Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Romans 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” [Matthew 7:1-2]. Paul, like Jesus, warns us against judging others. He exposes the judgmental person, showing that they need God’s…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” [John 10:9-10] Believing in Jesus as God’s human-divine…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’” [John 4:27] We see in Jesus, Who embodies the heart and love of God, a different way of relating to women and children….

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” [Matthew 5:23] The “cities of refuge” in today’s reading are…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.” [Matthew 25:15] In Numbers 34 we see the land being distributed by lot (that is, by the Lord’s direction), according to the number of the people. The Lord is distributing the land…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 33 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’ [Luke 9:61-62] Jesus encountered a would-be follower that wanted to…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 31 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” [Matthew 24:12-13] Although I do not like this chapter – people as plunder, kill the boys, save the virgins – in an odd way I see Jesus in this…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 30 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” [Matthew 19:8] This verse makes me think that there are commands in Moses’ Law that God allowed him to shape according to the sin-shaped context, commands not in harmony with God’s original…

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 29 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” [Matthew 18:21-22] So many sacrifices, why is God is focused on blood and sacrifice? But what if…