March 15 (Numbers 14; Psalm 69:1–18; John 10)

Summary

Episode Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry – March 15 (Numbers 14; Psalm 69:1–18; John 10)

Overview

This episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry" features selected readings from Numbers 14, Psalm 69:1–18, and John 10. The central theme across all passages is faithfulness in the midst of adversity—contrasting human rebellion and fear with God’s steadfastness and the promise of a compassionate shepherd. The episode highlights Israel’s lack of faith at the borders of the Promised Land, David’s lament in deep distress, and Jesus’ self-disclosure as the Good Shepherd who gives life to his sheep.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Numbers 14 – Israel’s Rebellion and God’s Judgment

• Context: After hearing the fearful report of the spies, the Israelites react with despair and wish to return to Egypt, rejecting God's promise.
• The people grumble, saying, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness” ([00:04]).
• They consider appointing a new leader and returning to slavery ([00:29]).
• Joshua and Caleb plead with the people, defending the goodness of the Promised Land and urging trust in God:

  “If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us…Only do not rebel against the Lord…The Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” ([00:57])

• The congregation threatens violence against God’s faithful servants, but God intervenes.
• God is angered by Israel’s persistent disbelief, warning Moses:

  “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” ([01:27])

• Moses intercedes, appealing to God’s reputation and character (“slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression…” [01:49]).
• God pardons the people but decrees that the current generation will not enter the Promised Land—only Caleb and Joshua will ([02:57]).
• Out of presumption, the people attempt to seize the land themselves and are defeated ([04:53]).

2. Psalm 69:1–18 – A Prayer of Distress and Reliance on God

• Themes: Overwhelming trouble, public shame, and a desperate plea for deliverance.
• Memorable imagery of distress:

  “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire where there is no foothold…” ([05:59])

• The psalmist faces both internal folly and external attacks:

  “More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause…What I did not steal must I now restore.” ([06:03])

• David expresses his zeal for God and the cost of faithfulness:

  “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” ([06:52])

• The psalm closes with an urgent prayer for God’s rescue rooted in His love and mercy:

  “Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.” ([07:21])

3. John 10 – Jesus as the Good Shepherd

• Context: Jesus uses the image of the shepherd and sheep to reveal His unique role and relationship with His followers.
• Jesus warns against false shepherds:

  “He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.” ([07:50])

• Promises intimate relationship and safety for believers:

  “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…they know his voice.” ([08:02])

• Jesus proclaims:

  “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ([08:41])

• Emphasizes His sacrificial love and divine authority:

  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I lay down my life for the sheep…No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” ([08:43–09:18])

• Jesus alludes to the scope of His mission:

  “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” ([09:18])

• A division erupts among listeners over His claims—some accuse Him of blasphemy, while others recognize His works ([09:41–09:43]).
• Jesus declares unity with the Father:

  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand… I and the Father are one.” ([10:29–10:36])

• Facing accusations of blasphemy, Jesus appeals to His works and Scripture to justify His identity as the Son of God ([10:44–11:07]).
• Despite opposition, many come to believe in Him ([11:22]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joshua and Caleb’s faith:
  “If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us…The Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” — [00:57]
• Moses appeals to God’s character:
  “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression…” — [01:49]
• Psalmist’s vulnerability:
  “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” — [05:59]
• Jesus’ mission as the good shepherd:
  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” — [08:43]
• On security and assurance:
  “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” — [10:29]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Numbers 14 Reading: [00:01] – [05:53]
  • Israel’s lament and rebellion: [00:01]–[01:29]
  • Moses’ intercession and God’s response: [01:29]–[04:26]
  • Israel’s defeat after presumption: [04:53]
• Psalm 69:1–18 Reading: [05:59] – [07:45]
  • Psalmist’s lament and prayer: [05:59]–[07:45]
• John 10 Reading: [07:46] – [End]
  • Jesus as the Shepherd: [07:50]–[09:41]
  • Controversy and further teaching: [09:41]–[11:22]

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains a reverent and contemplative tone, simply reading Scripture aloud without commentary. The language is that of the English Standard Version (ESV), clear and measured, inviting reflection on trust in God versus fear, the anguish of distress, and the assurance found in Christ’s shepherding care.

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This summary synthesizes the rich scriptural journey from Israel's wilderness fears, through David’s cries for deliverance, to Jesus' promise of abundant life and ultimate security for all who follow Him.

Transcript

[Narrator]

A reading from the Book of Numbers. Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness. Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us

[Moses / Jesus]

to go back to Egypt?

[Narrator]

And they said to one another, let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes, and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, the land which we pass through to spy it out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and

[Congregation / Psalmist]

give it to us.

[Narrator]

A land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bred for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, how long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the

[Moses / Jesus]

signs that I have done among them?

[Narrator]

I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them. And I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. But Moses said to the Lord, then the Egyptians will hear of it. For you brought up this people in your might from among them. And they will tell the inhabitants of this land, they have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face. And your cloud stands over them. And you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now, if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, it is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them, that he has killed them in the wilderness. And now, please, let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression. But he will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation. Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt until now. Then the Lord said, I have pardoned according to your word. But truly as I live, and as

[Congregation / Psalmist]

all the earth shall be filled with

[Narrator]

the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these

[Moses / Jesus]

10 times and have not obeyed my

[Narrator]

voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, how long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me, say to them, as I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And of all your number listed in the census, from 20 years old and upward who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell. Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in. And they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness. 40 years and. And shall suffer for your faithlessness until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land 40 days a year, for each day you shall bear your iniquity 40 years. And you shall know my displeasure.

[Congregation / Psalmist]

I, the Lord, have spoken.

[Narrator]

Surely this will I do to all

[Moses / Jesus]

this wicked congregation who are gathered together

[Narrator]

against me in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die. And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him

[Moses / Jesus]

by bringing up a bad report about

[Narrator]

the land, the men who brought up a bad report of the land died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, remained alive. When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned. But Moses said, why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord when that will not succeed? Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword because you have turned back from following the Lord. The Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the Ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them even to Harmah. A reading from the Book of Psalms to the choirmaster, according to lilies of David.

[Congregation / Psalmist]

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out. My throat is parched, my eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore. O God, you know my folly. The wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord, God of hosts, let not those

[Narrator]

who seek you be brought to dishonor

[Congregation / Psalmist]

through me, O God of Israel. For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers and an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

[Narrator]

I am the talk of those who

[Congregation / Psalmist]

sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord, at an acceptable time. O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire. Let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good according to your abundant mercy. Turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul. Redeem me. Ransom me because of my enemies.

[Narrator]

A reading from the Gospel according to John.

[Moses / Jesus]

Truly, truly, I say to you. He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

[Congregation / Psalmist]

But he who enters by the door

[Moses / Jesus]

is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, truly, truly, I say to you. I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and

[Narrator]

out and find pasture.

[Moses / Jesus]

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are

[Congregation / Psalmist]

not of this fold.

[Moses / Jesus]

I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my Own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my father. There was again a division among the

[Congregation / Psalmist]

Jews because of these words.

[Moses / Jesus]

Many of them said, he has a demon and is insane. Why listen to him? Others said, these are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? At that time, the feast of dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple and the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me. But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you

[Narrator]

many good works from the Father.

[Moses / Jesus]

For which of them are you going to stone me? The Jews answered him, it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy. Because you, being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them, is it not written in your law? I said you are gods. If he called them gods to whom the word of God came and Scripture cannot be broken. Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world? You were blaspheming because I said, I am the Son of God. If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first. And there he remained. And many came to him. And they said John did no sign. But everything that John said about this man was true, and many believed in him. There.