Numbers 6, Numbers 10:
The priestly blessing is so beautiful - but let's read it in a familiar text <3
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)
Blessing and keeping, smiles and grace and peace..... God doesn't only want to bless us and give us peace on our journey with Him - He wants to KEEP us: keep us healthy, keep us close, keep us in relationship.... Everything He does is be in relationship with us, and that is such a comfort.
Here's another favorite from today:
"they began their march at the command of God” (Numbers 10:13 MSG)
What a great beginning to any journey!
Please read Numbers 4-5, and head on back! Let's visit a minute about what we can find in the Word today!
The priests have so many duties and rituals to follow! Aren't you thankful that we can enter God's presence however we are and wherever we are? God is always ready to receive us as we seek Him with a heart to hear from him! PLUS - Ditto yesterday’s comment 🙂 We have to make allowances for cultural differences. What never changes is God’s heart toward us.
Please read Numbers 2 and 3, and come on back. Leviticus and Numbers often get a "bad rap" as being boring or not applicable to us today, but if we dig a little, we'll find lots of things to benefit us. Hang in there! Come on back and let's visit when you are finished with these two chapters.
The children of Israel are being obedient - that's always good news!
"The People of Israel did everything the way God commanded Moses" (Numbers 2:34 MSG)
I know that the God of the Old Testament can seem harsh to us. In Numbers 3, we have some assignments (Aaron and his sons are designated as priests, but others who try to elbow in will be put to death Numbers 3:5-10; we review how God killed the firstborn back in Egypt Numbers 3:11-13). We have to make allowances for cultural differences and what was acceptable to society at that time. We also have to view all of His actions through the lens of His character: God is kind, God is generous, God always has our best in His heart.
Did you realize that the Levites were meant as a stand-in for the firstborn sons that were killed in Egypt? Just a thought - the firstborn sons stood in the gap as priests, to make offerings and sacrifices and atonement for the sins of the people. It was a firstborn Son how came in the New Testament to stand in the gap for us as a sacrifice and once-and-for-all atonement for our sins. So grateful for Jesus!
Good morning to you! Please read Leviticus 27 and Numbers 1. Hey - we are finishing Leviticus today! Another book.... well, "in the books"! 🙂 We are doing great!
I know that making the offerings and vows can seem tedious, but what strikes me every time is how God looks at the heart, not some standard figure that is the same for everyone. We are individuals, and God deals with us as individuals. For example:
"If anyone is too poor to pay the stated amount, he is to present the person to the priest, who will then set the value for him according to what the person making the vow can afford" (Leviticus 27:8 MSG)
In other words, "here's the standard amount, but if there is someone who cannot meet it, they are not to be excluded from the blessing of obedience. Make is accessible for all!" God's character never changes - your gift is valuable to him, no matter what it is. He's expecting your best, and that releases us from the trap of comparison.
"Pick one man from each tribe who is head of his family to help you. These are the names of the men who will help you.... " (Numbers 1:4 MSG)
Did you recognize these names? Sure - we spent a lot of time with them, we read about them before they were even tribes. Can you believe how the tribes have GROWN? Good time to go back and read the blessings their father spoke over each of them at his deathbed (Genesis 49:1-28).
Please read Leviticus 25:24-55 and Leviticus 26. Even in the laws, we have been able to find something valuable for life today, haven't we? Let's keep going strong!
Restoration, redemption, remembrance, reconciliation – God’s character is always the same toward us.
"I am your God who brought you out" (25:38 MSG)
"I am God, your personal God who rescued you" (26:13 MSG)
The blessings of obedience are just that: they are contingent on our obedience to God. The blessings of obedience are not rights which we are entitled to.
“But if you refuse to obey me and won’t observe my commandments, despising my decrees and holding my laws in contempt by your disobedience, making a shambles of my covenant, I’ll step in" (26:14-16 MSG)
Thank You, Lord, for being so kind and so generous to us always!
Please read Leviticus 23, Leviticus 24, and Leviticus 25:1-23. Let's visit for a minute - what do you see in the Bible today?
I took a break from the Message this morning. In my old faithful New King James, I counted 31 times that God says, “I am the Lord” in the laws. 31 times that the Lord gave a new law or piece of direction, and then followed the new law with the statement: "I am the Lord".
"you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God" (25:17 NKJV)
Why is this significant? In the absence of understanding (because maybe the people, either then or today, may not have fully understood all the laws or reasons), we have to trust that GOD IS GOD and His intentions toward us are always good. Do you understand His commandments? Great! Follow them! You don’t understand His commandments? Great! Follow them anyway because He is your God! Never fall into the trap of exchanging God’s wisdom for your own.
We're reading Leviticus chapters 20, 21, and 22. Let's chat a little bit!
“Do what I tell you. Live what I tell you” 22:31 MSG
The Word of God requires change and action on our part! DO the Word - LIVE the Word!
Please read Leviticus 17, 18, and 19. Come on back - let's visit!
God’s commandments are timeless!
"Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy" (19:2 MSG)
“Every one of you must respect his mother and father (19:3 MSG)
“Keep my Sabbaths. I am God, your God" (19:3 MSG)
“Don’t steal.
“Don’t lie.
“Don’t deceive anyone.
“Don’t swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.
“Don’t exploit your friend or rob him.
“Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
“Don’t curse the deaf; don’t put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.
“Don’t pervert justice. Don’t show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.
“Don’t spread gossip and rumors.
“Don’t just stand by when your neighbor’s life is in danger. I am God.
“Don’t secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.
“Don’t seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people.
“Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God" (19:11-18 MSG)
Lots of stuff we can use - don't "skim!"! 🙂
Please read Leviticus 14:33-57, Leviticus 15, Leviticus 16.
I don’t have a comment about bodily discharges. However, I am thankful for the atoning power of the Blood of Jesus!
Moses set a great example of obedience for his brother:
"And Aaron did it, just as God commanded Moses" (16:34 MSG)
Good morning, friend! Please read Leviticus 12, 13, and 14:1-32, and let's visit!
God made allowances for everyone, so regardless of their financial status everyone could make the necessary offerings (like "If she can’t afford a lamb, she can bring two doves or two pigeons" 12:8 MSG). He is so kind to us, patient with all. Do you see how He is always making a way for us?
Sidenote: I find it a little funny that the priest could quarantine someone for up to 14 days, and then decide it was just a harmless rash after all!
