I have written before about Dr. Frank Dennis. He’s still going strong, still preaching twice a month in a Chinese church in Colorado Springs, and continues to visit Taiwan where he founded a hospital and served for 33 years. He just turned 94 and recently returned from Orlando where he attended a conference for 100 medical doctors contemplating medical mission work and preaching in a Chinese church there.

On September 24, he wrote the following “reverie” on Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, the organization I serve with. I present Frank’s letter in its entirety:

It is Sunday afternoon, September 24, and as many of you who know me well are aware, my “Retirement Plan” is lunch followed by a  nap, coffee, and chocolate, in moderation of course.  My naps are not always sleeping, but often a reverie.  Today, with many thoughts going around about an upcoming speaking opportunity in a  Chinese church in Las Vegas, a wonderful memory of Dawson Trotman floated into my mind, refreshed me, and moved me to tears, but inspired and invigorated.  He was the founder of Navigators and very well known.

I met Daws twice in 2  small group meetings at the U of Minnesota about 1949. He quickly learned the names of all 20? of us and challenged us to walk closely with the Lord Jesus.  But the memory that came instead of sleep was of an athletic young man swimming across a lake late in the day.  The wind came up, waves slowed him, it was getting dark and he realized he was not going to make it to the other side!  Despite his amazing memory of many Bible passages, he has done that for prizes and to amaze everyone.  They had not affected his life.  But in this crisis, he prayed to Jesus, “Jesus, if you save me,  I’ll serve you all my life!”  A boat crossing the lake saw and rescued him and he was faithful to that promise, mightily used by God.

Other memories from a reel-to-reel tape by Lila,  his recent widow.  Daws tried to speak to someone about Jesus every day.  One night, after he got in bed I think, he remembered he hadn’t spoken to anyone all day.  He got up, went for a drive, picked up a man standing by the road, and led him to Jesus! He had no doubt God would have someone for him!

Lila told about a night at the Word of Life Camp when Daws walked with her by the lake and told her he wanted to share his vision (or plans, I forget) for Navigators for the next 10 years.  She said just tell me tomorrow.  “No, I  want to tell you now” and he spent a long time sharing ideas and plans in detail with her.  The next day, Daws was out on the lake in a small speedboat with some young campers who were waterskiing when a girl fell overboard.  Daws jumped in and held her up until the boat came around and picked her up.  Then he sank into the lake!  Autopsy revealed a heart attack.

The circle of his life, saved from drowning in a lake by God and then taken from a lake to heaven as he saved a girl just brought tears to my eyes,  No doubt a great shock to many and a loss to Lila, but what a way to go!  What an interlude of souls saved, disciples taught, an organization that continues to bless and advance the kingdom!  From lake to lake and what a life in between! And really,  what a way to go!  I recall my dear Sally fading away in hospice, seemingly unaware of the love around her, over 2 slow weeks and finally gone.

This reminiscence of Dawson blessed and encouraged me at a time when a lot is going on, many loose ends, nail puzzles to be prepared, the house a mess, hearing aids dead and getting replaced with difficulty, and a computer that sometimes seems to hate me, can’t find files, and shows me a bouncing ball instead of following commands., The day’s mail!  And the day’s emails!

Thanks for the memories, Lord, of one of your delightful servants who exuberantly walked the path and inspired so many.

Help me keep my perspective and balance Lord,  as I try to finish well in your time and your way.

Still in His glad service,

Dr Frank Dennis  譚維義醫師。（譚爸爸to my friends)

A testimony of a great man, written by a great man.

Frank’s prayer would echo the Apostle Paul:

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4.2, 3, ESV)

P.S. After Frank sent this letter out, someone sent him a link to a video that summarizes the life of Dawson Trotman and the history of The Navigators. It’s worth the 5 minutes!

After the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 – 24 and the ensuing immorality in Numbers 25, there are a few more chapters of detail on another census (still counting only the warriors!) and offerings. Numbers 29 continues the list of offerings, and the 7th month is busy:

• 1st day, holy convocation, a bunch of sacrifices (Feast of Trumpets, Leviticus 23.23 – 25)
• 10th day, holy convocation. (Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23.26 – 32)
• 15th – 21st day, Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23.33 – 36). There is a list of burnt offerings for each day with differing numbers of animals.
  • One male goat for a sin offering is constant.
  • Two rams is constant.
  • 14 male lambs is constant.
  • Bulls: the numbers of bulls offered goes 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7
• 22nd day (the 8th day of the feast)
  • One male goat for a sin offering
  • One ram
  • Seven male lambs
  • One bull

It’s head-spinning detail. Is there a “so what”? Yes! The good news is that Jesus is the fulfillment of all these sacrifices. In fact, if you’re reading about sacrifices in the Old Testament, and you’re looking for the so what, just turn to Hebrews chapters 8 – 10. Here are some samples:

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest [Jesus] also have something to offer. (Hebrews, 8.2, LSB)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9.11 – 14, LSB)

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer…” That explains the “red heifer” from Numbers 19.1 – 10.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10.1 – 4, LSB)

“In those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.”

And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10.11 – 14, LSB (the ALL CAPS indicate quotations from the Old Testament)

I am being perfected for all time by the sacrifice of Jesus! That’s pretty exciting.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3.18, ESV)

Yesterday, we left the strange prophet Balaam returning to his home after blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them as Balak, king of Moab, had asked:

Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. (Numbers 24.25, ESV)

So we’re done with Balaam… Not so fast. The next chapter introduces a new way for Moab to get the best of Israel:

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them. (Numbers 25.1 – 3, NIV)

It’s an ugly chapter. A lot of Israelites die for their disobedience, and it ends with God judging the Midianites, who were cooperating with the Moabites to seduce the Israelites:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor…” (Numbers 25.16 – 18, ESV)

The striking of the Midianites occurs in Numbers 31, and guess who one of the victims is?

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”…And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. They warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every male…And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (Numbers 31.1 – 8, ESV)

And why did they kill Balaam? Because it was his advice that brought about the disaster of Numbers 25.

Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. (Numbers 31.15 – 16, ESV)

So when we think of a nation being cursed, it doesn’t have to be some dramatic supernatural event. The curse can come just as easily by bad decisions and actions. For example, some of us may be inclined to think that if America doesn’t stop its headlong rush into sexual deviance, we’ll be cursed (See Romans 1.18 – 32). On the contrary, I believe that America’s behaviors are the curse.

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. (2 Peter 2.15, 16, ESV)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…? (2 Peter 3.10, 11, ESV)

Reading along in Numbers, I noticed that the weird story of Balaam the prophet was going to start in Numbers 22. At the same time, I was reviewing scripture verses in The Navigators’ Topical Memory System and came upon the well-known “God is not a man that he should lie…”

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23.19, KJV)

I was shocked. That’s in the story of Balaam? I had thought it was something God said to Moses or Isaiah. For example:

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. (Isaiah 59.1, KJV)

But no, it’s in one of Balaam’s “oracles.” As I say, a weird story. Who is this guy?

Balak, king of Moab, had just seen Israel defeat several neighboring kingdoms, and so he goes to Balaam:

…So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (Numbers 22.4 – 6, ESV, emphasis mine)

We’re not told how Balaam, not an Israelite, had this power – this relationship with the true God.

On the first visit, God clearly tells Balaam not to go, and he doesn’t go. Then:

Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. (Numbers 22.15 – 18, ESV)

This time he goes, but God is not happy, and we have the well-known story of the angel of the Lord and the talking donkey which ends this way:

Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” (Numbers 22.28 – 33, ESV)

This moves us into chapter 23 where Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing them. (You can read the whole story in Numbers 22 – 24.) What I found interesting is that twice Balaam goes through an elaborate ritual of offering sacrifices: seven altars, seven bulls, seven rams, and God gives him words of blessing for Israel. Of course, Balak, king of Moab, is very upset about this, so in chapter 24, Balaam decides to skip all that, perhaps thinking that if he doesn’t go through the ritual, God won’t speak, and Balaam can say what Balak wants to hear. However…

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him… (Numbers 24.1, 2, ESV)

“The Spirit of God came upon him.” Really? Balaam is clearly not much of a guy. But God puts his Spirit on him to not only bless Israel again (Numbers 24.3 – 9) but also to give an important Messianic prophecy:

And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. (Numbers 24.14 – 17, ESV, emphasis mine)

The story ends simply:

Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. (Numbers 24.25, ESV)

Actually, the story of Balaam does NOT end here. Stay tuned.

But today’s lesson? God can and will use anyone or anything – a money-motivated prophet or a talking donkey – if that’s what’s required to get his word out.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19.37 – 40, NIV)

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1.15 – 18, ESV)

But it would be better if we did it in cooperation with God, yes?

But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11.29, ESV)

Sometimes things come out of my mouth in conversation or letter-writing that might be Spirit-led (I shy away from saying, “God told me.”) I’ve written about two of them:

• Walk with God, invest in people, and help them to do the same. (August 19, 2023)
• Churches usually want to do it bigger and faster instead of smaller and slower. (September 21, 2023. It came out in a conversation in response to “What do you do for The Navigators?”)

A few days ago, I was having my monthly conversation with Josh, a young man on staff of an international youth ministry. He has professional ministry obligations and also tries to make a contribution in his local church. In addition, he is married with four young children. I remember those days. I told Josh that our kids couldn’t participate in all the activities some of their friends did. I coached little league, for example, and some of the boys were involved in both baseball AND lacrosse. There’s no way that our kids could be in multiple activities each. It was not logistically possible. Yet I know some parents who try, and the whole family runs in different directions at breakneck speed. In the middle of that conversation, I told Josh:

You have an obligation to create a family rhythm that is supportable.

Then I said, “Write that down and send it to me! I’ve never said it that way before.” So he did and added, “It’s a great quote!” It’s fun talking with someone who is teachable.

And the point is a good one. Too often we try to cram in one more thing. In fact, I had an opportunity to apply it to myself before the day was out. My son Mark wanted to take me to a movie, but it would have involved leaving before 4:30p when June had been out on errands all day and was very tired. I told Mark I wasn’t comfortable leaving that early. So we’ll do the movie another time.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11.28 – 30, MSG)

With respect to their personal characteristics, the only one of Jesus’ original 12 disciples we think of is Peter, right? Impetuous, a “ready-fire-aim” sort of guy, yes? How do we think about John? Do we tend to remember John the way we wrote about himself in his Gospel and in 1, 2, and 3 John? The disciple of love?

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth… (2 John 1.1, ESV)

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1.1 – 4, ESV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4.7, 8, ESV)

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side… (John 13.23, ESV)

Why don’t we remember this John?

• One of the “Sons of Thunder”

James, son of Zebedee, John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee brothers Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”) (Mark 3.17, MSG)

• Vitriolic, violent John

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9.51 – 54, ESV)

• Ambitious, prideful John

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” …And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. (Mark 10.35 – 37, 41, ESV)

We have here an example of growth and transformation. Jesus loves and accepts us the way we are, but he doesn’t want to leave us that way. John’s life in his later years seemed to show the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control – none of which was evident when he was a “Son of Thunder” ready to call down fire on Jesus’ enemies or wanting to be the future #1 guy.

That should give us all hope.

…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness…Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4.22 – 24, 31 – 32, ESV)

Jesus was a maverick according to Seth Godin’s definition from his blog of August 26, 2003. It’s short and worth the read in its entirety. Here are some highlights:

The maverick isn’t the selfish gunslinger of myth. In fact, she’s focused on resilient, useful interactions that change what we expect, pushing back against the inertia of gobbledygook and bureaucracy. [Was there any more “gobbledygook and bureaucracy” anywhere than in the religious systems Jesus was up against in his day?]

Some principles to keep in mind:

• Hustle is rarely the most useful action. Systems are built to resist short-term hurried effort. But patient, persistent and focused effort can pay off.
• Solo quests make good Westerns or legends, but almost all systems change is the result of teams of people, organized and connected in service of the longer goal.
• Change begins with the smallest viable audience, not the largest possible one.

Sounds like Jesus to me! “…patient, persistent and focused effort,” “teams of people,” and my favorite: “Change begins with the smallest viable audience, not the largest possible one.” I just wrote that we would be better served by “smaller and slower” rather than “bigger and faster.”

Some went so far as wanting to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him. That’s when the Temple police reported back to the high priests and Pharisees, who demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him with you?” The police answered, “Have you heard the way he talks? We’ve never heard anyone speak like this man.” The Pharisees said, “Are you carried away like the rest of the rabble? You don’t see any of the leaders believing in him, do you? Or any from the Pharisees? It’s only this crowd, ignorant of God’s Law, that is taken in by him—and damned.” (John 7.44 – 49, MSG)

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…” (Acts 17.6, ESV)

This falls under the heading of, “I think we’ve discovered something and want to share it with you.” See what you think…

June is a list-maker and lives by a schedule that she keeps on paper. For years (decades), she has used the 2-page per day DayTimer in the 3.5″ x 6.5″ size. At the beginning of each month, there is a 2-page display where she can write in all her scheduled appointments for the month.

Lately, June has been looking at all those appointments for the month and feeling over-scheduled. But she solved it! How, you ask? We went to the office supply store and bought an 8.5 x 11 calendar. She doesn’t carry the mini-calendar around anymore, and she realized that she could just as easily use a larger one. The new calendar has two pages per week and, as above, a two-page spread for the month. But instead of a 6.5″ long x 7″ wide display, she now has a display that’s 11″ long and 17″ wide! (Mathematically, over 4 times larger!)

I can’t believe how much freer I feel! – June, with a new calendar

And the new calendar has the same appointments in it, copied from the old calendar. Truly, the medium is the message.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time… (Ephesians 5.15, 16, ESV)

We come to another sad chapter: Numbers 20. We already know that only 2 of the 600,000+ men who left in the Exodus will go into the Promised Land (Numbers 13 and 14). Now Moses himself is tripped up in the second “water from the rock” incident. The first is back in Exodus 17:

• Exodus 14: Red Sea Crossing
• Exodus 15: Celebrating with singing
• Exodus 16: Manna
• Exodus 17: Water from the rock: strike the rock

Now in Numbers 20, the instruction changes: “Speak to the rock.”

Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of Yahweh appeared to them; and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” So Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses raised high his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. (Numbers 20.6 – 11, LSB, emphasis mine)

There are a few obvious lessons:

• Don’t operate out of anger
• Don’t assume that the rules don’t change
• Don’t forget where the power is: “Shall WE bring forth water…”

The New Testament emphasizes that we are to learn from these experiences recorded in the Pentateuch:

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10.1 – 4, LSB)

That’s the way it was supposed to work.

However,

Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased. For THEY WERE STRUCK DOWN IN THE WILDERNESS. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that…

• we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
• Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”
• Nor let us act in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
• Nor let us put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
• Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10.5 – 10, LSB, bulleted for clarity)

Some of this stuff in the Pentateuch is as relevant as it gets!

Miriam dies at the beginning of Numbers 20; Aaron, at the end. And Moses finds out that he will die before going into the Promised Land:

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (Numbers 20.12, ESV)

As my friend Fisher DeBerry, former head football coach of the Air Force Academy, used to say:

You’re only as good as your last play.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3.12 – 14, ESV)

I keep trying to explain the difference between relational disciple-making and the way church is usually done. Maybe it’s this:

Churches usually want to do it bigger and faster instead of smaller and slower.

You can’t mass-produce disciples any more than you can make pianists by taking people to concerts.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve… (Mark 3.13 – 16, ESV)

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (John 6.66, ESV)