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

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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.

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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 
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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.

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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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
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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!
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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

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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. 

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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. 

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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

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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 ‭

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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.

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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.

Day 44 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 16-18

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NUMBERS 16 – AUTHORITY, REBELLION, JUDGMENT

Insurrection
and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? – Numbers‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭

Judgment
And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. – Numbers‬ ‭16‬:‭31‬-‭35‬ ‭

Intercession
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed. – Numbers 16:44-50

How many more would have lost their lives if Moses hadn’t instructed Aaron to intercede?

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NUMBERS 17 – VALIDATION OF DIVINE AUTHORITY

The Man’s Rod Whom I Shall Choose Shall Blossom
And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. – Numbers 17:3-5

Moses Laid Up the Rods Before the LORD
And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. – Numbers 17:7  

The Rod of Aaron for the House of Levi Was Budded
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

Aaron’s Rod Kept for a Token to Take Away Their Murmurings
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he. – Numbers 17:8-11  

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NUMBERS 18 – RESPONSIBILITIES AND REWARDS OF AUTHORITY

Responsibility for the Sanctuary
And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. – Numbers‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭7‬

Aaron and his sons are responsible for managing offenses related to the sanctuary. The Levites assist them but cannot approach the altar directly.

Support for the Priests
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever. This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their’s, every meat offering of their’s, and every sin offering of their’s, and every trespass offering of their’s, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons. In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee. And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it. All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee. And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it. Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD. And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine. All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. – Numbers‬ ‭18‬:‭8‬-‭19‬ ‭

God provides for the priests through the best of the firstfruits, oil, wine, grain, and specific sacrifices, described as a “covenant of salt”.

The Priestly Inheritance
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. – Numbers 18:20

The Levites receive no earth inheritance. The LORD Himself is their inheritance. WHAT A GREAT INHERITANCE!!!

Tithes for the Levites
And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. – Numbers‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭

Tithes from Israel are given to the Levites as compensation for their service in the Tabernacle.

Tithes from the Levites
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’s heave offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress. And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. – Numbers‬ ‭18‬:‭25‬-‭32‬ ‭

The Levites are instructed to tithe the best tenth of what they receive to the Lord. 

Day 43 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 13-15

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NUMBERS 13 – WORDS

Words
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. – Number 13:30-31

Moses sent twelve leaders (one man for every tribe) to spy out the land as God had commanded him to do. When they returned and were to give their report about the land, Caleb said, “We are well able.” Other men, though, said, “We be not able.” Knowing the story and seeing these words in this passage – how important are our words? How important are the words of our leaders? Your words, if you are a leader? Aren’t we all are leaders of someone?

Had the leaders given a different report, wouldn’t their people have followed willingly?

My words come from what is in my heart. What is in my heart comes from what I ponder most in my mind. What is in my mind comes from what I have allowed in or who I have listened to. My words, attitudes, and what I allow in (even from leaders) matter!!!  

A Good Report
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. – Number 14:8-10

Joshua and Caleb gave good reports, and the Lord was pleased. But the people were not pleased. They wanted to stone them for speaking that good report.

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NUMBERS 14 – CONSEQUENCES

I Have Pardoned According to Thy Word, But…
And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. – Numbers 14:20-24 

As Ye Have Spoken in Mine Ears, So Will I Do to You
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. – Numbers 14:26-32 

An Evil Report
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. – Numbers 14:36-37

God was not pleased with the men that gave an evil report, and He sent a plague that killed them. God was also not please with the complaining congregation. He forgave them but they were stripped of the privilege of entering into the promised land.

Just because most of the congregation or a majority of the leaders believe something, that doesn’t make it acceptable in God’s eyes. A good lesson and reminder to always seek the Lord regarding how and with whom we align ourselves.

The Worst Consequence
…because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. – Numbers 14:43b

The children of Israel had sinned against God, and they knew it. God told them, because of their sin, they would not be going into the Promised Land. The people mourned. Some of the congregation woke up the next morning and went up the mountain. They had decided to go on into the Promised Land anyway. Moses warned them not to go against what God commanded, and if they didn’t God wouldn’t be with them. They went, and the Amalekites and Canaanites that lived on that mountain killed them.

For the Lord to not go with you and not be by your side is the worst consequence. Turn back to Jesus today before it is too late. If you don’t, it means inevitable and eternal death.

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NUMBERS 15 – WHEN YE COME INTO THE LAND OF YOUR HABITATIONS

Offerings and Sacrifices
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, and will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock: then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil. And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil. And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD. And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD: then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil. And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid. According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number. – Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭

One Law for All
All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. – Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭

Unintentional vs. Defiant Sin
And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. – Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭27-‭31‬ ‭

The Sabbath Breaker
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭32‬-‭36‬ ‭

Tassels on Garments
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God. – Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭37‬-‭41‬ ‭

Day 42 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 10-12

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NUMBERS 10 – TRUMPETS SOUND AND THEY MOVE TOWARD THE PROMISED LAND

When the Trumpets Sound
Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 10:2-3

One trumpet was to call the leaders together. Two trumpets were used to call all of the people together. In the book of Revelation, seven trumpets were sounded by seven angels after the breaking of the seventh seal. One day, we will hear the last trumpet sound, and we will know the King is coming.

1 Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Matthew 24:31 – And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

For Worship and For War
And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God. – Numbers‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭

The Cloud was Taken Up from Off the Tabernacle
And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. – Numbers‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭13‬

Moses Asks His Father-in-Law Not to Leave Them
And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. – Numbers 10:29-32

The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD Went Before Them
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel. – Numbers‬ ‭10‬:‭33‬-‭36‬ ‭

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NUMBERS 11 – THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN

The Consequences of Complaining
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. – Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭

The Burden of Leadership
And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. – Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭17‬ ‭

God’s Power to Provide
And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. – Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬ ‭

Would God that All the LORD’s People Were Prophets
And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My Lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! – Numbers 11:27-29 

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NUMBERS 12 – MIRIAM AND AARON SPAKE AGAINST MOSES

Miriam and Aaron Spake Against Moses
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? – Numbers 12:1-2

And the LORD Heard It
And the LORD heard it. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? – Numbers 12:5-8

The Anger of the LORD was Kindled Against Them
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. – Numbers 12:9-10

Moses Cried Unto the LORD
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. – Numbers 12:13-14 

Day 41 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 7-9

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NUMBERS 7 – THE OFFERINGS FOR THE LEVITES

And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; – Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭

Five acts of Moses:
1. Set up the tabernacle
2. Anointed the tabernacle
3. Sanctified the tabernacle
4. Anointed all the instruments
5. Sanctified the instruments

Instruments – All the furnishings of the tabernacle–the ark and the mercy seat, the golden and brazen altars and all their vessels, the table of showbread and all its vessels, the candlestick and all its vessels, and the laver and its foot.

Offerings for the Levites
that the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: and they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: and four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. – Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭

Their Service was that They Should Bear Upon Their Shoulders
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. – Numbers 7:9 

The Kohathites carried the furniture upon their shoulders, not being allowed to haul it in wagons or put it upon pack animals.

Each Prince, on His Day, Offered Their Offering
And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. – Numbers 7:10

Each Tribe Offered the Following (Numbers 7:11-88):
1 silver charger, 1 silver bowl, 1 gold spoon (full of incense), 3 young bullocks, 6 rams, 6 lambs, 6 kids, 16.5 gallons of flour, 39 quarts of oil, 39 quarts of wine.

The Voice of One Speaking Unto Him from Off the Mercy Seat
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. – Numbers 7:89

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NUMBERS 8 – THE CONSECRATION OF THE LEVITES

Aaron Shall Offer the Levites Before the LORD for an Offering
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: and thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD. And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD. – Numbers 8:9-13 

I Have Given the Levites as a Gift to Aaron and to His Sons
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. – Numbers 8:18-19 

The Levites Went In to Do Their Service
And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them. – Numbers 8:21-22 

From the Age of Fifty Years They Shall Serve No More But Shall Minister 
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: but shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. – Numbers 8:24-26

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NUMBERS 9 – AT THE LORD’S COMMAND THEY JOURNEYED AND AT THE LORD’S COMMAND THEY RESTED

At the Commandment of the LORD They Rested in the Tents
And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. – Numbers 9:21-23

Day 40 – A Year in the Bible – Numbers 4-6

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NUMBERS 4 – THE CHARGE OF THEIR BURDEN

Their Burden According to Their Service in the Tabernacle
As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. – Numbers 4:29-32 

There are no menial tasks when it comes to God’s work. In the reading in Numbers today, it is evident that how they took care of and moved the Tabernacle was important to God. He cared about who did a task because He assigned them, and they were Holy tasks. When I read this, I think about everyone having a job, and it took everyone doing their part. Of course, we know that caring for the Tabernacle was given to the Levites regarding the Tabernacle. Still, it took every tribe to do their assignments and not jump ship or cross into another’s assignment.

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NUMBERS 5 – WHOSOEVER IS DEFILED

Whosoever is Defiled Without the Camp Shall Ye Put Them
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel. – Numbers‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭

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NUMBERS 6 – THE NAZARITE VOW

A Nazarite
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD. – Numbers 6:1-8

Bless the Children of Israel
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. – Numbers 6:22-27