’s promise of entering a new land is delayed, the Israelites become broken, hungry and tired. This is the ordeal which led Moses to pray that God to kill him immediately. While Moses likely shared similar suicidal thoughts, he turned to God instead of taking his own life.

Closing Song:

According to a 2023 study, 12,8 million people contemplate the evil thought of suicide planted into human minds by the Devil. Over 3.7 million make and plan to kill themselves and 1.5 million attempt suicide annually. May the words of Annie open your ears to this national crisis. Pray for open eyes to see a need, intervening to stop the next suicide attempt from being carried out. This is the unspoken haunting for people like Annie.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned, Hebrews 11:24-29.

Reflection:

One of the hardest aspects of becoming a Christian is saying goodbye to your former way of life. One of the passages that speaks to spiritual growing pains is Psalm 1. As a teenager, I was never really popular until my final year of high school. Yet, I was the kind of person that wanted to please my peers, often laughing at inappropriate comments as well as joining others, even when I knew what I was doing was wrong. When Moses reached a stage of maturity, he realized that his adopted family, Pharaoh’s daughter, had become the enemy of Israel. Rather than continue living a luxurious and pampered life, Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God. This decision likely took a while to finally act upon when he finally rejected the pleasures of sin.

Prayerful Action:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night, Psalm 1:1-2.

Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:

During my first semester of college at the University of Delaware, I did walk in step with the wicked. I chose to become popular rather than remain obedient to my faith. With each wrong step I took, I participated in activities that I knew were wrong, but my flesh overwhelmed my soul. Before I even realized it, I sat in the company of mockers, lowering my standards to that of the world. Fortunately, most of the crew I ran with flunked out of college, leaving me like the prodigal, starving to death, spiritually, Luke 15:16-17. These are the growing pains that I endured before I finally fell to my knees by proclaiming Jesus the Lord of my life, Romans 10:9-11. May God persuade and speak to you like the Lord impressed upon Moses.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song highlights the growing pains that Christians experience, moving from cool toward a faith that stands the test of time. May the lyrics of Get It Right ignite a desire deep inside your soul to become men and women of faith.

by Jay Mankus