Deuteronomy 14-17

February 28

Deuteronomy 14-17

God set up a system to provide for the maintenance of the tabernacle, to provide for the material needs of the Levites, and to provide for the poor in the community. God instructed the people to bring a tithe (one tenth) of their harvest each year to the place God chose, which became Jerusalem. Every three years they were to bring a tithe and store it in their town to provide for those in that community. God promised that if Israel would obey Him and trust Him and willingly brought their offerings, God would bless them and provide for them.

God also set up a means of forgiveness for debt so that His people did not become a slave to their debt. God cares about our finances because our finances affect all the other aspects of our lives. God did not want a few in the community to hoard the resources for their own benefit while others in the community suffered for lack of resources. God promised that if they would trust Him with their finances He would bless them and they would not be in need.

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs." (Deuteronomy 15:7-8, NIV)  God knows that when we open our hands we also open our hearts. The summary of the Law was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself. God is telling the Israelites to love their neighbors with open hands.

 

When we close our hands in order to hang on to what is “ours,” we also close our hands to the gifts God wants to give us. Try to receive your change from a cashier with a closed hand. When we open our hands to give, we also have open hands to receive God’s blessings for us. "No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 16:16-17, NIV)

Some people get upset and say that all the church wants is their money. In most instances that is not the case, God instructs us to give for several reasons. A few of those reasons are; to provide for the poor, to provide for a place of worship, to keep us from making money our god,  to help us keep an open heart, and to practice our trust in God. In reality God asks us to give not for His benefit but for ours. Where ever God instructs us to give, He promises a blessing in return.

Are you ready for a blessing?

 

Deuteronomy 11-13

February 27

Deuteronomy 11-13

God gave Israel a choice. He made a covenant with them. He promised to bless them if they walked in obedience to him. He did not force them to walk with Him, but he told them that if they followed Him He would bless them, if they did not they would be cursed. There is not neutrality to the relationship. For Israel, as for us, we must decide whether we will walk in obedience to God. The choice is not God or life without God; it is between Yahweh, the God of Israel or some lesser other god. We all serve someone.

These “other gods, which you have not known,” (Deuteronomy 11:28b, NIV) did not create the nation of Israel or deliver them from Egypt or even do anything to sustain Israel, but the Israelites continued to turn to “other gods” while the one true God continued to reach out to them.

God calls for His people to perfect love and perfect obedience. These commands are beyond human grasp, but “perfection” in God’s sight is attainable by God’s grace. Our perfection comes through what God does for us, not through what we can accomplish on our own. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34, NIV)

God fulfilled His covenant on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first came and filled those who submitted to the lordship of Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit we know the will of God; through the blood of Jesus we are cleansed and forgiven of our sin. Like the Israelites we have to make a choice; will we follow God or will we create our own god to follow. To obey God’s new covenant affirmed through the blood of Jesus leads to eternal blessing. To reject God’s covenant leads to eternal damnation. We have a choice.

Deuteronomy 8-10

February 26

Deuteronomy 8-10

"And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, NIV)

It sounds pretty simple; fear God, walk in His ways, love Him and serve Him with all our hearts and souls, and obey his commands. Why do we have so much trouble performing such a simple task? God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. He parted the Red Sea. He fed them manna and quail. He gave them water from a rock. He proved himself as a dependable provider for their needs. He humbled them so they would have to depend on Him and see that He was good and trustworthy. All the Israelites gave God was heartache.

God continued to provide for them and lead them toward the Promised Land. He knew their hearts and knew they would continue to rebel against Him. Moses warned them that when they had settled in the land, they should not forget the source of their blessings. He instructed them to praise God for his provision when they have eaten and are satisfied.

Satisfaction, contentment is a dangerous place to rest. Moses warned the Israelites that when they settled and were satisfied, when they no longer had to trust God for their daily manna, if they were not careful they would forget God. If they are not careful they will get proud and begin to think they have produced wealth for themselves and forget about God’s deliverance.

Satisfaction and contentment continue to be dangerous traps. Wealth is deceptive and leads many to forget about God and to trust in their own strength. When we can do it all ourselves it is easy to forget our dependence on God. We begin to focus on our wealth, our abilities, our occupation and before we know it we have a new god. Moses warns us that the worship of idols is hazardous. We may not think of them as idols, but where to we focus our time, our energy, our money? Who or what do you really worship?

Deuteronomy 5-7

February 25

Deuteronomy 5-7

Moses is retelling the story of the Exodus. He reminds the Israelites of their encounter with God on Mt Sinai and how God gave them the Ten Commandments to instruct them how to live as the children of God. God made a covenant with the Israelites. It was a covenant not only for the present generation, but for generations to come. In effect God’s covenant with Israel said that if they would walk in obedience to Him, God would bless them and prosper them in all ways.

Moses instructed the Israelites to share the stories of God’s deliverance and His instructions of living with the next generation. "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, NIV)

 God’s laws are not an addendum to life. Our relationship with God is not compartmentalized away from our daily living. Our relationship with God is to be interwoven into every aspect of our lives. We are to share God’s commands, not just for our children to memorize, but we are to teach them as we apply them to our live. We share our stories of God’s grace with our children and with others. We talk about the Lord and His expectations when we are sitting around at home or when we are riding in the car. We allow the Word of God to infiltrate every part of our lives. We think about how God would have us live, we put our hands to doing the work to which God has called us.

If we love God with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our strength we will walk with Him during every part of every day. Listening as He instructs us, reading His Word, talking to Him, and sharing our story and His commands with others. 

Deuteronomy 3-4

February 24

Deuteronomy 3-4

To the Israelites, Egypt was a place of slavery. Egypt was a place of hardship. Egypt was a place of trials. Egypt was a place of captivity. God had a different view of Egypt. God used the time the Israelites were in Egypt as an “iron-smelting furnace. God used Egypt as a time to cleanse the Israelites of their impurities. It was a time to shape them into the people He was going to call out to take a new land. It was the birthplace of a new nation of people whom God would use to reveal His goodness, grace, and power to the other nations.

When we are in the midst of troubles or trials, it is hard to find any good in the situation. There are times we cannot see an end to the overwhelming pressures. We wonder if God has forgotten us as we cry out to Him. Perhaps our trials are “iron-smelting furnaces.” Perhaps our trials are times God is preparing us, cleansing us, and preparing us for His blessings.

In the midst of the trouble, we can know God is with us. In the midst of the trials He is our refuge and our strength. God told the Israelites that if they turned away from Him , they would face trouble, they would face discipline. But He also told them that if while in exile, "you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29, NIV)

God does not give up on us. He continues to shape us and form us into the image of Jesus. Sometimes He uses trials, sometimes He uses discipline, sometimes we wonder where He is in the midst of all that is going on in our lives. We can be assured that no matter what we are facing, if we seek God with all our hearts and souls, we will find Him. He is artist shaping us through the trials to make us more like Jesus. 

Deuteronomy 1-2

February 23

Deuteronomy 1-2

Deuteronomy means “second law.” This book reviews the law given to Moses by God on Mt Sinai and various stories about the journey the Israelites have been on for the past forty years. The old generation had died off. Because of their disobedience, they would not get to enter the Promised Land. Moses is addressing the next generation. They were not there when they crossed the Red Sea or for the early desert wanderings. Moses is passing the law on to the next generation so they will be prepared as they enter the land God was going to provide for them.

Moses reminds the Israelites that they are not alone in their undertaking. God had given them the land, their job is to go and claim what is already theirs. They are not to be afraid or discouraged, they are to be bold and take the land not because they are superior, but because God had already promised the land to them.

The first generation of Israelites saw the giants in the land and their fear was greater than their faith. Because of their fear, they died in the desert. Moses wanted to remind the Israelites of the failure of their forefathers, so they did not follow the same pattern.

God has given us instructions to go and claim what he has already won in victory. "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)

We are invited to be a part of God’s movement in this world. Jesus said for us to go and make disciples of all nations. Just as he told the Israelites to go into the Promised Land, He tells us to go into the nations and make disciples. He tells us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He tells us to teach his disciples to obey everything He commanded us.

Why don’t we do a very good job of this? Perhaps we are too much like the Israelites. Our fear is greater than our faith. True faith is revealed by our actions not our words. Besides, Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him and that he is with us. What have we to fear? Let’s go claim lives for the Kingdom of God. 

Numbers 35-36

February 22

Numbers 35-36

Murder deprives a family, community, and a nation of the person who was murdered. Scripture gives a detailed plan for the response to murder by Israel. If a person murders someone, they are to die. If there is hostility between two people and one of them strikes the other with iron, a stone, a wooden object, if he throws something at the other person, or if he hits the other person he is a murderer and must die.

If any of these same activities occur accidently or without hostility the person who accidently murdered the other person can flee to a city of refuge and will be safe there. If he does not get to the city of refuge before the “avenger of blood” catches up to him, the avenger can kill him. The avenger of blood is a member of the family chosen to deal with loss suffered by family. The avenger is not to seek revenge, but redemption. The term translated avenger is also translated redeemer. The same person who served as avenger or redeemer for the family  contracted Levirate marriages (Ruth 3:13), received money payable to a dead family member on behalf of the family (Numbers 5:8), bought a family member out of slavery (Leviticus 25:48), bought property to keep it from passing out of the family or to bring it back into the family property (Leviticus 25:25), but he also would be called to restore the loss a family suffered when a family member was killed.

If the community decided that the murderer acted with hostility they were killed. Shed human blood was only atoned for by shed human blood.  If it was decided that the person did not act with hostility, but that the death was an accident, the murderer could remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. No ransom could buy off the blood of the victim. If the killer left the city of refuge the avenger could kill him without incurring blood guilt, risking the attack of another avenger. Once the high priest died, the killer was free to go back home and he was no longer guilty.

When the high priest died, he died on behalf of the killer, just as the high priest offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. The death of the high priest, instead of a time of confinement in the city of refuge, paid the price for the death of the victim.

 Jesus was our avenger, our redeemer, while he was also our high priest. When he died he was the sacrifice and the avenger. He willingly gave up his life to set us free from being held captive by sin. Those who killed him, in reality we all had a part to play in his death, were also the ones for whom he said; Father forgive them. 

Numbers 32-34

February 21

Numbers 32-34

Final preparations are being made as the Israelites draw near to the Promised Land. Moses successor, Joshua, has been chosen. Two and a half tribes negotiate with Moses and agree that they will go across the Jordan to conquer the land God promised, but they want to claim land on the east side of the Jordan for themselves. Moses writes a review of the journey from Egypt to the plains of Jordan as they looked across to Jericho in the land of promise.

God instructed Moses to prepare the Israelites for inhabitation of their new land. 33:51-56 instruct the Israelites to destroy all the carved images, idols, and high places of the Canaanites. They were also to drive out the inhabitants of the land. God told them if they did not drive them out they would become; “barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.”

If we look at these passages from a theological and spiritual perspective instead of strictly a historical perspective we begin to see instruction for godly living. God has delivered the Israelites from a life of slavery in Egypt. He has attempted to shape them into His people, a nation that reveals His character as they wandered in the desert. The Israelites walk in obedience for short periods of time, then turn their backs on God. The Israelites are learning how to live as free people. They have been slaves for 400 years. God has made a covenant with the Israelites. If they walk in obedience to Him, He will bless them beyond measure, if they do not, He will bring curses down upon them.

God instructs the Israelites to destroy the images, idols, and high places of the people living in the land. He then tells them to drive them out of the land. These instructions can sound harsh to us. Why not allow those who live in the land remain? Why not allow them to stay and the Israelites can influence them for the good? God knows the Israelites are spiritually weak. He knows their hearts. He is protecting them from the dangers He knows are ahead of them.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God comes into our lives and changes us. He releases us from a life of slavery to sin. He gives us a new start as a new creation in Christ. We cannot continue to hang on to the old idols while trying to worship God. We must leave the old behind and allow God to give us a new start. A little sin, a little idol is enough to ruin our spiritual lives, just as a little yeast works through a whole batch of dough.

God wants to purge the sin from our lives to protect us not to punish us. Any we allow to remain will be like a thorn in our eye or our side the festers and can blind us to God’s desires for our lives or can cause us great pain or even death. God instructs us to purge our lives of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit in order set us free and enable us to live full and fulfilled lives. 

Numbers 28-31

February 20

Numbers 28-31

Even though the Israelites continue to rebel against God time after time, God continues to bless them and extend His grace to them. In order for a holy God to remain dwelling with His people, the people must continually cleanse themselves of their sin. God expects them to walk in obedience to Him, but provides provision for them when they do not. Sin cannot be winked at and ignored. There are consequences for our disobedience. God gave the Israelites daily, weekly, and monthly offerings to be made by the priest in order to cleanse Israel of her sin. He also gave them annual feast to celebrate to remind them of God’s deliverance of them from their enemies.

Chapter 31 deals with Israel’s battle with the Midianites. The Midianites included the Moabites who seduced the Israelites into sin. This battle seems gruesome by our standards. God instructs the Israelites to take vengeance on the Midianites. The Israelites wipe out every Midianite man they find and also kill women and children and take all their possessions as booty. Why would God make such a command? How does this apply to our world today?

First we have to remember that the Midianites represent those who bring temptation to God’s people and encourage them to turn away from God. God had instructed the Israelites not to associate with the gods of the people in the lands where they were going. The Israelites did not listen to God and not only were involved in sexual immorality, but also turned toward the idols of the Midianites so committed idolatry. God’s desire is to cleanse His people of all sin. The Midianites were a source of corruption, so God had the Israelites remove them.

We must understand that this is not a command for Christians today to wipe out those who do not believe in Jesus. But what we do need to apply to our lives is that we need to remove the sin from our lives. We can purge those things or people who tempt us to turn our backs on God so we can do our own thing.  We can get rid of material thing that lead us away from God. We do not wipe out people in the name of God, but we don’t have to hang out with people or go places that tempt us.

God wants us to love Him with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. Anything that interferes with that relationship needs to be removed or changed.

Numbers 25-27

February 19

Numbers 25-27

In chapters 22-24 we saw how God protected Israel from the curses of Balak. In fact, Balaam blessed Israel each time Balak attempted to have him curse them. God protected Israel as they traveled through the desert, but He did not take away their free will. The Israelites,  though they were a people chosen by God, continued to stray from God.

Balaam may not have been able to curse the Israelites, but they cursed themselves. Actually Numbers 31:16 implies that though Balaam could not curse Israel, he gave the Moabites the strategy for bringing a curse upon themselves. The Israelite men began to have relations with Moabite women. They not only got involved with the women in relationships that were not pleasing to God, they began to attend the sacrifices to the gods of the Moabites. This angered God enough that he sent a plague that killed 24,000 until Phinehas, the priest, killed an Israelite who marched through the encampment with a Midianite woman and took her to his tent.

God is a God of grace as is revealed in chapter 24. God makes Balaam bless Israel in spite of Israel’s rebellion and sin. But God does not wink at sin. There are consequences for sin. Sin leads to death. Sin has a ripple effect and the consequences of sin effects others. The entire community was being affected by the sin of the men that were engaging in sexual relations with the Moabite and Midianite women. This sin led to their worship of the false gods of the Moabites as well.

Sin is a slippery slope. Sin always takes us farther than we want to go and cost more than we want to pay. I imagine the Israelite men began by talking to the ladies of Moab, but before they knew it they were getting pretty close to them. Then they got involved sexually, before they knew it they were going to the sacrifices. It always begins with a first step. We know what God wants, but we want something different. Instead of submitting to God, we do our own thing. We never imagine it will explode into full fledged sin.

God is a God of grace, but He is also a God of judgment. When we turn to God and seek forgiveness and walk in obedience to Him empowered by the Holy Spirit, God will protect us from our enemies. When we turn our backs on God and declare our independence from Him, we will face judgment. Sin leads to death, grace leads to eternal life. 

Numbers 22-24

February 18

Numbers 22-24

Balak, king of Moab, saw what Israel had done to the Amorites. This struck fear into the people of Moab, so Balak decided he would enlist the services of Balaam, a prophet of God. Balak sent men to persuade Balaam to bless Moab and curse Israel. What Balak did not understand was that the God of Israel was also Balaam’s source of blessing and curses. When the Moabites asked Balaam to come with them, Balaam told them he had to consult with God first. God spoke to Balaam and told him not to go with the Moabites.

Balaam was not an Israelite, but apparently God revealed himself to others besides the Israelites. God was going to use Balaam for Israel’s benefit. Balak sent another coalition to Balaam. This time they were more distinguished and more numerous than before. Balak offered to pay Balaam handsomely if he would come and curse the Israelites. Once again Balaam consulted with God. This time God told Balaam he could go, but only if he did only what God instructed him to do.

Balaam got on his donkey and headed off with the princes of Moab. We are not told why, but for some reason God got angry with Balaam. Perhaps it was because Balaam was quick to desire to go with the Moabites to gain riches while when God directed him he was a little slower to respond. We do not know for sure.

As Balaam was traveling, the angel of the Lord blocked the road so Balaam’s donkey went into a field, again the angel of the Lord stood in the way and Balaam’s donkey hugged next to the rock wall and crushed Balaam’s foot, a third time the angel blocked a narrow path and Balaam’s donkey laid down and refused to move. The donkey saw what Balaam could not see. God opened the donkey’s mouth and the donkey asked Balaam why he beat her the three times she tried to protect him from God’s wrath. God opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw that the donkey had saved him from the sword of the angel.

God wants to direct our lives. He does not want to make us miserable; He wants us to live full and fulfilled lives. Sometimes He brings circumstances our way that we cannot understand. We do not see what is going on in the spiritual world. Other people may come and attempt to guide us, but we get angry and wonder why they are interfering with our lives. Sometimes we need to just stop and ask God to help us see what we need to see, because sometimes God even speaks through donkeys. When we are willing to listen to the wise counsel God brings our way and will stop and listen when God speaks, we will be saved from a load of heartache.

Numbers 19-21

February 17

Numbers 19-21

The Israelites are a fickle group. If it was not for Moses God would have destroyed them all several times, but Moses interceded for them and God relented from striking them down. Korah and his followers have recently been taken out as the ground opened up and swallowed them. God confirmed His choice of Aaron and his descendent to be priest over Israel. But none of these things satisfied the Israelites, they continued to rebel against Moses, Aaron and God.

Once again we see the Israelites in the desert without water. God has provided for them numerous times in the past, but their memories are short. Once again they tell Moses that it would have been better if they had died than to continue living in their current condition.

Moses was a wise man and instead of arguing with them, he went into the presence of God. God told Moses to speak to a rock and water would flow from the rock. In Exodus 17:6 God had instructed Moses to strike the rock and water would flow from it, this time God said to speak to the rock. Just because God does something one way one time, it does not mean that He is going to do it the same way the next time. God gives specific instructions and expects His people to obey.

Moses went out to the people as God instructed and instead of speaking to the rock he blasted the people. In his anger, Moses struck the rock twice and water flowed. God is a God of grace and He provided water for His people and their livestock. But God is also a holy God and expects His people to obey Him. There are consequences for disobedience no matter who we are or what we have done in the past. Inexact obedience to God is the same as disobedience.

Our verses this morning seem harsh. Moses and Aaron do not get to go into the Promised Land when God leads them across the Jordan. We are reminded that anger, a lack of trust, and disobedience are a big deal in God’s eyes. Are you walking in obedience to God even over the “little” things? God is seeking obedience in all things. There are consequences for disobedience.

 

Numbers 16-18

February 16

Numbers 16-18

Jealousy or envy can destroy relationship, they can destroy communities. God gives different people different gifts. He gives different ministries in accordance with our gifts. When we begin to compare our gifts with the gifts of others, when we begin to compare our ministries with the ministries of others, we are on a slippery slope.

Some of the Levites, led by Kohath, were jealous of Moses and Aaron. They stirred up 250 of the community leaders and got them to also question the authority of Moses and Aaron. Instead of arguing with these rebels, Moses brought the matter before the Lord and told Korah to allow God to decide who is the rightful leader of Israel and who was chosen by God to be the priest. Dathan and Abiram refused to come before the Lord, but accused Moses by saying; "Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us?" (Numbers 16:13, NIV)

When jealousy strikes our hearts, we begin to see all the wrong in life instead of seeing the good. God had used Moses and Aaron to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Instead of being thankful, they became angry with Moses. God had told the Israelites that He would deliver them to and give them a land flowing with “milk and honey.” Instead of being thankful, Dathan and Abiram said that Egypt was a land flowing with “milk and honey.” They rebelled against Moses and in reality against God and God struck down those who rebelled.

How are you doing with jealousy? Are there people of whom you are jealous? God can set you free of jealousy just as He set the Israelites free from Egypt if you will allow Him to work in your heart. Jealousy will cause you to miss the blessings of God. Jealousy will make you miserable no matter how blessed you may be in life. Jealousy will destroy relationships and communities. May God help us identify and destroy jealousy in our lives.   

Numbers 14-15

February 15

Numbers 14-15

Faith. The writer of Hebrews said; "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, NIV) The nickname for the state of Missouri is the “show me state.”  Most people tend to want to see something to believe it. The scientific method is used to prove or disprove a hypothesis. But Paul wrote; "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV) We believe in gravity because we see the effects every day. If you drop something, it goes down. Do we see the effects of God around us every day?

The Israelites had been wandering in the desert. They had seen God move in many miraculous ways. They had seen the plagues in Egypt; they had seen the Red Sea part. They had seen the water come from a rock, manna arrive each morning, quail fill the camp, and many other miracles. God brought them to the edge of the land He had promised to give the Israelites. He told Moses to send 12 men in to check out the land, one from each tribe.

The men went into the land and it was everything God had promised. It took two men to carry one bunch of grapes; the land was flowing with milk and honey. In other words it was fertile, good land. But there were also walled cities in the land. There were strong armies. There were giants in the land. When the men came back they told Moses and the people, the land is good, but there is no way we can take this land.

The people once again rebelled against God. They did not believe God could or would provide for them. There were two men in the party that had a different view. Joshua and Caleb saw the same things the others say. They saw the good land, they saw the walled cities, the saw the strong armies, they even saw the giants, but they saw something the others missed. They saw the power of God.

They reported to the people that God would provide the land for them if they walked in obedience to Him. We all face fears. We all face obstacles. We all have things we believe God wants us to do, but we are afraid of failure. That is when we have to exercise faith. God said; “my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly.” What would God say about you today?

Numbers 11-13

February 14

Numbers 11-13

Rebellion. You would think the Israelites would learn not to rebel against God. God delivered them from slavery and brought them out of Egypt with numerous miracles, they complained about their hardships. He provided them with manna, bread from heaven; they complained that the food in Egypt was better. The Lord became angry and sent down fire from heaven, Moses prayed and God caused the fire to die down. They complained they did not have meat, God provided quail. Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses, God brought judgment upon them. Moses complained that God had put too much on him. The spies checked out the land God promised to give them and rebelled in fear. Only Caleb saw the truth that God could take care of the enemies no matter how big they may be. The Israelites knew how to complain. They were constantly fighting against God as He attempted to establish them as His own people.

The passages we read today reveal the rebellion of the Israelites as well as the judgment and grace of God. God sent down fire. He struck the people with a plague. He struck Miriam with leprosy. You would think they would learn. They did not.

The key to these passages comes from verse 23; “The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”" (Numbers 11:23, NIV) The message for us is not how bad the Israelites messed up, but how God continued to provide for them.

When Moses complained that the burden was too heavy for him, God spread the burden over the leaders of the people. God gave the gift of His Spirit to other leaders. It was not all about Moses, though he was God’s chosen person. God wanted to use others to help carry the load. Joshua was jealous for Moses, but Moses reminded Joshua “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”" (Numbers 11:29, NIV)

God wants to bless us. He wants to provide for us. We tend to rebel against Him and complain when we face the consequences, but God disciplines us to bring us back to obedience to Him. God encourages us to stop looking back to Egypt. Stop looking back at what we enjoyed before we were following Jesus. God has so much better for us as we follow Him. Stop looking back and look to Jesus.

Trust your brothers and sisters in Christ to help you carry your burdens. God does not intend for you to carry them alone. No matter what we face. No matter the trials. No matter the challenges you face to living out your faith. Remember God is faithful to all His promises. "The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”" (Numbers 11:23, NIV)

Numbers 8-10

February 13

Numbers 8-10

God met with Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai and instructed them on the way they were to live as His children. He instructed them on the building of the tabernacle, the ritual they must follow in order for God to dwell among them, and how to live with each other in peace and unity. When the tabernacle was completed the Israelites knew God was with them because the cloud that had led them out of Egypt settled over the Tent of the Testimony. By day they could see the cloud, at night it looked like fire.

The Israelites knew when it was time to move when the cloud lifted from above the tent. When the cloud lifted, whether it was day or night, the Israelites packed up and followed. They could not get too settled in any place because they did not know if they would be there overnight or for a year. They had to constantly look to God; when He moved, they moved.

Moving is difficult. You pack up all you own and set out for a new location. The Israelites never knew when they would move again. Each morning they got up and looked toward the Tent to see if the cloud had lifted. Each evening before retiring for the night they would look to the Tent to see if the cloud had lifted up and they were to move out. Not only moving, but following God can be difficult.

There at times when we just don’t feel like going where God wants us to go. There are times when it is uncomfortable to go where God wants us to go. There are times when it is inconvenient to go where God wants us to go. Today we do not have a cloud we can look to to see if God wants us to move out or stay put. Sometimes we struggle with what God wants us to do. Do we change jobs? Do we move to a different house in a different neighborhood? Do we change schools?

We may not be wandering in the desert looking to see if God is moving us today, but we have decisions to make each day that we need the guidance of God. We do not want to get ahead of God or fall too far behind. We want to go where He wants us to go and do what He wants us to do. We struggle with knowing what God wants. Sometimes it would be nice to have a cloud to guide us. But we have the Holy Spirit living in us to guide us.

The cloud over the Tent in the center of the community was a visual reminder that God dwelt with the Israelites. We have the Holy Spirit living in us to guide us just as the Israelites had the cloud. God guides us just as He did the Israelites. We just have to listen to Him when He speaks and obey Him when He gives us directions. When He says go, we must be willing and ready to go. When He says stay, we must be willing and ready to stay.

Look to God and He will lead you.

Numbers 7

February 12

Numbers 7

After the tabernacle was completed the people continued to bring gifts. The leaders of the tribes brought oxen and carts for carrying the tabernacle and it’s furnishings. God instructed Moses to take the offering and give them to the Levites to transport the materials. The furnishings the Kohathites were responsible for were to be carried by hand, so they were not given a cart. The Israelites did not hand off all responsibility for their ritual to the Levites; they still participated by providing the materials and the offerings necessary for proper worship.

When the leaders begin to bring the offerings for the dedication of the altar, each leader brings the same offering. As we read these verses, they become very repetitive. Beginning at verse 84, the author wraps it all up by giving us the total offerings. Why such repetition? Why not just the total and a reminder that each tribe gave an equal offering? The author wanted to make sure the reader understands that all the tribes were involved in the offering. Each tribe is named, the leader of the tribe is named, and the offering is listed.

In our day there are many hospitals, churches, and other buildings that have a wall or plaque that gives the names of donors and what they gave to build the building or provide furnishings. Each name is important. Each name reminds us that the community came together to provide the building and its furnishings. Numbers 7 is like those memorial walls.

We are reminded that all the Israelites participated in the construction, the furnishing, and the dedication of the tabernacle. This structure was for the community. It was built, as instructed by God, so that entire community could live as children of God. They gave from the gifts God had provided for them as they fled Egypt. God provided and they willingly gave. As they gave, God showed up and met with Moses, their representative.

God has given each of us gifts. We have spiritual gifts, we have resources, we have time. God wants us to give back to Him from what He has given us. Use our talents for the building of His Kingdom, use our resources to further His work in our community and world, give Him a portion of our time for Kingdom work. We are all a part of the Body of Christ and God invites all of us to invest in the work He is doing in our world.

Numbers 5-6

February 11

Numbers 5-6

The reading from Leviticus 1 to Numbers 6 primarily deals with legal materials; instructions on how to live as the people of God. This is concluded with God’s instructions on how Aaron and the priests are to bless Israel. God is the author, Moses the mediator and the priest invokes the blessing.

“The Lord bless you and keep you” Bless here means “to prosper.” The prayer is that God will give the faithful community, those who are living as the people of God, abundance in all areas of life. That He will preserve and protect His people no matter where their path may take them.

“The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” This is a prayer that God will smile upon his people. That He look to them with the satisfied eyes of a loving Father. But it also asks for God’s grace, God’s undeserved favor. That Almighty God, who owes the Israelites nothing, will be gracious to them even when they disobey the laws given to them over the preceding chapters.

“The Lord turn His face toward you.” This is slightly different in that God is turning his face toward the people. When God is angry with His people we are told he hides his face from them. Here in the blessing the priest is asking God to turn His face that may be turned away in anger due to disobedience, toward His people to show His favor toward them again.

When we receive God’s grace, when we are walking in obedience and He is smiling upon us, we have peace, a peace that transcends all understanding. The word for peace is shalom, meaning fullness of life and wholeness in all areas of life: material, family, society, and religious. God’s blessing brings wholeness and fulfillment to life.

This blessing is still relevant today. We still need God’s grace and his blessings upon us. This blessing reveals God’s desire to bless us. He is the author of the blessing and He closes saying; “I will bless them.” God wants to bless us today. He came and died on a cross to enable us to receive the fullness of His blessings and to live a life of wholeness and fulfillment. God blesses us and makes us holy for Him.

 

Numbers 3-4

February 10

Numbers 3-4

God continues to give the Israelites instructions on the proper means of living in the presence of a holy God. Aaron’s  sons learned the hard way that you do not do things your way when God had given them instructions on proper worship. The clans of the Levites are given specific tasks that they are responsible to perform. Anyone not of that clan is not to attempt to participate in breaking down, moving, or setting up the tabernacle. God has gifted and called the Levites and the priests to particular tasks and He expects them to obey.

God is protecting the Israelites. They are not worthy to come before a holy God so he creates a buffer for them. The priest makes sacrifices for himself and for the people when he enters God’s presence. The Levites camp closest to the tabernacle and are trained in moving the contents in a manner that will not bring condemnation upon them or the nation.

The Israelites have to be ready at all times. When God decides it is time to move, they have to be ready to break camp, cover the furniture, pack up all the utensils and follow God’s lead. God is teaching the Israelites to live as His people. The Israelites waited on God. When He said “go,” they went. When He said “stay,” they stayed. Perhaps Christians today could learn from the Israelites. Trust God to go where He leads and stay until He says to move.

The ceremony and sacrifices of worship pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. We do not have to go through all the ritual in order to be cleansed of our sin because Jesus took our sin upon himself once for all. We are invited to come before the throne of grace with confidence and do not have to fear being struck dead because we come into God’s presence unworthy. I am thankful to live on this side of the cross.

Sometimes I wonder if we have lost some of the awe that is healthy in our relationship with God. There is balance between confidence and fear of the Lord. God is holy and only through Him are we made holy. It is His righteousness that we receive. Perhaps a little wonder as we approach God would be helpful in our worship.

God is still God. He is still Holy. He still gifts and calls His people to particular ministries. Some are glamorous, some are not. He still calls His people to move or to stay in tough situations. God is still God. Are we still  listening?

Numbers 1-2

February 9

Numbers 1-2

“The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt." (Numbers 1:1a, NIV)

 

Numbers is a book that weeds a lot of people out in their bible in a year readings. Just as the Israelites are wandering in the desert, some of the reading seems to wander and can be dry. But there are some great nuggets that we can grab hold of even in the midst of the desert. “The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting.” Wouldn’t it be great to have a place we could go and meet with God and know He would speak to us? Don’t you wish God would boom from the sky directions for your life? Don’t you wish He would give you clarity in the decisions you have to make?

 

God gave Moses directions concerning the format for the camp of the Israelites. The tabernacle would be in the center of the camp. The tribes would be on their assigned side of the tabernacle, three on each side. Joseph’s sons were counted as leaders as Jacob had instructed, while the Levites were not counted because their duty was to care for the tabernacle and to pack it and carry it when God had them move.

 

God’s instructions were not random. God gave the Israelites another object lesson to reveal His character. God placed himself in the center of the Israelite’s camp. He instructed them that He was to be the center of their life. He was not outside the camp somewhere for them to go out to meet with; He was to be the center of their lives. Each evening as they prepared to go to bed, they could look and see the pillar of fire over the Holy of Holies. Each morning as the sun came up; they could look to the center of the camp and see the pillar of cloud. They were constantly reminded that God was with them.

 

God also wants to be the center of our lives. Instead of camping in the center of our community, God wants to camp in the center of our lives as He fills us with His Spirit. "Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23, NIV) God still wants to be in the center of our camp, in the center of our community, in the center of our lives.

God still wants to speak to us the way He spoke to Moses. He may not speak with a booming voice from heaven, but He will speak with that still small voice that we know is Him. Spend some time today getting where it is quiet and stopping long enough that you can listen and hear what God has to say to you today.

 

 

Leviticus 26-27

February 8

Leviticus 26-27

God made a covenant with Israel. Really it was similar to a contract a superior nation would make with a weaker nation. As long as the weaker nation did certain things, the stronger nation would protect and provide for the weaker nation. God makes an agreement with Israel, as long as they obeyed Him, He would bless them. He would give them bountiful yields from their crops. He would increase their numbers. He would protect them from their enemies. He would live among them. He has set them free from slavery in Egypt and will keep them free as long as they live as He has directed them to live.

God also told them what would happen if they disobeyed Him. They would live in fear. Disease would destroy their lives and their families. Their crops would fail. Famine would strike the land. Enemies would overtake them and destroy their cities and would carry them off into captivity. He would continue to bring disaster upon them until they accepted His correction and confessed their sin and turned back to Him in obedience.

God promised that He would not reject them forever, that He would remember His promises and that He would restore them when they turned back to Him. All these things took place in the nation of Israel. They prospered when they walked in obedience to God. They failed and were taken captive when they rejected God. They were restored when they turned back to God.

Those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior are adopted into the family of God. We too face discipline when we begin to walk away from God. He promises to take care of us, if we continue to walk in obedience to Him. Perhaps your struggles are God’s way of making you stronger in your relationship with Him.

"Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees." (Hebrews 12:3-12, NLT)

Leviticus 22-24

February 7

Leviticus 22-24

A major portion of the Israelite’s worship involved the presenting of sacrifices to God. God did not want the leftover or deformed animals brought as a sacrifice. God demanded the very best of the crop, the very best of the livestock. Back in Genesis 4, Cain brought some of his crops as an offering to the Lord, but Abel brought the very best, the fat portions of some of the firstborn of his flocks. God was pleased with Abel, but not with Cain. Cain became angry with his brother, but God told him; “if you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”(Genesis 4:7a).

We do not bring animal or grain sacrifices when we worship God, but we still bring offerings. We bring offerings of praise when we worship in song, we bring offerings of ourselves when we commit to live for God, we bring offerings of our tithes and offerings financially, we offer out time when we serve in various capacities. We bring offerings, the question is do we bring the very best.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1, NIV)  God desires us as living sacrifices. He wants us to dedicate our lives to living for Him. Everything we have, everything we say, everything we do is to be a living sacrifice to God.

 

When we worship, are we focused on the things that occupy our mind all week or are we presenting God with our very best, our uninterrupted attention? When we offer ourselves to God, are we giving Him our leftover time or are we giving Him our very best? When we bring our tithes and offerings, do we bring our best, do we give to Him first, do we give Him the first 10%, or do we give Him whatever we have leftover? When we give God our service, do we give him our very best, using the gifts He has given us for the building of His Kingdom? Do we give God our very best?

Leviticus 19-21

February 6

Leviticus 19-21

“Be holy because I, the Lord your God and holy.” These words describe God’s intention in giving the Law. Peter wrote to the church applying these verses to the New Covenant; "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”" (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV) The writers of Hebrews wrote; " Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)

What is holiness? If without holiness no one will see the Lord, we probably want to know what that means. Holy means set aside for God, being fully devoted to God. Holy instruments are instruments used in the worship of God that are set aside for that purpose. Holy people are used in the worship of God and set aside for that purpose.

God brought a people out of Egypt and created a new nation. He gave them the rules and regulations concerning various aspects of life in order to reveal to the other nations what it looked like to live in a relationship with God. Some of the rules revealed God as holy and pure. Some of the rules protected the Israelites. Some of the rules are lasting rules that still apply to us today. Some of the rules were for that time and those people. Some dealt with everyday life, others dealt with ritual in worshipping God.

God is a holy God. He is perfect and set aside from anyone or anything else. He calls us to be holy as we reflect His character to a dark and dying world. He does not call us to remove ourselves from the world, but to be in the world as His instruments. Holiness is not for the super saint, holiness is God’s call for each of our lives. Be Holy. We can only be holy because God is holy. Our holiness is a reflection of God’s character. Are you reflecting God’s holiness to our world?

Leviticus 16-18

February 5

Leviticus 16-18

God is a holy God. People are sinful. In His holiness, God could not dwell among sinful people. Something had to be done for God to continue to dwell in the presence of the Israelites. God prescribed a means of cleansing the Israelites of their sin; a means of cleansing the Israelites and the land so God could continue to live among them.

The high priest was the only man able to go before the mercy seat of God which was located in the Holy of Holies. Even the high priest could not approach empty handed. He came with the blood of a bull to atone for his own sin and the blood of a goat to atone for the sin of the people. The Day of Atonement was a solemn day. It was a day to remember the sin, the rebellion of the people against a holy God. It was a day to remind them of the cost of sin. It was a day to remember God’s grace offered to them as He continued to bless them and dwell within their camp.

Only one person, the high priest could make the sacrifices necessary to atone for the sins of the people. When Jesus came, He came as the ultimate High Priest. On Good Friday, He made the sacrifice necessary to atone for the sins of all people for all time. Unlike the high priest who had to make atonement sacrifices each year, Jesus’ sacrifice ended the need for any more sacrifices. Aaron was a sinner who had to make a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people. Jesus was sinless and only sacrificed himself for sinners. Aaron’s sacrifices secured him entry into the earthly sanctuary. Jesus’ sacrifice secured his entry into the heavenly sanctuary. The repetition of Aaron’s sacrifices was a constant reminder of the persistence of sin. Jesus’ once for all sacrifice secured permanent forgiveness of sin.

The Day of Atonement pointed forward to a day when Jesus would come and fulfill the meaning of the sacrifices made on this day. We are reminded that God is a holy God and not to be taken lightly. God is a God of grace, but He also demands respect and obedience of His people.

" Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:19-24, NIV)

Leviticus 14-15

February 4

Leviticus 14-15

The priest is not a doctor; he is more like a health inspector. When someone has a skin disease she/he no longer reflects the perfect glory of God. The priest does not have some potion or words to remove the disease. The person must depend on God to heal them. Until they are healed, they are removed from the community of worship. The priest inspects the person to see if they are indeed healed. Imperfections such as skin disease were a sign of the brokenness of humanity. The separation from the community revealed the consequences of sin.

Everywhere the people looked they could see the physical representation of the spiritual world. The tabernacle was set up in the center of the camp. God’s presence was in the holy of holies. Only the priest could go into the holy of holies, into the presence of God. The people lived with the reminder that God was with them wherever they went. But those deemed unclean were pushed outside the camp. They could not live with the rest of the people; they could not join the community in worship. The unclean cannot stand in God’s presence.

When Jesus showed up He brought healing and restoration; not only of disease, but of relationships. Jesus came and touched the unclean lepers and healed them of their disease, but even more important, He restored them to their place in the community. In Mark 1:40-44, a leper came to Jesus and Jesus healed the man. Jesus told the man to go to the priest and make the sacrifice prescribed by Moses. Leviticus 14 prescribes the sacrifice.

During the sacrifice, one bird dies, “the wages of sin is death,” just as those without God’s provision for salvation die. The other is set free, “the gift of God is eternal life,” just as those with God’s provision for salvation are set free from the wages of sin.

The priest could not heal, but Jesus does. The priest could not restore, but Jesus does. The priest could only observe what God had done in the lives of His people. Do people observe God’s work in your life?