​Day 71 – March 12, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 19-20, Psalm 90, John 2
 
Listening to the Lord.
 
I am surprised by this and have never thought of this connection. Moses struck the rock twice with the staff. Because Moses didn’t do exactly as the Lord had told him, it cost him a place in the Promised Land. Aaron, who was also a part of misdeed, doesn’t enter into the Promised Land either. We are told that Aaron dies, and the community mourns his death for 30 days. The mistake, Moses struck the rock with his staff, rather than speaking/commanding to the rock to pour forth water. The Lord commanded both Aaron and Moses to “command” the rock to release water. Moses instead struck it with the staff, twice. That’s what kept Moses out of the Promised Land, and what would lead to Aaron’s soon death. 
 
Jumping ahead to John 2, we have the wedding at Cana. The wine runs out. Jesus is asked to provide wine. I suppose some grumbling and complaining was about to come to the wedding host, or already was happening. Something God is all too familiar with! Mary says of the servants, “do exactly what he asks.” The servants do precisely what the Lord asks of them. Instead of water gushing from the rock, we see the water turn to wine.
 
I don’t know if John has the testing at Meribah in mind when he sets out to share the miracle at Cana. I doubt it, actually. But what we have here is still a wonderful connection to listening and obeying. The disciples do just what Jesus asks.
 
It’s a good reminder for today, am I listening and obeying the Lord?
 
Jordan

Day 70 – March 11, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 17-18, John 1
 
We begin the book of John today. Here is a link to view the Bible project overview of the Gospel of John. Personally, I’m excited to see how reading this gospel alongside much of Numbers will coincide and connect.
 
In Today’s Numbers reading, Moses tries to get the grumbling to stop. I don’t think it works out for too long. The rest of the reading is focused on looking out for the Levites. They don’t have land, so a special law is placed to bless them and care for them through the offerings given to the Lord. The Levites get to keep part of what is given, for their own benefit.
 
Towards the end of our gospel reading today, John the Baptist sees Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”
 
Today’s connection could perhaps be this transition of blessings. The Levites, all this time, have benefited directly by the gifts and offerings given to the Lord. Now, God sends His Son, the Lamb of God and he is given to the world. 
 
Maybe that works, either way, we are delighted to know that Jesus is the Lamb of God, he takes away our sins. It is for more than the benefit of God, the Israelites, or the Levites, this Lamb is for the whole world!
 
Jordan

​Day 69 – March 10, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 15-16, 2 Timothy 4
 
The opening of 2 Timothy 4 is the encouragement that every preacher turns to when they need inspiration in the work of preaching. Paul is encouraging young Timothy to keep going, continue in the task of proclaiming the gospel.  No doubt there was a great deal of discouragement for Timothy. Paul offers enough warnings and critiques that we can tell he is dealing with a lot of grumbling and complaining from the church. But he is to keep going, endure the hardships, carry out all of his duties. God probably gave Moses that pep talk as well at this point in his ministry to the Israelites. 
 
When God’s people grumble and complain, it often leads to ungodliness. That’s Paul’s concern in chapter 3 of 2 Timothy. 
 
Yesterday we saw the grumbling play out in the lives of the Israelites. The struggles continue for Moses and the Israelites in chapters 15 and 16. They don’t quite get it, but to oppose Moses, is to oppose God, and go against God’s desires for Israel. The people turn from God, oppose His will and there were dramatic consequences.
 
The earth opens and swallows those who opposed God.
 
But there was also a degree of grace given. For those unintentional sins, there did not demand too great of consequence. Paul speaks of this, in a way. There are some who did him great harm, Alexander, in particular. And Paul says, “God will repay him.” 
 
But for others, those who seemed to unintentionally harm him, well there was grace. “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”
 
May it not be held against them. 
 
Moses would plead this for his people. And every one of us would be wise to plead on one another’s behalf forgiveness and grace. May our sins be forgiven, and continue in our walk with our Lord.
 
Be blessed,
 
Jordan

Day 68 – March 9, 2021
​Scripture: Numbers 13-14, 2 Timothy 3
 
Wise to Salvation
 
12 spies go into the land, 10 were bad and 2 were good. Caleb and Joshua declare the land good and trust that God would overcome the Canaanites in order to deliver the land to the Israelites. The 10 other spies complain, grumble, doubt and despair, and declare, “send us back to Egypt.”
 
Of course, we know what happens. The people of that generation don’t get to enter the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb get the privilege and their children. Those who witnessed the incredible power of God on display in Egypt, aren’t going to get the opportunity to go into the Promised Land.
 
At a certain point, one would have to wonder if that generation would ever fully understand the power of God? God has delivered them miraculously out of the grip of Egypt, provided for them every step of the way, and now they still doubt, grumble and fear. What’s up with that?
 
Paul’s letter to Timothy feels in a way, as we read these text side by side, like a commentary of where evil takes us. “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God –having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
 
I can easily call the generation foolish for failing to believe in God’s power to deliver them into the Promised Land. But I can also look in the mirror and recognize a hard-hearted person who has been at time, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, slanderous and more. 
 
Paul’s teaching, is to reject this, and it’s a call to the scriptures. It’s why we are doing devotional reading each and every day. We know the Scripture are for teaching, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all of us, all of God’s people, we might be equipped for what is ahead. Whatever the next step is, we want to take it. We are being equipped for Good.
 
Jordan

​Day 67 – March 8, 2021
Scripture: Numbers 11-12, 2 Timothy 2
 
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16
 
Well, the Israelites didn’t last too long on the faithfulness track. The concern over the honoring of the Passover has now turned towards grumbling and complaining. It isn’t too difficult to see how the wisdom Paul shares with Timothy would have been helpful a few thousand years earlier in the heart of the camp.
 
When the godless chattering started, it should have ended quickly. But it didn’t. And the gangrene of doubt and complaint spread throughout the camp. God was dishonored and people suffered and died.
 
That’s the end result of godless chatter, more ungodliness.
 
Paul warns Timothy, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 1 Timothy 2:22
 
We are familiar with godless chatter and complaint. We don’t have to go very far to see how lies are spread, gossip weasels its way, and doubt and frustration grows, all to bear the fruit of division and ungodliness.
 
Have nothing to do with godless chatter, let us pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.
 
Jordan

​Day 66 – March 7, 2021
Scripture: Numbers 8-10, 2 Timothy 1
Link for Bible Project Overview of 2 Timothy - CLICK HERE
In our Numbers reading, we are encouraged by the faithfulness of the Israelites early on. There was an earnest seeking of the will of God. They were listening and seeking to obey. I get that from the part of the reading where a question is posed to Moses about celebrating the Passover. Some were unable to participate in the Passover festival because they were ceremonially unclean because they touched a dead body.
 
Likely, someone they loved had died, and they took care of the body. Yet their hearts were still desiring to honor God and celebrate the Passover.
 
Another example of their faithfulness can be seen in the trustworthy nature of looking to the cloud hovering over the Tabernacle. I love the faithfulness early, when the Israelite’s would travel throughout the wilderness, picking up and moving as the cloud of God moves.
 
As we turn towards 2 Timothy, I am encouraged to think of the Spirit of God, moving still, leading and caring for us. I am encouraged even more in the appearance of Jesus our Savior, who destroys death. Jesus calls us to a holy life. We read it here:
 
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”
 
“This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life immortality to light through the gospel.”
 
We belong to this family we have this hope and salvation in Him.
 
The Spirit of God is in us, leading us, we are with Him. Where He moves, we move. Where he goes, we go. We are with Him!
 
Jordan

​Day 65 – March 6, 2021
Scripture: Numbers 7, Psalm 99
 
Lost in the detailed facts and figures of everything being brought to the Tabernacle is the emotion and elation of what is happening in the heart of the people. These gifts and sacrifices are the culmination of a great deal of pain and suffering. They are out of Egypt, and finally in a place to come and worship the Lord their God!
 
The Israelites have the details of the sacrifices and offerings, the festivals, all that they are to do.
 
They’ve been wandering and wondering, now it is time for worship.
 
Psalm 99 gives us a picture of some of the elation:
 
“Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” – Psalm 99:5
 
Worship the Lord, for he is Holy!
 
Jordan

​Day 64 – March 5, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 5-6, Psalm 61
 
First, let us discuss the difficult portion of our text.
 
There is an address of marital purity in the opening of our Numbers reading. What is there to do with an unfaithful spouse? The punishments seem to lean unfavorably towards women. The sensitivity of our 21st century ears make us squirm at the thought of unequal punishment. Why not the husband’s fault and punishment? Why should the woman and the child suffer primarily?
 
I’d like to offer a bit of encouragement from this portion of the text. It may seem outlandish but hear me out.
 
In the ancient world, it would have been easy for a husband to make a false accusation about his wife. Without any evidence, he could slander her, divorce her and shame her. She could even lose her life, all because of a false accusation. a man's word was greater than a woman's in the ancient world.
 
The law laid out in Numbers takes that posture that the truth would come out, through God. It was a trust that the blessing of the priest would reveal the true intentions and actions. This law actually gave women a fighting chance for the truth to be revealed. It actually limits the power of men and their accusations.
 
I know its hard to read the text and arrive at seeing the grace in the situation. But this is the best I can do to make sense of a law that hasn’t aged well from our perspective. It honestly sets a trajectory of empowerment, if we will se it for its counter cultural witness that it is.
 
In Numbers 6, we get an important passage. One that we should often repeat and encourage one another with:
 
Numbers 6:23–27  “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lordturn his face toward you and give you peace.” 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 
 
The priests will put God’s name on the Israelites, and they will be blessed. We catch glimpses of that in Psalm 61, as they honor the name of God, and devote themselves to Him.
 
The vows of the Israelites take on particular importance in the Psalm 61 text. It is a commitment to the Lord. In Numbers, the Nazerite vow takes center stage, it was an impressive commitment to the Lord. We pick up an important aspect of this in the final words of the Psalm, “Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.”
 
The whole thing is about vows. A commitment in marriage, a commitment in worship of God, a commitment of the Nazerite in service to God.
Let’s honor God today. The Lord Bless you and Keep you and Shine His Face Upon You!
 
Jordan

​Day 63 – March 4, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 3-4, Psalm 134
 
Today’s reading in Numbers, while filled with some random details and figures. The book of Numbers will not be all numbers, but an important aspect of the lives of the Israelites. 
 
Everyone has a place and function in the worship of God. From where they sleep, to what they are responsible for in the tabernacle, to how it is set up and taken down. God has in mind an orderly fashion in which they will conduct themselves.
 
Psalm 134 gives us the reason why, 
 
 A song of ascents. 1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. 
 
We all have a part in the worship of God.
 
Praise Him, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
 
Jordan

​Day 62 – March 3, 2021
Scriptures: Numbers 1-2, Psalm 68
 
Psalm 68:19–20
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. 
 
Psalm 68 is a celebration of the faithfulness of God. His faithfulness towards His people, the Israelites. The lifting of the poor and broken, the setting free the prisoners, and overcoming the rebellious.
 
What we read in Psalm 68 will be on display in the book of Numbers, the faithfulness of God, “When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.”
 
I appreciate the work of the Bible project guys. You can watch two excellent videos by them here (Overview of book) and Here (a video showing more details and themes).
  
Be blessed today knowing that God is faithful. The book of Numbers starts out with order and purpose. Above all, it begins importantly, “The Lord spoke to Moses IN the tent of meeting…” Leviticus worked. Moses was with God, in the tent of meeting. God is with them.
 
God be with us.
 
Jordan