If anyone knows Melissa…

Day 54 – A Year in the Bible – Deuteronomy 10-12

______

DEUTERONOMY 10 – CIRCUMCISE THY HEART

The LORD Separated the Tribe of Levi
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him. – Deuteronomy 10:8-9

What Doth the LORD Require?
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? – Deuteronomy 10:12-13

What does the Lord thy God require: To fear Him; to walk in His ways; to love Him; to serve Him with all thy heart and soul.

Of course, that brings to mind another familiar verse:
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? – Micah 6:8

He is Thy God That Hath Done These Great Things
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭10‬:‭‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭

______

DEUTERONOMY 11 – THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE MULTIPLIED

Your Eyes Have Seen All the Great Acts of the LORD
But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did. Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; and that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. – Deuteronomy 11:7-9

If Ye Shall Hearken Diligently Unto My Commandments
And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and then the LORD’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. – Deuteronomy 11:13-17

Lay Up These My Words in Your Heart and in Your Soul
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be your’s: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. – Deuteronomy 11:18-25

I Set Before You This Day a Blessing and a Curse
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭26-‭28‬ ‭

______

DEUTERONOMY 12 – WHATSOEVER I COMMAND, OBSERVE TO DO IT

Forsake Not the Levite
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth. – Deuteronomy 12:19

Observe and Hear All These Words
Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. – Deuteronomy 12:28

Be Not Snared By Following Them
When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. – Deuteronomy 12:29-31

Thou Shalt Not Add Thereto, Nor Diminish from It
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. – Deuteronomy 12:32

Day 53 – A Year in the Bible – Deuteronomy 7-9

______

DEUTERONOMY 7 – FAITHFUL

God Hath Chosen Thee
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. – Deuteronomy 7:6-8

If Ye Hearken to These Judgments and Keep and Do Them
Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: and he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭

HE is God, the Faithful God
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations – Deuteronomy 7:9

______

DEUTERONOMY 8 – FORGET NOT THE LORD THY GOD

Man Doth Not Live But By Every WORD
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. – Deuteronomy 8:2-3

I need Your Word today, Father! Your Word is my Bread, and I am so thankful for all that has proceedeth out of Your mouth. Help me, to love Your Word more, to understand what You provide today, and to meditate on it day and night that I might walk it out for YOUR GLORY!

Beware that Thou Forget Not the LORD Thy God
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬-‭20‬ ‭

______

DEUTERONOMY 9 – UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT THY RIGHTEOUSNESS

For Thou Art a Stiffnecked People
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. – Deuteronomy 9:3-6

Yet They are Thy People and Thine Inheritance
Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭9‬:‭29‬

Day 52 – A Year in the Bible – Deuteronomy 4-6

______

DEUTERONOMY 4 – A PROMISE FOR EVERY COMMAND
If you look at what He asks of you next to what He promises, that should make obedience a joy. 

If You Keep the Commandments of the Lord
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I [Moses] teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. – Deuteronomy 4:1-2

Why did God say don’t add or take away from the Word? He said it so that the Word would not be diminished. If you obey a diminished command, you are not in obedience to the Lord’s actual command. 

IF you follow His commands, IF you keep the statutes and judgments taught to you, you will live. Not only will you live, but you will go in and possess the land which the Lord has promised you. That was for Moses day, but it still applies today. There is a land, a place, and a call that He has promised you. It is your Promised Land. 

Diminish – to make less or cause to appear less; to lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; to become gradually less
Aught – anything

______

DEUTERONOMY 5 – THAT YE MAY PROLONG YOUR DAYS

The Lord Talked with You Face to Face
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, – Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:1-5‬

The Ten Commandments
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. Neither shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:6-21‬

That it Might Be Well With Them and Their Children Forever
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! – Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:29‬

That Ye May Prolong Yours Days
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:33‬
______

DEUTERONOMY 6 – THAT HE MIGHT PRESERVE US

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The Hebrew word for hear is “Shema.” This word doesn’t stop at meaning “hear,” though. The meaning goes further to not only hear but to act because of the hearing. 

Many of the Psalms begin with the word Shema. And the prayer in this passage is so important that it is not only called by the name Shema, but these verses are taught, recited often, and many even put them into a mezuzah and attach it to their front door. 

If We Observe to Do All These Commandments
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. – Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭

Israel was not commanded to hear the Words of God only but to act on the Words as well. We are too!

______

He said IF…
What great promises are given to us today in these passages!!! IF you keep His commands – you will live and possess the land, you will find Him, He will not forsake you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made to you, things will go well with you, and He will prolong your days on earth, and your children’s days. You will be one with a good foundation, and you will flourish

If you look at what He asks of you next to what He promises, that should make obedience a joy. 

He said IF…

Thank You, God. Thank You for Your precious promises. Please help me to be obedient to Your Word and Your Will today knowing that every promise and every condition for that promises is for my good and Your Glory. Thank You for Your salvation and thank You for Your many daily benefits. Amid this day that will surely be busy, please help me to remain aware of Your presence in my life. Help me to follow Your command that I may take hold of Your promises. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Day 51 – A Year in the Bible – Deuteronomy 1-3

______

DEUTERONOMY 1 – REMINDERS

Deuteronomy 1 is a recap of Israel’s journey from Horeb to the edge of the Promised Land, highlighting themes of obedience and trusting God’s leadership, God’s faithfulness, and the consequences of fear and moving forward in faith.

The Command to Move
The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. – Deuteronomy 1:6-7

The Promise
Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. – Deuteronomy 1:8

The Blessing 
(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!). – Deuteronomy 1:11

Righteous Judgment
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me and I will hear it. – Deuteronomy 1:17

God as Protector
The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. – Deuteronomy 1:30-31

The Failure of Unbelief
Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God. – Deuteronomy 1:32

Consequence of Disobedience
And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. – Deuteronomy 1:42

______

DEUTERONOMY 2 – DIVINE PROVISION AND GUIDANCE

In Deuteronomy 2 Moses recounts the final stages of Israel’s 40-year wilderness journey. This chapter speaks of God’s faithfulness, the transition between generations, and their first military conquests.

Divine Provision & Guidance
Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward – Deuteronomy 2:3

Marks the end of their aimless wandering and the beginning of their march toward the Promised Land.

For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee: thou hast lacked nothing. – Deuteronomy 2:7

Emphasizes that God sustained them throughout the 40 years, stating they lacked nothing.

Respecting Boundaries
God commands Israel to respect the territories of others, specifically the descendants of Esau and Lot.

Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession– Deuteronomy 2:5

And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession. – Deuteronomy 2:9

The Next Generation
And the space in which we came from Kadesh-Barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD aware unto them. – Deuteronomy 2:14

Confirms the fulfillment of God’s judgment on the unbelieving generation who died in the wilderness. 

Start of Conquest
Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Simon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. – Deuteronomy 2: 24

Gives the first official command to engage in war and claim territory, specifically against Sihon the Amorite.

This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. – Deuteronomy 2:25

Instead of the children of Israel walking in fear, God promises to instill fear in the surrounding nations.

From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Giles’s, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us. – Deuteronomy 2:36

No city was too strong for Israel because God delivered all to them, this really highlights the sin of the fear of the previous generation of Israelites.

______

DEUTERONOMY 3 – ENOUGH!

Let It Suffice
And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. – Deuteronomy 3:23-28

As we have made our way through the Old Testament this year, I have wondered if Moses accepted that God wasn’t going to let him enter the Promised Land. Did he ask God at any time to allow him to go in despite that He had sinned in striking the rock instead of leading the people to glorify God by bringing forth water according to God’s direction? Here was my answer, and I have never seen this passage before.

This passage says God would not hear his plea, and then He added – Enough! Be satisfied with seeing it from the top of Mt. Pisgah, and don’t mention it again!!!

I have also wondered if God ever gets tired of our asking the same thing over and over. Well, here we have the answer to that question too.

I guess there is a fine line between persistence and satisfaction with God’s will when it doesn’t seem to go our way. That fine line is what God has spoken. If God has said it, it is so. He is not a man that He should lie.

Suffice – to be enough or adequate for; satisfy

Help me, Lord, to accept your will in all areas of my life. Please help me to be satisfied. To let it suffice, to wait quietly and prayerfully for Your leading and Your direction.

Day 50 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 34-36

______

NUMBERS 34 – BORDERS, LOTS, AND LEADERS

Borders
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:) – Numbers‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

and the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about. – Numbers‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬ ‭

Lots
And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe: for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance: the two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising. – Numbers‬ ‭34‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭

The Leaders Dividing the Land
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. – Numbers‬ ‭34‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭

______

NUMBERS 35 – SIX CITIES OF REFUGE

Refuge Cities
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. – Numbers 35:6

Purpose of the Cities
Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. – Numbers 35:11

Protection from Vengeance
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. – Numbers 35:12

Every One that Killeth Unawares May Flee Thither
These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. – Numbers 35:15

Requirement for Witnesses
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. – Numbers 35:30

No Ransom for Murder
Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. – Numbers 35:31

______

NUMBERS 36 – WOMENS INHERITANCE LAWS AND CONCLUSION

Marry Whom They Think Best but Only to the Family of the Tribe of Their Father
And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well. This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. – Numbers‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭

Commandments and Judgments the LORD CommandedThese are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. – Numbers‬ ‭36‬:‭13‬ ‭

Day 49 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 31-33

______

NUMBERS 31 – AVENGE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OF THE MIDIANITES

Gathered Unto Thy People
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. – Numbers 31:1-2

This passage details the Lord’s command to Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites before his death.

The Death of Balaam
And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. – Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬ ‭

In the list of Midianite kings that were killed is Balaam son of Beor. His death by the sword is seen as judgment for advising the Midianites to lead Israel into idolatry.

The Controversy of the Women and Children
And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. – Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭

Moses expresses anger that Midianite women were spared, reminding them of the women’s role in the Israelites sinning against God in Peor.

Dividing the Spoils
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation: and levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD. And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD. And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. – Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭25‬-‭31‬ ‭

God gave instruction in how to divde the spoil and plunder of the war between the soldiers and the congregation, with a portion given to the Lord.

Zero Casualties
and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD. And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.) And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD. – Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭49‬-‭54‬ ‭

No soldiers died in the conflict so that leads them to make an offering to the Lord.

______

NUMBERS 32 – DISCOURAGEMENT

Discouragement Breeds Discouragement
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? – Numbers 32:1-7

The leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad looked at the land just before the Jordan River and thought it was the perfect land for them because it was suitable for their cattle. The problem was that the Promised Land was on the other side of the Jordan River. They came to Moses and asked if they could just settle there and have that land as their inheritance.

Moses responded, Why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? Moses knew that the attitude of the tribes of Reuben and Gad could very well keep all of Israel from going into the Promised Land.  Their attitude said – we’ve fought enough and suffered enough and waited long enough. Let’s just settle down where we are.

Moses reminded the leaders why their ancestors failed to enter the Promised Land all those years before. The negative reports alone did not keep them out. They were kept out because the nation as a whole yielded to those reports. The children of Israel failed to trust God’s plans and promises and that kept them wandering.

The discouragement of the leaders came upon the nation, which kept an entire generation of Israelites from the Promises of God. If any had wholly followed the LORD, the discouraging report wouldn’t have influenced them. What made Joshua and Caleb different was that they wholly followed the LORD. They did not bend in trusting the Lord when the discouraging report of the ten unfaithful spies came forth.

How many of us have developed the “I’ve waited long enough” attitude? I know I have. How has your report sounded? Oh my!!! 

When we are not wholly following the LORD, we are more likely to be influenced by the flesh, and in turn, we will affect others. The result will be to be discouraged ourselves and run the enormous risk of discouraging others.

Complacency is contagious and it is a terrible thing to be used by the devil to discourage other believers so that they walk away from what God has promised. We should repent if we have, ask for forgiveness, and also ask God to help us guard our heats and guard us against ever discouraging the heart of another child of God.

This passage has good reminders. First, guard your own heart. If you want to press in and go deeper and further with God, be careful of your company and who you allow speaking into your life. Discouraging words discourage!

And also, if your circle of friends is content where they are and don’t want to press for more of the Lord – BEWARE! Their excuses may sound good, but at the root of anything other than the Promise is either the “I am tired of waiting” attitude or an “I have arrived – after all look at all this green grass” attitude. Anything short of what God has promised isn’t God’s perfect will.

Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out
And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, and the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. – Numbers‬ ‭32:20-23‬ 
‭‬‬

______

NUMBERS 33 – NO COMPROMISE

Obey With No Compromise
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them. – Numbers 33:55-56

God instructed the Israelites to claim the land of Canaan and drive out all the people living there, destroy all their pagan shrines, take possession of the land and settle in. The inhabitants were wicked, and God warned His children that they would become a source of irritation or discomfort if they did not get rid of every last one of them.

Just as the Israelites were hesitant to clear out all the wicked people, we are reluctant to clear out all the sins in our lives. Maybe that is because we are afraid of the changes and potential danger in what lies ahead (just as the Israelites feared the giants), or maybe we are hesitant because the sin seems harmless or we enjoy it. Whatever the reason, we all have idols we don’t want to let go of  (an addiction, an unhealthy relationship, a particular lifestyle). If we allow any “idol” to dominate us, it will cause great grief and it will harass. Sin left to it’s own will eventually lead to death.

Confess your sin (your idols) and ask God for help. He alone can strip off these weights that trip you and slow you down. Obey Him. Follow His instructions without seeking compromise. Love others as He loves you and He will change you, on the inside and outside. In the end there really is no choice. If you don’t do it God’s way, He says in this verse the punishment of those He opposes, will be brought upon you.

______

Day 48 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 28-30

_______

NUMBERS 28 – SACRIFICES AND FEASTS

Ye Observe to Offer Unto Me in Their Due Season
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. – ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭28:1-2‬‬‬

Daily Sacrifices
– Offer My offerings and the bread of My sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Me, in their appointed times.
– Offer daily two perfect lambs of the first year for burnt offerings (Num. 28:3,8).
– Offer one lamb in the morning, and the other in the evening (Num. 28:4,8).
– Offer with each lamb a tenth of an ephah (half a gal.) flour for a meat offering, mingled with a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) of beaten oil (Num. 28:5).
– Offer a drink offering of a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) of wine with each lamb (Num. 28:7). Pour out the wine in the holy place for a drink offering.

Weekly Sabbath Offerings
– On the sabbath offer two other lambs of the first year, without blemish, besides two lambs of the daily sacrifice (Num. 28:9-10). – Offer with them two tenth deals of flour (1 gal.) for a meat offering, mingled with oil–a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) for each (3 qts. for both lambs, Num. 28:5,9; 15:4-5; 29:4).
– Offer a drink offering (a fourth of a hin or 1.5 qts. for each–3 qts. for both lambs).

Monthly Sacrifices
– At the beginning of each month through the year offer two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs without blemish of the first year, for a burnt offering (Num. 28:11,14).
– For each bullock offer three tenth deals (1.5 gal.) flour mingled with half a hin of oil (3 qts.) for a meat offering (Num. 28:12; 15:9).
– Offer two tenth deals (1 gal.) flour mingled with a third of a hin of oil (2 qts.) for the ram (Num. 28:12; 15:6).
– Offer one tenth deal (half a gal.) flour mingled with a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) of oil for each lamb (Num. 28:13; 15:4-5).
– For each bullock offer half a hin (3 qts.) of wine for a drink offering (Num. 28:14; 15:9-10).
– Offer a third of a hin (2 qts.) of wine for a drink offering for the ram (Num. 28:14; 15:6-7).
– Offer a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) of wine for each lamb for a drink offering (Num. 28:14; 15:4-5).
– Offer a kid of the goats for a sin offering to the Lord, with one tenth deal (half a gal.) of flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of oil (1.5 qts.) and with a fourth of a hin (1.5 qts.) of wine for a drink offering (Num. 28:5,7,15; 15:4-5)

Yearly Feasts
– The passover followed by firstfruits of barley harvest (Num. 28:16; Ex. 12:1-39; Lev. 23:5-14)
– The feast of unleavened bread (Num. 28:17-25; Ex. 12:8,15-20; Lev. 23:6-8)
– The feast of firstfruits at Pentecost (Num. 28:26-31; this was the firstfruits of wheat harvest)
– The feast of trumpets (Num. 29:1-6; Lev. 23:23-25)
– The feast of the great day of atonement (Num. 29:7-11; Lev. 23:26-32)
– The feast of tabernacles (Num. 29:12-40; Lev. 23:33-44)

______

NUMBERS 29 – OFFERINGS

Kinds of Offerings
– Freewill offerings (mentioned 16 times; Num. 15:3; 29:39; Lev. 22:18-23; 23:38; Dt. 12:6,17; 16:10; 23:23; 2Chr. 31:14; Ezra 1:4; 3:5; 7:13, 16; 8:28; Ps. 119:108). These were any offerings given to God voluntarily.
– Burnt offerings and burnt sacrifices (284 times; Num. 7:15-87; 28:3-31; 29:2-39; Gen. 8:20; 22:2-13; Ex. 40:6-29; Lev. 1; 4:7-34; 6:9-30; 7:2-37; 8:17-28; 9; etc.). These were offerings of animals and food given to God and burned wholly or partially.
– Meat offerings (135 times; Num. 15:3-10; 28:5-31; 29:3-39; Ex. 29:41; Lev. 2:1-15; 6:14-23; etc.). These were always of food offered to God, from grains and vegetables or products of them (see note a, Lev. 2:1). They were never of animal food, but always accompanied animal offerings (Num. 15:3-10).
– Drink offerings (58 times; Num. 6:15-20; 15:3-10,24; 28:7-31; 29:7-39; Gen. 35:14; Ex. 29:40-41; etc.). These were always of wine and were required with each sacrifice (Num. 15:3-10).
– Peace offerings (82 Times; Num. 6:14-26; 7:17-88; 10:10; 15:8; 30:4-14; Ex. 20:24; 24:5; 29:28; 32:6; Lev. 3:1-9; 4:10-35; 7:11-37; Dt. 20:11-12; etc.). These were any offerings to give thanks and express fellowship with God.
– Other offerings–the trespass offerings, sin offerings, sweet savor offerings, and nonsweet savor offerings–are dealt with in notes on Lev. 1:1–Lev. 8:31.

______

NUMBERS 30 – VOWS

Vows of Men and Women
– If a man makes a vow to God and binds his soul by an oath, he shall not break his word, but shall perform all that comes from his mouth (Num. 30:1-2; cp. Ps. 15:4).

– If an unmarried woman makes a vow to the Lord, binding herself by an oath, it shall stand and she shall perform it–unless her father refuses to let it to stand on the day he hears of it. If he objects to her vow on that day, it shall not stand, and the Lord will forgive her because her father objected (Num. 30:3-5).

– If a married woman makes a vow to God and binds herself with an oath, it shall stand and she shall perform it–unless her husband objects to it on the day that he hears of it. If he objects to it on that day, it shall not stand, and the Lord will forgive her because her husband objected (Num. 30:6-8). If a divorced woman or a widow makes a vow and binds her soul with an oath to the Lord, it shall stand (Num. 30:9).

– If the vow of a divorced woman or a widow was made while she had a husband, it shall stand–unless her husband objected to it the day he heard of it.

– If her husband objected that day, it shall not stand, and the Lord will forgive her, because her husband objected (Num. 30:10-12). Every vow and binding oath that a married woman makes may be established by her husband or made void.

– If he holds his peace day after day, then he establishes her vow, but if he objects the day he hears about it, it shall not stand (Num. 30:13-14).

– If a husband hears a wife’s vow and does not object to it the day he hears about it, but objects later, he shall bear her iniquity for causing her to break it (Num. 30:15).

Day 47 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 25-27

______

NUMBERS 25 – COMPROMISING FAITH WITH IDOLATRY

Numbers 25 describes Israel’s idolatrous fall to Baal-peor through relations with Moabite women, triggering a divine plague; the consequences of compromising faith with idolatry, while celebrating swift and godly intervention.

The Transgression
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. – Numbers 25:3

The Severity of the Punishment
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. – Numbers 25:9

The Action that Stopped Judgment
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. – Numbers 25:11

My Covenant of Peace
Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace. – Numbers 25:12

The Reward of Righteous Zeal
And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. – Numbers 25:13
______

NUMBERS 26 – LEGACY

Legacy (in the Old Testament)
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. – Numbers 26:9-11

We probably all tend to skim over chapters like this one with lists of names and numbers. But what spoke to me are those remembered because of their mistakes. Dathan and Abiram are recognized for the rebellion they started against Moses, Aaron, and God Himself. Doesn’t that make you wonder what will be recorded of your life? What kind of legacy will I leave? Will it be one of rebellion against God or of serving Him?

Help me, Lord, to be faithful to You and You alone. Help me to serve You and those You love in all that I do. I cannot do it in and of myself, but with You, I cannot fail. Help me, Lord…in Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen!
______

NUMBERS 27 – THAT THE CONGREGATION NOT BE AS SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

Thou Shalt Be Gathered Unto Thy People
And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. – Numbers‬ ‭27:12-14‬

Moses Asks for God to Appoint a Leader
And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. -Numbers 27:15-19

And Moses Did as the LORD Commanded Him
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. – Numbers‬ ‭27:21-23

God told Moses that he would be allowed to see the land which God was giving the children of Israel. He would see it from the top of a mountain, and then he would die. Because of his sin in the wilderness, he would not be allowed to go into the Promised Land.

Moses asked the Lord to set a man over the people to lead them, or they would be as sheep without a shepherd. I love that his concern was not for himself and what lay before him, but instead, it was for the people he was leading.

Another point that touched me was that the Lord appointed Joshua to lead, but He did so when Moses asked. Moses came before the Lord and asked. How important is it that we come before the Lord and ask? Sit before Him today and pray. Ask Him for the things in your heart and ask Him to fulfill them according to His will. There is no telling what God would do if His people would take their place before His throne, entering the place of prayer.

Day 46 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 22-24

______

NUMBERS 22 – A MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION

King Balak of Moab attempted to hire the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites.

Israel is Protected
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. – Numbers 22:12

Those blessed by God cannot be cursed. Israel is blessed so Balaam isn’t allowed to curse them…nor are we allowed.

Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the LORD
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. – Numbers 22:18

Although he speaks the right words—claiming he cannot go beyond the word of the Lord—he repeatedly asks God for permission to go, hoping for a different answer that would allow him to collect Balak’s reward.

The Angel Stood in the Way
And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him… – Numbers 22:22

A Miraculous Intervention
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” – Numbers 22:28

The Word that God Putteth in My Mouth Shall I Speak
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. – Numbers 22:38

God can use anyone, even a reluctant prophet and a donkey, to fulfill His purpose and protect His people. 

_______

NUMBERS 23 – GOD SPEAKS

God Speaks
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! – Numbers 23:8-10

He hath Blessed and I Cannot Reverse It
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. – Numbers 23:19-20

Balak promised Balaam riches and prestige to curse the children of Israel. God wouldn’t let it happen and told Balaam over and over that it was not happening. God’s people were blessed, and not to be cursed. Balak tempted Balaam over and over with things and status. Each time, God instructed Balaam to speak only what God told him. God’s instruction and His Word did not change though Balak tried to change the scenery to get a change of response. 

Balak learned the lesson we all must learn. God is not a man, that He should lie. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yes, His Words all those years ago are still the same today and forever will be. 

______

NUMBERS 24 – GOD BLESSES ISRAEL

In Numbers 24 Balaam, compelled by God, blesses Israel instead of cursing them.

Declaring the Beauty and Order of God’s People
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” – Numbers 24:5

Recalling the Covenant Promise Given to Abrahm 
…Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” – Numbers 24:9b

What the LORD Saith, that will I Speak
…I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? – Numbers 24:13b

Prophecy Foretelling a Future King
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. – Numbers 24:17

Prophecy of Ultimate Victory and Dominion
Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. – Numbers 24:19

Day 45 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 19-21

______

NUMBERS 19 – PURIFICATION

A Spotless Red Heifer
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: and ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: and one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever. – Numbers‬ ‭19‬:‭2‬-‭10‬ ‭

Water of Separation
He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. – Numbers‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭

______

NUMBERS 20 – UNBELIEF

There Was No Water for the Congregation
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. – Numbers 20:2-5

Moses and Aaron Fell Upon Their Faces and the Glory of the LORD Appeared Unto Them
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. – Numbers 20:6

The Lord Said – Take the Rod, Gather the Assembly, Speak Ye Unto the Rock Before Their Eyes
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. – Numbers 20:7-8

Moses and Aaron – Took the Rod, Gathered the Assembly, Spoke to the Assembly, Smote the Rock Twice
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. – Numbers 20:9-11

Because Ye Believed Me Not…
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. – Numbers 20:12-13

Unbelief Has Consequences
The Children of Israel had begun to complain once again about the lack of water. God told Moses to take them to a particular rock and speak to the rock to bring forth water. Instead, Moses had the people gather, and he shouted at them in anger: Must we bring you water from this rock? He then struck the rock twice with his rod instead of speaking to the rock as God had told him to do. God provided water, but Moses lost the privilege of leading the people into the Promised Land because of his disobedience.

The punishment was hard, and I am sure it devastated Moses and Aaron.  It was, however, the punishment of leaders who disobeyed the Almighty God. How many people lost the blessing of giving God the glory that day because of their actions?

It was also an important lesson for the Israelites – and us. We should always do what God says to do His way. God had a good reason for Moses to speak to the rock. He wanted to display His power to His people at a time when their faith was waning. By Moses yelling at the people and then striking the rock, Moses showed his anger and insinuated that he and Aaron were bringing forth the water for them, not wholly God. God was compassionate toward the people and still gave them water, but Moses had to face the consequences of his anger and disobedience.  He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

We have all been in Moses’ place. At some point, we’ve all had to face the consequences of our own emotions that led to disobedience! We have had to face how we hindered someone else’s ability to glorify the Lord because we overreacted or under-reacted to direct instruction from the Lord. We may have looked at our actions and thought – it was no big deal, but all disobedience to the Lord’s plan is a great big deal.

Disobedience is unbelief.

______

NUMBERS 21 – GOD’S PROVISION

A Serpent of Brass
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. – Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭

After complaining once again against God and Moses, the people were bitten by poisonous “fiery serpents.” God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole and when they were bitten if they would look upon the serpent on a pole, they would live. The brazen serpent represents God’s provision, healing, and the necessity of faith to be saved from the consequences of sin.