1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

A friend died yesterday. I would like to make this devotional about just one aspect of this man. No one thing can identify the sum of a man’s life, certainly not this man. He was not family, so I cannot touch on that, but he was my brother in Christ and that had great value. I can speak to that.

I need more men like Phil in my life. He challenged me and I challenged him right back. Men who do not like to be challenged need men in their lives that do challenge them. It keeps us honest and fervent in our beliefs.

Phil loved prophesy and wanted to see some of those thing come about before he left this world. His most fervent hope he did not get to see. It was his hope to see the temple of Ezekiel built. He was right, that temple with all its magnificent details has not been built. He did not much care for my opinion that it will never be built. We sat and talked at length over our differences about that one issue. I have few to friends left to do this with. This I will miss.

Phil now knows fully well while I am left wondering in part. I rest assured of Phil’s place, while he is lost to me, he is not lost, he is home. I envision a knowing smile on his face as he gets to have all his questions answered in perfection. So I will leave you with the great truth he left me with in our debate of the Ezekiel temple. In this one thing I agree with Phil.

“If they don’t build it, it will be a waste of some really beautiful scripture.”

Numbers 21:4-9 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. …

What did you expect when you began following Jesus? He has set you free. Did you think that just because you Walk in the Way that everything of the world was just going to fade like a bad memory? It will, but not just yet.

Those who are well versed in scriptures knows what follows this scene. It is one of the pillar moments of Christ’s foreshadowing. What is about to happen is a clear sign of God’s gracious mercy, even if in this moment for Israel it does not appear that way. For Israel it is a moment of selfish malcontent. Israel has no gratitude for the meager offerings that keeps them alive.

What lesson is to be learned by us in this moment? What should we see in our own lives that might compare to this moment in time of those who had just been freed? They have no bread, they have no water and they have no love for what little that has been provided.

Do you read your daily bread? Is your heart a well spring of blessing? Do you sing God’s praises for your circumstances, no matter what that might be? I don’t think that is asking much for having been set free.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

This is the forerunner of Christ on the cross. Your wilderness moments are meant to bring you back to the Cross of Christ.