October 28, 2023

One of the things God permitted was for people living among the Israelites to participate in honoring him by their sacrifices and forgiving them of their sins. So, you didn’t have to be a natural-born dependent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be included. That tells you a lot about our God. So, even before Jesus opened the door for our salvation, God allowed people who lived among Israel to participate in their ceremonies. Doesn’t that show that He loves all people? Israel was the smallest nation, and from it, Jesus came but is the Savior and Messiah of all people, not just the Jewish nation. God was to show his power by using something small to create something great, and he did that through Israel. Now, Christianity is found throughout the world because God’s plan prevailed. I count myself very fortunate to know Jesus as my personal Savior. We are truly blessed to know Him. Thank him and praise him for his precious gift. 

One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. Numbers 15:16

October 27, 2023

How many of us will die in the wilderness like the Israelites because we lack faith in the promises of God? At every turn, we get bad reports like the spies that came back to the congregation and put fear into the people, causing them to cry out and wish they hadn't left Egypt. God was furious with them! So angry that he sent them back into the wilderness and made them wander there until all the adults died, saving only the children under twenty years old and Joshua and Caleb, forty years! 

The entire earth is facing incredible evil. The enemy's fury is running rampant, and it seems their madness has no end. However, we are not of this world; we are God's children, and our faith lies in him alone. Stop murmuring! The same God that punished the Israelites is our God, and he doesn't change. Change your mindset to a mind of faith in God alone. By His grace, we are saved through faith! We are nearing the pinnacle and must expect the enemy to fight back because he knows his time is short, but we must press on toward Jesus because it is our faith in him alone that will save us from this tyranny.

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: Numbers 14:21-23

October 26, 2023

It takes bravery to enter the Promised Land, our inheritance, because of Jesus Christ our Lord. Have no doubts that the Holy Spirit draws a person to our Savior, and no amount of coaxing will suffice because it is the job of God to call them to him. A prime example is the spies Moses sent into the land that God had promised Abraham; out of the twelve, one ruler or leader from each tribe, only two brought back a good report. The others were afraid of conquering the inhabitants of that land. They had all seen the miracles God did when leaving Egypt and were fed by manna every morning; why did they doubt God? Many people are like these cowards, afraid to leave their sins behind, looking at them like giants, and wanting to continue diddling with demons rather than accepting what God promised them in Jesus. I have no doubt that Christ-followers are the bravest of all people. 

“The righteous are bold as a lion. Difficulties that lie in the way of salvation dwindle and vanish before a lively active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they be but promised, to him that believes.” Matthew Henry. 

What is stopping you from accepting all God has to offer? Do you love the lifestyle of this world? Then, this world is the best you’ll get because a world of turmoil awaits those who are not saved. Be brave and enter the Promised Land. Jesus is the only way. 

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30

October 25, 2023

Be careful when you speak against a servant of God. He does not take kindly to such idle talk. For instance, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his wife. Maybe she had more influence over him than they did, and perhaps they resented her. God became furious with them and called them to the tabernacle's door, rebuking them in front of Moses. God reminded them that he spoke to Moses face to face, but to them, he appeared in dreams and visions. It seems that Miriam was the one who led this rebellion because God struck her with leprosy while Aaron begged for Moses to heal her. Moses cried out to God, but he made her live with the leprosy outside of camp for seven days, which must have been humbling for her. 

Here's a bit of caution: if God's servant says something you disagree with, hold your peace and take your issue directly to God unless it is entirely egregious and not biblical. Yes, we should take a stand against false prophets, but just be careful who you criticize. God hears our words and thoughts; make sure you take every word and thought captive, making them obedient to Christ.

With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. Numbers 12:8-9

October 24, 2023

The Israelites complained about the food. Their tastebuds longed for onions, garlic, leeks, and fish, according to one verse, but as a whole, they wanted some meat; they had had enough of the manna. A few started the complaining, and the murmuring spread throughout. God got angry, and those people were consumed by His fire! Moses prayed, and God stopped.

The complaints persisted. Moses couldn't handle all these people at once, so God told him to appoint seventy elders to help him with the people. Doesn't this remind you of the 70 disciples Jesus picked to help the apostles? They cleaned themselves up, and God put his spirit upon them. Two young men outside the seventy assembled also received God's spirit and prophesied with the elders! Some were jealous and complained about that, too! Here's what Moses said:

And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! Numbers 11:29

We have God's Spirit within us! They were jealous of what we have and the gifts to go along with having His Spirit. We need to realize our privilege. 

God gave them more than what they asked for. He wanted them to have so much flesh that they would regret complaining. While the flesh was still in their teeth, they were overcome by a plague. What a good lesson for us; we are all guilty of complaining occasionally, but let us be careful to take it to God first and not spread discontent.

October 23, 2023

After spending eleven months and twenty days at the foot of Mt. Sinai, the cloud lifted from the tabernacle of testimony. The priest blew the silver trumpets God had told Moses to make to inform the Israelites it was time to set out. When the Levites moved the ark, Moses prayed: 

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. Numbers 10:35

Commit this prayer to memory and pray it every morning. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, and when we move about daily, these words should go before us. David used similar words when he went into battle.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. Psalms 68:1

We are amid warfare! After putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), pray these words. When you are back home and resting, pray again. Here are the words Moses prayed after their three-day journey into the wilderness:

And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel. Numbers 10:36

You can adjust the words to fit your situation as David did in the other verse, but it wouldn’t hurt for us to pray for the many millions of Christians worldwide. My version would be, “Return, O LORD, unto the many millions of Christians as they lay their heads in the safety of your arms.”

October 22, 2023

Once the Tabernacle was complete and the initial sacrifices made, the Spirit of God settled upon it as a cloud during the day and the appearance of fire at night. He made the Tabernacle His home. When the cloud or fire lifted off the Tabernacle, it signified that God was ready to move the camp; whether day or night, they had to be prepared. 

I found this portion significant and comparable to our being the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. After completion, they made a home for him in the heart of their camp; He's in our hearts. He gave them the details, through Moses, on how He wanted it assembled; he made plans for us because of our faith in Jesus, and then Jesus built it. To seek God, Israel had to go to the priest, make offerings, and ask forgiveness; they had to go to Him; now, He resides in each of our hearts. He will move us at a moment's notice! You will feel Him stirring, like the cloud and fire moving within you, and have a burning desire to minister or unload what God has placed on your heart. You can't stop the words from coming out of your mouth, nor do you want to. That's one of the ways you know you have the Holy Spirit. 

God gave the people of Israel significant clues to what to look for right in the Old Testament so they would know when the Messiah had come, but many, if not most, have chosen to ignore all of them. We are Spiritual Israel because of Jesus and have our homes worldwide! With all today's conflicts, we must remember who we are; we are Israel, and the Promised Land is where God has placed us. The pillar of cloud and the appearance of fire have diminished over that land and are now in our hearts. 

And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely,the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. Numbers 9:15