A GOD WHO BLESSES

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: " ' "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." Numbers 6:22-27

The closing verse from Numbers, Chapter 6 form what has been referred to as the Aaronic Benediction. In it the Lord tells Moses to have Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelite people with words from His mouth.

Indeed the words of the Lord here offer meaning to the word benediction, a word we commonly relate to concluding a service of worship or other special events. In fact, we use the word so much in relation to finishing something that we might come to think the word actually has some it as a root meaning. An examination of the word however refutes this possibility.

For the word "benediction" actually is derived from the Middle English word "benediccioun" which was derived from the Latin word "benedicere" which meant "to bless". Further, benedicere could be broken down into the Latin words "bene" which meant "well" and "dicere" meaning "to say". So benedictions are blessings that should speak well in some way about someone or something.
Back to our scriptures. The Lord has certainly given Aaron and his sons words that speak well to Israel and to us as well. Let’s take a look at the blessings within this Aaronic Benediction:

1. The Lord bless you and keep you. In this blessing, the word "bless" means to "invoke divine care upon" while "keep you" speaks to the protection and sustenance the Lord wishes for His people. The bottom line is that God cares for His children. He wants the best for each and every one of us and because of this we should always be in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving unto Him.

2. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. When the Lord shines His face upon us, it is because He favors us. And we need go no further than Jesus to see how much God favors His children. For instead of seeing any of us perish from our sinfulness, God was willing to give up His only Son and in doing so was more than gracious to us. In fact, what God did was nothing less that amazing grace. To see the full light of the Lord’s face shining on you, look to the cross where you will always see it in full brilliance.

3. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. The King James version of the bible renders this translation: "The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." So what is it to have the Lord’s face toward us or His countenance upon us? It is to be in the midst of His care and presence. We matter to God and He wants to watch over us. After all, we are His children and He is our Heavenly Father. And our Father in Heaven doesn’t wish us to be living in anguish. No…He blessed us with this life to rejoice and be glad in it, regardless of the circumstances. Paul, in Philippians, Chapter 4, verse 4, says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So how can we possibly live in a spirit of rejoicing, even in difficult times? Paul once again had the answer from that same passage in Philippians 4, one of my favorite passages in all of scripture. For Paul said:

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

Do you know Jesus in your life? For it is in Him and only in Him, that we can find the strength to make it in whatever our circumstances…to be, like Paul, content…and at peace.

Friends, without Jesus, we are left without hope and destined to despair. There is no peace short of Jesus and His Father…our Father through which we can only reach by Him (John 14:6) This Father is the One who blesses us with the verses from Numbers…the One who wants us to turn to Him just as He turns to us…the One who wants us to not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to Him. And when we do, we find the kind of peace He wishes for us…His peace which transcends all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Truly, we serve a God who loves us more than we can ever love Him back in return. This God is a God who blesses us beyond belief and ever wants the best for us. All praise, honor and glory be unto Him now and forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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TOTAL DEDICATION

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. " 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the Lord is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation to the Lord he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the Lord. " 'If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. He must dedicate himself to the Lord for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation. " 'Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There he is to present his offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. " 'The priest is to present them before the Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering. " 'Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. " 'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. The priest shall then wave them before the Lord as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine. " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' " Numbers 6:1-21

Chapter 6 begins with God giving guidance for anyone who would wish to become a Nazarite or one decided to separate themselves fully for the Lord.

Requirements of those desiring to take the Nazarite vow highlight the very requirements that God expects from any of His children. Here are three areas to focus on as we consider the matter of total dedication to our Father:

1. Dedication to God requires commitment. Note that there wasn’t a command given that all men and women had to be Nazarites. Rather, the opportunity was presented with the required obligations on the one taking the vow. It was up to the individual man or woman to make the commitment to follow God in such a devoted manner.

Today, the level of devotion to God is still placed in the hands of the believer. God doesn’t want to coerce our loyalty to Him. He wants us to display a faithful, obedient and loyal life that comes from a heartfelt desire to glorify Him in all things. A truly dedicated believer is one who seeks the desires of the Lord in all facets of their lives. And this leads me to point 2.

2. Dedication to God requires personal discipline. We can say vows and profess a willingness to obediently devote ourselves to God. Putting those words into action is a totally different story. For as the old saying goes, "Talk is cheap" and often it is our actions that either validate or invalidate the things we say. God wants us not just to "walk the walk and talk the talk" but to "walk His walk and talk His talk". He doesn’t want us to merely "mean what we say and say what we mean" but rather "mean what He says and say what He means". In other words, He wants us to be personally disciplined to the degree that we can be separate from the worldly influences around us…so that all that we say and do is not as the world would say and do.

To accomplish this, we need to exercise great personal discipline. And personal discipline can only come from the strength of the Lord through the Holy Spirit living and abiding within our hearts and minds. None of us are strong enough to stand on our own power. Our success in following the Lord the way He expects calls on us to surrender ourselves to Him. And this takes us to the final point.

3. Dedication to God requires sacrifice. The man or woman wanting to separate themselves for the Lord was to give up certain things. They were supposed to "abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink." They also were expected to "not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins." Additionally, "no razor" was to be used on the head…their hair was to "grow long"…"throughout the period of his separation to the Lord". They were to avoid dead bodies, even if they were their own family members (although we read that provisions were made if the person inadvertently came in contact with someone who had died).

At the end of the period of separation to the Lord, the person was to come to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting where they would present the following offerings to the Lord: "a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil." These expensive offerings, along with the shaving of the hair off the Nazarite’s head, were just a further extension of the sacrifice required of one fully devoted to the Lord.

Today, the Lord requires no less sacrifice from us. As we go forth to follow Him, we need to be ready to lay it all aside for Him, just as in Christ Jesus, His only Son, He laid it all aside for us. For in God’s giving of His only Son, a Nazarene, for all of mankind, He displayed first hand the level of commitment and sacrifice expected…the full meaning of total dedication and the level of sacrifice and commitment that separates us from the world and sets us apart as belonging to Him.

In Christ,

Mark

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GOD EXPECTS MARITAL FAITHFULNESS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him by sleeping with another man, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure - then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt. " 'The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, "If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband"- here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath-"may the Lord cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away." " 'Then the woman is to say, "Amen. So be it." " 'The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord and bring it to the altar. The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, and she will become accursed among her people. If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children. " 'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.' " Numbers 5:11-31

Another issue that could bring problems and unrest within any camp was the matter of unfaithfulness in marriage and the remainder of Numbers, Chapter 5 deals with this subject.
So what was an Israelite supposed to do if a man suspected infidelity? Well, they didn’t hire a private investigator to try and get evidence like someone might do today. Instead, they went through the one who was deemed the authority in most all things: the priest. Here’s what the scriptures say:
"'If a man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him by sleeping with another man, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure - then he is to take his wife to the priest." verses 11-14

So the man would bring his wife to the priest along with an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf." He was to "not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt." The priest would then initiate a test on the accused spouse, a test that is referred to as the "law of jealousy" or "jealousy test". Of course, the purpose of the test was to see if the woman had or hadn’t been unfaithful. Here’s what the priest would do:

" 'The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, "If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband"- here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath-"may the Lord cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away." " 'Then the woman is to say, "Amen. So be it." " 'The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord and bring it to the altar. The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, and she will become accursed among her people. If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children." verses 16-28

I think of note is that there wasn’t an immediate conviction of guilt on the accused woman. Instead, she was tested…and not just tested before man but before the Lord. And although we don’t know the makeup of the bitter water, we do know that it would reveal faithfulness or infidelity after being drunk. Unfaithfulness would result in bitter suffering, both physically (swollen abdomen and thigh wasting away) but emotional as well (accursed among the people). There were harsh penalties attached to one cheating on a spouse.

Of course, this expectation isn’t something new. You’ll recall in Exodus 20 that one of God’s Ten Commandments was "Do not commit adultery." God expected faithfulness in marriage. He did so then and He still does today.

Ever wonder how the Lord feels about the world today and the way His children handle themselves in marital relations. Last year while there were 7.3 marriages per 1,000 people, there were also 3.4 divorces per the same population. Thus, around half of all marriages are ending in divorce, a troubling figure. Here’s one just as troubling if not more. A 2007 study on infidelity found that "45-55% of married women and 50-60% of married men engage in extramarital sex at some time or another during their relationship." On average, that’s more than 50% of all husbands and wives. Is there little wonder that half of all marriages are ending in divorce?

One thing is certain from our scripture today and God’s word from earlier in the Old Testament:
God despises unfaithfulness in marital relations. For God made marriage to be the consummate love relationship between two people…a love relationship that would be shared only between the husband and wife…a love relationship that was to last until death would part the couple. It is God’s will that the husband and wife sustain and maintain the love relationship He has ordained. And herein is where much of the problem lies…because too many people are in marriages where the Lord isn’t acknowledged. And without the Lord, Satan is ready to step in and ruin every good and perfect relationship that God creates. And infidelity is just one of the ways he does it.

Question: If you’re in a marital relationship, have you fully submitted that relationship to the Lord? Have you vowed to ensure that everything done in that relationship will be done to glorify God? Is the Lord central to your relationship?

Friends, the only way a marital relationship has a chance of making it in a way that pleases the Lord is if He is central to that marriage. All things must run through Him and His will must be done in the lives of the married couple, individually and collectively. And when you have a relationship where the Lord is first, you will experience more joy, peace, and love that you could ever imagine. It’s my prayer that everyone experience this kind of marriage. I can tell you I am and there’s nothing better. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,

Mark

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COMPENSATION AND RECONCILIATION

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses, "Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." The Israelites did this; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses. The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him. All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. Each man's sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.' " Numbers 5:1-10

Numbers, Chapter 5 contains guidance for the people living in the respective camps. I’ll touch on the first two sets of guidance with special emphasis placed on the second.

The first direction from the Lord had to do with "anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body." You’ll recall this subject was addressed earlier in Leviticus, Chapter 13. And although it seems cruel that people would be separated from the camp for the reasons listed, we need to remember that there weren’t any doctors in the days of early Israel. Many of the symptoms listed were connected to disorders that could potentially be highly contagious. Allowing afflicted people to remain in the camps would risk further spread of the infections.

The second topic of direction from the Lord in our scripture had to do with the matter of restitution. Where the first part of the chapter dealt with afflictions that could be seen externally, this section dealt with matters that were internal. And as we read God’s word, it’s obvious He placed a priority on making amends with others when "a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord."

When wrongs were committed, there were several steps that the guilty people were to take.

First, they were to "confess the sin…committed." It’s been said that anyone with an addiction can only start to take the steps to recovery when they admit they have a problem. It’s this attitude of confession of sin before God that help us take the first step toward the healing found in reconciliation. For when we wrong others through our sinful actions, we are also wronging God who expects us to conduct ourselves as His Son Jesus conducted Himself.

After confession, restitution was to be made. In the case of early Israel, the person guilty of wronging another was to "make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged." Part of restitution in the days of Israel involved compensation toward the one wronged. A price was required to be paid, whether it was to the person wronged, a close relative, or in the absence of both, to the priest as a price paid to the Lord.

Additionally, a sin sacrifice of a ram was required in order to atone for the wrong.

Well, fast forward ahead into the time of Jesus. The people of Israel were still afflicted with a sinfulness that had slowly but surely placed a divide between them and their Heavenly Father. The Old Testament covenant was badly strained and God needed to do something to repair and restore His relationship with His people. The only real restitution for the people would have involved their destruction because they were an unrepentant and stiff-necked. But God had made a covenant with Israel…a covenant where He promised that He would never again destroy His people as He did when the 40 days and 40 nights of rain flooded the earth and killed everyone but Noah, his family and the animals who were on the ark. God needed a secondary plan to compensate for the sins of His people. That secondary plan became the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus.

For in Jesus and His death on the cross of Calvary, God paid the price for our sins with Jesus as the compensation to cover our wrongs. The cross of Jesus spanned the divide that had come between God and mankind…and reconciled the relationship. Consider this passage from the New Testament:

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Did you hear what the Word of God said? We are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and through this, God has committed us to the message of reconciliation. Did you get that message? If so, then there should be no one that you are not reconciled to right this very moment. For our Father who gave His Son in our place doesn’t pick and choose who He reconciled Himself to. There are no qualifiers in this scripture. It said God reconciled Himself to us…all of us…through Christ Jesus. And if God can reconcile Himself to us despite our sinfulness, then we an reconcile ourselves to each other. And if you’re having trouble bringing yourself to do this and just want to continue to turn your back on someone you need to reconcile to, ask yourself how you would feel if God decided to turn His back on you. That hasn’t happened…nor will it.

One final point. The knowledge of God having reconciled Himself to us should bring us to a place of praise and thanksgiving. For not only were we reconciled to God through the death of Jesus but we also received the gift of salvation if we truly believe and trust that Jesus is Savior. For truly, no one comes unto the Father except by Him. (John 14:6) Here’s one more passage to consider that reinforces this:

"For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:10-11

Jesus was the compensation that led to our reconciliation with God. And it was through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus, that we have the assurance of eternal life. Death is not the end but only the beginning of a wonderful forever life with the Father and the Son.

Question: Do you know the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who died for you to pay the price for your sins and reconciled you to your Father in Heaven? If so, rejoice and be glad in what He has done for you. If not, don’t delay. Come to Jesus right now. Profess Him as you Lord and Savior. And seal your promise of eternal life with the Father through the Son. When you do this, you too can "rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have…received reconciliation. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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PLANNED AND PURPOSED

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting. "This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place. "Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame. "Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame. "They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting. "Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles." The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."

"The Lord said to Moses, "Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. "This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."

"Count the Merarites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."

"Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, counted by clans, were 2,750. This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses. The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command. The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans, were 3,200. This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses. So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord's command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses." Numbers 4

In Numbers, Chapter 3, the Lord told Moses to "Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more." The sons of Levi were also mentioned as "Gershon, Kohath and Merari." As Chapter 4 begins, the Levite count begins with the Kohathites, Gershonites and the Merarites all counted.

Chapter 4 included more than just a count of these Levitical families. It also included specific tasking and assignment of responsibilities, specifically regarding the Tabernacle.

First, the Lord tasks the Kohathites to carry "those things that are in the Tent of Meeting" after "Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move."

Next, the Lord tasked the Gershonites "to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service"…all "done under the direction of Aaron and his sons."

Finally, the Lord tasked the Merarites "to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use."

Additionally, the Lord specifically tasked Aaron’s son, Eleazar, commanding him to "have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."
So how does this apply to us today? Well, just as the Lord had a specific plan in mind for the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites and Eleazar, so too does He have a plan in mind for each one of us.

Consider these verses from God’ word:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…" Ephesians 1:11

"…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Through these verses, we discover that although we might have our own ideas about what our lives should accomplish, the Lord’s purpose will prevail. For we were chosen by God from the moment He created us and have been predestined according to His plan. In other words, the Lord already has a destiny for each of us and we can be assured it is purposed by His will and intended to result in His glory. And when we are obedient to answering the Will of God in our lives, we not only discover His purpose for us but we also see where God is always working for our good because He loves us.

Question: Have you realized your purpose yet…not your own personal desired purpose but rather God’s purpose for you? Do you understand that your life is already purposed by the One who created you and all other things?

Friends, God has a plan for us and we should exhaust every effort toward seeking that plan and carrying out to completion. The Lord expects nothing less.

In Christ,

Mark

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REDEMPTION...THEN AND NOW

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord talked with Moses on Mount Sinai. The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. The Lord said to Moses, "Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death." The Lord also said to Moses, "I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord." The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, "Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more." So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord. These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei. The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, according to their families. To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use. To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use. The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200. The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes. Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death. The total number of Levites counted at the Lord's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000. The Lord said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names. Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord." So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273. The Lord also said to Moses, "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the Lord. To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons." So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord." Numbers 3

Most of the emphasis in the Book of Numbers up to this point has been on the 12 tribes, the census of all males over the age 20 and the organization of the respective camps around the tabernacle.

Chapter 3 of the book focuses on the Levites, the appointed religious leaders of the tabernacle. You’ll note early on that the Lord discusses Aaron and his sons to include Nadab, the firstborn, and Elihu who you’ll recall "fell dead before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai". (Leviticus 10) With only two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, remaining who served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron (scripture highlights the fact that neither Nadab or Elihu had any sons), the Lord commissions the remainder of the Levite tribe to assist Aaron. They were to "perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle" and were "to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle".

As we move through this chapter, we see that another census is ordered and taken, this time with two distinct counts made involving the firstborn males (males who are a month old or more). The first count was to be of all firstborn males of Israel while the second was to be of all firstborn in the Levite tribe.

So the census was taken and scripture tells us that the firstborn of Israel numbered 22,273 while the number of Levite firstborn was 22,000, a difference of 273. The Lord considered every firstborn Levite as redemption for the Israelite nation and so all but 273 of the Israelite firstborn were covered by their Levite brethren. What would happen to the other 273?

Well, they could have been sacrificed but scripture clearly doesn’t indicate that the Lord considered this. Not since Isaac was placed on the altar by Abraham only to be replaced by the ram had a child even remotely come close to sacrifice. The 273 could have been ordered to be devoted and enslaved to the Lord but that didn’t happen either. Instead, the Lord offered redemption, not only for the firstborn boys but the firstborn livestock as well.

What was the redemption? Scripture tells us that "To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons." And in response to this command, "Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord". The firstborn were redeemed.

Truly, we serve a redeeming God…a God of grace and mercy and love.
Consider these reinforcing passages:

"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long…" Psalm 71:23-24

"I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life." Lamentations 3:55-58

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Galatians 3:13-14

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

Scripture assures us that our redemption is through Jesus’ precious blood…blood from the Lamb of God. There was no need for any other payment…no silver or gold or any other perishable things. He took up our case, rescued us from the pit and gave our lips cause to tell of His righteous acts, shout for joy and sing praises to His name.

Question: Do you know your Redeemer, Jesus Christ? Do you know that through His sacrifice and shed blood, you can have life eternal with Him and the Father? All you need to do is profess Him as your personal Savior…as the One and only One through which you have hope…the only One through which you can come to the Father.

One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is simply called Redeemer by Nicole C. Mullen. Let me close with the following lyrics from it as she relates her feelings for her Savior, Jesus:

He lives
to take away my shame
and He lives
forever I'll proclaim
that the payment for my sin
was the precious life He gave
and now He's alive and there's an empty grave!

And I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer lives

Thanks be to God for His Son through which we are redeemed.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE SUPREME ORGANIZER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family." On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. His division numbers 54,400. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. His division numbers 57,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. His division numbers 46,500. The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. His division numbers 59,300. The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. His division numbers 45,650. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second. Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard. On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. His division numbers 40,500. The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. His division numbers 32,200. The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third. On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. His division numbers 62,700. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. His division numbers 41,500. The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards. These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses. So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family." Numbers 2

Call me weird but I love animated movies. It seems today that they, with a few exceptions, are the only decent movies available to watch…ones with values and no profanity or excessive violence.

Well, several years ago I watched a very good animated movie, one that used claymation. The name of the movie was called Chicken Run. Maybe you have seen it.

Anyways, the movie is about a group of chickens who are trying to escape from what is soon to be their demise at the hands of the chicken farmers, the Tweedy’s, who have visions of making them all into chicken pies and making a fortune.

The male member of the farming team witnesses the chickens assembling and making preparations to escape. He tries to tell his wife the chickens are getting organized to which she chastises him saying "They're CHICKENS, you dolt. Apart from you, they're the most stupid creatures on this planet. They don't plot, they don't scheme, and they are NOT organized." Little did she know that her husband was right. The chickens were organizing and were able to find their way to safety, averting disaster and destruction.

Well in today’s scripture, the Lord shows us that He is interested in the people of God being organized. After the census done in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 shows the Lord arranging the tribes in camps around the tabernacle with three tribes each being positioned to the east, south, west and north. The tabernacle and the Levites were in the center of this arrangement…the focal place of worship guarded and protected by all of Israel.

Today, the Lord organizes His believers as well and they gather in churches around the world to commune with Him, learn more about His will for them and go forth to make disciples. Consider this passage from Colossians 1:

"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." The Message Colossians 1:15-18

God, the Supreme Maker of everything, is the Master Organizer. Everything has a place in the order of His Creation and He holds it all together…the Head of the Body of Christ. What an awesome privilege it is to be part of that Body and to be used by the Lord in powerful ways as He organizes us and puts us in every place that He wants us to accomplish His purpose.

Question: Do you know the Supreme Organizer of your life? Have you surrendered your life to His perfect plan for it? Have you come to the realization that God will always put you where He wants you to be if you surrender yourself to His will?

In Christ,

Mark

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ARE YOU COUNTED?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

“The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran; from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan." These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai: From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300. From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650. From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600. From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400. From the descendants of Zebulun: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400. From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500. From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200. From the descendants of Benjamin: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400. From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700. From the descendants of Asher: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500. From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400. These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550. The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. The Lord had said to Moses: "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony." The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.” Numbers 1

Numbers begins 13 months after the Exodus from Egypt and as Israel prepares to go to the Promised Land, God wants to make sure the march is a triumphal one and the people were organized for any battle that might occur on the way to Canaan and definitely for the conflicts they will face from resisting forces as they occupy the land that the Lord gave them.

So God orders that a count be made of all men who were age 20 or older. These men were established as being of age to be enlisted in the Israelite army.

Imagine what a task it must have been to count every man who was 20 years or older, particularly as we read the final count, minus the tribe of Levi was 603,550. Truly, it was a daunting task even though it had been broken down by tribe to make it more manageable but God commanded it and thus Moses and the people of Israel responded obediently.

Notice that the Levites were excluded from the count. This is because they had special, significant spiritual duties connected with the tabernacle that exempted them from combat. They were in the business of spiritual, not physical, warfare.

Now all these matters might seem a bit dry and mundane. After all, the book is titled Numbers and we do lots of statistics but I feel there is a relative message for us in this chapter. For God shows us that people count a great deal to Him. That’s why they were counted. Whether the men were to fight to protect and preserve the Israelite nation or provide for the spiritual worship of the people, they were equally important to God.

As we move through the scriptures, it’s obvious that the Lord never ceases to be concerned about numbers and although the context of why the numbers are important might change, the fundamental responsibilities of those counted does not. Let me explain.

As the bible continues to be concerned about numbers, we see ever more that the numbers refer to those who believed and trusted in the gospel message preached by Jesus’ disciples and apostles and thus became disciples themselves increasing the present number of followers. These new believers who were now among the counted, indeed did count a great deal for God just as much as the Israelite men counted in today’s passage from Numbers. The new believers in Christ Jesus became God’s spiritual warriors, unafraid to step out on the battlefield in His full armor to lead more and more people to believe and trust in the Savior themselves…and thus ever increasing the numbers even more. And many of the spiritual warriors were not only carrying out the command to evangelize but they were also caring for the spiritual needs of others just like the Levites of old.

So the point here is that people count to God. He cherishes every person He creates and yearns for them to come to Him through His Son Jesus, who He freely gave as a sin offering upon Calvary’s cross.

Question: Are you among the counted in Christ Jesus? If so, then don your armor for you’re already enlisted in the Lord’s army and there are still so many we need to go and bring to Jesus. If you aren’t among the counted, you can become counted right here and now. Profess with your lips and believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and is your personal Savior and you too can join the Lord’s army but you get far more than that…you get the promise of eternal life once the battle is done. Thanks be to God for His Son Jesus and the promise He brings to all of us…all of us who count a great deal to the Lord. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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A GOD THAT COMMUNICATES - PART 2 - ASSURANCES

A GOD WHO COMMUNICATES – PART 2 - ASSURANCES
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that we serve a God who communicates. He communicates with His people. He communicates through people. And…He wants to communicate to and through you and I. We saw where he communicated with Moses at the beginning of the book of Numbers and also discussed how God had communicated with mankind since the days of the first man, Adam. We also affirmed that God still not only communicates with His people today but still communicates through people to others as well.

Today, I would like to extend the subject of how God communicates to what He communicates to us. Specifically, I would like to focus on some of the assurances He gives us through His word which is full of them.

What is an assurance? Well, it’s defined as a pledge or something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence. Indeed, if we need to be edified, inspired or encouraged, we only need open our bibles and begin to read what the Lord has to say to us.

Let’s examine a few:

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

This single verse from Deuteronomy contains eternal promises from God that can help us in times of trial. While Satan would tend to want us to feel alone, abandoned and forsaken in times of trouble, God’s word declares just the opposite. God will never leave you nor forsake you so you need not be afraid or discouraged. We know this because God’s word says it.

Question: Do you believe that God is with you and will never leave or forsake you?

“…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b

These words come from Jesus at the end of His Great Commission…the command for His followers to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching others to obey what He had commanded. This task seemed very daunting then to His followers who were to go forth and carry on Jesus’ ministry at a time when His ideals were being rejected. After all, they had to think that it was those ideals that got Jesus crucified. They had to also be wondering whether they might be next. It was into this thought process that reassurance was given. For the followers need not think they were going forth on their own. Jesus tells them that He will be with them even until the end of the age.

Today, it’s critical for us to remember this as well. For we are expected to carry out the same commands that Jesus’ followers received over 2,000 years ago. And our day and time doesn’t necessarily give us any better environment to go out to tell the good news in. But we need not be afraid…ever. Because Jesus still is with us and will be with us even until the end of the age.

Question: when you go out to carry out the command of Jesus, do you remember He is with you…there to guide and direct you in sharing His gospel message with others?

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Genesis added this verse as Abram and Sarai scoffed at the notion that they might have a child in their elder years. God asked them, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) Interestingly enough in both cases the matter involved women becoming pregnant by less than conventional means. In other words, divine intervention was involved which more than reinforces the assurance that there is nothing impossible with God. After all He is God…Maker or heaven and Earth…Creator of all things.

Question: Do you properly acknowledge and comprehend the absolute almighty power of God? Do you realize that He can do anything for He is God? Do you recognize that He is a God of miracles?

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

It’s inevitable that we will face hardship at some time or another in life and those hardships will result in burdens that we will have to cope with. Without knowing God, we would feel that we need to shoulder all our burdens and find a way to cope. But with God, we are given the assurance that He bears our burdens daily. We need only believe and trust in Him, remembering that with Him, nothing is impossible. And when we do this, we’re promised that He will give us rest…a peace in the midst of difficulty…a calm in the midst of the storm. And when we truly trust God to handle our burdens (which could include anxieties, fears, stresses, and fears), we can experience a peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

Question: Do you turn to the only One who is able to help you in times of trouble when you’re in need? Do you seek the One who bears your burdens daily…the One who yearns to lift you up when you’re down and bring you peace in the midst of chaos?

“…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God works for the good of those who love Him. Sounds simple enough but it is a verse that gets misused way too much. For people too often believe that “God works for the good of those who love Him” means God will bring me good things because I love Him. People yearn for God to give them something or do something for them and when it doesn’t happen right away, they turn on God and blame Him for not intervening and fixing their problem right there and then. Maybe you can relate.

But God’s word doesn’t say He will give you everything good you want. It says He works for the good of those who love Him. This means that He might need to allow you to persevere through a difficulty because you need to grow stronger in patience, faith and trust in Him. And by allowing you to persevere, He is working for your good. Remember these words from Romans:

“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

Question: Have you experienced God working for your good…for the good of one who loves Him? Do you understand that working for your good might involve you persevering through a trial while God refines your character and faith?

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I saved the best assurance for last. For it is not just a temporary assurance but an eternal one. God so loved the world…not the world itself but the people in it…His children…us. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son so that death might not have to be the end but rather just the beginning for anyone who believes and trusts in Christ Jesus…our Savior, Redeemer and Friend.

Question: Do you believe and trust in Jesus? If so, then you will be saved. If not, why not make that commitment right here and right now. Don’t delay because Jesus gave another assurance that I will close with. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

There is only one way to the Father and that is by way of His Son, the One who is The Way, and The Truth and The Life. Be assured of that. Amen

In Christ,

Mark

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A GOD WHO COMMUNICATES

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

“The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.” Numbers 1:1

Numbers begins with what seems to be a simple verse but is a verse that defines what will transpire throughout the rest of the book…and it defines what has transpired from that point on even until this very moment. Let me explain.

The book of Numbers chronicles the more than 38 years that Israel travels through the desert on its way to Canaan. During that 38 plus years, God constantly speaks with Moses, using him as a messenger to send guidance to the Israelites. In fact, there are at least 150 times referenced where God speaks to Moses in some way.

It was this particular distinction in Numbers that spoke volumes to me as I began to ponder how God communicates with His people. Of course, Moses wasn’t the first person in the scriptures that God spoke to. Go all the way back to Adam and you will find God speaking to man from the very beginnings of creation. He went on to speak to Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob before Moses. And as we proceed through the bible, we’ll see where He continues to speak to man and woman over and over again. And He has continued to well after the bible was written, even up to this very moment.

Indeed, we serve a God who communicates and we should always remember these three primary truths:

1. God communicates with His people. I have often said that “communication is the lifeblood of relationship”. I say this because one doesn’t have much of a relationship with someone without communication. God yearns to have a very personal, intimate relationship with each person He creates and He constantly seeks to communicate with us via the Holy Spirit. We need only be open to receive His Spirit and communicate with Him.

Question: Do you actively seek to have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father each and every day?

2. God communicates with His people through other people. We see it in the scriptures over and over again. God selects those who He wishes to speak through and requires those He selects to get His message out to the people. Today, He still communicates through people to get the message out. Consider pastors who work every week to write sermons…sermons inspired by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Consider those who take the time to write Christian material every day to minister to others. I can certainly attest to the power of God communicating through people to others because it happens with me each and every day. Maybe you have a testimony as well regarding how God has given you the right thing to say to someone in a time when you sought to minister to them. Truly, God does speak to His people to other. He did it in biblical times and He still does today.

Question: Has God ever spoken through you unto another? When you have had to find the right words to say to someone, have you communicated with the Lord, asking Him to give you the right words to speak?

3. God is ready right now to communicate with you and through you. You know He yearns to speak to you. You know He speaks to others through people. Why not be the One He does both through? If you’ve fell out of touch with the Lord, why not reestablish communication with Him now? If you have a relationship with Him, could it be strengthened in some way? Do you spend ample time with the Lord each and every day? If not, could you spend more? Do you openly seek to receive His word to pass onto others? If not, pray unto Him and ask Him to use you as a mouthpiece through which to speak His truth. Trust me when I say He will use you.

Friends, we don’t serve a God who is impersonal and uncaring. We serve a God who loves us and cares for us deeply. He wants to be the center of our lives…to be the One we turn to at all times, good or bad. And we serve a God who wants to have relationship with us…a God who actively seeks to communicate with us. Have you spoken with Him today?

In Christ,

Mark

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OUR HEAVENLY FATHER...GUARDIAN AND PARENT

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

Since I finished the Book of Leviticus yesterday, it seemed like a good time to share with you a message the Lord imparted on my heart last week while I was in worship at my home church, Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach (and I hope you might visit us in worship if you’re ever in the neighborhood).

I was sitting in the pew holding my precious little grandson of less than a month, Maddox, during the pastor’s sermon. He was asleep and laying there in my arms so peacefully…his face almost angelic. This was a markedly different Maddox from the one my daughter would tell me about. The Maddox who when awake yearned to be cared for nearly non-stop. The Maddox who seemed to never stop eating. The Maddox who cried out loudly and consistently if he didn’t get what he needed.

Indeed, many things were rushing into my mind as I sat there, listened to the sermon which discussed the wonder of our salvation and looked into the sleeping face of my grandson.
I began to think of how absolutely helpless babies are when they are so young. They can’t do anything for themselves and are totally dependent on the care of another. Little Maddox left alone anywhere would not survive long if he had no one to care for him. He would cry only to have no one to come and comfort him. He would hunger only to have no one to feed him. He would lie completely vulnerable only to have no one to protect him. Truly, his very survival and existence relied on the care of his parent.

As the pastor continued to talk about salvation and the sad truth that there are many in this world who are lost and hopeless because they don’t know or accept Jesus, I couldn’t help but see a parallel to baby Maddox and his vulnerability.

For those who have no relationship with Jesus have no relationship with the Father for Jesus Himself said that no one comes to the Father except by Him. And with no relationship with the Father, a person is helpless and hopeless. Without the Father’s care, they stand vulnerable with little chance against the attacks of Satan. They cry out in their lives for help and guidance only to find no real help or guidance because they don’t have a relationship with the only true Parent that can help them and guide them. They find themselves hungering for wisdom and understanding only to slowly starve without the Daily Bread that comes from the Word of God, their Father. And through all this, they fail to see that their survival and existence relies totally on the care of their Heavenly Father.

Friends, we need to never tire in seeking out the lost and helping guide them to spiritual survival and revival. Just as we would never walk past an innocent baby who might be lying unattended, so too should we never just walk by someone who doesn’t have a relationship with the Lord. My prayer is that this week and beyond, we approach our evangelistic efforts with a different sense of urgency, understanding fully what’s at stake. For it truly is a matter of life or death…survival or demise.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE COST OF REDEMPTION

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the Lord by giving equivalent values, set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel; and if it is a female, set her value at thirty shekels. If it is a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver. If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, he is to present the person to the priest, who will set the value for him according to what the man making the vow can afford. " 'If what he vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy. He must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if he should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. If what he vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord -the animal must be presented to the priest, who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value. " 'If a man dedicates his house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the man who dedicates his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become his. " 'If a man dedicates to the Lord part of his family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed. If he dedicates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains. But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced. If the man who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become his. If, however, he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed. When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord; it will become the property of the priests. " 'If a man dedicates to the Lord a field he has bought, which is not part of his family land, the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the man must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord. In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom he bought it, the one whose land it was. Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel. " 'No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord; whether an ox or a sheep, it is the Lord's. If it is one of the unclean animals, he may buy it back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If he does not redeem it, it is to be sold at its set value.

" 'But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the Lord-whether man or animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord. " 'No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; he must be put to death.

" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.' "

These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites." Leviticus 27

The final chapter of Leviticus deals with the dedication and devotion of things to the Lord. Whether dealing with people, animals, households or land, one thing we see right away is that the Lord expects anything that He has either created or provided to be attributed and committed to Him.
So the scripture steps down through covering the various items that could be dedicated to the Lord. The dedicated items would become property of the tabernacle unless the provider redeemed the item back by paying either a set fee in some instances or a fee set by the priest on matters where an item's value was in question. The priest in those instances would establish the value and the subsequent required for redemption. Note as well that there are provisions written in for the poor. If they didn’t have the means to redeem at face value, the priest was to examine what the person could afford and adjust the redemption value accordingly.

There is a separate matter of devotion mentioned and it was distinct from the dedication expectations. For anything devoted to the Lord was fully His. It could not be redeemed or sold because it belonged to God and God alone.

The chapter concludes with guidance on tithing and there is little doubt that the Lord required tithing. For the passage states, "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord." By definition, a tithe is a "tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution…for the support of a religious establishment." Here, the tithe was to be dedicated to the Lord to care for the tabernacle and the priests. And the requirement for tithing hasn’t changed today. We should still seek to return a portion of what the Lord blesses us with…that which rightfully belongs to Him.

Through all this, keep in mind three central points:

1. The Lord provides us all things and expects that those things be dedicated to Him.
2. The Lord expects us to dedicate a portion of what He provides back to Him and the work of His church.
3. Redemption does not come without a cost.

These three closing points gleaned from Leviticus can help us establish a base foundation for our own Christian living. Let me explain.

First, when we acknowledge that all things come from the Lord, we gain a greater appreciation for what we have. We see things in a whole different light and attitude and we should gain a greater sense of stewardship and accountability in the way of either taking care of or properly using everything that God provides. And when we acknowledge that all things come from the Lord, we can’t help but turn to Him in a spirit of dedication and thanksgiving…asking Him to reveal His will to us so we might use everything that He provides to His glory. When we truly do this, then and only then are we living in the spirit of dedication that God desires.

Second, the church or other ministries ordained by the Lord can only go forth and do great work in His name with the proper resources to do so. I never realized how much the church relied on the tithes and offerings of its members until I was ordained as an elder and had a first hand look at how the church struggles to carry out the Great Commission when the lack of funds dedicated becomes the great omission. The Lord blesses us with what He wants us to have in accordance with His will. He also expects that we dedicate a portion of what He blesses us with back to Him. Yet, too many people withhold their end of the deal. They possess their blessings like it is theirs and theirs alone…and in doing so, disobey God and hurt His work through the church and other ministries here in His kingdom. Giving requires sacrifice but don’t think we’re not sacrificing to One who hasn’t sacrificed for us. And this takes me to my final point as I wrap up the study of Leviticus.

Redemption does not come without a cost.

Mankind was fully on the way to destruction through their sinful nature without some form of redemption. And to cover all mankind, the sacrifice would have to be substantial. Something of great value would have to be paid in order to redeem every man, woman and child of the world.
God could have just allowed us to perish if He only cared about Himself. After all, He could do anything without anyone else. And yet…

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Redemption of the magnitude of all mankind required the greatest sacrifice…God’s one and only Son, Jesus. The cost calculated to cover the cost of creation’s sinful ways was life. The lives of all people for the lives of One Perfect Savior…Jesus Christ. That was the transaction made at Calvary. That was the cost of redemption for you and I and everyone else.

Question: Given the cost paid for you, is there anything you can’t give back in return? As you ponder the answer, never forget that redemption…yours and mine…did not come without a cost.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE WORLD OR THE WAY? YOUR CHOICE.

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

" 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God. " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord. " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. " 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. " 'If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit. " 'If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted. " 'If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. And I will bring the sword upon you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied. " 'If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings. I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled. I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it. " 'As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them. They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies. You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you. Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their fathers' sins they will waste away.
" 'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers—their treachery against me and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.' "These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the Lord established on Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses.” Leviticus 26

The scriptures of Leviticus are winding down and about to close but God didn’t want this to happen without once again reminding the Israelites that He expected their obedience…or else. Chapter 26 summarizes and outlines what God expected from Israel and what they could expect if they (a) obeyed His commands or (b) disobeyed them. It really came down to a matter of blessings or curses but one way or another, Israel had a choice in the matter.

In the beginning of the chapter, God revisits some of what He had told Israel to do and not do. He tells them once again to “not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone” in order to worship other gods. He reminds them to “observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary.” And overall, He commands them to “follow my decrees” and “obey my commands”, a declaration that turns into a classic if/then statement and the whole foundation of this chapter.

For if Israel kept God’s decrees and commands, then God would send “rain in its season” which would allow the ground to “yield its crops” and the “trees of the field their fruit.” The harvest would be so plentiful that Israel would be able to “eat all the food you want”, still eating “last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.” God would also allow Israel to “live in safety in your land” and “grant peace” to where the people could lie down because no one would make them afraid. God also promised to “remove savage beasts from the land” and not allow the sword to pass through Israel. He would give Israel victory over their enemies who would “fall by the sword” before them. The Lord promised to “look on (Israel) with favor and make (them) fruitful”, increasing their numbers and keeping His covenant with them. But then, God gave Israel the greatest blessing of all. For He blessed them with Himself.

Up to this point, note where all of God’s blessings were material in nature. The people would receive rain, crops, fruits, a bountiful harvest, protection from enemies and victory in conflict. But listen to these words again from the Lord:

“I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.”

This is one of the most awesome reassuring verses in all the bible, is it not? If we obey God, He will place His dwelling place among us. In other words, He will live and abide with us, walking among us, His people, as our God. The true Emmanuel…God with us.

Question: Given all these assurances, why in the world would Israel back in Old Testament days want to do anything else that would be counter to what God expected? The answer is easy. For it’s the same reason we fail to be obedient today. It’s a matter of sin…and it’s a problem we all have to deal with.

Sin is of the world and the people is Israel were in the world just as we are today. If we also become of the world then sin will reign supreme in our hearts and minds. However, if we live in the world but decide to be of Jesus Christ, then righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, obedience and love will reign supreme within us and we can ensure that we live in God’s favor not His judgment.

I tried to frame this ideal when I wrote “A Matter of Choice”, my bible devotional entry on August 1st, 2007. In this entry, I highlight the following passage from 1st John:

"Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." 1 John 2:15-17

Love of this evil world leads to destruction and disaster. Obedience to the will of God through emulating His Son Jesus leads to peace and love and eternal life. It also leads to the Heavenly Father making His dwelling place with you, His child, and walking alongside you each and every day.

There is no middle road for us. We either decide to be faithful and loyal to God or to the evil world. It truly is a matter of choice. Which have you chosen? After reading this which will you choose?

In Christ,

Mark

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