But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Numbers 20-21,33

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” Numbers 20:12

Day 40 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land.  Aaron and Moses commit a grave sin and are denied entry to the promised land.  God is faithful in defeating several armies as He carries Israel to the promised land, but also faithful in fulfilling His word that the Edomites - descendants of Esau - will be a source of hostility for Israel.

As the Israelites cry out and grumble for lack of water (Numbers 20:2), The Lord gives Moses' instructions:

“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” Numbers 20:8

Yet Moses - indicated in my commentary* as "not simply [a] failure to follow God’s specific directions, but manifestations of pride and self-importance which minimize God’s power—a potential danger for all who would be spiritual leaders - does not follow these instructions specifically but instead strikes the rock twice (Numbers 20:11).

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

God's rebuke of Aaron and Moses is both swift and sharp.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” Numbers 20:12

Pride, arrogance and self-importance are dangerous sins as they imply a lack of need of God and placing self above God.

Humility is key - all that we possess, including skills and abilities, come from God.  Of course, obedience is also key.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides for all that I possess and all of my skills and abilities - without You I am nothing and would have nothing.  Thank You for providing for me...daily.  I am not deserving.  I sin 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.

The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

Numbers 16-18

 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?” Numbers 17:12-13

Day 39 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on an insurrection from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and 250 men from among the Israelite community leaders (council).  The grumbling and complaining extends to a large pocket of the Israelites (14,700 of them).  God pours out His wrath on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (including all of the 250 associated men), as well as on the 14,700 Israelites.

Yes, God is slow to anger and abounding in love, but we should not put the Lord Your God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16) by constantly grumbling and complaining, and by questioning who is put above us in positions of leadership.  God is in control and we need to view our circumstances through His eyes and fear Him.  We should also be aware that God's patience is not unlimited. The Israelites react in fear after seeing God's wrath and this is a good thing because such fear acts as preservative drawing us near to Him and keeping us from sinning.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is slow to anger and abounding in love - I have felt this compassion and mercy in my life time and time again and I am grateful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such 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. 

Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Numbers 12-14

    Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah. Numbers 14:44-45

Day 38 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on gossip between leaders, and grumbling and complaining of the Israelites who feel powerless to overtake those who live in the Promised Land.  God burns in anger against those who gossip and against those who grumble and complain. 

Moses marries a Cushite woman and although the exact reason why is not stated, Miriam disapproves and slanders Moses (albeit indirectly) behind his back to Aaron (Numbers 12:1-2).  God is not pleased and He punishes her with a skin disease.  God is also angry with the spies He sends out to examine the Promised Land they are about to enter.  Nearly all of the spies return indicating that although the land is good they feel powerless to overcome those who inhabit the land.  Only Caleb and Joshua believe in God and trust that He will help them overtake those in the land. God punishes the Israelites for their failure to believe in Him - He forces the Israelites to wander in the desert for another 40 years.

If we truly believe in God, we must have confidence in Him to accomplish His will.  When God makes a promise, He is faithful and nothing can stop His plan.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are faithful.  I have seen Your faithfulness in my life time and time again - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and faithfulness.  I sin...every single day.  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.

The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

Numbers 10-11

   The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Numbers 10:34

Day 37 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the Israelites setting out from camp after the tabernacle was constructed and all tabernacle duties were assigned.  God directs the patch of the Israelites via a cloud that appears over them and the tabernacle.  A recurring them of grumbling reoccurs and Moses pleads with the Lord to help him as his task of leading the Israelites has become emotionally draining.

My focus this morning is on how God directs our steps.

My commentary* indicates the following: "[t]he people have been numbered and their duties have been assigned, so God now gives the Israelites their marching orders. Moses asks a relative named Hobab to be a guide for the Israelites, and Hobab apparently agrees to do so. But the real guide is God himself, manifested in the movement of the cloud of his presence over the ark and tabernacle".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. "  

John Piper, in response to a question whether God directs all the details or our lives, posits that God is in control of all aspects of our lives, Piper also weighs in on free will - see my posts on these topics.

We have a God that is always with this, directing our steps - and we know He loves us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, is always with me, and provides for all of my needs - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I sin...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.

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Numbers 3-4

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Numbers 4:46-49

Day 36 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the census of Levites and their priestly role with the tabernacle.

Church leadership becomes top of mind when one thinks of the tribe of Levi - OverviewBible.com indicates that not only Aaron and Moses are Levites but also John the Baptist and Barnabas.  Building on my post from a couple of days ago regarding spiritual gifts and everyone's role in the church, I have often posted on church leadership and grown in my thinking here that it is critical that we support those in church leadership as God has put these people in their roles and they are challenging roles indeed!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has put great church leadership in my life and I have been blessed!  Thank You Jesus, I am not deserving of how You have blessed me in this way.  I sin...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.

So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

Numbers 1-2

So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family. Numbers 2:34

Day 35 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the census the Lord orders of all the Israelite tribes.

My commentary* indicates that the "numbering is more than a census or even a military draft...In fact it is a national registration from which the Jewish people in centuries to come will trace their ancestry".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Ancestry and genealogy are key to our understanding of the Bible because the Bible makes promises that certain descendants of certain lines (Abraham, Jacob, David, etc.) will become a great nation and Jesus is a descendant promised from the genealogies documented in the Bible.  An understanding of these genealogies helps us understand that God keeps His promises and prophecies are fulfilled by Jesus' life, death on the cross, and His resurrection. It is also important to note how - time and time again - imperfect people are used by God for His glory and purpose.  We should be encouraged by this.

See also posts from John Piper and DesiringGod.com on the genealogy of Jesus in both the book of Matthew and Luke, and a brief comment on genealogy as a "boring" but important aspect of the Bible.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who always keeps His promises - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and I am greatly comforted by this as well as by all of Your promises.  Yet I am not deserving.  I sin...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.  

The Lord also said to Moses, “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”

Numbers 3-8:4

The Lord also said to Moses, “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.” Numbers 3:11-13

Day 34 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's call to the Levites to serve in the priesthood and tabernacle service - offerings are then made to consecrate the tabernacle and then by each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

God calls each of us to roles in His service.  We all have skills and abilities and a role in God's plan.
 
See also 1 Corinthians 12 and previous posts on spiritual gifts.

We must also understand that all of our skills and abilities come from God and they belong to Him - see also post from a few days ago.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I am grateful Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me 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 to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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.