How would you view the end of your life? When I die what will my thoughts be like? Moses’ life is coming to an end in Numbers 27 and God tells him to walk up a mountain to see the promised land and then he would be gathered to his people. Why do both Moses and Aaron climb a mountain to die? I suppose for Moses it was to gain a view of the promised land before his death. When I learn that death is close at hand how will I act? I yet to face the reality of my own death and I feel like my whole life is still before me with an unlimited number of things to accomplish. Moses had a full life of learning to depend upon God as the people of Israel were brought out of captivity in Egypt. Moses’ main concern was for the well-being of the people when he asks God to “appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” Continue Reading…
Keys to effective and powerful leadership glimpsed: Numbers 27 and 28
Taking hold of the promise from the wilderness in Numbers 25 and 26
How many times will the Israelites disobey and challenge God? How many times will I disobey and challenge God? In Numbers 25 Israel again disobeys God. They played the harlot with the daughters of Moab. God called on the people to be set apart and not give into the pagan and sinful ways of the surrounding people. It is all too easy for out lustful desires to turn into outright idol worship. God’s anger was again kindled against the people and all the men who joined themselves in worshiping Baal would be put to death. I love the contrast that we see in how Phinehas the son of Eleazar saw a man an woman openly sinning in front of the Tabernacle. He took a spear and killed them both and in doing so he turned God’s wrath away. When I am faced with sinful desires in my own life do I eagerly attack it or instead do I sit and attempt to reason with sin? It is more difficult to stand apart from the sinful ways of society but God will notice when you make a stand for Him just as He noticed Phinehas and gave him a covenant of peace for him and his descendants. Continue Reading…
Stand firm in your faith against opposition: Numbers 23 and 24
In Numbers 22 the story of Balaam started where Balak, king of Moab, was desiring to see Balaam curse Israel. In Numbers 23 and 24 we hear what, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And 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, yet having his eyes uncovered” has to say from God. Continue Reading…
Dissatisfaction in God’s sovereignty contained in Numbers 17 and 18
Do you find yourself grumbling about what you don’t have or what has happened in life? Why do you grumble? In Numbers there have been some Israelites grumbling against God. In Numbers 16 Korah and other men wanted to claim the right to sacrifice before God and they were killed because of their disobedience. Why were they grumbling? I can only look upon why I grumble and complain about things in my life. Mostly I look at something else that I think would make my life better: a girlfriend, more money, a new car, bigger apartment, a different family, or better health. It all comes down to what I think would complete and make my life better. These perceptions of what I think would complete my life will never satisfy my desires because there will always be one more thing that I think I need. Was this reverence and desire for the priesthood the drive of the peoples grumbling? Continue Reading…
A High Priest stands between life and death: Numbers 15 and 16
I’ve neglected my blogging for the last two months because I have been studying Hebrews, 1 John, and Nehemiah but I think it is important for me to continue the story and journey of blogging through the Bible. In Hebrews the author is proclaiming Jesus Christ as better than everything that Jew’s hold as important. John is fighting against false teaching in 1 John. The ruined wall is being rebuilt in Nehemiah. The story of scripture all ties together and it is best seen as we read through the Bible. Continue Reading…
Fear and disbelief at the precipice of promise: Numbers 13 and 14
In Numbers 13 and 14 we are continuing with the Israelites as they are sojourning with God. In chapter 13 God tells Moses to send 12 men to scout out the promised land to determine what the land is like. One man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel head out into the promised land. They spend 40 days scouting out the land. To give perspective on how amazing the promised land is the 12 men cut a cluster of grapes which was tied to a pole and required two men to carry it. That is an amazingly massive cluster of grapes. There were many strong people within the promised land who the Israelites would have to kill and cast out for them to take possession. The scouts collected all of the information they needed and returned to Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel. Continue Reading…
Lack of faith in God’s daily provision shown in Numbers 11 and 12
How easily it is to fail to see God for who He truly is. The Israelites consistently grumbled against God. In adversity what do you do? Is God’s anger kindled against you when you lack faith to trust in His provision? Do you think that God can do all things one moment and then you try to solve all your problems your way? In Numbers chapter 11 the people were grumbling to God and he burned up the outskirts of the camp. How amazing is that. God doesn’t change so when we grumble He is not pleased. I would imagine that the people would stop grumbling but they started up again complaining about the food that God was providing. How crazy is that! God was supplying what they needed but they were not thankful for that. The lie that freedom was found in their bondage in Egypt and not in God had poisoned the peoples thoughts so they didn’t see the truth that their freedom was through and in God. Continue Reading…
Silver trumpets heralding the Israelites journey: Numbers 9 and 10
“Rise up, O Lord!
And let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”
– Numbers 10:35
The Israelites are setting out in Numbers chapter 10 to claim the land that God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What an amazing site it must have been to hear the ring of a silver trumpet and then the orchestration of the multiple millions began as the Israelites set out and follow God. The image that is given in Numbers chapters 9 and 10 is one of dependance. The only time that the Israelites moved the camp was when God raised the cloud up from the Tabernacle. Continue Reading…
Dedication of the Tabernacle and foreshadowing of the Messiah: Numbers 7 and 8
I wonder what the energy level of the Israelites was like on the day that Moses had finished setting up the Tabernacle? Was there an awe and reverence of God? Were the millions of men, women, and children pressing in to see just a glimpse of the Tabernacle? In Numbers chapters 7 we get a little of the feeling of what took place when the Tabernacle was completed. What blessing God bestowed upon Moses. Moses was within the Tabernacle anointing and consecrating the walls, furnishings, and utensils. Moses was declaring that the Tabernacle and all with in it was Holy and God’s. Continue Reading…
Jealousy of a husband and John the Baptist: Numbers 5 and 6
So I have a few questions about Numbers 5. What about the men who were having these adulterous relationships with the women? Could a woman accuse her husband? I think it is interesting that when a husband was jealous and thought his wife may have been unfaithful she would go to the priest and she would have to swear before God of her innocence. I would not take it lightly to take an oath before God. It would scare me to no end. Wouldn’t you rather confess your sin. The penalty for adultery death by stoning. But if you lied before God and lived under a curse wouldn’t that be worse? Today I think christians often take too light of a view when it comes to sin. I think of Paul when he talks about grace in Romans chapter 6. Shall we continue to sin so that grace can abound more? Grace is what frees us from bondage to sin but it does not give liberty to indulge in sinful behavior.
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