“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

Numbers 7:1-11

“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” Numbers 7:5

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 7:1-11, we see the chiefs of Israel give offerings of wagons and oxen (and other offerings) in service of the tabernacle.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Building on my post yesterday on the Aaronic Blessing at the end of Numbers 6, we see offerings of wagons and oxen (v3, and other offerings in v10) made by the chiefs of Israel, and there are all indications that these were free will offerings as we don't see instructions from the Lord to make these offerings.  God seeks our heart, not actions where we go through the motions - see also Hosea 6:6 and 1 Samuel 15:22.  We must remember that every good and perfect gift is from above - James 1:17 - and this should move us to believe that whatever resources we have belong to him, and to be cheerful givers - see also 2 Corinthians 9:7.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?:  Looking ahead through v88, the chiefs of Israel, those who led each of the twelve tribes, set the example of giving freely. This sermon also highlights how no tribe nor any gift they gave was any better in the eyes of the Lord.  We should not feel any less important, nor any less used than another tribe. Everyone's (the exact same gift) gift matters as it is recorded here - repetitively.  
• 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 comparing yourself, your ministry, and your congregation to another - you all matter in the eyes of the Lord.  Claim the promise of 1 Corinthians 12 where we are all one body and we cannot say how one part is lesser than another. Follow the example of the tribe chiefs who each gave freely. Give with a cheerful heart. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves and You are the source of all provision.  Thank You for how You provide, bless, and save.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

 Numbers 1:1-19

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:17-19

I've completed my study of John and start a study of Numbers, as I alternate between Old and New Testament studies.  In the text today, God organizes the people of Israel according to tribes, taking a census, and establishing leaders among the tribes as they set off from Mt Sinai into the wilderness with the promised land as their destination.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God takes a census, as He organizes the men of Israel to lead the people to the promised land.  Leaders (to assist Moses and Aaron) are named as God sets apart specific people for the roles they will play in the journey He sets before them.  Similar to Israel, all of us (speaking to believers) are on a journey heading to the promised land, and this is Heaven.  This is where our citizenship and allegiance lies and it is the home God gives us.  Earth is temporary and it and us will fade away as God's kingdom in Heaven is permanent. God puts people over us to lead us on this journey and we must faithfully follow God and the leaders He appoints over us.  This organization and unity is key if we are to function as God intends.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Each of us as believers is set apart for a specific role, whether we are a leader or not we have a function.  No one is left out nor is anyone less worthy.  See also 1 Corinthians 12 where the text describes how the church is organized of members with different spiritual gifts and how they all work together - even when one is weaker than the other. Moses, Aaron, the tribal leaders, and all of Israel has a role on our collective journey to the promised land. The leaders did as the Lord commanded (v19) so we must do as well. 
• 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 focusing on self on your journey to the promised land (Heaven) but instead seek God's will and be humble to follow those set above you to lead you. Claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven - our home.  Follow the example of those who followed leaders set above the people in Israel in the Sinai wilderness - be humble and and follow according to the role God gives you.  As we go on our journey support, encourage, pray for, and be unified with other believers.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the leaders who faithfully serve our church and me as they lead me in my journey to the promised land.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide leaders to guide and serve me.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me understand, 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. 

Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.

Proverbs 30-31

Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28

I continue my study of Proverbs with week 10 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 30-31:9.  My focus for today is questions #7-9 from my workbook.  These three questions examine (1) paradoxes in scripture (Proverbs 30:24-28, 1 Samuel 16:6-13, Matthew 16:25, Luke 1:46-55, Acts 9:1-16, Philippians 2:5-11); (2) how "foreign" women (those not of faith) lure people of God away from Him towards other/lesser gods and idol worship (Proverbs 31:2-9, 1 Kings 11:1-8); and (3) how God created alcohol and strong drink but warns us about over indulgence (Proverbs 31:4-7, Ecclesiastes 3:9-13, 1 Timothy 4:1-5).

In particular, question #8 (second one for today) strikes a chord with respect to the paradoxes in the Bible and how God's ways are contrary to how the world often views things, including how God looks at our heart vs outward appearances and external behavior, how He uses ordinary and people of low stature to do remarkable and supernatural things, how God himself humbled himself (taking on human form) - denying Himself and how we are expected to do the same - to gain life, and how God previously used one of the believers biggest enemies (Saul) and transformed him into one of believers greatest servants (Paul).  

We should all be encouraged by how God works!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and how You work is amazing - that You do such remarkable things through ordinary and humble people is awesome - a huge encouragement!  Thank You Jesus for this encouragement.  I am not deserving of how You bless and encourage in these ways.  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.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 11, and Romans 7

 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 Corinthians 11:30-31

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish both the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*" and the study itself as Paul is the last chapter of the study.

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five focuses on Paul an unlikely hero, as a deeply sinful person whom God transformed into deeply faithful servant of Jesus that was relentless in his missionary journeys to share both his testimony and the Gospel.  He did not seek fame or glory, was often beaten and thrown in jail.  He was always on the road, serving and preaching the Word. We are encouraged where ever we are in our own service to the church to keep going - to allow God to work through us.  We are also encouraged to support and serve others in their missionary journey - believing that God sees something in all of us that we don't see - a heart to serve Jesus.  This is the element of heroism that Lucado describes - a heroism that relies on Jesus not on the individual abilities of any one person or group of people.  It is how people allow Jesus to work in their lives, to allow Jesus to be the hero of their story.  We must remember that we exist to glorify God.

Discuss and comment on this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and have seen Your heroics in many lives as You use ordinary people for extraordinary service.  It is only through You that we are able to see the heart and life change You make. Thank You Jesus for what You have done in my life - to save me and to use me and to build me up in the process.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I am lazy, worry, and I have other sins.  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 Your 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 met today and every day.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Acts 16-17 and 1 Thessalonica 1-2

 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day three focuses on Paul's first missionary journey, and the various converts made during this journey, including Lydia, Paul and Silas' jailer, and the Bereans. Lucado reminds us of how God and the Holy Spirit work - that we are not converting anyone but either planting or watering a seed but God is the one responsible for growing and harvesting the seed.  Lucado also wants us to keep in mind that we are never fully aware of the impact others have had on our lives and the impact we have had in others' lives yet we may come to more fully understand this impact when we reach Heaven. We are encouraged to plant and water seeds. 

Whatever our role in the Great Commission and in spreading the gospel, we all have a role and it is to be a light. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am deeply grateful for the many brothers and sisters in Christ You placed in my life to plant and water seeds in my life for my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I do hope that I can be that same blessings for others.  Yet I am undeserving of the many blessings You pour out for me - I worry and I am often harsh with others.  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 we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Joseph: Shaky Limbs and Unanswered Questions*".

*Title of lesson six from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day three starts with Max Lucado describing the "lowly manger" scene in Bethlehem where the baby Jesus was born and how OT prophecies (see Micah 5:2 as one example) pointed to this time.  Despite the many prophecies of the coming Messiah, many overlooked the baby Jesus because they were expecting a conquering king, one who would use the "weapons of the world" (in reference to 2 Corinthians 10:4 how believers rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and God's Word) to force submission to his kingdom.  Lucado wants us to be more aware of how God works and to use scripture to help us be more aware - he points to the Parable of the Ten Virgins awaiting the bridegroom in Matthew 25:1-13, and how some of the virgins failed to take oil for their lamps to help them stay awake while waiting.  Jesus sums up the parable to "keep watch". We do want to keep watch and be more aware.  At the same time, we should not be waiting without developing our relationship with Jesus. In Romans 12:2, we are urged to "be transformed by the renewing of the mind...so that [we]will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  This is supported by what I posted a couple of days ago in a post emphasizing spiritual growth and maturity as a call for all believers. 

Lucado also wants us to to look closely at Joseph's role and how he is not discussed much in the Bible yet his role is key as a "supporting actor" with Mary perhaps being more primary.  God often uses the ordinary and regular for supernatural purposes and He wants those He is using to see how they are part of a bigger plan. 

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has a plan and I am part of the plan - I am humbled that You would love me as You do and would use me.  Thank You for the grace, mercy and patience You have for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I have other sins.  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.

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

John 6

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” v8-9

In John 6, we have  Jesus feeding the five thousand, a story most believers know.  My focus is on Andrew, who is not as well known as most of the other disciples. Andrew is noted in John's account of this story but not in the other gospels' accounts.  

While Andrew is not well known (go here for more on Andrew), we see him pointing a young boy to Jesus - this young boy plays a prominent and up close role in one of Jesus' more well known miracles.  This was a divine appointment indeed and an encouragement for all of us that think we cannot do enough to make a God-sized impact.  The ironic aspect of such thinking is that THIS is the point of Jesus and Holy Spirit - that we NEED Jesus to overcome the world (John 16:33) and through Him we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21).  Once we recognize this, we should worry less about what we do and instead focus on what He can and will do THROUGH us.  

Just as Andrew was, we are all ordinary human beings but special in the eyes of God and clay in the hands of the potter (God) who is able to sculpt miracles in, for, and through us. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has done many, many amazing things in, for, and through me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings and love.  I worry.  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.