February 17
Read: Numbers 22
Numbers 22 tells the well-known story of Balaam and the talking donkey. In it, Balaam is called by the Moabite king Balak to come and curse Israel. A group of noblemen was sent to the prophet offering reward and honor if he would come and do as the king asked.
Balaam had enough discernment to seek God’s counsel in the matter, and in verse 12 we see God’s answer, “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”
That should have been the end of the matter. But Balak, desperately wanting some advantage over Israel, elected to try again. He sent more honorable noblemen and offered very great honor if Balaam would curse Israel. And here Balaam makes his mistake. In verse 19, in effect, he comes and asks God, “Is that your final answer?”
God allowed Balaam to go and bless Israel, but He showed his displeasure with Balaam (v. 22) and sent the angel of the Lord to withstand him in the way. After the donkey spoke and Balaam understood the situation, he knew better than to disobey God again. The nation of Israel was blessed; Balak expressed his displeasure with Balaam and sent him home.
Balaam’s name comes up again in Scripture later. Numbers 31:8, describing Israel’s conquest of the Midianites, concludes with this passage: “Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.” Balaam the prophet of Jehovah ultimately fell because of his failure to heed the clear direction of God. He wouldn’t take God’s word as final.
In Proverbs 20:25, the Bible tells us: “It is a snare unto a man….after vows to make inquiry.” It is a warning not to second guess God’s decisions and directions. The New Testament version is found in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Once God has spoken, He doesn’t change His mind. Let us be careful not to dig up in doubt that which we buried in faith.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Numbers. Show all posts
Rumbling and Grumbling
February 14
Read: Numbers 11:1-20
As Israel traveled through the desert, God provided them with manna on a daily basis. For this manna they had to do no work other than gather it up. Each morning, as they arose, the gift of God lay fresh on the ground, easily available and capable of meeting every nutritional need for the whole nation. Manna was a miracle and a blessing direct from the hand of God.
In Numbers 11, Israel decides that manna is no longer good enough. A percentage of the people, called the mixed multitude, began to wish for the food they had left behind in Egypt. They wanted the variety, the tastes, the delicacies of Egypt. In verse 4, the Bible says they “fell a lusting”. Will somebody please give us a little meat to go with this manna?
In verse 10, we see the responses of both God and Moses. The anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses also was displeased. The complaining of the people actually reduced Moses to whining, and the first thing the Lord did was take some of His Spirit away from Moses and place on the seventy elders. Then He gave the people their request. For a month, they got meat to eat. They stuffed themselves until they were sick of it.
In Psalm 106:5 the Bible tells of this time, “And he (God) gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” It is unfortunate but true we in the church have learned little from Israel’s bad example. Week after week God provides us with preachers, musicians, and teachers, using them to supply everything we need for our spiritual well-being. And almost every Sunday, the “mixed multitude” shows up. They will complain that the song service is boring, the preaching is unexciting, or the temperature in the building is uncomfortable. Fed on a diet of television and top forty Christian music, they have “fallen a lusting” after the things of Egypt. And, like Moses, many pastors and Christian leaders have surrendered, giving them what they want.
There are so many lessons here. But the bottom line is pretty clear. Don’t let a few complainers shift your focus to the world. Egypt is not where the blessings reside. Keep your eyes on God, be grateful for His blessings, and follow Him faithfully. And be careful what you lust after, God may give you what you think you want.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: Numbers 11:1-20
As Israel traveled through the desert, God provided them with manna on a daily basis. For this manna they had to do no work other than gather it up. Each morning, as they arose, the gift of God lay fresh on the ground, easily available and capable of meeting every nutritional need for the whole nation. Manna was a miracle and a blessing direct from the hand of God.
In Numbers 11, Israel decides that manna is no longer good enough. A percentage of the people, called the mixed multitude, began to wish for the food they had left behind in Egypt. They wanted the variety, the tastes, the delicacies of Egypt. In verse 4, the Bible says they “fell a lusting”. Will somebody please give us a little meat to go with this manna?
In verse 10, we see the responses of both God and Moses. The anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses also was displeased. The complaining of the people actually reduced Moses to whining, and the first thing the Lord did was take some of His Spirit away from Moses and place on the seventy elders. Then He gave the people their request. For a month, they got meat to eat. They stuffed themselves until they were sick of it.
In Psalm 106:5 the Bible tells of this time, “And he (God) gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” It is unfortunate but true we in the church have learned little from Israel’s bad example. Week after week God provides us with preachers, musicians, and teachers, using them to supply everything we need for our spiritual well-being. And almost every Sunday, the “mixed multitude” shows up. They will complain that the song service is boring, the preaching is unexciting, or the temperature in the building is uncomfortable. Fed on a diet of television and top forty Christian music, they have “fallen a lusting” after the things of Egypt. And, like Moses, many pastors and Christian leaders have surrendered, giving them what they want.
There are so many lessons here. But the bottom line is pretty clear. Don’t let a few complainers shift your focus to the world. Egypt is not where the blessings reside. Keep your eyes on God, be grateful for His blessings, and follow Him faithfully. And be careful what you lust after, God may give you what you think you want.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
One For All
February 13
Read: Numbers 9:1-14
During the second year of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Kadesh-Barnea, God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to keep the Passover. Moses, having passed on the instructions to the people, was questioned by some men who were ceremonially unclean from contact with a dead body (probably Levites, Leviticus 21:11). Could they take the Passover?
Moses took the question to God, and was told that even those who were unclean or traveling should partake of the Passover just as everyone else. He went on to add a rule concerning even those who were non-Israelites. If there were strangers among them, and they desired to keep the Passover, they were to be allowed to do so. The end of Numbers 9:14 says: “...ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.”
These instructions are consistent with the typology of the Passover. God passed over the first-born of Israel because of the lamb’s blood applied to the door posts. The blood of the lamb is typical of the blood of Christ, the designated Lamb of God. And Christ is promised to be the Savior of not only the Jews, but the world. He is the Savior of those who are lost in sin, of those who are not ceremonially unclean but utterly unclean. And the inclusion of the stranger is our assurance that the true Passover Lamb was slain for every man.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Just a servant,
Bro.Tom
Read: Numbers 9:1-14
During the second year of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Kadesh-Barnea, God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to keep the Passover. Moses, having passed on the instructions to the people, was questioned by some men who were ceremonially unclean from contact with a dead body (probably Levites, Leviticus 21:11). Could they take the Passover?
Moses took the question to God, and was told that even those who were unclean or traveling should partake of the Passover just as everyone else. He went on to add a rule concerning even those who were non-Israelites. If there were strangers among them, and they desired to keep the Passover, they were to be allowed to do so. The end of Numbers 9:14 says: “...ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.”
These instructions are consistent with the typology of the Passover. God passed over the first-born of Israel because of the lamb’s blood applied to the door posts. The blood of the lamb is typical of the blood of Christ, the designated Lamb of God. And Christ is promised to be the Savior of not only the Jews, but the world. He is the Savior of those who are lost in sin, of those who are not ceremonially unclean but utterly unclean. And the inclusion of the stranger is our assurance that the true Passover Lamb was slain for every man.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Just a servant,
Bro.Tom
Every Joint
February 12
Read: Numbers 4:1-15
Numbers chapter 4 describes the division of labor among the Levites in relation to the tabernacle. Each of the families of the sons of Levi was given specific responsibilities for part of the work. In our text, we see the portions assigned to Aaron and to the sons of Kohath.
To Aaron and his sons belonged the task of caring for the items associated with worship within the tabernacle. Essentially, they were responsible for everything within the inner sanctuary. When it was time to move, they covered and prepared the table of showbread and the golden altar, cleaned up the ashes and gathered and wrapped all the utensils. When everything was ready, the Kohathites were to come and carry it to the next location.
Continuing in chapter 4, we find that God gave similar instructions to the Gershonites and the Merarites. In each case, God was very specific about what each was to do.
It took everyone doing their part to get the tabernacle pulled down and moved. If any family had neglected or left its work undone, the whole nation would have been delayed. They would have been unable to do what God was directing them to do at the time He intended for them to do it. As a result of a few unwilling to perform their roles, God’s work would be hindered and God’s people denied a blessing.
According to the New Testament, the same thing can be said of the local church. God has gifted every church member for a specific task, and it is one of the Holy Spirit’s functions to guide them to their appointed ministry. In Ephesians 4:16, the Bible says Jesus is the head, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.“ The body referenced is the church, and every joint is every member. Jesus has put us together and given every member a gift and a task. We must prayerfully seek out our place and then faithfully perform the assigned ministry. If we do not, then we, like the Levites, would be guilty of hindering the work of God and the progress of God’s people.
Are you busy about the Lord’s work? Are you doing the things you should be doing? Are you still wondering what your job might be? James writes, “If any of you lack wisdom, let Him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Let’s find our spot and get in it.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: Numbers 4:1-15
Numbers chapter 4 describes the division of labor among the Levites in relation to the tabernacle. Each of the families of the sons of Levi was given specific responsibilities for part of the work. In our text, we see the portions assigned to Aaron and to the sons of Kohath.
To Aaron and his sons belonged the task of caring for the items associated with worship within the tabernacle. Essentially, they were responsible for everything within the inner sanctuary. When it was time to move, they covered and prepared the table of showbread and the golden altar, cleaned up the ashes and gathered and wrapped all the utensils. When everything was ready, the Kohathites were to come and carry it to the next location.
Continuing in chapter 4, we find that God gave similar instructions to the Gershonites and the Merarites. In each case, God was very specific about what each was to do.
It took everyone doing their part to get the tabernacle pulled down and moved. If any family had neglected or left its work undone, the whole nation would have been delayed. They would have been unable to do what God was directing them to do at the time He intended for them to do it. As a result of a few unwilling to perform their roles, God’s work would be hindered and God’s people denied a blessing.
According to the New Testament, the same thing can be said of the local church. God has gifted every church member for a specific task, and it is one of the Holy Spirit’s functions to guide them to their appointed ministry. In Ephesians 4:16, the Bible says Jesus is the head, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.“ The body referenced is the church, and every joint is every member. Jesus has put us together and given every member a gift and a task. We must prayerfully seek out our place and then faithfully perform the assigned ministry. If we do not, then we, like the Levites, would be guilty of hindering the work of God and the progress of God’s people.
Are you busy about the Lord’s work? Are you doing the things you should be doing? Are you still wondering what your job might be? James writes, “If any of you lack wisdom, let Him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Let’s find our spot and get in it.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
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