Numbers 16

Some of the Levites (!) rebel against Moses and Aaron. They aren’t happy with their own leadership positions and instead want to be priests. Some also continue to complain about the continuing journey and Moses’ leadership. God threatens to start over as a result, but Moses and Aaron intercede for the congregation, and God’s judgment only falls on the guilty and their families. The incense censers from the guilty are gathered and hammered out so that they cover the altar as an ongoing reminder of who is supposed to serve as priests. When more complain the next day, God’s wrath falls again, and Aaron (at Moses’ request) literally stands between the congregation and God’s judgment!

Thought for the day: Is what happened in the congregation of Israel any different than what sometimes happens in a local church? The pastor/elders are the ones who are responsible before God to lead, teach, and guide the people. Problems arise when someone outside of that leadership decides that they are spokesperson for God and that the congregation needs to follow them. Unfortunately, opposition to godly leadership has always been an issue with God’s people.

3 John 9-10 (WEB) “I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.”

Numbers 15

Chapter 15 continues the idea that God will do what He has promised, and relays how the people are to behave once they arrive in the promised land. There are instructions for offerings, worship (firstfruits), how to deal with intentional and unintentional sins, Sabbath breaking (which is an example of intentional sin), and clothing. Clothing? Even the adornments on their robes were to serve as a reminder that they were to be holy and obedient.

Thought for the day: The best way we show who we serve is by the way we live, not by what we wear.

Philippians 2:15 (WEB) “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, amongst whom you are seen as lights in the world”

Numbers 14

Yes, God certainly could have started over, but it seems like He is willing to be swayed. Considering Moses’ previous attitude, is it out of bounds to suggest that God is testing Moses?

John 6:1-6 (WEB) “After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.”

When it comes right down to it, Moses pleads for the people. This should not only be the role of leaders in the church, but should also be how we relate to one another.

1 Samuel 12:23 (WEB) “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.”

Ephesians 6:18 (WEB) “with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.”

God’s plans will not be thwarted. His people will inherit the promised land – just not the current generation. The people try to backtrack, and in effect rebel against God again! It’s a good thing we aren’t that dense! Or are we?

Thought for the day: God doesn’t leave us alone in our testing, and for that we should be eternally grateful.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Numbers 13

Fear. It can keep us from doing what we know it right. God instructs Moses to send spies into the land in preparation for invasion, and they rebel. Only Caleb trusts in God and his plan for them.

Thought for the day: Trust is an amazing thing. Do we trust God? Do we believe in His plan for us? Do we believe we have a real future? Do we trust Him with our present? Are we willing to put aside sin and follow Him with our lives? Or are we too fearful?

Isaiah 41:10 (WEB) “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Numbers 12

It’s not uncommon for people to use one thing as a pretext to attack someone else. Here, Moses’ family is actually upset about his marriage, but they instead challenge his leadership by claiming that their relationship with God is just as close as his is. God doesn’t waste any time defending Moses. Moses is the only one He doesn’t talk to in a vision or a dream. His relationship with Moses is fundamentally different. As result of their rebellion, Miriam is struck with leprosy. Both Aaron and Moses plead for her, and she is ultimately restored.

Thought(s) for the day: There are so many lessons here. First, God is not concerned about the race of who we marry. He is concerned about who they worship!

2 Corinthians 6:14 (WEB) “Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?”

Second, we should be careful about why and how we speak out against others.

Ephesians 4:29 (WEB) “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Third, God responds to our prayers, and we should intercede for those around us.

1 Timothy 2:1 (WEB) “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men.”

And finally, while all believers have the Spirit, our relationship with God is affected by our behavior and devotion.  We should do everything we can to remain close to Him!

Psalm 63:1 (WEB) “God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.”

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.’ “