March 20, Day 79 – Dishonoring God Discredits Man
- Dr. Eric Stricker
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Today’s readings should encourage us because God “knows how we are formed, and He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). Numbers 7:66 continues the record of the tribal offerings to the tabernacle and gifts presented to the Levites. Verses 84-88 itemize and summarize these gifts, and as we pointed out yesterday, the voice of God Himself came to meet with Moses and to speak with him – certifying God’s receipt and approval of these various gifts (verse 89). Here, we read that Moses “heard the voice” of the LORD “speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony.” We should note that we have a personal God Who “speaks” – He vocalizes His will and His Word – in words. The voice of God speaks the Word of God. We do not serve an impersonal god – a neutral entity of some kind – a popular but impersonal “force.” Our God is intensely personal – He sees, He hears, He speaks, He feels, He can sense aromas, and He experiences joy, sorrow, grief, and laughter. He creates. He reasons. He knows. He not only knows the difference between right and wrong, but also He determines that difference. God is not amoral. He places expectations on His creation, and He holds His creation accountable. He loves, and He hates. Why is all this important? Because each of these characteristics and senses define personhood or personality. God has designed innately into each of His creatures His likeness. We are like God because by His personhood, He has infused His image – His personal likeness – into each individual. We possess personal capacities only because He gave us those capacities which reflect His personhood. To ascribe anything less than personhood to our trinitarian God (He is three Persons), dishonors God and discredits man.
Psalm 35:11-18 further informs us that we live in a hostile world with “ruthless” people (sometimes, even believers, unfortunately!) who intend to harm us (verse 11). It’s easy to become discouraged when we “stumble” or when we face “bereavement, grief, mocking, malicious slander,” etc., or when it seems that our prayers return to us “unanswered” (verse 13). Sin affects us this way, but in truth, God’s love for us is higher than the highest heavens (cf., Psalm 103). David calls on God to “rescue” him because he believes in and looks forward to the promise that God will rescue him (verse 18). David expects God to “vindicate” him (cf., Psalm 35:24). We should pray for and expect no less than the same.
In Luke 2:41-52, I am encouraged to find myself in good company – with Joseph and Mary – who accidentally and unknowingly left their Son – our Lord Jesus – behind. Have you ever done anything like that? I recall our horror when we lived in Vienna, Austria, and, as we were on our way home from school, we drove off and inadvertently left our youngest child behind at school (she was about 12 years old). We assumed that she had already gone home with her older siblings on public transportation. After arriving home, we discovered her absence. Terri and I were frantic; how could we do that? Thus, I can identify with Joseph and Mary’s fear, consternation, frustration, and embarrassment. As parents, we felt SO irresponsible! Yes, we chalked it up to experience – a bad one then – but for its safe outcome and the lesson I learned from it then, now it remains as a treasured memory in my heart. “His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (verse 51). Praise God for His patience, His long-suffering, His teaching, His lovingkindness, and for His treasures of the heart!
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