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OLD TESTAMENT ARTICLE
MOSES SINS
Numbers 20:8-13
"You shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12) Surely the thought of one day actually making it to "the promised land" kept Moses going through all the strife, rebellion, complaining, murmuring, disobedience, and faithlessness of Israel. And now to be told he wouldn't enter must have been a crushing blow. Talk about having the wind knocked out of your sails! But Moses didn't argue or defend his actions, nor did he abandon his position as leader. After conquering the east side of the Jordan river, Moses does ask God one last time to be allowed entrance into Canaan and God refuses, (Deut. 3:23-26).
So what was this heinous sin committed by Moses which kept him from entering the promised land? "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel..." (Numbers 20:14); "Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel... because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel." (Deut. 32:51). Moses failed to "set apart, consecrate, hallow" God's name. "Shall we bring forth water... ?" Moses left God out of the picture. One must remember this was a new generation being led now by Moses. It appears this was the first opportunity for God to demonstrate His ability to care for this new generation and Moses blew it. Moses had forgotten his own words spoken to Aaron after the death of Nadab and Abihu, "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy. And before all the people I will be honored." (Lev. 10:3) Moses instead of using this as an opportunity to demonstrate God's power and His ability to care for His children, used it as an opportunity to take his frustrations out on a new generation which seemed no different than the one previous. With this the Psalmist agrees, "Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips." (Psalms 106:33)
Let this serve as a lesson. God will be honored! There's coming a day in which, "every knee shall bow . . . and every tongue shall give praise to God." (Romans 14:11)
NEW TESTAMENT ARTICLE
TRADE OR TRUTH?
Acts 19:23-27
Protect the trade at all costs! At least that's what Demetrius thought. Demetrius was a silversmith whose business consisted of making mini-Artemis temples with her image therein. These would be bought by visitors, blessed in the temple, and finally placed in their homes or worn around their necks. This temple was known as one of the "seven wonders of the world." Evidently, Demetrius' business was being hurt by Paul's preaching against idolatry. Not only his business, but "the great goddess Artemis" was in danger of losing her greatness! And Demetrius wasn't about to let that happen. So with these two thoughts he manages to excite a riot.
It appears that Demetrius never thought of investigating the truthfulness of what Paul was preaching. He never entertained the idea that his trade SHOULD "fall into disrepute" and that "the great goddess Artemis" SHOULD "be dethroned from her magnificence." Demetrius was only interested in maintaining the "status quo." This was a trade and a goddess which had long been recognized as legitimate. How could one even think of questioning such a long held tradition?
It reminds me of many today who are amazed at the suggestion that certain trades, lifestyles, or religions should be abandoned because they go against truth. You try suggesting to those who design skimpy clothes that their trade is against what truth teaches regarding modest dress; you try suggesting that marriage should be for life and divorce is not an option and to live otherwise is a violation of truth; you try suggesting same sex marriages as an abomination; and I guarantee you'll run into some 20th century Demetriuses.
For Demetrius it was a question of trade or truth. The thought of giving up that which no one questioned as having a right to exist was too radical. Yet, truth will oftentimes demand just that, a radical change. What about us? Are we protecting our trade or searching for the truth? Are we like Demetrius or the magicians who burned their books, (vs. 19)?