Num. 22, 23 [The Message]

Three of my children have dogs. I have observed how they become a part of the family. Do dogs see or know things that the humans don’t? Good question.

Balaam had a trusted donkey upon which he rode when summoned by Balak, king of the Amorites, to curse God’s people. The Lord allowed the donkey to see what Balaam should have understood … don’t come against the work of God. God put His angel in the path of the donkey to stop Balaam. Why wasn’t Balaam obedient to God Who had already told him, “Don’t go.”

I guess we can learn and receive from animals, especially when they provide loyalty and obedience that humans sometimes fail at.

Num. 19, 20 [The Message]

Being a leader is not a picnic. The Hebrews were majorly griping and complaining to Moses about having no water to drink. God instructed Moses to “speak” to a large rock at Kadesh in the desert of Zin and water would be supplied. Moses, in his frustration with the discontent of the Hebrews, took his rod and smote the rock. Water DID come out, but God reproved Moses for his disobedience in not merely speaking to the rock. This act of failure to specifically follow God’s instructions was punished by keeping Moses out of the Promised land. God would let him see it from the top of a mountain, but he was disallowed to enter it himself.

Leaders put up with a lot.

Num. 17, 18 [The Message]

Yesterday I told my “Bellyache Story.” It was an example of how God confirms and defends His leaders. God also confirmed Aaron’s leadership when He caused his rod to bud when others didn’t. [Ch. 17]

Aaron and Miriam also learned this lesson when they bucked against Moses’ leadership. God smote them with leprosy and required them to have Moses pray for them that they could be made healthy again. [Num. 12]

If you are a leader, you don’t need to toot your own horn or be touchy about defending your leadership. God will CONVINCINGLY defend you and establish your authority if you let Him.

Num. 16 [The Message]

A rebellious faction openly disputed the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They challenged Moses by implying that God spoke to them like He did to Moses. This was not true. God validated His leadership choice of Moses and Aaron by opening the ground and swallowing up the rebels, all their families, and their belongings. EVERYONE KNEW who God had approved after this horrific display of God’s power. It was a vivid lesson they could never forget.

I recall having a similar, unjustified irritation against my spiritual mentor. For me, it was an open distaste for some of his harmless idiosyncrasies. I opened my big mouth and verbalized my frustration in front of others under his authority. It seems that I was immediately stricken with a horrible bellyache. I remember suffering all evening. It dawned on me that it was a chastisement from the Lord for the way I had neglected to honor him in front of others. God laid it upon my heart to acknowledge my sin one Sunday evening in front of the entire church … about 4-500 … and ask forgiveness. Personally I will NEVER forget that lesson in honoring spiritual leaders.

Num. 15 [The Message]

At the very heart of worship is the desire to please God rather than self. In essence, you can say pleasing self above God is worshiping self.

God KNOWS what pleases Him, and He has spelled it out in His Word. As we become apt students of His Word, we take big steps in worshiping Him and being obedient to His call upon our lives.

When one asks this question of self … “Am I doing this to please myself, or to please God?” … one is making strides in the right direction. The power to actually follow-thru and DO the right thing relies upon God’s grace … “Him working in us both to will and do of His Good Pleasure.” [Phil. 2:13]

Num. 12-14 [The Message]

Some people are optimistic and some pessimistic. Some see a glass half full and some see the glass half empty.

Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land to scout it out. Joshua and Caleb were full of faith and saw the potential of the land. 10 were negative and spread false rumors about the land discouraging many Hebrews. Sadly, the pessimists lost their lives in the wilderness and were withheld from the rewards ahead.

Joshua and Caleb were heroes and were blessed to enter the land and reap its benefits because of their faith. They didn’t merely have a positive attitude. They allowed God to open their eyes of faith to see and embrace the opportunity placed before them.

Num. 9-11 [The Message]

The Hebrews complained about the Manna. They wanted meat to eat. “OK,” said God. You shall have meat. Moses began thinking, “There isn’t even enough flocks and herds here to feed the Hebrews.” He tried to help God out with his own rationale.

Sue enough, God caused quail to blow in upon them in an unprecedented way. THEY FINALLY HAD MEAT!

My point: God had His own solution for them and it did not depend on any human ingenuity or plan. This is why we hold on to what God says to us and leave the planing and execution of the plan to Him.

God doesn’t need our help. He wants our trust and obedience.

Num. 8 [The Message]

The Levites were to go through a process of purification so they could minister to the Lord ie. do His work. It’s the same today. God puts His people through a refinement process that gets them ready to “Do His Work.”

One of the choruses in Handel’s Messiah is taken from Mal. 3 where it says, “He shall purify the sons of Levi THAT they may offer unto Him an offering in righteousness.” It’s a difficult chorus to sing because of the “melismas,” a group of rapidly sung notes on one word of text. In the same way, God’s purification process is difficult to endure, yet ESSENTIAL to become the purified minister He is looking for.

When you see someone who is being used mightily by God, you can be assured that they have gone through the fire of God’s refining purification process.

Num. 7 [The Message]

Christ Jesus WAS the ultimate sin offering. Because He bled and died on the Cross, there is no longer any need for animal sacrifices. What about offerings? We still bring offerings, but they are different for the New Testament Christian.

We bring praise. [Ps. 69:30, 31]

We bring financial offerings. [1 Cor. 16:2]

We bring our lives. [1 Pet. 2:5]

I for one am glad that we don’t have to bring animals to be sacrificed at church.

Num. 6 [The Message]

Parents could consecrate / dedicate their children to the Lord with the vow of a Nazarite. They were not to cut their hair and refrain from wine or any product of the vine. Essentially, they would exhibit self-control and discipline.

The hair and dietary restrictions are not the issue for us. Raising children who are disciplined and have self-control is the point. If they learn these qualities when they are young, they will have a better chance in life of being successful. If left undone, they may never achieve them. [Pr. 22:6]