July 11 ▪ Day 192

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 19:5
Numbers 21–22
Matthew 11
Psalms 8

Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:5)

A false witness will not go unpunished,
     and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

Meditation

Proverbs 19:5 says, in the ESV, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.” Although the verse does not mention God directly, we understand that it is God who will punish the false witness, and God who will imprison the one who pours out lies. God may use people to bring about His justice, but these are very serious offenses. Indeed, this is even one of the Ten Commandments. The eighth commandment, articulated in Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 5:20, is “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

We know that lying is wrong. But no one had to teach us how to lie. We do it instinctively. It is part of our sin nature. As believers, we strive to tell the truth. Honesty and integrity are values that we live by. We’re not perfect, but we hope to keep our lives free from deceit by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But let’s talk about being a false witness. I suspect in general we all have more trouble in this area. I’m not talking about a court of law — that’s a very clear-cut way that we may speak the truth. But when we fail to speak up for Jesus, or fail to defend what is right, are we giving a false witness? Our silence may be a betrayal of our faith. Or think about office gossip, or politics. It’s so easy to criticize and tear someone down. You might not have started it, but did you join in with the criticisms? Did you think to stop and defend the person?

As Christians, we are witnesses for Jesus Christ. We are his ambassadors. But this is true regardless of whether or not we think we’re witnessing for him. All our words and actions are being judged on a scale by the people around us. Do we live up to our label as Christians? Do our words and actions bring credit to God? Hopefully, yes. But in honesty, we know the answer is sometimes no.

Father God, help us to be truthful witnesses to Jesus Christ by what we do and say. Keep us from unintentionally denying you by our thoughtless words and actions. Protect us from being false witnesses. Even more, give us the desire to always speak the truth and live the truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Numbers 21 records some of the first military conquests of the nation of Israel. They destroyed the Canaanite King of Arad, King Sihon of the Amorites, and King Og of Bashan; the Israelites were then able to live in the land of the Amorites and in Bashan.

The chapter also tells the story of the bronze snake that Moses put on a pole. When the people were going around Edom, verse 4 tells us that “the people became impatient on the way.” So they started grumbling again. The LORD then sent snakes among the people; many died after they were bitten. This time, the people recognized their sin. They went to Moses and confessed their wrongdoing, and asked him to pray that God would take the snakes away. So Moses interceded for the people. And the LORD told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Verse 9 tells us, “If a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”

Jesus refers to this incident in the Gospel of John. He tells Nicodemus in chapter 3, verses 14 and 15, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” When we see Jesus on the cross, we see and recognize the penalty for our own sins. But through faith in Christ, we are saved from death, just as the people of Israel were saved from dying when they looked at the bronze serpent — it was a practical reminder of God’s provision.

Numbers 22 has been a favorite chapter of mine for many, many years because of how God spoke to me one time when I was reading this chapter. As I read the story of Balaam and how his donkey shied away three times from the unseen angel of the LORD, I realized that the opposition that Balaam faced was not a sign that he should turn around, but rather a warning that he should be very careful how he proceeded. My believing friends and I had assumed that opposition means that you are headed in the wrong direction. In this case, it was not a matter of the direction that was wrong, but the attitude of Balaam’s heart. I no longer remember what I was struggling with at the time. But it was a real revelation for me to understand that problems do not necessarily mean that you are going the wrong way.

Since God used Balaam’s story to speak to me, I have always found Balaam to be a fascinating character. But even though the text in Numbers 22 through 24 is fairly neutral, Scripture as a whole does not remember Balaam kindly. Other passages interpret that Balaam wanted to curse the Israelites, but that God overruled him and forced him to bless them instead (Deuteronomy 23:5; Joshua 24:10). Balaam is condemned as one who “loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15); he apparently was seduced by his own love of profit (Jude 1:11). Most damning, however, is that Balaam is blamed for teaching the Moabites how to weaken Israel, by using their women to seduce the Hebrew men — tempting them into sexual immorality and worship of idols (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14).

Balaam was a heathen prophet. Yet it was clear that he did know the LORD. But knowledge of God is insufficient if your heart is not in the right place. Balak, King of Moab, sent for Balaam because he had a reputation. As Balak said in verse 6, “I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” But Balaam sent the first set of messengers away, for God made clear that the Israelites had His blessing and He refused to let Balaam go with them.

When Balak sent even more important messengers to Balaam, though, this is when I see that’s Balaam’s heart is not entirely right. God had previously made clear to Balaam that the Israelites were a blessed people and had already refused to let Balaam go with them. So why does Balaam even bother to consult the LORD? I think he was enticed by the riches that were offered. And even though his language was circumspect, and he warned the princes of Moab that he could only speak what the LORD allowed him to say, his heart entertained thoughts of wickedness. I believe this is why the angel of the LORD was sent to oppose Balaam.

In Matthew 11, Jesus prays in verses 25 and 26, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children… for such was your gracious will.” There is a lot packed into these verses. God is our Father. He is the LORD of heaven and earth. He is also the author of wisdom and revelation. God is not only the source of wisdom, but the source of receiving wisdom. And it is grace that hides the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ from the scribes and the teachers of the law, but reveals that knowledge to the disciples.

That God hides things is in itself a fascinating thing about our Creator. But that He hides things as a function of His grace is even more fascinating. We tend to believe that being open and transparent is part of honesty and integrity. Yet, clearly this is not always so since God — the most righteous, honest, truthful, and faithful being of all — sometimes chooses to keep things hidden. Why?

I can’t begin to tell you God’s reasons for doing this. I can only tell you a few thoughts that come to mind.

As humans, we think that any time is right. We are not fans of waiting. We grudgingly begin to understand the need to grow and develop, and for things to be revealed at the proper time. But throughout history, God has shown that He has a plan that will unfold at just the right time. And if the time isn’t right, it will mostly be kept hidden.

Also, some things are too complex or difficult to understand. Think of explaining what death is to a child. When you talk about death with a young child, you keep things very simple. You don’t go into various theories about hell or purgatory, you don’t bring up the Rapture or end times — no, at the most you will say that Grandma is now in heaven with Jesus and we won’t see her again for a very long time.

I have learned to my own regret that you need to be careful how you approach certain topics. If you try to discuss something with someone who is not mature enough (a person may be an adult intellectually but not emotionally), you may end up making things worse. And what may have been intended to help actually causes harm.

In both of these examples, it is kinder to keep some things hidden until the time is right — until the child has grown, until the adult develops emotionally. And this is the closest I can get as to why God sometimes keeps things hidden. Because the time isn’t right, or because there’s something about the heart of the person that needs to change.

But the real question isn’t why God keeps things hidden. The question should be, how do I respond to this knowledge? For me, it means more prayer that God would open my eyes. Ask for revelation. Ask for God to show you things. Understand that there are things hidden from you, and continue to seek to know God and His will.

Later, in verse 29, Jesus says, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” In this respect, Jesus is like a child — gentle and lowly in heart. He is the Father’s child. He has the kind of humility that we need to be able to receive God’s revelation. And we can learn from Jesus. If we follow him, obey his commands and teaching, and emulate him, we will learn. We will find the wisdom that comes from God.

Psalm 8 is one of the psalms where David marvels at how God has elevated humankind. But despite its focus on humanity, there are still things we learn about God. As verse 1 says, “How majestic is your name in all the earth!” Indeed, God is majestic. And His name is powerful.

“You have set your glory above the heavens,” says David. Truly, God possesses glory. And although we often cannot see God’s glory directly, we see the glory of the heavens. The sun is too brilliant to look at. The moon speaks of magnificence. The stars twinkle in splendor. We see the glory of the heavens, and know that God’s glory is even greater than that.

The psalm speaks of the “works of your hands (v. 6)” — God created sheep and oxen, beasts of the field, birds of the heavens, and fish of the sea. Everywhere we look on earth we see what God has created — mountains, seas, lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as trees and grasses and flowers. And through God’s works we also understand a bit about His glory and majesty.

David marvels at how God has given mankind dominion and honor. And sometimes I also marvel at this. But today I marvel at how God is glorious, great, and magnificent. His splendor is written all across the earth and the heavens. May His name be praised!

Father God, you created a magnificent universe. The stars and the sky overwhelm us; the earth is full of your glory. Thank you for this beautiful world. I pray that you will open our hearts and minds to see your glory. Help us to come to know you in truth. Reveal yourself to us in the Scripture. Thank you for Jesus Christ, and for the Holy Spirit. May we continue to learn from you and become the people you want us to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.