God's Plan Is Greater Than Our Plan!

Today's Reading
Numbers Chps 23-24

Balaak's actions here remind me of how I act when I see my plan being better than that of God's plan. Balaak summons Balaam to curse Israelites as they pass through the desert. While Balaak sees the Israelites as a threat, Balaam sees the Israelites as blessed by God and Balaam has faith in God. I strive to be more like Balaam and less like Balaak. Here is Balak's response to Balaam when things don't go his way and Balaam confronts him with truth and stands faithful to God.

¹⁰ Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."

¹² Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ¹³ 'Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD -and I must say only what the LORD says'? ¹⁴ Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come." (Numbers 24: 10-14)

My Prayer: Lord, you are my protector and you are worthy of praise. Forgive me when I seek my own will and desires over yours. Help me be more like Balaam and less like Balaak. Help me fight and win against the evils of the world.

Are We Not Aware When God Wants Us to Pay Attention to Him?

Today's Reading
Numbers Chps 21-22

While a talking donkey (see chp 22:21-31) may seem amusing, the subject here is of course very real and should be taken seriously. If I were to see a talking donkey (seriously) my first thought would be God is trying to reach me...whatever the message is, it must be pretty darn urgent for Him to use a donkey to deliver the message! In this case, God wanted Balaam to stop what he was doing!

³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

³² The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. ³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."

³⁵ The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (Numbers 22:31-35)

Which then begs the questions....how close am I to God to know both that He is talking to me AND for me to know what He is saying? This then begs the question, how do I get close to God.

I think I reasonably know the answer to these questions but I pray that I have a good understanding:
- read and study the bible
- pray
- ask God for wisdom and ask for guidance
- talk to wise Christian brothers and sisters for input and counsel
- talk to your pastors

My Prayer: Lord, thank you for you wisdom and counsel for I know that I would not be able to live without it. You are great. Forgive me when I, like Balaam, ignore you commands and your efforts to reach me. Help me stay close to you and be aware when you are trying to reach me. Help me follow your lead.

We Question God's Plan, Yet He Shows Mercy

Today's Reading
Numbers Chps 19-20

Once again as the Israelites wander through the desert, they question God's plan:

² Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. ³ They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! ⁴ Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? ⁵ Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" (Numbers 20: 2-5)

To me it's not really that long since the last time the Israelites grumbled against Moses and the Lord!!

For all of this grumbling, God shows mercy and instead of wiping out grumblers like He does in Numbers 16:31-33, he provides water and lets them live:

⁹ So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" ¹¹ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. (Numbers 20:9-11)

Is our God not merciful? Although God could have killed the Israelites, he lets them live. However we do see that God punishes the Israelites by not allowing them to reach the promised land...yet.

On the one hand we see how God provides for our needs (water) yet is firm in that it is HIS plan and HIS timing that is the priority. We need to be patient.

My Prayer: Thank you for how you provide and for your mercy. Forgive me for my own sin and impatience and help me focus on you and your plan.

Tithing of First Fruits

Today's Reading
Numbers chps 17-18

While I am aware of how scripture instructs us to tithe, it is reinforced through the reading of these two chapters, including

²⁵ The LORD said to Moses, ²⁶ "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering. ²⁷ Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. ²⁸ In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.' ³⁰ "Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. ³¹ You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. ³² By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' " (Numbers 18:25-32)

From here I get we must not only tithe but we tithe before we give anything else as the Lord is the priority. This is a challenge for me because I think of my mortgage payment, food for my children, etc. as more of a priority than the Lord. While I am not currently in a position where I can't tithe AND pay my mortgage and for my family's food, it is nonetheless a challenge to refocus priorities.

My prayer: Thank for how you provide. I have NEVER been in want and I know it is because of how You provide. You are more than generous. Forgive me when I don't think of you first, particularly with respect to money and tithing. Help me focus on you first, in everything, including tithing.

Submit to God's Representatives - Church Leadership

Today's Reading
Numbers 16

When I read this passage the first thing that comes to mind is how I often criticize church leadership and grumble like the Israelites do here:

¹ Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" (Numbers 16:1-3)

With my own criticism of church leadership I get a bit concerned about the wrath of God in terms of how my behavior and hardened heart in this area will be treated by God. While I am pretty sure I may not suffer the same fate as those in this chapter (death!), God does not look favorably upon my behavior.

My prayer: Lord, thank you for your wisdom and guidance. Without you I know I would be lost. I know much wisdom and guidance also comes from those in leadership that you place in my life. Help me submit to the leadership of my church and avoid earthly criticism. Help me remain humble and focus on you vs self.

Physical and Visible Reminders That We Need Protection From Sin

Today's Reading
Numbers 15

As God continues to provide instructions on daily living and how to walk with the Lord, the following scripture strikes me:

³⁷ The LORD said to Moses, ³⁸ "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. ⁴⁰ Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. ⁴¹ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.' " (Numbers 15:37-41)

While the new covenant with Christ does not focus on "the doing" of things to walk with the Lord, I am nonetheless convicted by the wisdom of the scripture here in that we as humans, and men in particular, are in desperate need of physical/visible reminders of our sinful nature. If we are not reminded of our sinful nature - daily, and in many instances more often than this - we can of course more easily fall prey to sin. So what physical/visible reminders do we need? In the Old Testament, as indicated here, the Lord provides for these tassles, which in Hebrew are called Tzit Tzits. In the New Testament, Christ provides more freedom for us to pick what works for us - and this freedom is helpful of course as we can implement something more practical - say an accountability group, which recognizes that we need help to stay on course as we deal with and confront sin. I am greatly thankful for the accountability group I've just joined over the past few months.

My Prayer: Lord, you are awesome and you have done amazing things in my life since I have accepted you as my savior. Thanks you - thank you for this accountability group! I love you! I pray that you will forgive me for my neglect of you. Help me stay close to you, help me lean on you and help my faith and service to you grow.

Live a Fearless, God-Sized Life

Today's Reading
Numbers 13

At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land. [26] They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. [27] They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. [28] But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. [30] Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Numbers 13:25-28,30)

I have often heard sermons calling us to live God-sized lives. Most believers I know myself included fail to heed God's call to take "risks" and to live "big". I am encouraged by Caleb here in this passage to live "big".

My prayer: Lord, help me be fearless. Give me strength. Help me lean on you and live "big".