But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."...But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

Numbers 20:14-21

But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."...But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him. Numbers 20:18, 20-21

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 20:14-21 - Moses seeks approval from the king of Edom to pass through his kingdom on the way to the Promised Land.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: While some scholars highlight the text as fulfilling prophecy of Esau's descendants (Edomites) living "by [the] sword" (Genesis 27:40), core to this message is how God is at work in Israel - that God had already punished Israel earlier in Numbers 14:33-34 for their rebelliousness and this punishment resulted in forty more years in the wilderness.  We should note that in the text, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom (v14), and it is implied that Moses did not consult God nor did God direct Moses to seek approval for passage through Edom.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Many, myself included, have made decisions without consulting God and it does not end well, particularly when we know God has other plans.  We should recognize that all of our lives are in His hands, His plans cannot be thwarted, and His plan is perfect and good.  See also Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:9, Psalm 37:23-24, Jeremiah 10:23, and Romans 8:28.  Seek Him and His guidance - in other words abide in Him and we will bear fruit (John 15:1-10).
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid decisions that do not center on God's will for your life - seek His will (Romans 12:2). Claim the promise that if we abide in Him, He will abide in us and we will bear fruit and it will be good. Follow the example of Jesus who sought the Father's will and not His own. Abide in Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Numbers 20:1-13

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Numbers 20:12

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 20:1-13 - Miriam dies and is buried by the people in the wilderness, and Moses does not completely follow God instructions to bring water from the rock, and is subsequently punished harshly.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God provides and comforts the people during their time of need - in the face of not having any water, God gave instructions to Moses (vv7-8) to use the staff (see also Numbers 17), and to command the rock to yield water.  Indeed God was able to yield water from the rock, despite Moses not following His instructions completely.  God's plan will not be thwarted.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?:  Alarmingly, we see the people grumbling, complaining, quarreling with, and rebelling against God - see vv2-5.  After all that God has done, including provide and cause both the earth to swallow up Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16) and a plague that killed 14,700, the people fail to trust in the LORD to provide water.  Instead of going to Moses and Aaron to intercede, the people grumble, complain, quarrel, and rebel.  Unless we abide in Him, we will not bear any fruit (John 15:1-10).  Key to the text today is how Moses fails to completely follow God's instructions in v8 to "tell" or command the rock to yield water - instead Moses strikes the rock twice (v11).  V12 describes God's harsh punishment to Moses as he will not be able to enter the Promised Land.  Perhaps one can see such punishment as harsh, but we must also remember that church leaders are held to a higher standard.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble, complain, quarrel with, or rebel against church leadership as they are God's appointed leaders.  Church leaders should also be mindful how they are avoid not following God's commands - do not add to or subtract from His Word.  Claim the promise that God is Lord over all of Creation, He is faithful, and we can trust in Him to provide.  Follow the example of Jesus who trusted the Father and willingly laid down His life.  Love and trust in Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You of  are an awesome God who loves and saves.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean.

Numbers 19:1-22

Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. Numbers 19:13

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 19:1-22 - God describes purification laws (ceremonial law) for the people.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Impurity is a big deal to God, and the text today lays out many of the Old Testament criteria or conditions that trigger impurity.  Old Testament law ultimately became twisted by the Jewish leaders who focused on the actions of purification vs the heart condition that God really seeks through purification.  Sin is really what drives impurity and this is the great equalizer because we all sin (Psalm 14:1, Romans 3:10, 23, 1 John 1:8).  The gospel of Jesus Christ, allows us to confess and be cleansed of sin and therefore be justified or declared "not guilty" or not accountable for the sin we committed as this would have if guilty led to death (Romans 6:23).  God wants us to love Him with all of our heart and allow Him to change us from the inside out - heart and life transformation.  All are deserving to hear the gospel and of the work He does in us.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Purification laws at one point were twisted by Israel to avoid association with those from other lands.  Yet we know that God never intended this as even in the Old Testament, God sought to save those beyond the borders of Israel - one such example is God sending Jonah to save Nineveh.  In the New Testament we see Peter (see Acts 10:28), based on his vision from God, make clear God's intent to not to exclude anyone not from Israel from the church - deemed unclean based on purification laws.  The gospel extends to the Gentiles and to all corners of the world (Matthew 20:19-20).   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid excluding anyone from hearing the gospel.  Claim the promise that Jesus came to seek and save the lost - all.  Follow the example of Peter, Paul and so many others who seek to bring the gospel to all tribes and nations.  Go into the world and bring the Good News everywhere.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and seeks to save everyone - all sin and fall short of the glory of God and all are worthy of hearing the gospel to be saved.  You save!  Thank You Jesus for saving me.  I am not deserving...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the LORD; from each its best part is to be dedicated.

Numbers 18:25-32

Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the LORD; from each its best part is to be dedicated. Numbers 18:29

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 18:25-32 - God gives Moses instructions to give the Levites regarding contributions from the people given to them.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God seeks for the Levites to take a "tithe of the tithe" given to the Levites from the people and give it to the Lord.  God then emphasizes that "from each its best part" of contributions given to you "is to be dedicated" to the LORD (v29).  Giving of our time, treasure and talents to God is a reflection of our heart - do we love God fully?  Do we trust that He will provide?  Are we seeking God's glory or our own when we serve or give?
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Many seek their own glory as an outcome of service or giving to God.  For example, in Acts 5:1-11, after many were giving liberally and cheerfully to the early church (see end of Acts 4), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) gave proceeds from a land sale to the early church and held back some of the proceeds for themselves and then lied about it - this did not end well for them and God struck them down.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid giving to or serving God begrudgingly.  Claim the promise that giving to God leads to a bountiful harvest as described in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Follow the example of those as described in Acts 4 and give cheerfully.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - You provide every good and perfect gift, and You promise abundance that always delivers.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

Numbers 18:8-24

And the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. Numbers 18:20

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 18:8-24 - God continues to speak to Aaron, sharing with Aaron how the Levites will have charge over contributions given to Him by the people, and how God will care for the Levites in their role in the priesthood.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God entrusts the Levites to guard the sanctuary lest anyone come near or in and die (see also post yesterday and previous posts).  This is a great responsibility...and with it comes great accountability.  In all of this, God blesses and cares for those who serve God and His mission.  Yes, there is a sacrifice of time and talent but God provides and blesses those who serve. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: So many serve the church tirelessly, most in ways that are less visible.  God wants those who serve the church to know that not only is this noticed but it is desired and acknowledged by God as good, and it will be rewarded now and for eternity.  We should serve and claim the promise that God is our portion, and that He will provide and bless us. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid grumbling and complaining about serving and following God.  Claim the promise that He will provide and bless us and others through our service.  Follow the example of Moses and Aaron to lead and serve the church.  Live life knowing that with great responsibility comes great accountability.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves...thank You Jesus for how You love, save, provide and bless.  I am not deserving of how you love, save, provide and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.

Numbers 18:1-7

So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. Numbers 18:1

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 18:1-7 - we see God speak to Aaron, giving him and the Levites instructions in their role with the priesthood, reinforcing earlier instructions that serve to prevent future rebellion against Aaron and the Levites.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God seeks for Aaron and the Levites to bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary and the priesthood and the current dictionary definition shares that this means to conduct oneself well relating to sin connected with the sanctuary and priesthood - for example Aaron's participation with the golden calf (Exodus 32) and his sons' use of unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-3). Duties given to Aaron and the Levites are further clarified here in the text today as God shares that they are to guard (word used 4x in the text today) the sanctuary, including its contents such as the altar.  Others are not allowed to come near (let alone into) the sanctuary (Tent of Meeting) for risk of death (v7).  Also mentioned in the text today is how the Levites are a gift to Aaron and given to the Lord to serve in the priesthood (vv6-7).  After Korah's rebellion that very likely shook both Moses and Aaron, God encourages Aaron and makes it clear that Aaron and the Levites have a God-given role to play.  God equips His servants with helpers (including the Holy Spirit) to serve.  They will also be held to a high standard of accountability. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: As I have posted yesterday and with previous posts, we must submit to authorities, specifically church leadership.  We should not grumble and complain about our church leadership but instead defer and pray for them.  Trust God that they will be held to account.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): If you are appointed to church leadership, avoid taking this lightly.  Claim the promise that God will equip and help His appointed servants.  Follow the example of Moses and Aaron who were faithful servants of God. Trust God and His appointed servants; submit and defer to their authority.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for the church I have and its Godly leadership.  I am not deserving of how You bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.”

Numbers 17:1-13

And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” Numbers 17:10

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 17:1-13 - we see God's instructions to Moses to give to the people to settle the matter of Aaron's priesthood.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God clearly communicates through both symbols and actions His message.  In this case, He uses the symbol of staffs or rods which in the Old Testament represented authority and power.  V5 is where the LORD shares "the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout," and from that point forward the people will cease their grumbling against authority from Aaron.  Vv8 and 10 make it clear that because Aaron's staff sprouted, it will be preserved as a sign to end further rebellions.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Such a sign or any physical sign from God should cause one to be in reverent fear of God's power, as we should acknowledge that the entire universe is controlled by Him (Colossians 1:16-17), including all authorities.  Thus it is not surprising to see the people's reaction in vv12-13 of fear - yet it is unclear at this point that this causes repentant fear.  Repentant fear is what God seeks, and John Piper refers to this as "fear as preservative" such that we fear angering or disappointing God, so we avoid sin.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid rebellion against God's appointed leaders, including both church leaders and civil authorities. Claim the promise that God reigns over all details including authority He places above us.  Follow the example of Christ who rendered to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (see also Romans 13:1-7).  Submit to God's appointed leaders. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that works in all things for good - including leaders in my church and civil authorities.  Thank You for how Your design is perfect.  I am not deserving of how You work and bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.