Numbers 23:19, Numbers 24:5-7
19 God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent. Has he said he will do something and will not do it? Has he promised something and not fulfilled it?
6 Like valleys stretching far,
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes planted by Yahweh,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered. His king becomes stronger than Agag, and his kingdom grows.
These verses are a snapshot of God and His Church.
Amos 5:14-15 & 21-24
• 14 Seek good and shun evil, that you may live. Then Yahweh, the God of hosts, as you have claimed, will be with you.15 Hate wickedness and love virtue, and let justice prevail in the courts; perhaps Yahweh, the God of hosts, will take pity on the remnant of Joseph.
21 “I hate, I reject your feasts, I take no pleasure when you assemble 22 to offer me your burnt offerings. Your cereal offerings, I will not accept! Your offerings of fattened beasts, I will not look upon!
23 Away with the noise of your chanting, away with your strumming on harps.
24 But let justice run its course like water, and righteousness be like an ever-flowing river.
Beloved, in this day and age when the world seeks to run away from physical death and wish to prolong their years You tell us that if we seek good and reject evil, we will live eternally and that You will always be with us.
You hate it Lord when we offer You praise with unclean lips and our hearts are far away from You.
Matthew 8:28-34
28 When Jesus reached Gadara on the other side, he was met by two demoniacs who came out from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one dared to pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What do you want with us, you, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?”
30 At some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. 31 So the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” 32 Jesus ordered them, “Go.” So they left and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.
33 The men in charge of them ran off to the town, where they told the whole story, also what had happened to the men possessed with the demons. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.
This miracle is astounding. The whole event is filled with drama. What You did for that poor, possessed man is nothing short of jaw dropping stupendous and yet when the herdsmen reported all that had happened to the townsfolk, we are told that the whole town came to meet You and when they saw You they begged You to leave.
They were in the business of raising pigs so we know that they were pagans. When they saw You they knew that they were in the Presence of all that is good, holy and beautiful. If they let You stay they knew they would have to give up their sinful lifestyle and embrace the Truth. They were not prepared to do this.
How true this is of us too Lord.
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