Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord : "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." The Lord listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. Numbers 21:1-3
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
Throughout the book of Numbers, we have been following an Israel that has not exactly endeared themselves to the Lord…the Lord who delivered them from bondage, led them through the exodus and brought them to the brink of Canaan, all just as He had promised. Throughout the journey as documented in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, we have seen an Israelite people who complained before trusting…a people who stubbornly refused to believe in the One who had revealed His miraculous power on more than one occasion….the One asked Sarah and Abraham, "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)
It was this reluctance to believe in God fully, knowing He could deliver them through whatever the circumstance, that triggered God’s judgment upon them as they were set to enter Canaan. You’ll recall that the advance scout team returned after 40 days to report that they had indeed seen the land that was flowing with milk and honey as well as with fruits that they brought back for the people to see. But the scouts had seen more than just this in the land…for they also saw what they perceived as danger awaiting. The people who were already inhabiting the land were warriors and the all but two of the scouts told the people that they would perish if they entered the Promised Land…a claim that stirred up an ugly scene as Moses was confronted about why he had them leave Egypt in the first place…as if slavery was better than entering the land of God’s promise. And therein is where the problem was…the people decided to forget about God’s promise to them and looked at the threat from a worldly perspective. They could not withstand the challenge of the current Canaan residents alone and they were right. But they forgot one important thing. They weren’t alone.
For the same God who went in advance of them in a cloud, leading them from place to place and residing with them in the tabernacle when they encamped…this same God was the One who could and would have delivered them from those already in Canaan. God had promised the land to Israel and He was ready to do just that. But Israel doubted and so God gave them 40 years to think about their doubt…40 years in the desert before they would get a second chance to redeem themselves and enter the land God promised.
So why go through all this in review? Because in today’s scripture, the people of Israel finally get it, signaling a shift in their attitude and a move in the right direction…a direction God had to be well pleased with.
The Israelites had left Mount Hor after Aaron’s death and the transfer of the high priest responsibilities to his son Eleazar. Scripture tells us they were "coming along the road to Atharim" when they were attacked by the "Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev". Several of the Israelites were taken captive.
You might have expected Israel to break out into one of their standard complaints asking God why He ever led them out of Egypt in the first place. But not this time. We get a sense that Israel has finally figured it out. If they would just trust God and ask Him to intervene and deliver and something just might happen differently. So they did and indeed something good did happen.
For we read that Israel made a "vow to the Lord" saying, "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." In other words, Israel didn’t go in thinking they could take on Arad and its army by themselves. But if God would delivered Arad to Israel, then they knew with confidence that they could conquer. And conquer they did. For the "Lord listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them" and Israel in turn "completely destroyed them and their towns." Indeed a shift had occurred in Israel’s attitude…a shift toward fully trusting God to handle whatever their circumstance in accordance with His will. In this case against Arad, it was God’s will to hand Arad over to Israel. And Israel made good on their end of the vow, wiping out Arad and its towns.
Question: What is there in your own life that you have been struggling with? Have you fully trusted in God to take care of your matter in accordance with His will, knowing that He is capable of doing all things? Or have you resorted into a complainer and grumbler like the people of Israel prior to today’s passage?
We have seen the results of a complaining Israel. They only got into trouble and disfavor with God though doing so. Conversely, we see in today’s passage what happens when Israel decides to fully trust God and believe in what He can do for them. In His time and in His place and in His way, He will deliver. Believe and trust Him today and forever more. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."
Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
Numbers 20:22-29
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." Numbers 20:12
God’s words from earlier in this chapter resonate as we read the closing verses. God had passed judgment on Moses and Aaron for their sinfulness when they took credit for bringing water from the rock at Meribah, an act clearly resulting from God’s almighty, miraculous power and that alone.
So as Israel turns away from Kadesh after being denied entry by the king of Edom, we read that they come to Mount Hor. It is here that Aaron’s life ends and his son Eleazar assumes the duty of high priest.
Scripture tells us that God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar to the top of Mount Hor where the priestly duties would be inherited by Eleazar from Aaron in the presence of the Israelite community. Moses was to remove the special garments identifying Aaron as God’s spiritual leader in the tabernacle and put them on Eleazar after which Aaron would die on the mountain. The Lord also reaffirms why this is happening, referring back to the rebellion of Moses and Aaron "at the waters of Meribah".
Consider how difficult this must have been for Moses. He had to go to the mountain and transfer authority knowing that as soon as the act was finished, so too would be his brother Aaron. He had already lost Miriam (see at the beginning of Chapter 20) and Moses had to be thinking about his own punishment as well. God was making good on His promise that Aaron wouldn’t enter Canaan. Moses knew the same promise had been given him. "When and where will God choose to end my life as well?" I can’t help but think Moses was contemplating this very thing as he prepared to carry out God’s will. I know I would.
So Moses, still obedient in service to God despite knowing his fate had been sealed just as Aaron’s, "did as the Lord commanded" and took Aaron and Eleazar up onto Mount Hor "in the sight of the whole community". Moses "removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar" after which "Aaron died…on top of the mountain." We get the sense that the people had not realized all that had just happened. Why was Moses undressing Aaron and placing the priestly garments on Eleazar? It wasn’t until Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount that the people learned the fate of Aaron and we read that the "entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days." One of their beloved leaders…the first high priest of the tabernacle…was dead.
As we read this passage we’re reminded of two important things about God:
1. He keeps His promises. He told Aaron he would not make it into Canaan and he didn’t.
2. He always makes sure His work continues, especially when it comes to the ministry. Aaron was soon to be gone but tabernacle leadership was still needed. So before Aaron passed, God ensured the high priest responsibilities would be carried on by appointing Eleazar to assume duties. He was fully aware of the requirements and was more than qualified to take over from his father.
As we walk through life and its challenges, we need to ever cling to the promises of God. For He has given us all wonderful assurances through His word…assurances we should never forget. He has also given us equally wonderful warnings in what He expects from us. We need not wonder what God wants us to do. He clearly tells us and demands our obedience. Failing to do so can carry severe consequences as we’re reminded in our Old Testament studies. All and all, there isn’t anything that God expects from us that He hasn’t told us about in advance. There are no surprises…only promises. And what a comfort it is to know fully what He wants. We need only concentrate on fulfilling His desires…and there isn’t any better joy in life than living fully for Him. To that end, I pray we’ll be able to echo the words of David as he wrote in the 16th Psalm:
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:5-11
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."
Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
Numbers 20:22-29
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." Numbers 20:12
God’s words from earlier in this chapter resonate as we read the closing verses. God had passed judgment on Moses and Aaron for their sinfulness when they took credit for bringing water from the rock at Meribah, an act clearly resulting from God’s almighty, miraculous power and that alone.
So as Israel turns away from Kadesh after being denied entry by the king of Edom, we read that they come to Mount Hor. It is here that Aaron’s life ends and his son Eleazar assumes the duty of high priest.
Scripture tells us that God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar to the top of Mount Hor where the priestly duties would be inherited by Eleazar from Aaron in the presence of the Israelite community. Moses was to remove the special garments identifying Aaron as God’s spiritual leader in the tabernacle and put them on Eleazar after which Aaron would die on the mountain. The Lord also reaffirms why this is happening, referring back to the rebellion of Moses and Aaron "at the waters of Meribah".
Consider how difficult this must have been for Moses. He had to go to the mountain and transfer authority knowing that as soon as the act was finished, so too would be his brother Aaron. He had already lost Miriam (see at the beginning of Chapter 20) and Moses had to be thinking about his own punishment as well. God was making good on His promise that Aaron wouldn’t enter Canaan. Moses knew the same promise had been given him. "When and where will God choose to end my life as well?" I can’t help but think Moses was contemplating this very thing as he prepared to carry out God’s will. I know I would.
So Moses, still obedient in service to God despite knowing his fate had been sealed just as Aaron’s, "did as the Lord commanded" and took Aaron and Eleazar up onto Mount Hor "in the sight of the whole community". Moses "removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar" after which "Aaron died…on top of the mountain." We get the sense that the people had not realized all that had just happened. Why was Moses undressing Aaron and placing the priestly garments on Eleazar? It wasn’t until Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount that the people learned the fate of Aaron and we read that the "entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days." One of their beloved leaders…the first high priest of the tabernacle…was dead.
As we read this passage we’re reminded of two important things about God:
1. He keeps His promises. He told Aaron he would not make it into Canaan and he didn’t.
2. He always makes sure His work continues, especially when it comes to the ministry. Aaron was soon to be gone but tabernacle leadership was still needed. So before Aaron passed, God ensured the high priest responsibilities would be carried on by appointing Eleazar to assume duties. He was fully aware of the requirements and was more than qualified to take over from his father.
As we walk through life and its challenges, we need to ever cling to the promises of God. For He has given us all wonderful assurances through His word…assurances we should never forget. He has also given us equally wonderful warnings in what He expects from us. We need not wonder what God wants us to do. He clearly tells us and demands our obedience. Failing to do so can carry severe consequences as we’re reminded in our Old Testament studies. All and all, there isn’t anything that God expects from us that He hasn’t told us about in advance. There are no surprises…only promises. And what a comfort it is to know fully what He wants. We need only concentrate on fulfilling His desires…and there isn’t any better joy in life than living fully for Him. To that end, I pray we’ll be able to echo the words of David as he wrote in the 16th Psalm:
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:5-11
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:
"This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt."
"Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."
But Edom answered:
"You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword."
The Israelites replied:
"We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else."
Again they answered:
"You may not pass through."
Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
Numbers 20:14-21
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Remember this passage from our prior study?
"This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them."
"The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." Genesis 25:19-34
"When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."
Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.' Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies." Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I'm a man with smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing." His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me."
"So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?" Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing." Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The Lord your God gave me success," he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not." Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied.
"Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me." So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness—an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."
After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing." His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I am your son," he answered, "your firstborn, Esau." Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!"
When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me—me too, my father!" But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?" Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud. His father Isaac answered him, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above.
You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." Genesis 27:1-40
"Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept."
Genesis 33:1-4
These final verses from Genesis might signal to us that full reconciliation has taken place between Esau and Jacob, despite the latter's evil, sinful, deceitful actions toward his brother. Jacob not only took away Esau's birthright but then stole his blessing on top of that. All this left a bad taste in Esau's mouth…one that he would carry with him to Edom where he reigned and led his people.
It was these Edomites and their territory that now stood between Israel and the Promised Land. The quickest road to Canaan, the king's highway, passed through Edom but Israel didn't dare trespass into Edomite territory without authorization.
This is why Moses "sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."
Israel's request seemed simple enough. They promised not to take anything from Edom nor damage any property. All they wanted was safe passage and they were asking the king of Edom to trust them.
Well, it was well known about Israel and their ancestor Jacob. Jacob's reputation proceeded him and all of Israel was seen as rightfully belonging to Esau. Now Israel was asking for a favor from Edom. As we see, they weren't very sympathetic to the plight of the Israelite people.
For Edom replied, "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword." Obviously, Edom didn't trust Israel. The Israelite population was large and would have been considered a potential threat to the Edom territory. This is why the king promised military action if Israel entered without authorization.
Israel once again asked, once again assuring Edom they just wanted safe passage. This time they added that they would pay for any water used given that water was a valuable commodity. Still, Edom persisted in denying access, this time coming out against Israel "with a large and powerful army." It was this show of force that convinced Israel that they would have to find an alternate way to Canaan and thus they turned away from Edom and carried on.
As we go through life on this Christian walk, we should always remember the account of Esau and Jacob. For in it, we can see the destructive results when we deceive another person, especially when we steal something away from them that is not rightfully ours. Just as Esau's experience carried over to his Edomite people, seeing Israel as a people who couldn't be trusted…so too do our negative actions have a tendency to carry over to others, leaving us with a tainted reputation. Maybe you can relate to this?
Israel was once again learning a valuable lesson. For what comes around, goes around. They didn't trust God and it cost them 40 years of additional desert wandering before entering Canaan. Their reputation was firmly established as a complaining, disobedient, stiff-necked people…and they lived up to that reputation. To Edom, they were a people who simply couldn't be trusted…just like one of their forefathers Jacob.
In all things…honesty is the best policy. God expects it and we would be best suited to obey less face the consequences.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
TAKING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT’S NOT DUE
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he showed himself holy among them. Numbers 20:1-13
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
The 40 years of desert wandering had begun and things weren’t easy. Israel had been on the brink of experiencing God’s full measure of goodness…the goodness found in the land flowing with milk and honey…the land He had promised solely for His beloved people.
But Israel blew it. They didn’t trust God would provide and protect them. They failed to appreciate all that God had done for them in delivering them from the hands of Pharoah and the land of Egypt. Their incessant complaining and unfaithfulness incensed God and He turned away the current generation of Israelites, exiling them to 40 years of desert wandering after which time He would allow their descendants to inherit the land they could have had.
Now as they began their journey, it didn’t take long for Israel to fail once again. Bad habits are hard to break. But Israel aren’t the only ones who fail in our passage. For we see that God’s two most trusted leaders also commit a terrible sin before the very God who had placed them in their positions of authority in the Israelite community. Their failure should serve to teach us an important lesson about the importance of humility when it comes to serving and leading in God’s name.
First, let’s look at Israel. Recall that early on in their exodus from Egypt, they had complained about not having any water. You’ll remember that God had Moses use his staff to strike a rock which then produced water, one of the early miracles that God worked in clear sight of His people. It was obvious that God could bring water from any place and at any time if it was His will to do so. He also showed He would not let His people die of dehydration. All they needed to do was trust in Him.
Well, fast forward to the desert region of Zin…the place where Israel had traveled after God forbade them to enter Canaan. Here, after Moses’ sister Miriam passed away, we find Israel once again in need of water. And once again, we see Israel complain to Moses about their circumstances instead of trust God to help them. Scripture tells us they said, ""If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" God had delivered them from Egypt and provided for them every step of the way during their exodus. Yet, every single time things got rough for Israel, they yearned for their days in Egypt…as if slavery and abuse were better than walking with their God day-by-day.
Well, Moses and Aaron went before God on behalf of their people and we read where God answers their request directing Moses to "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." So Moses and Aaron did as God commanded, gathering "the assembly together in front of the rock". It was then that Moses made a serious error…one that would cost him and Aaron their own opportunity to enter Canaan. For Moses said to the assembly, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" and then "raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff". Scripture tells us that "water gushed out and the community and their livestock drank".
On the surface, it appears that nothing had been done wrong. God told Moses to strike the rock with the staff to produce water for the assembly and their livestock. Moses had done what God commanded and water did indeed gush forward from the rock providing for the Israelite community. But listen once again to the words of Moses:
"Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"
Note that Moses was alluding in his words that it was him and Aaron who were bringing the water from the rock. Moses didn’t say, "Listen, you rebels, must God…your God…bring you water from the rock?" Moses was simply carrying out God’s command and had no right to not acknowledge that what He was doing was by God’s power. Aaron’s failure to correct Moses made him a guilty party to the display of pride…a display that would cost them both.
For God was not happy with them as He spoke saying, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." In the blink of an eye, Moses and Aaron also lost their chance to enter Canaan. At the end of 40 years, Israel would go into the Promised Land under new leadership.
So what can we learn from this passage? A serious lesson in the criticality of humility, especially as it applies to our service to God.
We see over and over again in the bible that God is willing to do awesome, powerful work through ordinary people. As I often tell others about my own walk and service to Him, "I’m just an ordinary guy that God uses in extraordinary ways." It’s this attitude that keeps me grounded and away from the kind of sin that cost Moses and Aaron their privilege to lead Israel into Canaan.
Friends, God is to always receive all the glory, honor and praise…in every circumstance. Anything we do that is good is because He willed for that good work to be done and played a key role in it happening. Nothing good happens by accident. It is always by way of the will and power of the Father…not our own.
The more we commit ourselves to serve the Lord in our lives, the more He is going to use us to do His work here on earth. You can trust in that. I always tell others that when you make the commitment to allow God to dominate your life, you will always be full time employed with LOTS of overtime. The work of the Lord is always plentiful and He is always in search of faithful, obedient workers.
As we look at this scripture and see what happens to Moses and Aaron, we need to understand that if we’re not careful, the same thing can happen to us. We can start to take credit for things that God is doing and seek to receive the praise that should belong to Him and Him alone. In other words, we take credit where credit’s not due. Let us all stay grounded, give God all the glory, honor and praise…and just simply give thanks to Him for any good work He does in and through us. For what a privilege it is to be partnered with the Almighty God…a God who can do anything without us and yet chooses to partner with us to accomplish His purpose here on earth.
Thanks be to God…now and forever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he showed himself holy among them. Numbers 20:1-13
This ends this reading from God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
The 40 years of desert wandering had begun and things weren’t easy. Israel had been on the brink of experiencing God’s full measure of goodness…the goodness found in the land flowing with milk and honey…the land He had promised solely for His beloved people.
But Israel blew it. They didn’t trust God would provide and protect them. They failed to appreciate all that God had done for them in delivering them from the hands of Pharoah and the land of Egypt. Their incessant complaining and unfaithfulness incensed God and He turned away the current generation of Israelites, exiling them to 40 years of desert wandering after which time He would allow their descendants to inherit the land they could have had.
Now as they began their journey, it didn’t take long for Israel to fail once again. Bad habits are hard to break. But Israel aren’t the only ones who fail in our passage. For we see that God’s two most trusted leaders also commit a terrible sin before the very God who had placed them in their positions of authority in the Israelite community. Their failure should serve to teach us an important lesson about the importance of humility when it comes to serving and leading in God’s name.
First, let’s look at Israel. Recall that early on in their exodus from Egypt, they had complained about not having any water. You’ll remember that God had Moses use his staff to strike a rock which then produced water, one of the early miracles that God worked in clear sight of His people. It was obvious that God could bring water from any place and at any time if it was His will to do so. He also showed He would not let His people die of dehydration. All they needed to do was trust in Him.
Well, fast forward to the desert region of Zin…the place where Israel had traveled after God forbade them to enter Canaan. Here, after Moses’ sister Miriam passed away, we find Israel once again in need of water. And once again, we see Israel complain to Moses about their circumstances instead of trust God to help them. Scripture tells us they said, ""If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" God had delivered them from Egypt and provided for them every step of the way during their exodus. Yet, every single time things got rough for Israel, they yearned for their days in Egypt…as if slavery and abuse were better than walking with their God day-by-day.
Well, Moses and Aaron went before God on behalf of their people and we read where God answers their request directing Moses to "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." So Moses and Aaron did as God commanded, gathering "the assembly together in front of the rock". It was then that Moses made a serious error…one that would cost him and Aaron their own opportunity to enter Canaan. For Moses said to the assembly, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" and then "raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff". Scripture tells us that "water gushed out and the community and their livestock drank".
On the surface, it appears that nothing had been done wrong. God told Moses to strike the rock with the staff to produce water for the assembly and their livestock. Moses had done what God commanded and water did indeed gush forward from the rock providing for the Israelite community. But listen once again to the words of Moses:
"Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"
Note that Moses was alluding in his words that it was him and Aaron who were bringing the water from the rock. Moses didn’t say, "Listen, you rebels, must God…your God…bring you water from the rock?" Moses was simply carrying out God’s command and had no right to not acknowledge that what He was doing was by God’s power. Aaron’s failure to correct Moses made him a guilty party to the display of pride…a display that would cost them both.
For God was not happy with them as He spoke saying, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." In the blink of an eye, Moses and Aaron also lost their chance to enter Canaan. At the end of 40 years, Israel would go into the Promised Land under new leadership.
So what can we learn from this passage? A serious lesson in the criticality of humility, especially as it applies to our service to God.
We see over and over again in the bible that God is willing to do awesome, powerful work through ordinary people. As I often tell others about my own walk and service to Him, "I’m just an ordinary guy that God uses in extraordinary ways." It’s this attitude that keeps me grounded and away from the kind of sin that cost Moses and Aaron their privilege to lead Israel into Canaan.
Friends, God is to always receive all the glory, honor and praise…in every circumstance. Anything we do that is good is because He willed for that good work to be done and played a key role in it happening. Nothing good happens by accident. It is always by way of the will and power of the Father…not our own.
The more we commit ourselves to serve the Lord in our lives, the more He is going to use us to do His work here on earth. You can trust in that. I always tell others that when you make the commitment to allow God to dominate your life, you will always be full time employed with LOTS of overtime. The work of the Lord is always plentiful and He is always in search of faithful, obedient workers.
As we look at this scripture and see what happens to Moses and Aaron, we need to understand that if we’re not careful, the same thing can happen to us. We can start to take credit for things that God is doing and seek to receive the praise that should belong to Him and Him alone. In other words, we take credit where credit’s not due. Let us all stay grounded, give God all the glory, honor and praise…and just simply give thanks to Him for any good work He does in and through us. For what a privilege it is to be partnered with the Almighty God…a God who can do anything without us and yet chooses to partner with us to accomplish His purpose here on earth.
Thanks be to God…now and forever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
THE RED HEIFER AND JESUS
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: "This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and offal. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening."
"A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the aliens living among them."
"Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. Whoever touches the dead body of anyone and fails to purify himself defiles the Lord's tabernacle. That person must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean; his uncleanness remains on him."
"This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean."
"Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days."
"For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or someone who has been killed or someone who has died a natural death. The man who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify him. The person being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and that evening he will be clean. But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he must be cut off from the community, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, and he is unclean. This is a lasting ordinance for them."
"The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening." Numbers 19
Numbers 19 addresses the matter of purification as it applies to contact with either human beings or animals that are dead.
This isn’t the first time we have seen the matter of cleanliness and purification addressed in the Old Testament. You’ll remember that throughout the book of Leviticus that God gave specific direction on how the Israelites were to handle matters of uncleanliness and you’ll also recall how much of a key role the Chief Priest played in making determinations of cleanliness after matters of uncleanliness.
Here, the theme once again is in how to deal with contact with anything dead. The timing isn’t by accident. For many Israelites died at the hands of God’s wrath after Korah’s rebellion, many of which dying by the plague before Moses and Aaron interceded and convinced God to stop His punishment.
So why so much concern about contact with anything dead?
There were two key reasons why a priority was placed on this…one physical and one spiritual.
First, the physical reason. Anything found dead could possibly carry with it disease or infectious bacteria that could be passed onto anyone who touched or handled the body or carcass. Unchecked, a person could contract something from the dead and carry it into the camp where others would be infected. Keep in mind there weren’t great health facilities back in the days of the Old Testament. A breakout of a deadly, infectious disease could potentially wipe out the entire Israelite nation. God’s strict guidance for dealing with uncleanliness helped protect His people from potential disaster.
Spiritually, death was connected to sin and thus contact with anything dead was considered defilement for the person making contact. Purification through the washing of not only oneself but one’s garments was symbolic of washing away the defilement contracted by touching the dead.
One other very interesting matter in this particular passage is the symbolic connection to Jesus, particularly in the opening verses where the red heifer was sacrificed and burned with some very special items added. The resultant ash would be mixed with water during the cleansing process. Let’s look at the special connection, proving once again that the Old Testament is indeed more than relevant and contains so many connection points to our Savior.
The connection begins with the red heifer. God has mentioned sacrifices many times over before now but this was different in that He specifies color (red) and the type of cow (heifer) required. The color red symbolizes blood and the fact that the cow was an unblemished heifer, a cow that had never been pregnant, represented purity and uniqueness. It would be rare to find such an animal that was red and a heifer and without defect.
Consider now that Jesus was pure and unblemished…His red blood poured out to pay the price for all sinners of the world. His sacrifice led to our cleansing by way of His shed blood…just as the red heifer would shed blood as it was sacrificed to ultimately purify and cleanse the Israelites. Need scriptural reinforcement for this? Paul gives it to us in His letter to the Hebrews. He said,
"For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14) Indeed, how much more has the blood of Jesus washed us all white as snow and made us whole again? Truly as the beautiful hymn proclaims, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
As if this weren’t enough, there’s more. For note the items that were to be burned along with the red heifer…cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet.
Cedar wood was very resistant to disease and rot, thus making it a precious and valuable wood. The wood is symbolic of the cross that Jesus was nailed to and some believe the cross itself was made out of cedar wood.
Hyssop was used several times in the scriptures. You’ll remember that a hyssop branch was used to spread the blood around the door posts before God came through Egypt on the Passover. You’ll also remember that hyssop was present at the cross as the Roman guards offered Jesus a drink on a hyssop branch.
Finally, the scarlet was once again a symbolic reference to the blood of Jesus. We also see scarlet used in the veil and curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31), in the garments of the high priest (Exodus 28:5-6), the covering for the table of showbread (Numbers 4:8), the sign of Rahab’s salvation (Joshua 2:21), and the color of the mocking "king’s robe" put on Jesus at His torture by the soldiers (Matthew 27:28).
Question: Do you know the One who was sent by the Father to be crucified and sacrificed as payment for your sins? Do you acknowledge the heavy price paid…a price paid in shed blood that provided you with salvation and a hope for life eternal after this worldly life ends?
Friends, Jesus was the final sacrifice needed for purification. The shed blood from the Lamb of God who indeed came to take away the sins of the world was sufficient to cover us all. Thanks be to God for His Son who washed us all white as snow with His blood. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and offal. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening."
"A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the aliens living among them."
"Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. Whoever touches the dead body of anyone and fails to purify himself defiles the Lord's tabernacle. That person must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean; his uncleanness remains on him."
"This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean."
"Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days."
"For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or someone who has been killed or someone who has died a natural death. The man who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify him. The person being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and that evening he will be clean. But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he must be cut off from the community, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, and he is unclean. This is a lasting ordinance for them."
"The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening." Numbers 19
Numbers 19 addresses the matter of purification as it applies to contact with either human beings or animals that are dead.
This isn’t the first time we have seen the matter of cleanliness and purification addressed in the Old Testament. You’ll remember that throughout the book of Leviticus that God gave specific direction on how the Israelites were to handle matters of uncleanliness and you’ll also recall how much of a key role the Chief Priest played in making determinations of cleanliness after matters of uncleanliness.
Here, the theme once again is in how to deal with contact with anything dead. The timing isn’t by accident. For many Israelites died at the hands of God’s wrath after Korah’s rebellion, many of which dying by the plague before Moses and Aaron interceded and convinced God to stop His punishment.
So why so much concern about contact with anything dead?
There were two key reasons why a priority was placed on this…one physical and one spiritual.
First, the physical reason. Anything found dead could possibly carry with it disease or infectious bacteria that could be passed onto anyone who touched or handled the body or carcass. Unchecked, a person could contract something from the dead and carry it into the camp where others would be infected. Keep in mind there weren’t great health facilities back in the days of the Old Testament. A breakout of a deadly, infectious disease could potentially wipe out the entire Israelite nation. God’s strict guidance for dealing with uncleanliness helped protect His people from potential disaster.
Spiritually, death was connected to sin and thus contact with anything dead was considered defilement for the person making contact. Purification through the washing of not only oneself but one’s garments was symbolic of washing away the defilement contracted by touching the dead.
One other very interesting matter in this particular passage is the symbolic connection to Jesus, particularly in the opening verses where the red heifer was sacrificed and burned with some very special items added. The resultant ash would be mixed with water during the cleansing process. Let’s look at the special connection, proving once again that the Old Testament is indeed more than relevant and contains so many connection points to our Savior.
The connection begins with the red heifer. God has mentioned sacrifices many times over before now but this was different in that He specifies color (red) and the type of cow (heifer) required. The color red symbolizes blood and the fact that the cow was an unblemished heifer, a cow that had never been pregnant, represented purity and uniqueness. It would be rare to find such an animal that was red and a heifer and without defect.
Consider now that Jesus was pure and unblemished…His red blood poured out to pay the price for all sinners of the world. His sacrifice led to our cleansing by way of His shed blood…just as the red heifer would shed blood as it was sacrificed to ultimately purify and cleanse the Israelites. Need scriptural reinforcement for this? Paul gives it to us in His letter to the Hebrews. He said,
"For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14) Indeed, how much more has the blood of Jesus washed us all white as snow and made us whole again? Truly as the beautiful hymn proclaims, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
As if this weren’t enough, there’s more. For note the items that were to be burned along with the red heifer…cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet.
Cedar wood was very resistant to disease and rot, thus making it a precious and valuable wood. The wood is symbolic of the cross that Jesus was nailed to and some believe the cross itself was made out of cedar wood.
Hyssop was used several times in the scriptures. You’ll remember that a hyssop branch was used to spread the blood around the door posts before God came through Egypt on the Passover. You’ll also remember that hyssop was present at the cross as the Roman guards offered Jesus a drink on a hyssop branch.
Finally, the scarlet was once again a symbolic reference to the blood of Jesus. We also see scarlet used in the veil and curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31), in the garments of the high priest (Exodus 28:5-6), the covering for the table of showbread (Numbers 4:8), the sign of Rahab’s salvation (Joshua 2:21), and the color of the mocking "king’s robe" put on Jesus at His torture by the soldiers (Matthew 27:28).
Question: Do you know the One who was sent by the Father to be crucified and sacrificed as payment for your sins? Do you acknowledge the heavy price paid…a price paid in shed blood that provided you with salvation and a hope for life eternal after this worldly life ends?
Friends, Jesus was the final sacrifice needed for purification. The shed blood from the Lamb of God who indeed came to take away the sins of the world was sufficient to cover us all. Thanks be to God for His Son who washed us all white as snow with His blood. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, May 26, 2008
MEMORIAL DAY
Can I pray for you in any way?
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com.
In Christ, Mark
Nearly 141 years ago, the United States was recovering from a long and bloody Civil War. Those who survived returned home weary and battle scarred, many severely wounded or disabled. Many never made it home with over 646 thousand Union forces and nearly 134 thousand Confederates losing their lives, all this within the boundaries of this great nation.
Our nation’s participation in armed conflict didn’t stop there. The Spanish-American War, World Wars 1 and 2, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq would follow and approximately another 625,000 would give their lives. And the death toll has not stopped yet…every day our servicemen and women continue to die in service to God and country.
While looking at these figures, it’s important for us to not lose sight that those who have died in conflict are more than just mere numbers. Each person had a life, a future they looked forward to, and a family back home that they loved and missed while in the midst of war. There was a human being just like you and I behind every casualty…and it would be inhumane to reduce them to a statistic. For their value was far greater than a number…their act of courage and sacrifice deserving of greater recognition, remembrance, and honor.
This was the mindset of Harry Welles, a small town drug store owner who worked and lived in Waterloo NY in 1886. He had watched those tired, wounded Civil War veterans come home and had listened intently to their stories as they shared their first-hand battlefield accounts. He marveled at their bravery and devotion to duty and felt impelled to do something to ensure that these courageous soldiers would not become an afterthought…to ensure they would always be remembered and honored.
And so he sprang to action, rallying local businesses and government leaders to close all shops in town each May 5th in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the war. On that day, flowers, wreathes, and crosses were laid on the graves of the Northern soldiers in Waterloo’s cemetery.
Elsewhere, retired Major General Jonathan Logan was putting together a separate ceremony, this one honoring all veterans who had survived the war. On May 30th, 1868, the ceremony involved a parade through town that stopped at the cemetery where flags were placed at the graves of fallen soldiers. It was a solemn occasion that residents named "Decoration Day". In his address that day, General Logan would state, "The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country and during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, hamlet, and churchyard in the land. In this observance, no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."
From that day on, the northern states paused for commemoration annually on May 30th while the southern states would remember their dead on a different day. These ceremonies evolved to include children reading poems and singing civil war songs while veterans would go to schools wearing their medals and uniforms to tell students about their war experiences. Then the veterans would take their traditional march through the streets followed by all the town’s people, still stopping at the cemetery and decorating graves. Photographs of soldiers were taken standing next to the graves of fallen comrades and rifles were shot in the air in salute.
Fast forward to the 20th Century and 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day, exactly 100 years after the first commemoration. Since that time, just as they had done before, town’s people still walk to the cemeteries and hold memorial services, decorating graves with flags and flowers. Then they walk back to the park in the middle of town near a monument dedicated to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and listen to the reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address followed by Retired Major General Logan's Order # 11 designating Decoration Day.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday and changed the day of celebration to the last Monday in May. Since then, cities and towns across the United States have followed the lead of Waterloo, establishing special ceremonies to not only pay respect to the nation’s servicemen and women but also to loved ones who have died. Church services, visits to the cemetery, flowers on graves or even silent tributes mark the day with dignity and solemnity.
All and all, it’s a day of reflection…a day of remembrance for those who have passed, some having paid the ultimate sacrifice…protecting and securing our nation’s freedoms by laying their lives down for others and a cause greater than themselves.
In reflecting on this matter of sacrifice, I can’t help but also remember what happened 2,000 years ago, long before the United States came into existence…long before our Civil War. It too was a time of conflict and hardship…a time of turmoil and change…a time where people battled against one another within a promised land that God gave His chosen people…a time and place when one man was sent from heaven to earth to step forward and freely sacrifice Himself in service to humanity, paying the ultimate of all ultimate sacrifices.
This man, Jesus, was the very definition and model of the word service, never hesitating to teach, preach, heal, guide, and love anyone He encountered. His life wasn’t about what He could do for Himself, what gain He might enjoy, what success He might find, or what wealth He might amass. Empowered by God, His Father, He was all powerful and almighty, doing all things with the special authority placed within Him. Yet, He made Himself poor so that through His poverty we might be made rich, showing us it is much better to give than receive. Through His willingness to die for us, He showed us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for His friends…and He did see us as friends even though our sins led Him to His demise.
Remembering Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, all seemed to be well. Honor and respect normally shown toward kings were being lavished on this Messiah that everyone had been eagerly awaiting since the days of the prophets. Who could have guessed at that point, that the same people who waved palm branches while shouting, "Hosanna, Hosanna!", would soon be shouting "Crucify, Crucify!"
Indeed, Jesus found few friends on the day of His crucifixion…no thanks for all He had done for His beloved people. After he had been arrested, wrongly convicted, bloodied, beaten, and sentenced to death, He was forced to participate in His own death march to Golgotha. The crowds that gathered were not there to pay homage or show gratitude. They were not ready to follow Him to His death to adorn Him with flowers of sympathy and respect. They were there to witness His execution…to see that the death sentence they demanded from Governor Pilate was carried out. They lined the streets that Jesus struggled to navigate, spitting on His blood stained body and hurling words of insult and derision. The depths of human failure were on full display as Jesus carried His cross to the place where they would drive nails through His hands and feet…the place where He would hang in agonizing pain inching toward death…a place where He would display His absolute mercy, compassion, and grace in the ultimate act of forgiveness as He asked His Father to forgive those who assailed Him, for they knew not what they were doing.
Jesus, our Savior, lived, loved, and served and He did so willingly,well knowing His coming fate… knowing that pain, humiliation, betrayal, sadness, and death awaited Him…and yet, He carried on. He could have saved Himself…He could have chosen to desert His mission – but He didn’t. For He had an incomprehensible love for something greater than Himself – us. Saving all mankind meant far more than saving Himself…the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the one. Jesus gave up His breath in death on the cross so He could breathe life into a people who were walking down the path of sinful self annihilation…three days later. His resurrection ushered in hope and the very opportunity for eternal life that we enjoy today.
In the end translation, Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection was the greatest victory in the greatest battle ever fought. His victory over the world, over sin, over death, and over Satan provided us with the opportunity for victory as well…all He requires is that we place our trust and belief in Him.
So we must never lose sight that all that we are today, yesterday, and tomorrow is because of Jesus Christ. We love because He first loved us. We serve because He first served us. We understand sacrifice because He showed us what true sacrifice is all about. We’re free because He paid the price for us. We live because He died.
Not only this Memorial Day but every day, let us ever remember that Jesus was the One who first showed us the value of sacrificial service...service filled with courage, bravery, valor, and heroism. Thanks be to God for the indescribable gift of His Only Son.
Amen.
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com
Sunday, May 25, 2008
OUR DIVINE PORTION
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"The Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites."
"From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'
"Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' " Numbers 18:20-32
Aaron has received much instruction from the Lord in Chapter 18 on how he is to execute his priestly duties. As we finish the chapter, we see where he receives his final guidance before the Lord turns to Moses for additional instructions.
Primarily, Chapter 18 closes with direction on inheritance and tithes. Of interest, God tells Aaron that neither he nor the Levites would have any part of the Israelite inheritance. The Lord addresses these separately and I would like to look at the Levites first before closing with Aaron and the theme of today’s devotional.
As we look at the Lord’s words toward the Levites, we see that just because they won’t share in Israel’s inheritance this doesn’t mean the Lord is not going to ensure they are cared for. He tells Aaron that He would "give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting." Note that the income of the Levites would not be without limit. Their financial sustenance would be limited to the offerings that Israel brought. The Lord didn’t want His spiritual leaders and workers to be corrupted by money. Instead, they were to be focused on taking care of the tabernacle and overseeing Israel’s worship. And the Levites had exclusive access to the Tent of Meeting. Israel was to not go near it unless they wanted to "bear the consequences of their sin and will die".
So the Israelites were required to contribute offerings to the Levites and the Lord. The Levitical offerings would sustain and provide economic means for them as they carried out the work of the tabernacle. But the Levites were also expected to give to God more than just their service. They were to provide an offering as well.
Interestingly enough, this command was given to the Levites not by way of Aaron but Moses. The Lord directs Moses to tell the Levites to "present a tenth" of the tithe received from Israel as an inheritance. . From the tithes, the Levites were to "give the Lord's portion to Aaron" and not just any portion but the "best and holiest part of everything given" to them. And by "presenting the best part", the Levites would not be "guilty in this matter" because they wouldn’t "defile the holy offerings of the Israelites" and thus would not die. Once again, we’re reminded that God expects not just any part of us or what we have but our best…just as He has given us in all things and especially in His only Son, Jesus…our Savior, Redeemer and Friend.
Now let me get back to Aaron and God’s word to him at the start of this passage.
For the Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them". Just as the Levites would not share in Israel’s inheritance, neither would their leader. But this is where the similarity ends between Aaron and the Levites. For the Levites received Israel’s tithes as their portion and parcel. Aaron received something far greater. He received God as his "share and…inheritance." The Lord was his portion and all he would ever need to carry out what God wished for him to do.
There are three key points for us to take away from this lesson as we continue to seek how to better journey on our Christian walk.
1. God will provide for us. As we seek every day to discern and carry out His will and way, we need never worry about how we are going to make it because He will always ensure we are cared for.
He will forever give us just what we need at His appointed time. We need never worry…only trust.
2. When God provides for us, He expects us to give Him our best. He gives us His. Why would we do any different? And keep in mind that God gives us more than just money. We should recognize the gifts of time and talent as well when we consider what we might be able to give back to the Lord in honor and return for all He has given to us.
3. In the Lord, we have our portion and all we will ever really need. The world would have us chase after wealth and prestige. The world would have us chase after possessions and material gain. The world would have us chase after status and success. Collectively, all of these hold little or no value when compared to the worth of having the Lord in our lives. Given the choice, would there be anyone crazy enough to choose the world over the One who created it?
Friends, what a blessing these words of the Lord are to us. They are liberating and sustaining…encouraging and edifying…comforting and assuring…all the very things He is as our Provider, Sustainer and Portion. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"The Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites."
"From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'
"Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' " Numbers 18:20-32
Aaron has received much instruction from the Lord in Chapter 18 on how he is to execute his priestly duties. As we finish the chapter, we see where he receives his final guidance before the Lord turns to Moses for additional instructions.
Primarily, Chapter 18 closes with direction on inheritance and tithes. Of interest, God tells Aaron that neither he nor the Levites would have any part of the Israelite inheritance. The Lord addresses these separately and I would like to look at the Levites first before closing with Aaron and the theme of today’s devotional.
As we look at the Lord’s words toward the Levites, we see that just because they won’t share in Israel’s inheritance this doesn’t mean the Lord is not going to ensure they are cared for. He tells Aaron that He would "give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting." Note that the income of the Levites would not be without limit. Their financial sustenance would be limited to the offerings that Israel brought. The Lord didn’t want His spiritual leaders and workers to be corrupted by money. Instead, they were to be focused on taking care of the tabernacle and overseeing Israel’s worship. And the Levites had exclusive access to the Tent of Meeting. Israel was to not go near it unless they wanted to "bear the consequences of their sin and will die".
So the Israelites were required to contribute offerings to the Levites and the Lord. The Levitical offerings would sustain and provide economic means for them as they carried out the work of the tabernacle. But the Levites were also expected to give to God more than just their service. They were to provide an offering as well.
Interestingly enough, this command was given to the Levites not by way of Aaron but Moses. The Lord directs Moses to tell the Levites to "present a tenth" of the tithe received from Israel as an inheritance. . From the tithes, the Levites were to "give the Lord's portion to Aaron" and not just any portion but the "best and holiest part of everything given" to them. And by "presenting the best part", the Levites would not be "guilty in this matter" because they wouldn’t "defile the holy offerings of the Israelites" and thus would not die. Once again, we’re reminded that God expects not just any part of us or what we have but our best…just as He has given us in all things and especially in His only Son, Jesus…our Savior, Redeemer and Friend.
Now let me get back to Aaron and God’s word to him at the start of this passage.
For the Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them". Just as the Levites would not share in Israel’s inheritance, neither would their leader. But this is where the similarity ends between Aaron and the Levites. For the Levites received Israel’s tithes as their portion and parcel. Aaron received something far greater. He received God as his "share and…inheritance." The Lord was his portion and all he would ever need to carry out what God wished for him to do.
There are three key points for us to take away from this lesson as we continue to seek how to better journey on our Christian walk.
1. God will provide for us. As we seek every day to discern and carry out His will and way, we need never worry about how we are going to make it because He will always ensure we are cared for.
He will forever give us just what we need at His appointed time. We need never worry…only trust.
2. When God provides for us, He expects us to give Him our best. He gives us His. Why would we do any different? And keep in mind that God gives us more than just money. We should recognize the gifts of time and talent as well when we consider what we might be able to give back to the Lord in honor and return for all He has given to us.
3. In the Lord, we have our portion and all we will ever really need. The world would have us chase after wealth and prestige. The world would have us chase after possessions and material gain. The world would have us chase after status and success. Collectively, all of these hold little or no value when compared to the worth of having the Lord in our lives. Given the choice, would there be anyone crazy enough to choose the world over the One who created it?
Friends, what a blessing these words of the Lord are to us. They are liberating and sustaining…encouraging and edifying…comforting and assuring…all the very things He is as our Provider, Sustainer and Portion. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, May 24, 2008
OUR PROVIDER GOD
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then the Lord said to Aaron, "I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion and regular share. You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy."
"This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs."
"But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring." Numbers 18:8-19
As we saw earlier in Chapter 18, God is giving direction to His high priest Aaron as to how He expects worship to be conducted within the tabernacle. You’ll recall that God tells Aaron that what He is giving Him is a gift…a gift of appointment and service of the highest degree.
In today’s passage, God continues to give Aaron guidance, specifically on conducting tabernacle offerings. This isn’t the first time that God has given instruction on offerings. Throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, we have seen God discuss when He expects the offerings to be conducted and how He expects them done. He has also spoken words about redemption of the firstborn before. You can refer back to Exodus, Chapters 13 and 34 as well as Numbers, Chapter 3 to review.
What I wanted to highlight in today’s passage is God’s provision for those who faithfully serve Him. It’s clear as we read through Chapter 18 that the work of the tabernacle was very demanding and complex. God expected His principles to be carried out without deviation and clearly, He had warned of harsh consequences if His instructions were not followed.
What’s also clear is that God wanted to take good care of those who dedicated so much time to His holy work. From our scriptures we see that Aaron and his family were granted:
1."…all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings…Eat it as something most holy…"
2. "…whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
3. "…all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
4. "Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours."
5. "Their (the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat) meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring."
Truly, God had placed a lot of responsibility on Aaron and his family but He also took steps to ensure they were taken care of, giving a portion of what was dedicated to Him to those who had dedicated themselves to His will, way and service.
The good news friends is that He still takes care of His faithful servants today. We’re reminded of His goodness in these words from Paul:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Those who are devoted to the call of Jesus are cheerful givers…providers of good news and living water to all they come into contact with. Through sharing the gospel and God’s word with others, faithful and obedient servants sow seeds within those they minister to…seeds that grow and bloom in such a powerful way that causes men and women alike to "praise God for the obedience that accompanies (their) confession of the gospel of Christ and for (their) generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." In return, God makes "all grace abound" to His faithful servants "so that in all things at all times" they have "all that (they) need and "abound in every good work."
What an awesome assurance it is to see how God provides for those who answer His call, whether it was Aaron in the days preceding Israel entering Canaan or us today preceding our entry into eternal life and our future eternal Promised Land. We are so blessed to have such a loving, awesome Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Then the Lord said to Aaron, "I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion and regular share. You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy."
"This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs."
"But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring." Numbers 18:8-19
As we saw earlier in Chapter 18, God is giving direction to His high priest Aaron as to how He expects worship to be conducted within the tabernacle. You’ll recall that God tells Aaron that what He is giving Him is a gift…a gift of appointment and service of the highest degree.
In today’s passage, God continues to give Aaron guidance, specifically on conducting tabernacle offerings. This isn’t the first time that God has given instruction on offerings. Throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, we have seen God discuss when He expects the offerings to be conducted and how He expects them done. He has also spoken words about redemption of the firstborn before. You can refer back to Exodus, Chapters 13 and 34 as well as Numbers, Chapter 3 to review.
What I wanted to highlight in today’s passage is God’s provision for those who faithfully serve Him. It’s clear as we read through Chapter 18 that the work of the tabernacle was very demanding and complex. God expected His principles to be carried out without deviation and clearly, He had warned of harsh consequences if His instructions were not followed.
What’s also clear is that God wanted to take good care of those who dedicated so much time to His holy work. From our scriptures we see that Aaron and his family were granted:
1."…all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings…Eat it as something most holy…"
2. "…whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
3. "…all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
4. "Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours."
5. "Their (the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat) meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring."
Truly, God had placed a lot of responsibility on Aaron and his family but He also took steps to ensure they were taken care of, giving a portion of what was dedicated to Him to those who had dedicated themselves to His will, way and service.
The good news friends is that He still takes care of His faithful servants today. We’re reminded of His goodness in these words from Paul:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Those who are devoted to the call of Jesus are cheerful givers…providers of good news and living water to all they come into contact with. Through sharing the gospel and God’s word with others, faithful and obedient servants sow seeds within those they minister to…seeds that grow and bloom in such a powerful way that causes men and women alike to "praise God for the obedience that accompanies (their) confession of the gospel of Christ and for (their) generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." In return, God makes "all grace abound" to His faithful servants "so that in all things at all times" they have "all that (they) need and "abound in every good work."
What an awesome assurance it is to see how God provides for those who answer His call, whether it was Aaron in the days preceding Israel entering Canaan or us today preceding our entry into eternal life and our future eternal Promised Land. We are so blessed to have such a loving, awesome Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Friday, May 23, 2008
THE PRIVILEGE
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"The Lord said to Aaron, "You, your sons and your father's family are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood. Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the Tent of the Testimony. They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the Tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the Tent of Meeting—all the work at the Tent—and no one else may come near where you are. "You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death." Numbers 18:1-7
God had ordained Aaron as His chief priest. In Numbers, Chapter 17, He reaffirmed this when He caused Aaron’s staff to bud, bloom and bear almonds while all the other tribal leader staffs remained the same as when they submitted them to Moses as God had commanded. You’ll recall that God ordered the staff to be placed at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting as a reminder to Israel that Aaron was in charge of the tabernacle and only He and his servants were to enter in.
As chapter 18 begins, Aaron receives direction from God…direction that is centered on one key factor: responsibility. Aaron was to do the following:
1. Aaron, his sons and his father's family were to "bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary"; his sons alone were to "bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood".
2. Bring his fellow Levites from his ancestral tribe to join and assist him when either Aaron or his sons minister before the Tent of the Testimony.
3. Aaron was to hold his Levites accountable as they "perform all the duties of the Tent". He was to be especially vigilant in keeping the Levites away from "the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar". Failure to do so would be met with death for not only the Levites but Aaron as well.
4. While Aaron and the Levites were tending to all the work of the tabernacle, Aaron was to ensure that no one came where they were working. In other words, the Tent of Meeting was off limits to anyone except Aaron and the Levites.
5. Aaron was "responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar". Failure to do this would result in wrath falling on the Israelites again.
6. Aaron was to ensure that only he and his sons serve as priests "in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain". The Levites were appointed to help Aaron and his sons with everything else connected with the tabernacle with the exception of the sanctuary and altar furnishings.
So God had given Aaron all his responsibilities. Now He finishes with an awesome statement that caps off this passage and serves to keep Aaron in check so that he doesn’t get carried away with all the authority that God has placed on him. It would also serve to keep Aaron accountable…to show that he could be replaced if he didn’t get the job done.
What did God say?
Look at verse 7. God says, "I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift." In other words, the priesthood is something that God was obligated to give to Aaron. Instead, the priesthood was a privilege that Aaron received from God…a gift of positional authority and responsibility. If Aaron failed to meet God’s expectations, he could be replaced. This attached accountability to Aaron’s responsibility.
I want you to consider how that same principle applies to life in general. For God has given us this life as a gift and it’s a privilege and blessing to awake, take breath and be able to do what we can do on day-by-day. By His mercy, grace and love, the Lord allows us to live but we shouldn’t live so arrogantly that we feel God can’t take away the very privilege that He granted.
For just as Aaron had been given specific direction about his responsibilities, so too have we in how God expects us to live our lives. Aaron was to tend for the sanctuary of Israelite worship. The bible compares our bodies to temples or sanctuaries (1 Corinthians 6:19) and we’re responsible for tending to ourselves, ensuring that everything we think, say or do is done in a way that brings honor and glory to God. To make sure we do this, we need only remember the two greatest commandments given by Jesus, God’s only Son and the only One through whom we can get to the Father (John 14:6) Jesus said:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31
God’s gift of life is granted to us out of love…and it’s His love that will carry us through each day in obedient service to Him and others. As we sacrifice our own will for His (Romans 12:1), the gift of His awesome, enduring love consumes us and flows out to others…it carries us through each day as we do what God expects. Friends, it all begins and ends with love…a love that allows us to realize what a privilege life is…a life granted by the Father and sealed for eternity by His Son.
Thanks be to God for the gift of life and love. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"The Lord said to Aaron, "You, your sons and your father's family are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood. Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the Tent of the Testimony. They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the Tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the Tent of Meeting—all the work at the Tent—and no one else may come near where you are. "You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death." Numbers 18:1-7
God had ordained Aaron as His chief priest. In Numbers, Chapter 17, He reaffirmed this when He caused Aaron’s staff to bud, bloom and bear almonds while all the other tribal leader staffs remained the same as when they submitted them to Moses as God had commanded. You’ll recall that God ordered the staff to be placed at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting as a reminder to Israel that Aaron was in charge of the tabernacle and only He and his servants were to enter in.
As chapter 18 begins, Aaron receives direction from God…direction that is centered on one key factor: responsibility. Aaron was to do the following:
1. Aaron, his sons and his father's family were to "bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary"; his sons alone were to "bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood".
2. Bring his fellow Levites from his ancestral tribe to join and assist him when either Aaron or his sons minister before the Tent of the Testimony.
3. Aaron was to hold his Levites accountable as they "perform all the duties of the Tent". He was to be especially vigilant in keeping the Levites away from "the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar". Failure to do so would be met with death for not only the Levites but Aaron as well.
4. While Aaron and the Levites were tending to all the work of the tabernacle, Aaron was to ensure that no one came where they were working. In other words, the Tent of Meeting was off limits to anyone except Aaron and the Levites.
5. Aaron was "responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar". Failure to do this would result in wrath falling on the Israelites again.
6. Aaron was to ensure that only he and his sons serve as priests "in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain". The Levites were appointed to help Aaron and his sons with everything else connected with the tabernacle with the exception of the sanctuary and altar furnishings.
So God had given Aaron all his responsibilities. Now He finishes with an awesome statement that caps off this passage and serves to keep Aaron in check so that he doesn’t get carried away with all the authority that God has placed on him. It would also serve to keep Aaron accountable…to show that he could be replaced if he didn’t get the job done.
What did God say?
Look at verse 7. God says, "I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift." In other words, the priesthood is something that God was obligated to give to Aaron. Instead, the priesthood was a privilege that Aaron received from God…a gift of positional authority and responsibility. If Aaron failed to meet God’s expectations, he could be replaced. This attached accountability to Aaron’s responsibility.
I want you to consider how that same principle applies to life in general. For God has given us this life as a gift and it’s a privilege and blessing to awake, take breath and be able to do what we can do on day-by-day. By His mercy, grace and love, the Lord allows us to live but we shouldn’t live so arrogantly that we feel God can’t take away the very privilege that He granted.
For just as Aaron had been given specific direction about his responsibilities, so too have we in how God expects us to live our lives. Aaron was to tend for the sanctuary of Israelite worship. The bible compares our bodies to temples or sanctuaries (1 Corinthians 6:19) and we’re responsible for tending to ourselves, ensuring that everything we think, say or do is done in a way that brings honor and glory to God. To make sure we do this, we need only remember the two greatest commandments given by Jesus, God’s only Son and the only One through whom we can get to the Father (John 14:6) Jesus said:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31
God’s gift of life is granted to us out of love…and it’s His love that will carry us through each day in obedient service to Him and others. As we sacrifice our own will for His (Romans 12:1), the gift of His awesome, enduring love consumes us and flows out to others…it carries us through each day as we do what God expects. Friends, it all begins and ends with love…a love that allows us to realize what a privilege life is…a life granted by the Father and sealed for eternity by His Son.
Thanks be to God for the gift of life and love. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
BLESSINGS IN CURSES?
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 get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites."
"So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron's staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff. The Lord said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die." Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. The Israelites said to Moses, "We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?" Numbers 17
As we have seen in Chapter 16, there was a lot of contention for the position of chief priest, the position that God had already selected and ordained Aaron into. This was possibly because the people had witnessed the awesome power of God and felt that they too might have a part of that power by holding the worldly office closest to Him. What they didn't realize is that it's not up to man to dictate to God what God will do but it's all about God dictating to man what God wants man to do and it is the sole responsibility of man to obey God's will.
After the destruction of the 14,700 that included Korah, Dathan, Abiram, the 250 men opposing God with them and some of the people of Israel who grumbled against Moses and Aaron, God devises a plan to put the matter of His appointed priest to rest. We read where He tells Moses to:
"Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites. "
So Moses does as the Lord commands receiving "twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes" with Aaron's staff among them". Moses then "placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony".
As the next day dawned, "Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony" to look at the staffs and as he examined them, he saw that "Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds". There was no question as to who God had selected to be His earthly priest and leader of the tabernacle.
Scripture tells us that "Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord's presence to all the Israelites" and when "they looked at them…each man took his own staff". Then the Lord said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die." And "Moses did just as the Lord commanded".
When the Israelites saw the budding, blossomed, almond-filled staff, they were panic-stricken and afraid, saying to Moses, "We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?" The Lord had spoken through the budding staff in a way that finally brought a reverent fear and respect from the people. The sign of the staff at the entrance of the tabernacle was there as a reminder of God's miraculous power, a power that could be used to bless or curse, depending on the attitude and actions of His people. Through their words, Israel seemed to realize that not only their words but their actions against God could lead them to destruction.
Interestingly enough, go back to God's words to Moses. For He said that the staff of Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting would not only put an end to Israel's grumbling but also ensure that they wouldn't die. God intended for the staff to ultimately be salvation for the Israelites. Israel saw it as a sign of their doom.
This got me pondering how so many of us misread the things that God is doing in our lives each and every day. How many times do we see things as curses when God is really giving them to us as blessings? Maybe we would best served to just trust that God is always working in, around and through us for good. For in the words of Paul:
"…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 Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
THE SIN OF OPPOSITION
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?" When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!" Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"
"Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
"Moses said to Korah, "You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also." So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" Then the Lord said to Moses, "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' " Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents. Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt." As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"
"And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy- the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites." So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers."
"The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the Lord's people," they said. But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown. Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started." So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped." Numbers 16
Aaron and Miriam had wondered why Moses thought he was so special when they had been used by God for special purposes as he had. They failed to recognize God’s special relationship with Moses…a relationship that was personal and intimate. Their challenge of Moses garnered the Lord’s attention who called Aaron and Miriam into His presence to set things straight about where they stood in their relation to Him. You’ll recall that Miriam was made leprous by the Lord and exiled from the camp for seven days as the penalty for their (Aaron and Miriam’s) sins against their brother.
In today’s scripture, we see where a Levite named Korah and three Reubenites named Dathan, Abiham and On decided to bring another authority challenge but this time it wasn’t just a challenge on Moses but on Aaron as well. Our passage tells us they were "insolent and rose up against Moses". Obviously, the Israelites had not learned from what had happened in the past. I guess they thought that instead of just two people challenging Moses, more men would bring different results. God would have to teach a greater lesson this time around.
We read that these four men came to Moses and Aaron with 250 others, all who were "well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council." They told Moses, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?" After falling facedown at their words, Moses replied, "In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!" Notice where Moses doesn’t attempt to settle the matter on his own but allows the Lord to show his challengers who He has chosen to lead His chosen people. Moses knows that the worst is to come as he tells the Levites that they have gone too far. He then further admonishes them saying, "Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together." The Levites had taken for granted the special place that God had given them in tending to and caring for the tabernacle as well as assisting Aaron and the other priests. They were not satisfied with what God had given them and sought more. Moses reminds them that they were not resisting him but God with their actions.
Having addressed Korah and his men first, Moses turned to the Reubenites, summoning them to him. They disrespectfully declined his request saying, "We will not come! Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" In response to their impudence, Moses tells the Lord to not accept their offering.
So what did God do about this situation? Well, Korah and his men showed up with their incense censers as Moses directed and stood in opposition to Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Into this faceoff enters the Lord who immediately directs Moses and Aaron to "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." As we have seen in the past, Moses intercedes for his people but this time he is joined by Aaron as they fall down before the Lord and plead for the assembly saying to the Lord, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" They assert that only those who have sinned against God should face judgment.
The Lord listens because He orders Moses to tell the assembly to "move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram" and they obey. Moses then addresses the men who disrespected the Lord and the assembly saying, "This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt." Moses himself did not have the power to do what he said would happen. An event such as he stated would only come from God. The people awaited what would happen next.
It came suddenly after Moses finished speaking. For the "ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community." God had swallowed up His opposition for their sins, using the very earth He had created. His actions stunned the rest of the assembly who "fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"
God wasn’t finished because there was a matter of the other 250 men who joined Kohath, Dathan and Abiham. Scripture tells us that "fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense". From the ashes of the sinners, Moses directed Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to gather up the holy censers and hammer them into "sheets to overlay the altar"…so they might be a "sign to the Israelites" reminding them that "no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers."
Well, this was quite an event…an event witnessed by all the Israelites. Given all the other prior events that God had to correct Israel for their stubborn disobedience, you would think that they all would have followed the example of deep reverence displayed by Moses and Aaron, falling facedown before the Lord. But instead, they became defiant once again.
For God’s word tells us that the next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying to them, "You have killed the Lord's people". They still didn’t get that what had happened had come from God Himself. So God returned to remind them and once again bring His wrath at their actions. Moses and Aaron know the worse is coming and so they once again intercede for the people, falling facedown before God who orders them to "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." The people were all going to be destroyed if something wasn’t done and done fast.
Moses sets Aaron into action telling him to "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started." We read where "Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly" where the "plague had already started among the people. Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them, standing "between the living and the dead" because of his actions and God’s mercy, "the plague stopped". Still 14,700 people died from the plague as well as the sinful opposition of Korah. God had sent a message about the sin of opposition in a big way.
Question: Are you opposing God in any way in your life? Have you questioned the special authority He has placed upon others, possibly challenging God’s divine right to specially select others to serve Him in powerful ways?
Through our scripture today, we should learn to avoid the mistakes of Korah, Dathan and Abiham as well as those who foolishly decided to band together with them. We should also learn from the further mistakes of Israel who perished from the plague. It’s clear that God does not stand for those who decide to oppose Him. He only expects a reverent attitude and respect because as He so often says, "I am the Lord!" We should ever treat Him as such.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?" When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!" Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"
"Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
"Moses said to Korah, "You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also." So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" Then the Lord said to Moses, "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' " Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents. Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt." As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"
"And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy- the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites." So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers."
"The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the Lord's people," they said. But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown. Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started." So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped." Numbers 16
Aaron and Miriam had wondered why Moses thought he was so special when they had been used by God for special purposes as he had. They failed to recognize God’s special relationship with Moses…a relationship that was personal and intimate. Their challenge of Moses garnered the Lord’s attention who called Aaron and Miriam into His presence to set things straight about where they stood in their relation to Him. You’ll recall that Miriam was made leprous by the Lord and exiled from the camp for seven days as the penalty for their (Aaron and Miriam’s) sins against their brother.
In today’s scripture, we see where a Levite named Korah and three Reubenites named Dathan, Abiham and On decided to bring another authority challenge but this time it wasn’t just a challenge on Moses but on Aaron as well. Our passage tells us they were "insolent and rose up against Moses". Obviously, the Israelites had not learned from what had happened in the past. I guess they thought that instead of just two people challenging Moses, more men would bring different results. God would have to teach a greater lesson this time around.
We read that these four men came to Moses and Aaron with 250 others, all who were "well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council." They told Moses, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?" After falling facedown at their words, Moses replied, "In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!" Notice where Moses doesn’t attempt to settle the matter on his own but allows the Lord to show his challengers who He has chosen to lead His chosen people. Moses knows that the worst is to come as he tells the Levites that they have gone too far. He then further admonishes them saying, "Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together." The Levites had taken for granted the special place that God had given them in tending to and caring for the tabernacle as well as assisting Aaron and the other priests. They were not satisfied with what God had given them and sought more. Moses reminds them that they were not resisting him but God with their actions.
Having addressed Korah and his men first, Moses turned to the Reubenites, summoning them to him. They disrespectfully declined his request saying, "We will not come! Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" In response to their impudence, Moses tells the Lord to not accept their offering.
So what did God do about this situation? Well, Korah and his men showed up with their incense censers as Moses directed and stood in opposition to Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Into this faceoff enters the Lord who immediately directs Moses and Aaron to "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." As we have seen in the past, Moses intercedes for his people but this time he is joined by Aaron as they fall down before the Lord and plead for the assembly saying to the Lord, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" They assert that only those who have sinned against God should face judgment.
The Lord listens because He orders Moses to tell the assembly to "move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram" and they obey. Moses then addresses the men who disrespected the Lord and the assembly saying, "This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt." Moses himself did not have the power to do what he said would happen. An event such as he stated would only come from God. The people awaited what would happen next.
It came suddenly after Moses finished speaking. For the "ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community." God had swallowed up His opposition for their sins, using the very earth He had created. His actions stunned the rest of the assembly who "fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"
God wasn’t finished because there was a matter of the other 250 men who joined Kohath, Dathan and Abiham. Scripture tells us that "fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense". From the ashes of the sinners, Moses directed Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to gather up the holy censers and hammer them into "sheets to overlay the altar"…so they might be a "sign to the Israelites" reminding them that "no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers."
Well, this was quite an event…an event witnessed by all the Israelites. Given all the other prior events that God had to correct Israel for their stubborn disobedience, you would think that they all would have followed the example of deep reverence displayed by Moses and Aaron, falling facedown before the Lord. But instead, they became defiant once again.
For God’s word tells us that the next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying to them, "You have killed the Lord's people". They still didn’t get that what had happened had come from God Himself. So God returned to remind them and once again bring His wrath at their actions. Moses and Aaron know the worse is coming and so they once again intercede for the people, falling facedown before God who orders them to "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." The people were all going to be destroyed if something wasn’t done and done fast.
Moses sets Aaron into action telling him to "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started." We read where "Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly" where the "plague had already started among the people. Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them, standing "between the living and the dead" because of his actions and God’s mercy, "the plague stopped". Still 14,700 people died from the plague as well as the sinful opposition of Korah. God had sent a message about the sin of opposition in a big way.
Question: Are you opposing God in any way in your life? Have you questioned the special authority He has placed upon others, possibly challenging God’s divine right to specially select others to serve Him in powerful ways?
Through our scripture today, we should learn to avoid the mistakes of Korah, Dathan and Abiham as well as those who foolishly decided to band together with them. We should also learn from the further mistakes of Israel who perished from the plague. It’s clear that God does not stand for those who decide to oppose Him. He only expects a reverent attitude and respect because as He so often says, "I am the Lord!" We should ever treat Him as such.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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