The priests were challenged to give their very best to God. The congregation was likewise instructed to bring their very best offerings to God.

This standard is not to be for personal gain or glory. It is unto the Lord, whether it be your daily work, the way you sing at church on Sunday, the meals you prepare for your family, or the way you wax your car. A standard of excellence characterizes the earthly demeanor of God’s children who love Him supremely and are so grateful for Him giving His best, His Son Jesus, Who gave His ALL.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” [Col. 3:23]

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, give me the motivation of grace and Your Word to diligently perform every earthly task as unto You … for Your reward, not the reward of men.

READ: Num. 17-19

In another case of God protecting the leaders He chose, the insolent team of Kora, Dathan, and Abiram were REMOVED from the face of the earth by God’s orchestrated exit … the earth actually opened up and swallowed them.

The clear issue: contempt for God’s leaders is contempt for Him.

“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” [1 Chron. 16:22]

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, teach us to honor the leaders You have set among us. Fill them with Your Spirit so that they may lead us into Your ways.

READ: Num. 15,16

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, questioning His elevated position of spiritual authority. God defended Moses by striking Miriam with leprosy. Humbly, she had to have Moses pray for her to be recovered.

45 years ago, I had similar thoughts toward a leader. God caused me to have a monster belly ache until I acknowledged my error. I apologized to him … he was my pastor … in front of the entire church. It was a lesson well learned. I will never forget it.

PRAYER: Father, we are so foolish many times in our overestimation of our own selves. We want to be meek and humble like Moses. We don’t want to despise Your leaders as Miriam did. Forgive us.

READ: Num. 12-14

When sin was fully atoned for through the prescribed animal sacrifice, God would reveal His Glory to the priests … earthly men getting a glimpse of a Heavenly Brightness.

John said, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father …”

Isaiah prophesied that “The Gentiles shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising.”

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can bask in God’s Glory and reflect it to the people around us who are walking in darkness.

PRAYER: Lord, we are humbled to be able to walk in the revelation of Your Glory. We WILL let our light shine. 

READ: Num. 9-11

At age 50, the Levites were to retire from their active service as priests who worked in the Tabernacle. They were to no longer do the work, but they could assist.

I will retire at the end of the 2017-8 school year from active service at Trinity Christian School. I don’t have the energy I once did. I can’t do as much as I once did. But, I can assist.

My main focus of influence upon the school will be to assist through prayer. It’s been said, “Prayer is not preparation for the work … prayer IS the work.” I guess I’ll still be working.

PRAYER: Father, we are grateful for the opportunity to bring our prayers before You. This is Your Kingdom. Trinity Christian School is YOUR SCHOOL.

READ: Num. 7, 8

According to the law, if a woman was suspected of adultery, the priest would mix dust from the Tabernacle floor with holy water and have the woman drink it. God directly dealt with the woman with consequences if indeed she was guilty.

God can put His finger upon the impurities of one’s life.

After his sin with Bathsheba, David declared to God, “I have sinned against You, especially You.” [Ps. 51:4]

He sought the Lord’s forgiveness and restitution.

PRAYER: Father, have mercy upon us. You desire truth from our lives.

READ: Num. 5,6

So was the statement God gave to Moses. God nominally took them to Himself for service in the process of making of offerings and looking after the operation of the Tabernacle.

David stated, “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest.” He recognized that God would reach down and personally select a person to minister unto Him. It wasn’t necessarily that the person was deserving of the honor … just that God willed it.

It’s a thrilling thing to hear someone say, “God called me to preach.”

PRAYER: Father, Your sovereign will amazes us. What is man that Thou art mindful of him?

READ: Num. 3,4

The book of Numbers gives us an indication of God’s focus upon accurate records and accountability. The specific names of all men capable of going to war were listed by order of family. Each man carried a weight of importance and significance.

Christ is keeping His own book, The Lamb’s Book of Life, to record the specific name of each person who accepts Him as Lord of their life. He is also keeping book on our lives. The only thing missing … the sins we have committed that are erased by His Blood.

PRAYER: Lord, we bring grateful hearts to You for cleansing us by Your Blood. We rejoice in what You have done. We will give our lives back to You in service and faith. We rest in Your love.

READ: Lev. 28; Num. 1,2

The priests were held responsible to keep the lamps in the Tabernacle burning on a daily basis. Oil was to be refilled, the flame was to be maintained, and a careful watch to be made to keep light in the area.

This speaks to us of a daily devotional life. The oil is like the Holy Spirit, needing to be refilled consistently. The flame is like the inspiration and motivation provided by God’s Word and His Truth.  The watchful eye is like prayer which is to be a continual process of communion with God.

Life is SO MUCH BETTER with the Light shining.

PRAYER: Father, we need Your Light. We commit to maintaining the vigilance of spiritual discipline.

READ: Lev. 24-26

When examining the laws for living God gave to Moses, one perceives the underlying principles of propriety, precision, order, and excellence.

Biblical men through whose lives these principles come to mind are Luke for his propriety, Joseph for his precisiion, Nehemiah for his order, and David for his excellence.

Their consummation was revealed in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: God of Heaven and earth, work in us Your eternal qualities that we may show forth Your praise through every action and motive in our lives.

READ: Lev. 21-23