Monday
When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. - Numbers 25:7-8 ESV
How To Take Care Of Temptation
Historian Shelby Foote tells of a soldier who was wounded at the battle of Shiloh during the American Civil War and was ordered to go to the rear. The fighting was fierce and within minutes he returned to his commanding officer. "Captain, give me a gun!" he shouted. "This fight ain't got any rear!" (Daily Walk)
In Numbers 25, Phinehas wanted to be on the front lines fighting. After 4 failed attempts to curse Israel, Balaam gives up...or so it seemed. His new plan was “If you can’t beat them join them!” Israel committed spiritual adultery by worshipping the false god Baal of Peor. Phineas immediately moved to action to eliminate the sin.
Brian Bell on Phinehas' zeal: A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing, and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies - whether he has health, or whether he has sickness - whether he is rich, or whether he is poor - whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense - whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish - whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise - whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame - for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; that one thing is to please God and to advance God’s glory.
Reflection
The incident at Baal Peor stands out as one of many times that Israel fell into temptation, and it also serves as a warning to Christians. How can a passion for God, like Phinehas possessed, help you when temptation starts?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the people in your life who have battled temptation on your behalf. Ask God to give you the type of godly zeal that Phinehas possessed.
Tuesday
“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.” - Numbers 26:2 ESV
How To Focus On The Future
Many years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture, The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures. (Swindoll, The Quest For Character)
Israel had made a mess out of their first attempt to enter into the beauty of the promised land. In Numbers 26, God is preparing them for a better future. As the preparation for conquest for the Exodus generation began with a census in Numbers 1, so this section on the preparation of the second generation in Numbers 26 began with a second census, taken by Moses and Eleazar at the end of the wilderness wanderings. A new census was taken in anticipation of assigning land to the families of the tribes, and a new leader was identified in Joshua.
Reflection
Rebuilding often involves removing the old in preparation for the new. Are there any old habits or beliefs that God is leading you to remove from your life to prepare you for the future He has for you?
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the times He has allowed you a second chance to experience His best. Ask God to show you anything He wants to change in your life in order to prepare you for the future.
How To Focus On The Future
Many years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture, The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures. (Swindoll, The Quest For Character)
Israel had made a mess out of their first attempt to enter into the beauty of the promised land. In Numbers 26, God is preparing them for a better future. As the preparation for conquest for the Exodus generation began with a census in Numbers 1, so this section on the preparation of the second generation in Numbers 26 began with a second census, taken by Moses and Eleazar at the end of the wilderness wanderings. A new census was taken in anticipation of assigning land to the families of the tribes, and a new leader was identified in Joshua.
Reflection
Rebuilding often involves removing the old in preparation for the new. Are there any old habits or beliefs that God is leading you to remove from your life to prepare you for the future He has for you?
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the times He has allowed you a second chance to experience His best. Ask God to show you anything He wants to change in your life in order to prepare you for the future.
Wednesday
...who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. - Numbers 27:17-18 ESV
How To Focus On The Future - Pt. 2
Matthew Henry went to London, met a young lady of nobility, who was also wealthy, and they fell in love. She went to ask her father if she could marry him and he said, "He's got no background, you don't know where he's come from." She said, "Yes, I know, but I know where he's going and I want to go with him." (Source Unknown)
God always uses godly leadership to lead His people into the future. Moses knew this when he asked God who was going to lead Israel into the future after his death. God immediately picked Joshua, who had God’s Spirit inside of him and had demonstrated faithfulness to follow God’s leadership.
Reflection
What difference has godly leadership and ungodly leadership made in your life? Are you being led by God’s Spirit in your areas of influence and leadership?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the godly leaders He has placed in your life along the way. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you clear direction in the places where God wants you to influence and lead others.
How To Focus On The Future - Pt. 2
Matthew Henry went to London, met a young lady of nobility, who was also wealthy, and they fell in love. She went to ask her father if she could marry him and he said, "He's got no background, you don't know where he's come from." She said, "Yes, I know, but I know where he's going and I want to go with him." (Source Unknown)
God always uses godly leadership to lead His people into the future. Moses knew this when he asked God who was going to lead Israel into the future after his death. God immediately picked Joshua, who had God’s Spirit inside of him and had demonstrated faithfulness to follow God’s leadership.
Reflection
What difference has godly leadership and ungodly leadership made in your life? Are you being led by God’s Spirit in your areas of influence and leadership?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the godly leaders He has placed in your life along the way. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you clear direction in the places where God wants you to influence and lead others.
Thursday
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’” - Numbers 28:1-2 ESV
How To Love The Lord
A little girl received a watch and perfume for her birthday. She was so excited she pestered everyone all day to look at her watch and smell her perfume. At dinner, her mother said, “Honey, I know you’re proud of your gifts, but please don’t mention them while we eat.” All through dinner she sat silently although she sniffed audibly at times and often raised her wrist to listen to her watch. As the meal came to an end, she blurted out, “I’m not supposed to mention it, but if anyone hears anything or smells anything, it’s me.” (Source: Unknown)
Numbers 28 uses the imagery of a “pleasing aroma” to describe offerings that are pleasing to God. The feast and sacrificial system outlined ways to show affection for God. There is a sense in which these sacrifices bring pleasure to the Lord. Yet as we reflect on them, we realize that it is not the sacrifice that brings Him pleasure; it is the offerers who obey Him in these demands who please Him!
Reflection
Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” In what ways can you offer yourself as an act of worship this week?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the mercy which allows us to approach Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. Ask God what ways He would like you to be a sweet aroma to Him.
How To Love The Lord
A little girl received a watch and perfume for her birthday. She was so excited she pestered everyone all day to look at her watch and smell her perfume. At dinner, her mother said, “Honey, I know you’re proud of your gifts, but please don’t mention them while we eat.” All through dinner she sat silently although she sniffed audibly at times and often raised her wrist to listen to her watch. As the meal came to an end, she blurted out, “I’m not supposed to mention it, but if anyone hears anything or smells anything, it’s me.” (Source: Unknown)
Numbers 28 uses the imagery of a “pleasing aroma” to describe offerings that are pleasing to God. The feast and sacrificial system outlined ways to show affection for God. There is a sense in which these sacrifices bring pleasure to the Lord. Yet as we reflect on them, we realize that it is not the sacrifice that brings Him pleasure; it is the offerers who obey Him in these demands who please Him!
Reflection
Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” In what ways can you offer yourself as an act of worship this week?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the mercy which allows us to approach Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. Ask God what ways He would like you to be a sweet aroma to Him.
Friday
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward, you shall be gathered to your people.” - Numbers 31:1-2 ESV
How To Win The War
In an old Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a WEAPON that is terrible to behold." "What channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?"
40 years before going into the Promised Land, Israel couldn’t get together and agree on their ability to defeat their enemies. Now just prior to going into the Promised Land, God gives Moses and the children of Israel and clear plan and path to victory. Numbers 31 and 32 have detailed instructions on what they were to do. Their obedience to God’s plan assured victory.
Reflection
When was the last time you disobeyed God’s plan and experienced defeat? When was the last time you clearly experienced a spiritual victory because you obeyed God?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God as the ultimate conquering King. Ask God to give you clear directions for winning any spiritual battles you are currently facing.
How To Win The War
In an old Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a WEAPON that is terrible to behold." "What channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?"
40 years before going into the Promised Land, Israel couldn’t get together and agree on their ability to defeat their enemies. Now just prior to going into the Promised Land, God gives Moses and the children of Israel and clear plan and path to victory. Numbers 31 and 32 have detailed instructions on what they were to do. Their obedience to God’s plan assured victory.
Reflection
When was the last time you disobeyed God’s plan and experienced defeat? When was the last time you clearly experienced a spiritual victory because you obeyed God?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God as the ultimate conquering King. Ask God to give you clear directions for winning any spiritual battles you are currently facing.
Posted in Numbers: Life in Between
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