Numbers 11-13

Daily Reading

Numbers 11-13
 

Daily Thought

Twelve spies were sent by Moses to check out the land of Canaan, the Promised Land of God.  They returned after forty days, with good news.  The land was flowing with milk and honey.  However, their was bad news, as well.  The people were strong and their cities fortified.  "There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:33).

There would be, someday, another warrior of God, thought to small for battle against a large opponent.  David was too small to fight Goliath the Philistine.  First King Saul told him, "You can't fight Goliath. You're only a boy."  Then David put on the armor, but it didn't fit. If you are too small for the armor, you are too small for the battle.  Finally, the big Philistine himself laughed at David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?"

That was the Israelites' problem, someone thought they were too small for battle, but it wasn't the Nephilim or the Amalekites or the Hittites or the Jebusites or the Amorites or the Canaanites.  It was the Israelites themselves.  "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes."

It never occurred to David to measure himself.  He measured Goliath. He measured God.  "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel" (1Samuel 17:45).  So, David killed Goliath with a slingshot. Then he cut off his head.

Daily Prayer

Awesome God, You reign from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. You are the Almighty, the Everlasting, my Stronghold, my Shelter, my Fortress in time of trouble. You are my Savior.

My God is an awesome God. May I never rely on my own strength and may I never forget Your strength. I shall place my trust in it, in You, always. If my God is for me, who can be against me?

Amen

Numbers 8-10

Daily Reading

Numbers 8-10

Daily Thought

My son approached me with what seemed to be a reasonable request. "May I go to the movies tonight with my friends?"  Which movie? Which friends?  I asked the right questions.  "Son, it seems like everything is okay."

He started to walk away triumphantly. "But son, you know there is no 'Yes' until your mom says 'Yes.'"  

He knew and I knew, my wife knows better.  She knows if there is homework due.  She knows how he's behaved during the day.  She knows his friends.  I've learned, I dare not say 'Yes' or 'No' before checking with the one who knows best.

The Israelites were observing the Passover on the anniversary of their deliverance from Egypt.  Some who were unclean (they had touched a dead body) still wanted to participate.  They asked Moses if it was okay.  It seemed a reasonable request.

And Moses said to them, "Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you" (Numbers 9:8).  

Moses had learned, check with the One who knows best.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

and do not lean on your own understanding.  

In all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make straight your paths. 

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Daily Prayer

Father God, You are wise, You are loving, You are good. What a blessing it is to bring my requests to You. I know that You will work all things to the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. I want Your wisdom, God, and it is there for the asking.  But I forget to ask.  

My love for You is shown by my obedience.  My trust is displayed in my actions.  May I be one who, all day long, seeks Your Word and Your ways, follows Your path, and walks in Your wisdom.  May I be one who talks to You.  And listens.  

Amen

Numbers 7

Daily Reading

Numbers 7

Daily Thought

Moses gave the Gershonites two carts to carry curtains, and the Merarites got four carts for tent poles. The Kohathites were responsible for the holy things like the ark of the Covenant. Indiana Jones and all that. Their focus was God's glory and nothing else.

The Hebrew word for glory means "weight."  Several tons, in this case. That's how much the ark and the holy things weighed.  A cart and a couple oxen would have been nice, "but to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder" (Numbers 7:9).  

God said, "No.  I want you to carry the holy things on your shoulders."

The wonders of God surround us. The elegance of creation, the beauty of sunsets, the majesty of mountains. "The whole earth is full of his glory," said more than one Hebrew poet.  But that is not where the world will see the full glory of God.    

God's intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~Ephesians 3:10-11

The church.  That's you and me, followers of Jesus Christ.  Displaying God's glory to the world, his goodness, his grace, his gospel - it's on our shoulders.  God says, "I want you to carry my glory."

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that are in them, the land and all it's creatures, the skies and the birds that soar, stars and planets, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, which you made, as well.

In all of creation, You place Your image in people. People like me.  Through the work of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am being transformed and Your image is becoming clear again. May I display Your glory, Your wonder, Your wisdom, You grace, Your love, to the world around me. May the glory of Your work in me brighten the world and bring You praise.

Amen

Numbers 5-6

Daily Reading

Numbers 5-6

Daily Thought

Marriage is foundational to a godly people, and unfaithfulness is a serious charge.  Numbers 5:11-31 describes a rather bizarre test of a wife based on the unsubstantiated suspicions of a husband.  This was not a courtroom trial, but rather a public ordeal sufficiently terrifying, designed to force guilt or innocence to show itself.  The threat of the test appears to be the power of the test.  No one knew the results in advance, therefore, if the woman was proved innocent, the husband owed the wife a public apology equal to the public accusation.  The woman, if guilty, upon drinking the water would suffer pain and never bear children again.  Thus, it is likely she wouldn't drink and incur the curse, but confess instead.  

This isn't how we run courtrooms today, is it?  Instead, we suffer broken marriages and adulterous relationships.  We do not enjoy, and enjoy does seem a a strange yet appropriate word, the fear of the Lord and the fear of the Lord's ways.  Perhaps if we did, we would also enjoy more of God's blessings.

Daily Prayer

My Holy God, You are good and just and holy and loving and full of grace. Your Son was pierced for my transgressions, He was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon Him; by His wounds I am healed.  May I take sin as seriously as He did.

Thank You, Father, for salvation, for forgiveness, for the atonement for my sins offered by the death of Jesus Christ. Thank You Jesus for taking what I deserve so that I will share in what You deserve.  May my love You for You be seen in my desire for righteousness.  

Amen

Numbers 3-4

Daily Reading

Numbers 3-4

Daily Thought

"From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting" (Numbers 4:23).  In the Hebrew, "to do the duty" literally reads "to war the warfare."  It's repeated several times, (4:3, 30, 35, 39, 43; 4:43; 8:24).  This to describe the people who prepare the tabernacle and set the table for the sacrifices.  To war the warfare: now that has a lot more punch to it. 

The work of God, no matter what, will never be rightly done until we understand that, whatever else it might be, it is also warfare.  Whether it is serving orphans and the poor, or serving cookies and coffee, we must elevate our thoughts of our duties and our service.  It is warfare.  We live neither in a Christian nation or a godly world, and we have aligned ourselves to serve the King of Kings.  We are allies of the One who seeks to take away the world's sinful misery, but people cling to their passions.  To make people better by giving their lives to God, but that means dying to self and the world loves self.  

It is warfare, and the world will resist.  It is a fight, and will always be so, if it is rightly done.  The battle is waged, however, not by killing, but by dying; when we ourselves die to ourselves and our King becomes our life.  

Daily Prayer

Our Father, You are our God and we are Your people. The family of God, brought together by the sacrifice of Your Son, receiving full inheritance of Your great and glorious treasures. Thank You, God.

By our love for one another, we show that we are Your disciples. May I be someone who looks out for the interests of others, who is quick to serve, who seeks out and fills needs. May I be someone who loves in action as well as word.  May I fight the good fight by serving others, giving my life fully to You.  May I stand for Your grace and truth.

Amen

Number 1-2

Daily Reading

 Numbers 1-2

Daily Thought

"Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head" (Numbers 1:2).  There are 7,000,000,000 people on this planet, more or less.  Best guess is 100 billion people have been born since the dawn of the human race.  Approximately 255 babies are born every minute.  Right around 18,600,000 birthdays are on February 11.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  ~Matthew 10:29-31

God does not know more or less, best guess, approximately, right around, or just about. God knows exactly. By Name.  God knows you.

P.S., There is exactly one God.

Daily Prayer

God, Your care for me is wonderful and amazing. As David wrote in his psalm, "Who am I that You think about me?" And yet You do. You think of me more than I think of You. Forgive me for that. May I walk with you all day every day.

Father, the value that You have placed in me, may wIe see that value in others. That each person is fearfully and wonderfully made, a work of art by You, my Creator God. Truly, God I love You as I love others, because they are Your workmanship. You have given me faith to believe in You, a certainty of hope for eternity, and You give me love, the greatest of Your gifts. May I give Your love to others.

Amen

Leviticus 26-27

Daily Reading

Leviticus 26-27

Daily Thought

Principles of Discipline from Leviticus 26

1. Clearly communicate the rules and their consequences, rewards for obedience and penalties for disobedience.  Now the Israelites are responsible for the consequences, not God.
2. Don't make threats, make promises.  Threats communicate intention, promises communicate action.  God let the Israelites know he would follow through.
3. Start small and build.  The results build when the actions become habits, and when the habits become character.  
4. Include both positive and negative consequences.  This doubles the motivation to do what is right and good.  God says "yes" as often as he says "no."
5. Provide hope.  God gives the Israelites a way of escaping the consequences, by confessing, repenting and making amends.  

That's good parenting!

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all things.  You are God.  I am not, but You did create me in Your image. Within me is a knowledge of You. I have eternity in my heart. I know You, and I know what is right and wrong, what is good and evil.  

Why I choose not to follow You when the consequences are terrible, I can't explain.  But I do.  Teach me Your ways, O Lord.  Thank You for Your Son, who showed me You again, and made restoration possible. May I follow You, may I conform to Your image, may I call You Father.   

Amen