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MARCH 7
Transfiguration. The disciples’ quarrel highlights their failure to apply Jesus’ explicit teaching on
humility (Matt. 5:3) and the example of His own suffering and death (vv. 31,32; 8:30–33). It also
prompted them to ask Jesus to settle the issue, which He did—though not as they had expected.
Jesus “sat down”(v.35)—rabbis usually sat down to teach—and said that “if anyone desires to
be first,” as the disciples undeniably did (v. 34; see 10:35–37),“he shall be last of all and servant of
all.”The disciples’concept of greatness and leadership,drawn from their culture,needed to be com-
pletely reversed. Not those who lord their position over others are great in God’s kingdom, but
those who humbly serve others (see 10:31,43–45; Matt. 19:30–20:16; 23:11,12; Luke 13:30; 14:8–11;
18:14; 22:24–27).
Then Jesus took “a little child”—the Greek word indicates an infant or toddler.If the house they
were in was Peter’s, this may have been one of his children. The child became in Jesus’ masterful
teaching an example of believers who have humbled themselves and become like trusting children.

to the land which You swore to their fathers?
Where am I to get meat to give to all these
March 7 13 people? For they weep all over me, saying,
‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able
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to bear all these people alone, because the
Numbers 11:1–12:16
burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me
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Now when the people complained, it dis- like this, please kill me here and now—if I
11 pleased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, have found favor in Your sight—and do not let
and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the me see my wretchedness!”
LORD burned among them, and consumed 16 So the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me
some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you
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people cried out to Moses, and when Moses know to be the elders of the people and offi-
prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. So cers over them; bring them to the tabernacle
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he called the name of the place Taberah, of meeting, that they may stand there with
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because the fire of the LORD had burned you. Then I will come down and talk with you
among them. there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you
4 Now the mixed multitude who were among and will put the same upon them; and they
them yielded to intense craving; so the chil- shall bear the burden of the people with you,
dren of Israel also wept again and said: “Who that you may not bear it yourself alone. Then
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will give us meat to eat? We remember the
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fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucum-
bers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and
the garlic; but now our whole being is dried 11:17 the Spirit. This refers to the Spirit of
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up; there is nothing at all except this manna be- God. It was by means of the Holy Spirit that
fore our eyes!” Moses was able to lead Israel. In v. 25, the Lord
7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, gave the Spirit to the 70 men in fulfillment of
and its color like the color of bdellium. The the word He gave to Moses.
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people went about and gathered it, ground it
on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked
it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste you shall say to the people, ‘Consecrate your-
was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. selves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat;
9 And when the dew fell on the camp in the for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD,
night, the manna fell on it. saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it
10 Then Moses heard the people weeping was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the
throughout their families, everyone at the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.
door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was 19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor
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greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but
11 So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You for a whole month, until it comes out of your
afflicted Your servant? And why have I not nostrils and becomes loathsome to you,
found favor in Your sight, that You have laid because you have despised the LORD who is
the burden of all these people on me? Did I among you, and have wept before Him, say-
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conceive all these people? Did I beget them, ing, “Why did we ever come up out of
that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your Egypt?” ’ ”
bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ 21 And Moses said, “The people whom I am
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