Numbers Fifteen

What does it say?

When the sons of Israel enter into the promised land, they were to not offer a burnt offering to fulfill a special vow or make a peace offering without including a grain offering  mixed with oil and drink offering of wine. There is one law for both the native son and the alien who lives with them. Throughout their generations, every first batch of dough from the harvest, a cake is to be lifted up to the Lord as an offering. If the people error and unknowingly sin with regard to any of the commandments given through Moses, the priest is to make atonement for them with a burnt offering, with its grain offering and drink offering, and with a sin offering. If a person sins unintentionally, a one your old female goat can be offered as a sin sacrifice but if he is defiant in his sin, he is to be cut off from the congregation. One day, a man was found gathering wood on the sabbath in defiance of the Lord’s command; therefore, the congregation stoned him to death, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. The people were to wear tassels on the corners of their garments, hung by a cord of blue, so as to look at them and remember all the commandments of the Lord and not follow after their own heart and eyes.

What does it mean?

There is one law for both the native son and the alien. This does not mean forcing those outside of the covenant of faith to obey the Lord’s commands, but those who come into the congregation are to be taught to observe all that the Lord commanded. The commandments of the Lord are to be taken seriously. Atonement must be made when someone or the entire congregation errors, but defiance is another matter entirely. The example was with regarded to a remembered case involving a man who gathered wood on the sabbath in defiance of the Lord’s commandment. This man was put to death, forever separated from the congregation. 

What shall I do?

We are not under the old covenant given through Moses but the new covenant in Christ Jesus or Lord; therefore, we do not put to death those who are defiant but they are to be separated from the congregation. There are differences between the old covenant and new covenant but there are similarities; they are given by the same God. Jesus commissioned his disciples to go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Triune God, and teaching them to observe all that he (Jesus) commanded. (Mt 28:18-20) Jesus gave us a system for church discipline: individual to individual, small group to individual, congregation to individual. If the person repents, then they shall remain part of the congregation, but if they are defiant, they shall be separated. (Mt. 18:15-18) The goal is repentance, not separation, but defiantly sinning against the Lord’s commandments is not to be tolerated by the congregation. The word of the Lord shall be honored by the congregation.

Numbers Fourteen

What does it say?

The people wanted to return to Egypt because they feared the report that they heard regarding the people in the land of Canaan. Caleb and Joshua who were of the twelve that spied out the land, pleaded with the people to fear the Lord but the people intended to stone them until the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting. The Lord questioned Moses, How long will the people spurn and not believe in the name of the Lord? Moses pleaded with the Lord to forgive the people and not destroy them. The Lord pardoned them per Moses’ request, but vowed that no one who has seen the signs and spurned the Lord will enter the promised land. The Lord sentenced the congregation to forty years of wondering in the desert and he vowed that no one, twenty years old and upward, except for Caleb and Joshua, will enter the promised land. The Lord destroyed the ten men who gave a bad report but spared Joshua and Caleb. After hearing the word of the Lord the congregation lamented; therefore, they decided to go up against the Amalekites and Canaanites without the Lord and were defeated. 

What does it mean?

The prologue to the gospel according to John is one of my favorite text of Scripture because it explains the purpose for the Lord’s incarnation. As many as received Jesus, to them Jesus gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in Jesus’s name. (Jn 1:12) In the gospel of John are recored seven miracles and seven “I AM” statements. Jesus said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:40) The Lord promises eternal life to all who believe in his name and do not spurn his word. In the old covenant, the promise was the land of Canaan but in the new covenant it is heaven on earth. Do you believe in the name of the Lord? If so, do not spurn the word of the Lord. Of all those who saw the miracles done by the Lord in the wilderness, only two men believed and would enter the promised land.

What shall I do?

I shall trust the Lord and not fear the dark forces of this world. The Lord is all knowing, all powerful and all good. There is nothing that he does not know, nothing that he cannot do and all of his promises are truth. I shall trust in Jesus Christ alone. He is the word of the Lord become flesh.

Numbers Thirteen

What does it say?

The Lord commanded Moses to send men into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. Moses picked one man from each tribe as representatives. Joseph was two tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh) and there was no representative for Levi because Levi was the Lord’s servant. So, there were twelve men in all sent to spy out the land of Canaan. They returned with a report that the land was fruitful and brought back some of the fruit of the land. However, they also reported that the people in the land were mighty, fearful and the cities were fortified. Caleb was one of the spies, he represented the tribe of Judah, and he said that the sons of Israel should take possession of the land but the others contradicted him and gave the sons of Israel a bad report. 

What does it mean?

Your faith will be tested. Do you trust the word of the Lord? There was no reason for the Lord to send spies into the land of Canaan because the Lord is omniscient and omnipresent; he knows all and sees all. The Lord is also omnipotent and all good; he his all powerful and his word is trustworthy. His sending was a test for the sons of Israel, would they trust his word? Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden because they did not trust the word of the Lord. Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (Jn 14:6-7) The only way back is through faith, trusting the word of the Lord, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14) Were the sons of Israel going to trust the word of the Lord or the word of their representative spies? Are we going to trust the word of the Lord or human reason?

What shall I do?

I shall trust the word of the Lord. Jesus has promised eternal life in the new heaven and new earth to all who repent and believe in him. I cannot see this now and I must walk through the valley of the shadow of death to get there. I shall fear no evil, for the word of the Lord is with me and he comforts me. (Ps 23:4) Now I see in a mirror dimly, but I will see the Lord face to face; now I see in part but then I will see fully, just as he sees me fully now. ((1 Cor 13:12) I shall trust the word of the Lord and follow Jesus Christ into the promised land. He has gone to prepare a place for me and promises to return for me. (Jn 14:3)

Numbers Twelve

What does it say?

Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother Moses. They held animosity towards him because he had married a Cushite woman and they were jealous of his status as spokesmen for the Lord. The Lord heard what they were saying, so he commanded that the three of them come out to the tent of the meeting. The Lord exalted Moses before Miriam and Aaron because he was very humble. The Lord speaks to a prophet through visions and dreams but he spoke to Moses mouth to mouth and Moses saw the form of the Lord. The Lord was angry, therefore, he struck Miriam with leprosy. Aaron repented and turned to Moses for forgiveness. Moses asked the Lord to heal Miriam. The Lord healed her but she had to bear her shame outside the camp for seven days. When she was received back into the camp, the sons of Israel continued the journey. 

What does it mean?

The secret to true happiness is contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves. (2 Cor 12:10) Jesus said: Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Miriam was the elder sister of Aaron and Moses. The name Miriam means “rebellion” in Hebrew. To be jealous of others is rebellion against the Lord. It was the Lord who called to Moses from the burning bush. Moses did not chose the Lord, the Lord chose Moses. Therefore, speaking against the Lord’s chosen servant is speaking against the Lord. Jesus said: John 13:20 (NASB)

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

The Lord forgives iniquity, transgression and sin to those who repent; however, there are earthly consequences. 

What should I do?

I confess that I have been jealous of others. I have lamented when I have worked hard and others received recognition. I shall be humble and content in whatever situation I find myself. If the Lord choses me for something that puts me before other people, I shall be humble, and if lowly, I shall be content. I shall remember that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is not the person in the spot light but the one who humbles himself (Mt 18:4) and serves others. (Mt 23:11)

Numbers Eleven

What does it say?

This chapter begins with the Lord’s anger burning against the people for complaining and ends with a plague for their greed. The people complained that all they had to eat was manna, which the made into cakes. They complained that they had such good things to eat in Egypt. The people wanted meat to eat. Moses went to the Lord and told him that the people were to much of a burden for him; therefore, the Lord put his Spirit on seventy others to assist Moses in leading the people. The Lord gave the people qual, which the greedily gathered and ate. It was reported to Moses that two of the seventy were prophesying in the camp. Moses was not jealous because he desired for the Lord to put his Spirit on all the people.

What does it mean?

The Lord is compassionate, gracious and slow to anger; however, he will not keep his anger forever because he will not leave the guilty unpunished. Whenever we complain, we are complaining against the Lord. Whenever we act greedy, we are demonstrating that we have a selfish heart. The Lord hates complaining and greed, these are outward expressions of a selfish heart. Moses demonstrated the quality of thinking outwardly rather than inwardly. Moses was not jealous because the Lord had put his Spirit on other men who prophesied in the camp. He was glad because he desired that all the people have the Spirit of the Lord. 

What shall I do?

I shall be aware of my hearts desire. Am I thinking inwardly our outwardly. Is my concern for self or for the other. I confess that I am very often selfish. I even do things for others because it will benefit self. I am a professional nurse who takes care of the sick. Am I caring for them because I am compensated for my work, or is it because I am compassionate and gracious as is the Lord? I would like to say, “I shall not complain and I shall not be greedy.” I have been given the Spirit of the Lord but my flesh retains the sin nature that I inherited from Adam. It is a daily battle between these two natures.

Numbers Ten

What does it say?

The Lord command Moses to make two silver trumpets for use in the camp. The sound of one trumpet assembled the leaders but the sound of both trumpets assembled the congregation. The trumpets were also used to sound an alarm for the congregation. These trumpets were to be used differently when the sons of Israel came into their promise land. They were to blow them when an enemy attacks, that they may be remembered before the Lord God and be saved. They were to blow them at their appointed feasts, on the first days of the months and over their offerings, that they may be remembered before the Lord. The sons of Israel departed Egypt and arrived at the mount of the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai. They did not depart the mount of the Lord until one year, two months and twenty days had passed since the exodus. On that day, the cloud lifted from the tabernacle and the sons of Israel set out just as the Lord commanded them. The cloud settled next in the wilderness of Paran. Thus the journey to the promise land had begun.

What does it mean?

Communication among the people of the Lord is very important. The people knew that  a single trumpet meant assembly for the leaders and two trumpets meant assembly for the congregation. The trumpets were also used to warn when the congregation was to take up camp and set out. Later, these trumpets were used as a memorial, honoring the Lord, that they remember him and he remember them. The sons of Israel had received the Lord’s commandments, now it was time to act. They had received right doctrine and it was time for right practice.

What shall I do?

We have different ways to communicate today. There are communications for the church elders and there are communications for the congregation. Our pastor emails our congregation. The elders communicate through a group messaging service. The way of communicating has changed but the purpose has not changed. Every believer should spend time reading or listening to the word of God. Then we are to take action. James, the brother of our Lord wrote in his epistle:

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ~James 1:23-24

It is not enough that we hear the word but we shall do what the word says. I believe that we are saved by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; however, we are to observe all that Jesus commanded his disciples.

Numbers Nine

What does it say?

The people observed the passover feast, at twilight, on the fourteenth day, of the second year after the exodus from Egypt. There were some who could not observe the passover because of uncleanness from a dead body. Therefore, an exception was granted for uncleanness or being on a journey during the passover. For these persons, the passover could be observed one month later. All should observe the passover. On the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud of the Lord covered the tabernacle and appeared as fire by night. When they cloud lifted they followed and when the cloud settled they camped. Thus, the sons of Israel followed the Lord in the wilderness and were commanded through Moses. 

What does it mean?

The Lord God is not unreasonable in his expectations of his people. He does not consider inability sin but considers unwillingness as sin. The Lord had taken the sons of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He passed over the first born of Israel but not the first born in Egypt. The houses that had the blood of the lamb on its post were passed over. Therefore, the passover feast was done in remembrance. We do not observe this passover but we observe another feast and are commanded by the Lord to do so. We are to gather as a body and eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. The sons of Israel followed the Lord in the desert and were commanded by the Lord through Moses. We have the written word of the Lord and have the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Lord appeared as a cloud by day and as fire by night. We have the two hands of the Lord to guide us. The two hands of the Lord are the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

What Shall I do?

I shall not forsake assembling with the brothers and sisters in Christ. I am guided by the word in the Spirit but I am not to walk through this life alone. We are to meet together as one body in love. Jesus broke the bread and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” After eating, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” We are to eat the bread and drink the wine together, as one body, in remembrance of the Lord until he returns. Those who are sick or not able to come to the assembly should have the communion take to them. Do not forget the elderly. They should not be penalized because they are unable. However, unwillingness is another matter. I shall not forsake assembling with the brethren.