Devotionary

The people of Israel are poised on the edge of the promised land. The time has come for them to cross the border and take what was rightfully theirs. It had been given to them by God, but it remained just a   promise as long as they stayed on the East side of the Jordan River. They were going to have go cross over and start the formidable task of ridding the land of its inhabitants and all vestiges of their pagan religions and false gods. This wasn’t so much about conquering as it was about cleansing. The land had been polluted and poisoned by centuries of occupation by people groups that worshiped everything from the sun, moon and stars to a litany of fabricated deities whose temples, shrines and high places dotted the landscape. In Numbers 33-34, God is going to give the people of Israel one final marching order before they cross over the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the land. And it would not prove to be an easy order to follow. Before they could occupy the land, they were going to have to puri

Sin, like nuclear fuel, has a half-life. Its impact doesn’t really ever go away. Its shelf life is measured in years, not minutes. And while sin’s impact may be invisible, it is far from inconsequential. When you least expect it, the ramifications of sin can appear out of nowhere, which has led to the oft-repeated warning: Be sure your sins will find you out. But did you realize that this popular parenting tip is from the Bible? It’s found In Numbers 32 and the context for its original implementation might surprise you. As the people of Israel were preparing to enter the promised land, the two tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses with a request that they be allowed to settle outside the borders of the land of Canaan. They had spied some lush pastureland on the eastern side of the border and wanted to settle their families and flocks there. And while Moses eventually agreed to their seemingly innocent request, time would reveal that their motivation was anything but innocent.   

Sometimes, when reading the history of the people of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament, we arrive at a passage like that found in Numbers 30-31, and it makes us uncomfortable. In these two chapters we have God command that the people of Israel completely wipe out the Midianites. In essence, He orders them to commit genocide. And this image of God is not an easy one to reconcile. We see this portrayal of God as unattractive and, therefore, inaccurate. This can’t be the same God who sent His own Son to die for sinful man. After all, doesn’t the Bible say that God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son as an expression of that love? Yes, it does. But the Bible also tells us that God hates sin and, because of His holiness and righteousness, He must deal with sin. And while we might see God’s actions as somehow unfair or unjust, the real issue here is that of trust. Will we listen to what God is saying and do what He is commanding, because He knows best? It’s a matter of faith, not fairness. I

The Old Testament sacrificial was costly. Not only did it cost the life of the animal that was used as a substitute or stand-in for the guilty sinner, it cost the one making the sacrifice. As required by God, each Israelite had to offer a sacrifice for their sins, and the sheep, goat or bull they brought would have had great financial value. There was a monetary price to be paid. But it was far less costly than the penalty God had placed on man’s sin: The penalty of death. When we read through Numbers 29, we are reminded that the sheer number of Israelites meant that the annual cost to the nation, in terms of livestock, was significant. And these animals were not the lame, the sick and the old. They were the best of the best. They were required to be without flaw and in excellent health. And once they were sacrificed, their value disappeared with their last breath. But what a picture this paints of the costliness of sin. And what a vivid reminder it provides of Christ’s priceless death on man’s behalf.  

Unlike Phinehas, Moses is a household name. And this Old Testament character, who wrote the book of Numbers under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is someone with whom virtually everyone is familiar. His exploits in Egypt on behalf of the people of Israel are well-known. His four decades of leadership of the people of Israel are well-documented in the Word of God. But one of the less familiar and least understood aspects of his life’s story is his barring from entrance into the promised land by God. In Numbers 27-28, we are given a glimpse into this part of Moses’ storied life. And what we get to see is a man who was a consummate shepherd – all the way to the end – and in spite of the incredibly disappointing news that he would never step foot into the land he longed to see. This is a difficult story to understand. But the one thing that stands out is the shepherd’s heart of Moses. He never let his disappointment keep him from completing his divine assignment. He led well – all the way to the end.

Phinehas, not exactly a household name. But it’s a name that carries a great deal of significance with God. In chapters 24-25 of the book of Numbers, we are introduced to Phinehas and a pinnacle moment in the history of the people of Israel. They have returned to the border of the land of promise after a lengthy hiatus that left them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years – all because they had refused to enter the land the first time they had come to this place. News of giants in the land had caused them to fear and led them to doubt God’s promise that He would give them victory over their enemies. Now, four decades later, the people of Israel had another problem. This time, it wasn’t larger-than-life enemies, it was apostasy. The men of Israel had chosen to have sexual relations with the women of Moab and to worship their false god: Baal. As a result, God demanded that Moses and the leaders of Israel put to death all those who were guilty of apostasy and immorality. But it will be the actions of Phinehas

Can God be trusted? While we know the answer to this question should be a resounding, “Yes,” we must admit that there are times when we find it difficult, if not impossible, to trust God. We can easily find ourselves in situations where He seems unavailable or, at best, disinterested in our condition. But Numbers 24 provides us with a much-needed reminder that our God is always in control and always fully aware of what is going on in and around our lives. Even when we are oblivious to the invisible dangers surrounding us, nothing escapes God’s notice. He is faithful to protect us from both seen and unseen dangers. And He is faithful to keep each and every promise He has made to us. God had chosen Israel as His very own possession and, while they had proven themselves incapable of remaining faithful to Him, He would not abandon them. And when the enemies of Israel were busy making plans for their demise, God was actively interceding on their behalf – keeping His commitment to bless them.  

It is Proverbs 14:12 that reads: “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” In other words, each of us has choices we face each and every day of our lives. We can do things our way or submit to God and do it His way. And, in Numbers 22-23, we get introduced to a man named Balaam, who was severely tempted to ignore the will of God and follow his own selfish desire for financial reward. In fact, Balaam became so blinded by his greed, that he couldn’t see the danger of his situation. God had clearly warned him, and had told what he could and could not do. But Balaam was strongly influenced by the offer of material gain. And, in one of those strange and quirky scenes found in Scripture, Balaam gets a much-needed lesson from the mouth of a donkey. God miraculously used a dumb animal to speak truth to an ignorant and money-hungry man. The apostle Peter used this story to warn his readers about the “way of Balaam,” the temptation to allow our greed to disregard the revealed will of

Been there. Done that. Sometimes, the Christian life can feel a bit repetitive, as if you’re going through the same lessons over and over again. It can begin to appear as if you’re in some kind of remedial school for slow learners, repeating the same lessons, all in hopes that you might one day learn whatever it is that God is trying to teach you. And in Numbers 20-21, the people of Israel were going to revisit a lesson they should have learned years earlier, at a place called Meribah. For the Israelites, their recurring lesson had to do with God’s provision and their tendency to complain. In spite of all that God had done for them, they found it easy to fall back into a pattern of ungratefulness and discontentment. And it usually stemmed from their unwillingness to trust God. Even Moses would find himself doubting the word of God and reacting in anger at the circumstances of life. And he would pay dearly for it. When we choose to disbelieve God, we tend to disobey God. And the results can be deadly serious.

The book of Numbers is full of references to sin and the need for cleansing. That was what the entire sacrificial system was all about. And in Numbers 19, God outlines a very specific kind of cleansing required for anyone who had become defiled by contact with a dead body. And, as is true of just about every single aspect of the Old Testament sacrificial system, this rite was intended to point toward an even more important cleansing that would become available when God sent His Son to die for the sins of mankind. He gave His life by dying in the place of sinful human beings, providing a cleansing from the contamination of death we inherited from Adam. And, unlike the sacrifices made in the tabernacle in the wilderness, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was offered once and never had to be repeated. His purification of our impurity was permanent, not temporary. His sacrificial death was effective, making it possible for all who place their faith in Him to receive permanent cleansing from sin and release from the penalt

Why is it that we can fail to recognize the hand of God in our lives, but still blame Him for everything that goes wrong in our lives? It’s so easy to miss His blessings and yet hold Him responsible for the seeming curses that come our way. And in Numbers 17-18, we will see God providing a somewhat strange visual lesson designed to put an end to the bickering of the Israelites. If you recall, in chapter 16, God dealt severely with a rebellion among the people of Israel that had instigated by a man named, Korah. He had stirred up trouble, accusing Moses and Aaron of setting themselves up as somehow more holy than everybody else. Korah claimed that every single Israelite was holy before God, and there was no reason for Moses, Aaron or the Levites to set themselves apart as any more special than anybody else. But Korah and his fellow conspirators had to pay for their attempted coup with their lives. And in chapter 17, God gives Moses instructions to ensure that there would no more questions concerning whom God h

There’s one in every group. That individual who just can’t seem to be satisfied with the way thing are. He or she takes it upon themselves to stand up to the injustices they see taking place around them. And it’s usually because they feel slighted in some way. But if they can make it a group problem, they’ll be more effective in bringing about the changes they’re looking for. And, in Numbers 16, we have just such a situation laid out for us. It involves a man named Korah, who has decided that he doesn’t like the way things are going in the camp of Israel. As a Kohathite, he had been set aside by God to help care for the tabernacle and everything associated with it. His clan was responsible for moving the sacred objects from one camp to another. But he wanted more. He was dissatisfied with God’s organizational structure and decided to make his grievances known. He began to spread his dissatisfaction among the people of Israel, causing an unnecessary degree of animosity toward Moses. But God was unwilling to to

There are two words that no follower of God should ever say: God can’t. And yet, whether we express those words audibly or not, we allow them to creep into our subconscience and contaminate our outlook on God. The next thing that happens is a subtle, but spreading sense of panic. We begin to play the what-if game, wondering just what terrible outcomes lie in store for us because our God is too weak to handle our problems. In Numbers 14-15, that’s exactly the scenario we will see lived out in the lives of the people of Israel. They have already decided to listen to the majority report of the spies and refuse to enter the land of promise. They begin to let their minds get away from them, as they play out all the worst-case scenarios that could happen. It is not a pretty picture. And it is not an isolated one. The truth is, we do the same thing virtually every day of our lives. We start to doubt God, and the next thing we know, we’re making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Faith is a well-worn topic among most Christians. We talk about it constantly. But the problem seems to be that most of us struggle with exhibiting it in our own lives. We put a much higher stock in the facts. We take a look around us and determine that things are too difficult for God. We see our problems as insurmountable and our enemies as unconquerable. The Israelites had the same problem. As they stood on the edge of the very land God had promised to give them, they heard the reports of the 12 spies and started to get cold feet. There were giants in the land. The armies were large and formidable. The cities were well fortified and their walls insurmountable. In Numbers 12-13, we have the well-known story of the 12 men who spied out the land of promise and came back with good news and bad news. It was fruitful, but it was also filled with powerful enemies. And the people of God decided to listen to the facts and set aside their faith in God. And that decision would have long-lasting and deadly consequence

t is one thing to share with God what it is you think you desire. But it is another thing altogether to demand of God what you believe you can’t live without. It is a sign of ingratitude and a lack of belief in God’s providence and wisdom. Yet, we do it all the time. And so did the Israelites. And in Numbers 10-11, we get an up-close and personal glimpse into their demand for more from God. He had miraculously provided them with manna. But they decided what He had given them was not enough. They wanted more. They had unmet appetites that were forcing them to voice their dissatisfaction with God and His provision. And that is a dangerous game to play. Rejecting God is risky business. Demanding more from our already generous and gracious God is not a tactic that ends well. Telling God you’re unhappy with His provision never ends well. And the Israelites were about to learn that lesson the hard way.

What does God want me to do? That’s a legitimate question that each of us has asked ourselves at some point in time. And in Numbers 9, we are going to see the Israelites having to react to the will of God when He let them know it was time to pack up and move out. God had let them know that He would lead them through the wilderness, all the way to the land of promise. He appeared to them in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. And when either one of the pillars moved from its place over the tabernacle, it was time for the Israelites to follow. They didn’t get a vote. They weren’t asked if it was convenient or fit into their schedule. When God said, “move,” they were to jump. It was all about obedience, and trusting that God knew what was best for them. Yet, the uncertainty associated with this kind of arrangement had to have left them frustrated at times. But that’s where trust was to come in. God knew best. He had a plan and was working it to perfection. All they had to do was follow.

The idea of substitutionary atonement is not new. Jesus Christ dying on the cross in the place of sinful mankind was not a novel idea that God came up with at the last minute. All throughout the book of Numbers, we see God allowing animals to stand in as substitutes for sinful men and women, sacrificing their lives so that atonement can be offered. And in Numbers 8, God continues to stress the role of the Levites who, as a tribe, were designated by God to be His substitutes, taking the place of the firstborns of Israel, each of whom had been claimed by God because of His sparing of them on the night of the first Passover, all those years ago in Egypt. They would be a foreshadowing of a greater substitute to come: Jesus Christ, who would offer His life as an atonement for many. He died so that men might live. He paid the penalty owed for mankind’s sin with His own life. The innocent died for the guilty. The sinless for the sinful.

Sometimes, within the body of Christ, we end up with a hierarchical structure that wasn’t necessarily intended by God. Yes, there are designated roles and responsibilities with God’s church, but that doesn’t mean that some are more important than others. It is a matter of responsibility and calling. And in Number 7, we are going to see how the people of Israel understood that they had a role to play in the everyday affairs of caring for the tabernacle. While the Levites were the ones responsible for the care and transportation of the tabernacle and its contents, the rest of the Israelites showed that they wanted to play a part as well. So, they provided the Levites with a gift of six carts and 12 oxen. This appears to be a freewill gift, unsolicited by God. But it shows that they understood that the tabernacle belonged to them as much as it did to the Levites. They benefited from it, so they wanted to give towards its care. And their gift was highly practical, making the job of the Levites much easier than it

We know the Bible talks a lot about sin. But why? Because sin is an aberration. It was not what God intended when He made the world. That’s not to say that the entrance of sin into the world caught God by surprise. In fact, He had already made provision for it. He had determined before He had even created the world that He would send His Son to die for the sins of mankind. Sin was inevitable. Because man was given a choice as to whether He would worship God, he was free to choose a different path. And he did. The result was sin and the wages for sin is death. And in Numbers 5-6, God provides the people of Israel with some rather strange commands regarding the treatment of lepers, the diseased, and the adulterous. While God’s prescriptions for dealing with these things may sound harsh to our ears, they were meant to teach His people that He takes sin and its varied consequences quite seriously. Disease is nothing more than a sad byproduct of sin. So is death. Which is why God wants us to take sin seriously.  

Have you ever thought about the fact that God gave the people of Israel the tabernacle, a fairly detailed and intricate structure, that they had to transport all over the wilderness for almost four decades. I’ve had to move a few times in my life, but none of my relocations come anywhere near the sheer size and level of sophistication the relocation of the tabernacle required. Not only was there a lot of pieces to pack and carry, they were all considered holy by God. In fact, there were some items that only the priests could pack, because if anyone else even looked at them, they would die. But each and every time God determined it was time to move, the Israelites were obligated to pack up the tabernacle, according to God’s very detailed instructions, and set out. And because He expected His people to treat His tabernacle with reverence, He established a protocol that ensured they did so. God was serious about holiness, and He made sure that His people were too.