SCRIPTURE: Romans 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Paul begins with sharing His passion for God, for Jesus and for the good news message of Jesus for all people. He is so eager to share this with those in Rome, and is confident that this message can radically transform their lives. Believing in Jesus as God’s human-divine Messiah is the…
Category: daily meditations
Zelophedad’s daughters
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Although the patriarchal patterns of that culture did find their way into the Law of Moses, nevertheless God shows His concern for women and children in the Law in a way that the other cultures and religions did not. In this chapter we see God’s concern extend to Zelophedad’s daughters. The way…
no place to hide from justice
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Levites were given towns among the other tribes, since they did not receive land. These towns were their refuge, their place to call home. In addition, six of these towns were set apart as cities of refuge, for people who were accused of a crime (for example, murder) and need a…
my lot in life
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: In this chapter 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 as a gift, and they are to be stewards of this gift. They are to faithfully serve Him in the land that…
away from me, Satan!
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 33 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This chapter recounts the stages of their journey through the wilderness to the promised land. If finishes with a warning not to be enticed by the culture and religion of the land. Compromise will be deadly! This may seem harsh, but only if we underestimate the poisonous corruption and cruelty of the…
remember Lot’s wife (or looking back)
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: At first Moses is not impressed by what the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh ask – to take the land on the east side of the Jordan. What he hears them asking, and what he gets so angry about, is basically to stop before entering the land. Moses reminds…
light in the darkness
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 31 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 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 passage. The mess of sin is our responsibility, but God does not abandon us to it. He does not snap His fingers and end it…
struggling with patriarchal passages
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 30 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This chapter is not about vows first of all, it is about “relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house”. [Numbers 30:16], applied to vows. “Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny…
seventy seven times
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 29 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The seventh month was a bloody festival month – the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, most solemn of Jewish holy days) and the Feast of Tabernacles. In addition to the regular daily offerings, special sacrifices were made. And the Feast of Tabernacles (‘tents’, remembering God’s provision and protection…
first and foremost!
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 28 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Here we go again. Another list of sacrifices. Sometimes it’s hard to fathom why so much bloodshed. And Samuel’s words seem hard to believe: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed…