Sunday September 26, 2010

Numbers 14:1-10

Then the whole community began weaping aloud, and they cried all night.  Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron.  “If only we had died in Egypt or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.  “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle?  Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”  Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.  Two of the men wh had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Calebsone of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.  They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!  And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.  It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.  Do no rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land.  They are only helpless prey to us!  They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”  But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb.  Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Isrealites the the Tabernacle.

Aristotle’s famous criteria for lasting friendships

1. Mutual attraction

2. Mutual usefulness

3. A common focus on the good.

Your biggest hope in a close friendship under God?

• A Spiritual peer.

Genesis 2: 18-25

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.  He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.  He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.  But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep.  While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.  Then the lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.  “At last!” the man exclaimed.  “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.  Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Some thoughts on building a firm base in marriage:

1. Commit to “filling each others’ love tanks.”

       a. The so-called “love languages”

               i.  Quality time

             ii. Words of affirmation

           iii.  Gifts

           iv. Acts of service

            v.  Physical touch