Pastor Billington's Blog

Numbers 11

Freedom is not enough. Manna is not enough. They want security. They want permanence. They want meat! God disciplines them for grumbling, and they grumble more. Moses has had enough. He cries out to God because he can’t deal with the people anymore, and God shares His Spirit with additional elders so that they can help bear Moses’ burden. Although He initially told Moses to pick out 70, God apparently felt that two more were deserving of His Spirit as well. Leadership is complicated, infuriating, all consuming, and exhausting. It’s always best if the burden is shared, and we see that here with Moses.

God gives them meat, but they also experience His wrath. It’s true that God is loving and merciful. It’s also true that God is jealous and righteous. We can’t always assume that His mercy will win out in His dealings with us on a day-to-day basis. Thank God that we are eternally secure through Jesus Christ, but our daily walk can still sometimes entail discipline and judgment. If God shows mercy, it’s for a purpose. If God chooses judgment, it’s for a purpose. We should never just presume that we will escape the consequences of our actions.

Hebrews 10:31 (WEB) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Thought for the day: Even after all they’ve seen and experienced, some still look back instead of forward, effectively rejecting God and their future (11:20). What a warning for us!

Luke 9:62 (WEB) “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.’ “

Numbers 10

This chapter deals with breaking camp and traveling. The trumpets used for breaking camp are also used to call assemblies, warn of battle, denote festivals, declare sacrifices, and signal the start of a new month. The trumpets were a reminder of God’s covenant with the nation. The Israelites had been at Sinai for approximately a year before the Lord indicated that they should move on. Moses’ cry whenever they set out was a reminder that God went before the nation and fought their battles for them!

As a side note, Moses attempts to get his brother-in-law (“Jethro” is called “Reuel” here) to stay with them to provide assistance. We don’t know if he was successful or not.

Thought for the day: What about us? Is God working on our behalf too? Yes, but His help is primarily spiritual in our lives and not necessarily material.

Philippians 4:19 (WEB) “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Numbers 9

The celebration of the Passover brings up a logistical question: what if there are legitimate reasons for someone to miss the celebration? This shows a pattern for how the law was to be interpreted when two laws came into conflict with one another. Here God shows that mercy takes precedence. The people are forgiven, but they do still have to satisfy their responsibilities concerning the Passover at a later date.

Although it does seem that there is a qualitative difference to the presence of God in New Testament believer’s lives (through the indwelling of the Spirit), that doesn’t mean that He wasn’t with His people in the Old. Here we have an ongoing visible reminder that God’s presence was with them. We also see the standard God sets: when the cloud lifts, they better be ready to go!

Thought for the day: Isn’t it wonderful that God is always with us?

John 14:16 (WEB) “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, that he may be with you forever.”

Hebrews 13:5 (WEB) “for he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’ “

Numbers 8

The lampstand was the only source of light in the holy place. It was designed to be on one side of the room and to shine light in a particular direction.

There are differences between the dedications of the priests and the Levites. The Levites are not “consecrated” like the priests but instead are “cleansed.” And they didn’t receive special garments; they shaved the hair on their bodies and washed their clothes. The start of their service is listed as 25 years old, which differs from what was first stated in Numbers 4:3 (30 years old). The difference may be a 5-year apprenticeship, or perhaps the actual transportation duties didn’t begin until they reached 30 years old.

Thought for the day: This is the culmination of God’s reward to the Levites for their faithfulness back in Exodus 32. Jesus teaches that we will be rewarded for our faithfulness as well!

Matthew 25:19-23 (WEB) “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them. He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “

Numbers 7

This passage is a further explanation of what happened during the dedication of the tabernacle. Boring, right? The same offering after the same offering. Or exciting, because the people felt that much dedication, responsibility, and praise for their God!

Thought(s) for the day: One reason for the offerings is that they provide for the workers and the work. We see that reminder in the New Testament as well:

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (WEB) “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.’ And, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’ “

The fact that each tribe brings the same offering shows that they were all on equal footing before God, just as we are.

Romans 10:12-13 (WEB) “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ “

Finally, God is always pleased with the sincere offerings of His people. He never tires of it!

Hebrews 13:15 (WEB) “Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.”

Numbers 6

The term “Nazirite” means devoted or consecrated. A Nazirite vow could be lifelong or temporary. The person making the vow was dedicating themselves to God in a special way. While there may be times when we also devote ourselves to God in a special way (like taking a mission trip or going on a spiritual retreat), the spirit of the Nazirite vow should drive our everyday lives.

Romans 12:1-2 (WEB) “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Thought for the day: Have you ever been a part of a faith tradition that uses a benediction to close the service? It probably came from here! The purpose was to put God’s name on His children so that they would be blessed. Although we may not always do that in our services, we should be doing it in our prayers.

Ephesians 1:15-19 (WEB) “For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is amongst you and the love which you have towards all the saints, don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might.”

Numbers 5

The reiteration of certain parts of the law in chapter 5 is because of things that could affect the wellbeing of the camp. It deals with physical issues like discharges as well as relational issues that could cause significant problems. One important issue is marital faithfulness. What would happen if someone suspected that their wife was cheating on them, but had no proof? The procedure seems magical and could certainly be supernatural. However, there may be another explanation. The woman is brought before the religious authorities. She has to take an oath of fidelity – if she has been unfaithful, childlessness will result. It’s certainly possible that guilt would bring forth a confession at this point, while the woman who is innocent would drink the water without fear, thereby reliving her husband’s suspicions. This is a very early example of the idea of “trial by ordeal.”

Thought for the day: Our “camp” is the church, and we need to make sure our relationships in the church are right too!

Matthew 5:23-24 (WEB) “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Numbers 4

Aaron’s son Eleazar has supervision of the entire tabernacle, and three Levitical families were responsible for moving the tabernacle from campsite to campsite. The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle furniture; the Gershonites took care of the curtains and coverings; and the Merarites handled the boards, bars, pillars, bases, pegs, and ropes.

Thought for the day: The New Testament says that we are a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9), so it shouldn’t surprise us that we have jobs to do as well!

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (WEB) “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Numbers 3

Aaron and his sons served as priests, and the Levites served in a special capacity to guard and transport the tabernacle. The Levites were chosen to serve in place of the firstborn of all the tribes. They were given this special privilege because, when Moses came down from the mountain and found the nation engaging in idol worship, the tribe of Levi was the only tribe to rally to his side!

Thought for the day: Note that the Levites and the priests stand between the people and God even in the camp. Not so today. A Protestant distinctive is the doctrine of the priesthood of every believer. We don’t need an intermediary between us and God because the wall separating us from God has been torn down by Jesus!

Hebrews 10:19-20 (WEB) “Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”