SCRIPTURE: Numbers 33
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” [Matthew 4:9-10]
Numbers 33, describing their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, finishes with a warning not to be enticed by the culture and religion of the land.
Compromise will be deadly!
This may seem harsh, but only if we underestimate the poisonous corruption and cruelty of the Canaanite culture and religion.
It’s sensuous practices were enticing, but deadly; they promised pleasure but ultimately brought pain. Continue reading away from me Satan!

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 32
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’ [Luke 9:61-62]
Jesus encountered a would-be follower that wanted to put off following Him.
The context suggests that these were not legitimate requests, but excuses, postponements.
He was suggesting as compromise, looking back while looking forward, wanting the best of both worlds.
Is this what is happening with the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the Manasseh half? Continue reading remember Lot’s wife (or looking back)

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 31
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” [Matthew 24:12-13]
Although I do not like this chapter – people as plunder, kill the boys, save the virgins – in an odd way I see Jesus in this passage.
The mess of sin is our responsibility, but God does not abandon us to it.
He does not snap His fingers and end it all (He came close with the flood), but He ‘roles up His sleeves’ and digs in.
His love does not grow cold, but He stands firm with us to the end! Continue reading how God deals with evil

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 30
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” [Matthew 19:8]
This verse makes me think that there are commands in Moses’ Law that God allowed him to shape according to the sin-shaped context, commands not in harmony with God’s original creation design.
In other words, the male-favoured framework in today’s OT reading does not reflect God’s original intent for male-female relations.
It was not this way from the beginning! Continue reading God’s original intent?

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 29
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” [Matthew 18:21-22]
So many sacrifices, why is God is focused on blood and sacrifice?
But what if we are looking at the human side of the sacrifice, instead of the divine side.
These sacrifices do involve human repentance, but they also express divine grace and forgiveness.
Again and again, day after day, the message comes through – ‘I forgive you, I do not demand Your blood, I provide a substitute, you are forgiven.’
From this angle, the question is raised, how many times will God forgive us? Continue reading seventy seven times

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 28
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” [Mark 1:35]
Jesus models the spirit of these sacrifices by starting His day first thing with God.
These sacrifices — offered at the beginning and end of the day, every seventh day, the first day of every month, the annual remembrance of Israel’s new beginnings (Passover) and the annual celebration of the first crops –- highlight how life begins (and ends) with the Lord.
He is the first, He is the source, He is the beginning.
The humble, submissive heart recognizes this, and lives accordingly.
Starting each day, each activity, each celebration, each event, with prayer – or better, with expressed dependence on the Lord – reveals the humble, submissive heart. Continue reading putting God first

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 27
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” [Matthew 9:36-38].
We serve a compassionate God.
Jesus, Who shows us what God is like, embodies the love and mercy of God.
He is concerned for everyone, no matter what their background, story, race, sin, gender, age, etc.
He sees the whole mass of the human race as sheep needing a shepherd. Continue reading working with the Lord of the harvest

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [John 21:15]
Todays reading from Numbers speaks of a new beginning.
Forty years have passed, now is the time to prepare to enter the promised land.
This is a new beginning, a new people, God is graciously giving them another chance.
Jesus follows in this grace, by giving Peter another chance to serve Him too, even though he denied Jesus.
God is a God of second (and more) chances. Continue reading the God of second chances

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 25
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” [Luke 4:13].
Like Israel, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness too.
The devil came at Him with 3 different temptations, but Jesus stood firm [Luke 4:1-13].
But notice that the devil didn’t quit, his rationale is, ‘give it time, I’ll find His weakness’.
Satan tries to defeat Israel with a curse [Numbers 23-24], but when that doesn’t work, he entices them with sexual pleasure – and succeeds.
If he can’t get us one way, he will try another.
Satan doesn’t care how he brings us down, he just keeps at it. Continue reading one way or another

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 24
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ [Matthew 2:1-2]
The words of Balaam about a coming king [Numbers 24:7,17] remind me of the words of the wise men from the east, also sorcerers (star-gazers, astrologers), who recognize the coming of God’s appointed king.
God speaks to (and through) those who practice “sorcery” [Numbers 24:1] and “astrology” (Matthew 2:1-2).
God is not justifying these practices [Leviticus 19:26], but showing that He rules even over pagan gods and religions. Continue reading pagan missionaries?