Numbers 8:16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own….
This morning I came to the scriptures feeling weary and beat down. This is a tough time of year for me. I’m tired—personally and professionally, and all my insecurities float to the surface. Everything feels personal. But as I was reading about the Levites in Numbers 8, my precious Savior reminded me of who I am. I am a deeply loved child of God. He has called me by name. He has a purpose for my life. I’m clinging to His promises because I know my feelings lie.
Numbers 8:18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborns in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.
Perhaps it is ironic that today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a time of “saying ‘no’ to sinful habits in the Spirit’s power.” Believing the lies of this world, collapsing under the weight of exhaustion, grief, bitterness, anger, that is a sinful habit, is it not? So if I make a concerted effort this Lenten season to cling to God’s truth about who I am and deny all the lies that the world and my weary mind try to claim about me, I am absolutely denying self and drawing closer to my Savior, which is the purpose of this season. Thank You, Jesus.
Numbers 8:19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work of the tent meeting on behalf of the Israelites….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for showing up so powerfully this morning and reminding me of who I am in You. I am a deeply, fiercely, completely loved child of God. You created me for a purpose. You ground me in truth and love and grace. You give me hope. Draw me closer during this season. Help me to die to self so I can live only for You. Amen.
Numbers 8:20 Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses.
Have a blessed day.
Promised Land people…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 7:10 When the alter was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the alter.
There are days when I read scripture and it truly feels like it bounces off of me. I don’t feel enlightened. I have no insight. I feel inundated with numbers and words with nothing to show for it. That’s one of the reasons I began reading commentary on each chapter, in the hopes that it would become less an exercise in futility and more a way to connect with my Savior.
Numbers 7:11 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”
Commentary on the repetitive list of gifts for Numbers 7 states: “Clearly, this was generous giving. God must show Promised Land people how to be givers—one of the best measures of one who has moved from a slave mind-set to a Promised Land mind-set.” Now this I understand, and it’s true for us, too. We are Promised Land people, but do we act like it? Do we love like it? Give like it? Jesus help us.
Numbers 7:84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for commentary that helps me make sense of it all. Thank You that we are Promised Land people, too, and that You are still leading us from a slave mind-set to a Promised Land mind-set. Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 7:88b …These were the offerings for the dedication of the alter after it was anointed.
Have a blessed day.
Living the prayer…. (devo reflection
Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you….
I have heard the prayer of Numbers 6:24-26 before, but somehow I missed that it came directly from scripture, that God said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites’” (Numbers 6:23). Somehow, the fact that the wording is directly from God makes it even more beautiful, even more powerful.
Numbers 6:25 …the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you….
How would it be if I tried to live Numbers 6:24-26? If I tried to be God’s hands and feet in these verses? How would all of our lives be changed, enriched, if I tried to show those I encounter God’s blessings through my words, my actions? How would my life be changed if I lived every moment of everyday in the certainty of this prayer? If, with everything I encountered in life, I approached it knowing somehow, the LORD is going to bless me through this. This, in some way, incorporates His grace, His graciousness? If I lived the certainty that through whatever I’m facing, God is working to give me peace? What a beautiful thought.
Numbers 6:26 …the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your amazing, undeserved love. Thank You for the prayer that is Numbers 6:24-26, and for what it teaches us about Your character. Help us to live this prayer in all we do and all we go through. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
Numbers 6:27 So they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
Have a blessed day.
“Us” and “them”…. (devo reflection
Numbers 5:6 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD is guilty…’” (NIV)
When we wrong others, we are unfaithful to the LORD. Talk about a sentence that has the power to stop me in my tracks. Sometimes it is startlingly easy to wrong others—no one will notice, I feel I’ve been wronged anyway, this person is already held in low esteem by others. But to hold the glaring truth up to the light—when I wrong another in any way, I am unfaithful to the LORD—well, there’s just no way around that.
Numbers 5:6 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the LORD by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty….” (NLT)
Again I am reminded of my dear friend’s truth that any time we draw a line between “us” and “them,” God is on the other side. God wants us to be unified. He wants us in communion with Him and with each other. My fellow man is so closely linked with my Savior that I have to be mindful of the one when I think of the other. God is with us. God is with them. And anything I say or do to them, I say or do to Him. That mindset is powerful.
Numbers 5:6 “Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty….” (BSB)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that what I say and do matters. When I sin against others, I am unfaithful to You, Lord. That is an ugly truth, but one that bears remembering. Help me to always be mindful of my relationship with You and to strive to draw closer at every turn. Help me to do nothing that will cause barriers between us. Draw me closer. Amen.
Numbers 5:6 “Tell the Israelites: If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to the LORD. When you realize your guilt….” (GWT)
Have a blessed day.
Each with a purpose…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 4:5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the covenant law.
Numbers 4 puts me in mind of both 1 Cor 12:12 and Romans 12:4-5. 1 Cor 12:12 says: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Romans 12:4-5 reads: For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Numbers 4:31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, it’s crossbars, posts and bases….
Numbers 4 talks about the different tribes and their responsibilities when moving the camp. Everyone has a specific job. No job is more or less valuable than another. Everyone must do his or her part to keep the whole working. This is the way of life, too. No matter your place, your job, it’s important to the whole. Without you to do your part, the process would begin to break down. What you do, daily, is important. YOU are important.
Numbers 4:32b …Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this walk through Your word. Thank You for the knowledge and insight I am gaining. Thank You for the way You designed us—each with a purpose that only we can fulfill. Help us never to forget our role in Your plan. Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 4:49 At the LORD’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry….
Have a blessed day.
Calling and Sustaining…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 3:38 …They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites…. (NIV)
I have felt the call to teach since I was a 15 year old high school sophomore who had a drama teacher whose belief in me changed my life. I wanted to provide that same kind of life-changing belief for others. The intervening decades haven’t all been sunshine and roses, but I have never lost that rock-solid faith that God called me to this profession and has equipped me to do this job well. Thank You, Jesus.
Numbers 3:38 …of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel…. (ESV)
Commentary on Numbers 3:38 verse states: “God’s order and organization extends to certain jobs for certain people to do,” which put me in mind of my journey into education. I think He could have used me effectively in other careers, I think I could have performed any job for His glory with the proper mindset, but I sure do feel like that fact that I felt and heeded His call into education has allowed me to love this job and my students like I do.
Numbers 3:38 …Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the East…. (CSB)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your presence in my life. Thank You for calling me to this job and for sustaining me here. Any good I accomplish is to, for, and because of You. Draw me closer to You as I strive to shine Your light for all to see. Amen.
Numbers 3:38 …They were responsible for carrying out the services performed in the Holy Place for the people of Israel…. (GNT)
Have a blessed day.
The big picture…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 2:1-2 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it….”
I love a good plan, and I am not a fan of chaos, so the book of Numbers is appealing to me in unexpected ways. As these chapters reveal the orderliness of Gods plan for the Israelites, I am reminded of the underside of a piece of cross stitch.
Numbers 2:17 Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps….
The back of a piece of cross stitch, with different colored threads stretched in a seeming jumble, can appear the epitome of chaos. But when you look at the piece from the top, you see order and precision, neat little Xs, exactly where they should be placed to create an amazing design. Organization. Order. A beautiful plan, if only we are looking with God’s eyes and not man’s.
Numbers 2:32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder of Your grand plan. Thank You that You can see the big picture, that You understand how everything will work together for our good and Your glory. Help us to trust You, to trust Your vision, even when we lack the faith or foresight to imagine it ourselves. Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 2:34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses….
Have a blessed day.
A plan and a purpose…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 1:1 The LORD spoke to Moses….
As I turned the page into the Book of Numbers this morning, God is still with the Israelites in the desert. He is still in control. He still has a plan. He is still working with Moses to get Israel where He needs them to be.
Numbers 1:2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.”
Commentary on the book as a whole reveals: “…Numbers gives us a big vision: Where is God taking us? What will it take to get there? What inward qualities must God develop in us and demand in us along the way?” These are still such relevant questions today.
Numbers 1:48 The LORD had said to Moses….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for being present with us. Thank You for calling us to something larger than ourselves, for having a plan and a purpose for our lives. Thank You for partnering with us in Your kingdom work. Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 1:54 The Israelites did all just as the LORD commanded Moses.
Have a blessed day.
Growing in God…. (devo reflection)
Leviticus 27:28a “But nothing that a person owns and devotes to the LORD—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed….”
As I read today’s scripture, I am reminded of when my boys were babies and we had them baptized. As parents, we used that occasion to dedicate our children to God, pledging to raise them in faith and teach them the ways of our faith, so that as they grew, they would grow in God, in knowledge and love of Him.
Leviticus 27:28b “…everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.”
We made that commitment as new parents, that we would raise them in our faith. Our youngest is now six weeks from being a teenager. My daily prayer for my children, whom we love so deeply, whom we dedicated to God as babies, is that they will come to know the Lord, love the Lord, trust the Lord on their terms, in their way, not simply because the Hubs and I love and trust Him but because THEY know Him and know that they can trust Him. We want them to grow in their faith, beyond the bounds of our own.
Leviticus 27:33a “No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the ability to baptize our children and dedicate them to You. Thank You for the awesome privilege of teaching them who You are, teaching them to love and trust You. Be with them as they step out in their own faith in You. Draw us all closer. Amen.
Leviticus 27:33b …If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.
Have a blessed day.
Humble of heart…. (devo reflection)
Leviticus 26:3-4 “‘If you follow My decrees and are careful to obey My commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.’”
At first blush, this chapter seems to be saying, “Obey and be blessed by God. Disobey and be cursed by God.” And perhaps that was the way of it as God was reestablishing His sovereignty when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But Christians today know that even when walking in His will, life can still be full of hardship—hardship that is not a curse from the hand of God.
Leviticus 26:18-19 “‘If after all this you do not listen to Me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. I will break down your stubborn pride….’”
Further reading in Leviticus 26 reveals that God is specifically talking to the proud and unrepentant, those who see no problem with acting in a manner contrary to God’s will, those unwilling to see the error of their ways, unwilling to accept loving correction from God. That intentional resistance to His love and correction, I think, is what raises His ire in this chapter.
Leviticus 26:23-24 “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept My correction but continue to be hostile toward Me, I Myself will be hostile toward you….’”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your promises. You don’t promise us sunshine and roses always, Lord, but You promise to be with us, no matter the storm. You ask in return that we be humble of heart, open to Your guidance and loving correction. Lead us, Lord. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 26:45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt….
Have a blessed day