SCRIPTURE: Numbers 27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: We serve a compassionate God. Jesus, Who shows us what God is like, embodies the love and mercy of God. He is concerned for everyone, no matter what their background, story, race, sin, gender, age, etc. He sees the whole mass of the human race as sheep needing a shepherd – “When…
Category: daily meditations
God’s Earth Day!
Today is Earth Day. It would be better to call it “God’s Earth Day”. Our world belongs to God! “As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world— which some seek to control, and others view with despair— we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!” We should celebrate “God’s Earth Day”…
the God of second chances
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Forty years have passed. Now is the time to prepare to enter the promised land. This is a new beginning, a new people. None of those numbered in Numbers 1 (twenty years and older) is still alive, except Moses, Joshua and Caleb. These people are described as “the Israelites who came out of…
one way or another
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: If he can’t get us one way, he will try another. Satan doesn’t care how he brings us down, he just keeps at it. He tries to defeat Israel with a curse [Numbers 23-24], but when that doesn’t work, he entices them with sexual pleasure – and succeeds. Jesus was tempted in the…
tell it like it is!
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What is amazing is that God speaks to (and through) one who practices “sorcery” [Numbers 24:1]. God is not justifying sorcery [Leviticus 19:26], but showing that He rules even over pagan gods and religions. Humankind can rebel against God, defy His commands, and worship other ‘gods’, but they cannot block God’s purposes. God is…
curses or blessings
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God is giving Balak plenty of opportunity to repent, to come to his senses. Balaam, speaking from God, sheds light on this situation – these people are with God, and God is with them; do not resist them, join them! But Balak is deceived, and determined to get his own way. He…
the devil’s diversions
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: At first glance, Balaam seems to be on the right track. When asked to put a curse on Israel, he heeds God’s warning and refuses. When enticed with wealth, he still refuses: “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small…
resisting or resting
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What happens when we go against God? We go against life! All of creation, all of life, is shaped towards God. Resisting God is like spitting in the wind, it will come back in our face. This is what Arad, Sihon and Og discovered. This is also what a wise Jewish leader…
responding like Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: How do we handle criticism, opposition, disagreement? How we respond can help or hinder our testimony to Jesus. Anger, revenge, bitterness are not healthy responses to opposition. Jesus teaches, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray…
fire and water
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The symbolism of the red heifer, its burned ashes kept outside the camp and mixed with water, relates to the cleansing benefit of Jesus’ death for sinners, to make them clean [1 John 1:7-9]. Once again the goriness of the ritual can distract us from the grace and blessing the Lord offers His people….