“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT
as i continue to read i’m reminded of how detailed our God is. i also see how obedient these people were. how obedient Moses was to the Lord. doing everything He commanded him to do.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time — pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
Numbers 9:23 in which the Israelites either camp or set out based on the Lord’s cloud over the tabernacle reminds me of the patterns of our lives. Sometimes the Lord requires us to move, go in a new direction, venture into the unknown. Other times God requires us to stay and rest. We just have to trust in God’s timing—God’s plan.
The Israelites were so faithful in following gods command even if they didn’t know how long their camp would be set up. I was kind of shocked when I saw sometimes it could be years until god lifting his cloud
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. 23 They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.
Indeed a beautiful metaphor for our lives. God places us in certain physical locations, situations or relationships for a reason. We might not know for how long, but we can trust him. If we trust him we will be able settle down when we feel like he’s asking us to, or ready to move on when he’s asking us to. Very encouraging!
3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” -ellie
How gracious of God to remind Moses and Israel to keep the Passover which He had already commanded. How gracious of God to fulfill in us every work of faith by His own power.
I’ve got a question. If the Levites were to replace the first born of every other tribe, why then was Samuel and Jesus both presented to the priest, when neither of them were from the tribe of Levi?
Hi! Samuel was offered to the priest because his mother Hannah while she was praying and asking for a son said that she would give him right back to the Lord by presenting him to the priests if she became pregnant. Similarly, Mary knew that Jesus was yes her child but more importantly the son of God. Both women did this in obedience that anything they received from God should be offered right back to Him. In both these stories God fully wills there ability to even bare a child and both women recognize that and want to honor God by giving us their first fruits in away.
I’ve struggled with some of the Old Testament books too, check out The Bible Project on YouTube. They have videos for each book that help explain what’s going on, how it relates and why it’s import. Don’t beat yourself up, they’re tough to get through! But they have a purpose so hopefully the Bible Project can help you! ❤️
I honestly have been skipping through numbers the second I read a “and 7 of these for 7 of those” and I feel like it’s sinful but why do I have to read that, how is it relevant?
To have seen the movie left behind last night and to be lead today to download this app and read these scriptures, shows me again how real and wonderful our God is. He’s closer than we think and everyday my relationship with him grows stronger.
This made me reflect on how temporary our home on earth is. That we should hold it loosely and be ready to leave in obedience to God. That our security comes from him and the promise of heaven, not in our earthy dwellings. Oh to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not wander off when we feel impatient.
This is very literal following of the Lord! Go when he commands and stay when he commands. I need to be more literal in following , trusting and obeying. Thank you all for the comments and sharing your insight. It helps my testimony to grow.
What I noticed today? God has long sought after the condition of our hearts. After hearing implicit instructions in Leviticus about the unclean touching dead bodies & how that pertains to sacrifices & feasts, Moses is approached by men who have been marked unclean but still WANT to take part in the Passover. He waits for God’s instruction, and a new law is born: if you are unclean but your heart is in the right place you may partake in the Passover, BUT if you are clean and choose not to participate, you’re done – cut out of the clan, exiled from your people. This shows me He has always looked at the condition of our hearts over our appearance; even when we look the part, He doesn’t want us serving Him unless our hearts are in it, too! Beautiful to me.
Interesting in Numbers 9:12 that those who are unclean who are celebrating Passover are told not to break any of the bones of the lamb they eat… And Jesus, the Lamb of God did not have any broken bones as He sacrificed His life for us on the cross. Not sure if this is intentional or not, but it leapt off the page at me. So grateful for Christ.
God’s peace in our lives leads us like the cloud in the numbers reading. In decisions in life and even in the day to day, My prayer would be that I could peacefully rest under God’s power in the day. How would my day to day life look different if every day I was simply imagining my life as An opportunity to dwell under God’s cloud instead of a chance to check off my to do list?
Numbers 9 was very picturesque to me. They lived under the shadow of God’s cloud, and when and where it moved, they did as well. They couldn’t see the path the cloud would follow, but God knew and they trusted Him. So for us, we are to live under the shadow of God’s wings. If we aren’t under that shadow, spiritually, we should figure out where it is and go to it. We need to be open to God’s direction in our lives if we are His people, moving when and where He directs. This is one area the Israelites showed something worthy of our #faithgoals
The Thessalonians faith was growing and their love was increasing. They didn’t stop growing and become complacent. We must keep growing in our faith every day
2 Thes 1:3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater”. Their love for each other was proof of their faith.
I loved this part, “Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”… How many times have I rushed ahead of God? Waiting on God, on His timing, through prayer and honest discussion between me and the Lord, does not come so easily for me. I need to work on this for sure! I am missing out…
Thanks Caroline, Yana, and Jennifer! This was so helpful for me (and not to mention and interesting cultural discussion! ) I loved that article! So fascinating!
22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
Two days, or a month, or a year. I get anxious if I carpool with someone else to an event and can’t leave exactly when I want. Waiting on the Lord is hard. Lord, write these words on my heart.
The other thing that stood out to me is that they were to live in that spot – unpacked and all – even if it was only 2 days! I’d like to skip all the work, take a short cut and be partly packed for the next trip or move. But if we are to live & thrive where we are planted we need to learn to trust in Gods perfect timing, whether we understand it or not. This is HARD stuff.
Carolne thank you for a great reference. Setting the people apart ,a chosen people, was a purpose for the rules. It gave them back an identity they had lost as slaves in Egypt. Another point made in the article is that each country had it’s own Gods ,so it’s own form of worship and way of identifying themselves with their gods. The laws of the OT were the “identification” marks God gave the Israelites to set themselves apart. Also they were the standards for sacrifice that were pleasing to Him. They replaced the pagan sacrifices that were not pleasing to Him.
If these people had not been so “stiff necked” they would have been in awe, on a continual basis, of the enormity of the blessing and cleansing God was creating for them. He was preparing them to be acknowledged as a chosen people so that when Jesus came they would continue to stand out from the rest as uniquely blessed by a powerful, loving God.
When Jesus summarized all the OT laws to two primary commands: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.’ He gave us the new description of a follower of the one true God. This is our identity to set ourselves apart from all others.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow!
I’ve been thinking about the Israelites, not knowing how long they were to camp at each place. Sometimes, waiting on the Lord grows difficult. A day, sure, even a week, but after that month I wonder if they started to be unsure. “maybe it’s just cloudy today?”
“should we be partially packed just in case today is the the day?”
“is this the promised land?”
But the Lord’s timing doesn’t need to make sense to us to be right. maybe there were enemies ahead, maybe the weather was bad, maybe they were camped in a good spot, or maybe it wasn’t about where they were but where they were headed.
I need to remember that I don’t know the best thing, God does, and He doesn’t answer to me. If I’m waiting, there’s a reason; if I’m in a trial, there’s a reason; and even if it’s not until the other side of this life, someday I’ll know God did the right thing.
I need to cling to that & let go of my anger.
I totally agree as well. Right now I am asking God to show me where to go next , if it’s back to NE to join with my family in starting an organic farm or stay and grow with the career I have here, for a bit longer. The question is when, because I know that’s where God wants me is working with my family.
I prayed with a friend about it yesterday and she said, “you will know when it’s time when you feel peace about it.” So reading this passage confirms, I am waiting for the Lord and being patient in his faithfulness. He will finish the work he has started !! Thank you Jesus!!
All throughout Numbers (and Leviticus) there were so many rules and insufficiencies. There’s no way people could live up to this standard. I understand that Jesus came to free us from these judgements and laws, ( Praise God! ) but why did God create them in the first place? Why couldn’t he have had New Testament redemption from the start? What do you think? If God can have anything, why did he make so many laws to separate Himself from His people?
Ashley, I think the law just is a picture showing us how much we fail, to be honest. That even with the law, we couldn’t even follow that. The New Testament fulfills the picture of the Old, but maybe they just weren’t ready. He had his perfect timing and arranged all the situations, political and otherwise, to match when He would come to the earth. I don’t think the laws separated Him from His people, but rather have them a way to come to God, as sin had separated them in Genesis from God’s holiness, and now they had a way to come to Him.
Yes! And I also think it’s the difference between a simple plot and one with intricate twists, details, and foreshadowing that showcases the skill, wisdom, and greatness of the Author! =)
So many good nuggets from today’s reading! A couple things stood out to me. From Numbers 9: 15-23 I’m reminded that when I’m in the wilderness I need to have Jesus be my only focus in order to know when or where to move. They focused on the cloud by day and the fire by night so they knew when to go or when to stay. They never worried about getting lost because they knew God was leading them (and that was all that mattered, no questions asked).
2 Thessalonians 1: 5-7 encourages me to press on through persecution for God will give me rest. I pray the Lord God gives us more endurance and faith to press through every trial or persecution. In Jesus name!
How many times have we been in a situation and wondered, ‘What does God want me to do about this? Do I move or stay put?’ If only we had a cloud over our ‘camp’ so that we blatantly knew when to stay or go, be still or make moves. I guess it just means we have to sure that we’re truly drawing close to and in tune with Jesus so that we can hear his direction for our lives!
I agree, Numbers is hard..but I do keep finding elements I can grab on to and process. Like this verse from 9:8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”
With all the other narrative and descriptions, this verse stood out as a reminder to me that it’s okay when we don’t have the answers..and we need to remember to take it to God more often, even when we think we do have the answers. With all the time that Moses spent with God, even he had to go back and ask for direction. I needed to be reminded of that today.
Leah that stood out to me as well. That verse is so short but powerful. Often I just rush off and try to figure a solution out on my own without even thinking of placing it before God.
The thing that really clicked for me this morning reading Numbers is how THANKFUL I am for Jesus. People couldn’t even talk to God directly, Moses had to relay messages back and forth. I take it for granted every single day that I can go right to my Heavenly Father and just spit out everything that’s on my heart and the small worries and prayers I have. Numbers has given me reverence for that. I can’t imagine having to send messages through someone else to God, or have someone tell me what he says. Crazy!
Something I am observing about Numbers is how it isn’t just a book of rules and accounting. God shows himself in a very real way to his people. It keeps talking about Moses talking with God, being able to visibly see his presence. The Israelites can see the cloud and fire of God over the tabernacle telling them when to go and when to stay. These are not just words mysteriously given to Moses that they are expected to believe. God shows himself to be real to them.
The other thing I am noticing is how God constantly shows love to those his people wouldn’t necessarily be concerned about. The “alien living among them.” And did anyone else catch that the Levites, the ones God chose to have a place of honor serving and communicating with him were the “third born?” With how inheriting went in those days you would think it would be the firstborn, or at least the second, but no! Levi was the third born, and a child of Leah, who wasn’t the favorite wife. I just found it interesting that those were the people God set aside for himself. Not Judah, the oldest, or Joseph and Benjamin, the favorites. The Levites. The third born to the wife who felt unloved. Someone who could easily have been forgotten. His descendants were the ones God chose to commune with Him on behalf of hIs people.
it is beautiful that God chooses faithfulness above stature every.single.time. He shows favor to those who delight in Him & go hard after Him. a lot there to apply in daily life :)
Beautiful. Thank you for pointing this out about the Levites. I hadn’t thought of it at all and it is such a beautiful picture of God’s character in who He chooses.
Loving one another and God are the two most important things to do. I constantly mess up and don’t know how to fix it. But God is there. I’m praying to hear God better, so that I can respond better. This study has been wonderful!
Agreed. A few things help me as I read Numbers. I try to zoom out from all the details and find the big picture in a narrative. When verses repeat themselves, the Narrator is trying to emphasize something–what? Sometimes all I’m getting from Numbers is that God is holy and we are not. I have to remember that the Torah is the foundation for the rest of the Old Testament. In these chapters the Israelites are agreeing to God’s rules and are following them to the tee. That’s important because later when they are punished for ignoring them, we can remember that they agreed to God’s law and this is not God just making up rules for no reason and holding people unjustly to them.
I found that looking at the maps of the camps and envisioning the clans organized around the tabernacle, watching for God in the cloud, waiting for their instruction. God was in effect reorganizing that chaotic world preparing those early people and eventually all of us for His great plan and the arrival of Jesus . They needed strict details in order to virtually be “retrained” for His arrival and a new world order.
I agree, Rachel. Thanks for your comment, Amy – Very helpful. It also amazes me at this point the community’s obedience to the commands given to Moses by God. Kind of like they’re “all in it together”. It’s a neat picture of how things come together when working in unison.
2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
I feel like as my faith is growing more and more Gods grace and peace is coming over me. No matter how hard or easy the road is at the time God is right here. That is such a good feeling to have. I never knew what that really meant until I finally gave it ALL up to him. Reading his book and comments from you guys truly helps.
Nope. Not easy at all. I use to be a huge control freak but realized it was because I had lack of faith. Once I admitted that to myself God just started working in my life a whole lot more. If I catch myself going down that road I just start to remember HIS word.
This is SO powerful! I am such a control freak and it really impacts all my relationships – including my relationship with the Lord. Your comment makes me realise that it is time to let go and give it all up and surrender to God. Thank you! PS: I am new here! Just downloaded the app and started that #366daysoftruth readings; very excited to be here!
Awe so true I never truly experienced the awesomeness the closeness of God our father until I let him into every part of my life. He has been showering me with his love, mercy, and grace!! He loves each and everyone of us so much, he just wants to know we truly trust believe and have full faith in him. I just love God so much !!! Thank you Jesus!!!!
“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT
as i continue to read i’m reminded of how detailed our God is. i also see how obedient these people were. how obedient Moses was to the Lord. doing everything He commanded him to do.
❤️
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May you fulfill every good work
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Trust and obey.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time — pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
Numbers 9:23 in which the Israelites either camp or set out based on the Lord’s cloud over the tabernacle reminds me of the patterns of our lives. Sometimes the Lord requires us to move, go in a new direction, venture into the unknown. Other times God requires us to stay and rest. We just have to trust in God’s timing—God’s plan.
Amen!
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♥️
✅
❤️
The Israelites were so faithful in following gods command even if they didn’t know how long their camp would be set up. I was kind of shocked when I saw sometimes it could be years until god lifting his cloud
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. 23 They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.
Indeed a beautiful metaphor for our lives. God places us in certain physical locations, situations or relationships for a reason. We might not know for how long, but we can trust him. If we trust him we will be able settle down when we feel like he’s asking us to, or ready to move on when he’s asking us to. Very encouraging!
3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” -ellie
How gracious of God to remind Moses and Israel to keep the Passover which He had already commanded. How gracious of God to fulfill in us every work of faith by His own power.
I agree! Made me also think of the good shepherd
I’ve got a question. If the Levites were to replace the first born of every other tribe, why then was Samuel and Jesus both presented to the priest, when neither of them were from the tribe of Levi?
Hi! Samuel was offered to the priest because his mother Hannah while she was praying and asking for a son said that she would give him right back to the Lord by presenting him to the priests if she became pregnant. Similarly, Mary knew that Jesus was yes her child but more importantly the son of God. Both women did this in obedience that anything they received from God should be offered right back to Him. In both these stories God fully wills there ability to even bare a child and both women recognize that and want to honor God by giving us their first fruits in away.
Great question and response!
I’ve struggled with some of the Old Testament books too, check out The Bible Project on YouTube. They have videos for each book that help explain what’s going on, how it relates and why it’s import. Don’t beat yourself up, they’re tough to get through! But they have a purpose so hopefully the Bible Project can help you! ❤️
I honestly have been skipping through numbers the second I read a “and 7 of these for 7 of those” and I feel like it’s sinful but why do I have to read that, how is it relevant?
To have seen the movie left behind last night and to be lead today to download this app and read these scriptures, shows me again how real and wonderful our God is. He’s closer than we think and everyday my relationship with him grows stronger.
This made me reflect on how temporary our home on earth is. That we should hold it loosely and be ready to leave in obedience to God. That our security comes from him and the promise of heaven, not in our earthy dwellings. Oh to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not wander off when we feel impatient.
This is very literal following of the Lord! Go when he commands and stay when he commands. I need to be more literal in following , trusting and obeying. Thank you all for the comments and sharing your insight. It helps my testimony to grow.
What I noticed today? God has long sought after the condition of our hearts. After hearing implicit instructions in Leviticus about the unclean touching dead bodies & how that pertains to sacrifices & feasts, Moses is approached by men who have been marked unclean but still WANT to take part in the Passover. He waits for God’s instruction, and a new law is born: if you are unclean but your heart is in the right place you may partake in the Passover, BUT if you are clean and choose not to participate, you’re done – cut out of the clan, exiled from your people. This shows me He has always looked at the condition of our hearts over our appearance; even when we look the part, He doesn’t want us serving Him unless our hearts are in it, too! Beautiful to me.
Love this, thanks for sharing!
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Interesting in Numbers 9:12 that those who are unclean who are celebrating Passover are told not to break any of the bones of the lamb they eat… And Jesus, the Lamb of God did not have any broken bones as He sacrificed His life for us on the cross. Not sure if this is intentional or not, but it leapt off the page at me. So grateful for Christ.
He is intentional through it all! Unfathomable. :)
God’s peace in our lives leads us like the cloud in the numbers reading. In decisions in life and even in the day to day, My prayer would be that I could peacefully rest under God’s power in the day. How would my day to day life look different if every day I was simply imagining my life as An opportunity to dwell under God’s cloud instead of a chance to check off my to do list?
Amen!
Numbers 9 was very picturesque to me. They lived under the shadow of God’s cloud, and when and where it moved, they did as well. They couldn’t see the path the cloud would follow, but God knew and they trusted Him. So for us, we are to live under the shadow of God’s wings. If we aren’t under that shadow, spiritually, we should figure out where it is and go to it. We need to be open to God’s direction in our lives if we are His people, moving when and where He directs. This is one area the Israelites showed something worthy of our #faithgoals
So good! Well articulated. Thank you for sharing :)
Yes!
The Thessalonians faith was growing and their love was increasing. They didn’t stop growing and become complacent. We must keep growing in our faith every day
2 Thes 1:3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater”. Their love for each other was proof of their faith.
I loved this part, “Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”… How many times have I rushed ahead of God? Waiting on God, on His timing, through prayer and honest discussion between me and the Lord, does not come so easily for me. I need to work on this for sure! I am missing out…
It stood out to me too. I needed to hear that reminder of the simple act of asking and waiting.
Thanks Caroline, Yana, and Jennifer! This was so helpful for me (and not to mention and interesting cultural discussion! ) I loved that article! So fascinating!
22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
Two days, or a month, or a year. I get anxious if I carpool with someone else to an event and can’t leave exactly when I want. Waiting on the Lord is hard. Lord, write these words on my heart.
Amen Christina? That stood out to me too, I need to be more patient and wait on the Lord like the Israelites.
The other thing that stood out to me is that they were to live in that spot – unpacked and all – even if it was only 2 days! I’d like to skip all the work, take a short cut and be partly packed for the next trip or move. But if we are to live & thrive where we are planted we need to learn to trust in Gods perfect timing, whether we understand it or not. This is HARD stuff.
Carolne thank you for a great reference. Setting the people apart ,a chosen people, was a purpose for the rules. It gave them back an identity they had lost as slaves in Egypt. Another point made in the article is that each country had it’s own Gods ,so it’s own form of worship and way of identifying themselves with their gods. The laws of the OT were the “identification” marks God gave the Israelites to set themselves apart. Also they were the standards for sacrifice that were pleasing to Him. They replaced the pagan sacrifices that were not pleasing to Him.
If these people had not been so “stiff necked” they would have been in awe, on a continual basis, of the enormity of the blessing and cleansing God was creating for them. He was preparing them to be acknowledged as a chosen people so that when Jesus came they would continue to stand out from the rest as uniquely blessed by a powerful, loving God.
When Jesus summarized all the OT laws to two primary commands: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.’ He gave us the new description of a follower of the one true God. This is our identity to set ourselves apart from all others.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow!
I’ve been thinking about the Israelites, not knowing how long they were to camp at each place. Sometimes, waiting on the Lord grows difficult. A day, sure, even a week, but after that month I wonder if they started to be unsure. “maybe it’s just cloudy today?”
“should we be partially packed just in case today is the the day?”
“is this the promised land?”
But the Lord’s timing doesn’t need to make sense to us to be right. maybe there were enemies ahead, maybe the weather was bad, maybe they were camped in a good spot, or maybe it wasn’t about where they were but where they were headed.
I need to remember that I don’t know the best thing, God does, and He doesn’t answer to me. If I’m waiting, there’s a reason; if I’m in a trial, there’s a reason; and even if it’s not until the other side of this life, someday I’ll know God did the right thing.
I need to cling to that & let go of my anger.
Amen. I totally relate to this.
I totally agree as well. Right now I am asking God to show me where to go next , if it’s back to NE to join with my family in starting an organic farm or stay and grow with the career I have here, for a bit longer. The question is when, because I know that’s where God wants me is working with my family.
I prayed with a friend about it yesterday and she said, “you will know when it’s time when you feel peace about it.” So reading this passage confirms, I am waiting for the Lord and being patient in his faithfulness. He will finish the work he has started !! Thank you Jesus!!
I love this. There is always a reason, even when we can’t see it. There is a God who sees it. And He will lead us, we must simply follow & obey.
Amen to that! I’ve been struggling a lot lately with waiting (particularly in the area of relationship). This is a good reminder.
I have a question:
All throughout Numbers (and Leviticus) there were so many rules and insufficiencies. There’s no way people could live up to this standard. I understand that Jesus came to free us from these judgements and laws, ( Praise God! ) but why did God create them in the first place? Why couldn’t he have had New Testament redemption from the start? What do you think? If God can have anything, why did he make so many laws to separate Himself from His people?
Ashley I have no answer for you but I’ve wondered the same thing. There are lots of well read women in this group so I bet we will get an answer!
I found this link helpful http://www.atacrossroads.net/why-the-weird-old-testament-laws-ever-existed/
Blessings and hope you have a wonderful day!
Ashley, I think the law just is a picture showing us how much we fail, to be honest. That even with the law, we couldn’t even follow that. The New Testament fulfills the picture of the Old, but maybe they just weren’t ready. He had his perfect timing and arranged all the situations, political and otherwise, to match when He would come to the earth. I don’t think the laws separated Him from His people, but rather have them a way to come to God, as sin had separated them in Genesis from God’s holiness, and now they had a way to come to Him.
Yes! And I also think it’s the difference between a simple plot and one with intricate twists, details, and foreshadowing that showcases the skill, wisdom, and greatness of the Author! =)
So many good nuggets from today’s reading! A couple things stood out to me. From Numbers 9: 15-23 I’m reminded that when I’m in the wilderness I need to have Jesus be my only focus in order to know when or where to move. They focused on the cloud by day and the fire by night so they knew when to go or when to stay. They never worried about getting lost because they knew God was leading them (and that was all that mattered, no questions asked).
2 Thessalonians 1: 5-7 encourages me to press on through persecution for God will give me rest. I pray the Lord God gives us more endurance and faith to press through every trial or persecution. In Jesus name!
Wow thank you!
Perseverance, faith, glorified … Thank you for helping me improve my faith
How many times have we been in a situation and wondered, ‘What does God want me to do about this? Do I move or stay put?’ If only we had a cloud over our ‘camp’ so that we blatantly knew when to stay or go, be still or make moves. I guess it just means we have to sure that we’re truly drawing close to and in tune with Jesus so that we can hear his direction for our lives!
I agree Rachel. Amy thank you for your insights they helped me !
I agree, Numbers is hard..but I do keep finding elements I can grab on to and process. Like this verse from 9:8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”
With all the other narrative and descriptions, this verse stood out as a reminder to me that it’s okay when we don’t have the answers..and we need to remember to take it to God more often, even when we think we do have the answers. With all the time that Moses spent with God, even he had to go back and ask for direction. I needed to be reminded of that today.
Yes, I agree it’s okay to go to God for answers sometimes again and again.
I agree Leah, also it reminds me to wait until I get that answer instead of just getting frustrated and making decisions or moves on my own.
Leah that stood out to me as well. That verse is so short but powerful. Often I just rush off and try to figure a solution out on my own without even thinking of placing it before God.
The thing that really clicked for me this morning reading Numbers is how THANKFUL I am for Jesus. People couldn’t even talk to God directly, Moses had to relay messages back and forth. I take it for granted every single day that I can go right to my Heavenly Father and just spit out everything that’s on my heart and the small worries and prayers I have. Numbers has given me reverence for that. I can’t imagine having to send messages through someone else to God, or have someone tell me what he says. Crazy!
Something I am observing about Numbers is how it isn’t just a book of rules and accounting. God shows himself in a very real way to his people. It keeps talking about Moses talking with God, being able to visibly see his presence. The Israelites can see the cloud and fire of God over the tabernacle telling them when to go and when to stay. These are not just words mysteriously given to Moses that they are expected to believe. God shows himself to be real to them.
The other thing I am noticing is how God constantly shows love to those his people wouldn’t necessarily be concerned about. The “alien living among them.” And did anyone else catch that the Levites, the ones God chose to have a place of honor serving and communicating with him were the “third born?” With how inheriting went in those days you would think it would be the firstborn, or at least the second, but no! Levi was the third born, and a child of Leah, who wasn’t the favorite wife. I just found it interesting that those were the people God set aside for himself. Not Judah, the oldest, or Joseph and Benjamin, the favorites. The Levites. The third born to the wife who felt unloved. Someone who could easily have been forgotten. His descendants were the ones God chose to commune with Him on behalf of hIs people.
it is beautiful that God chooses faithfulness above stature every.single.time. He shows favor to those who delight in Him & go hard after Him. a lot there to apply in daily life :)
Beautiful. Thank you for pointing this out about the Levites. I hadn’t thought of it at all and it is such a beautiful picture of God’s character in who He chooses.
I never noticed that! So powerful! Thanks for sharing.
Loving one another and God are the two most important things to do. I constantly mess up and don’t know how to fix it. But God is there. I’m praying to hear God better, so that I can respond better. This study has been wonderful!
Amen. He is always there.
Y’all. Numbers is hard.
Agreed. A few things help me as I read Numbers. I try to zoom out from all the details and find the big picture in a narrative. When verses repeat themselves, the Narrator is trying to emphasize something–what? Sometimes all I’m getting from Numbers is that God is holy and we are not. I have to remember that the Torah is the foundation for the rest of the Old Testament. In these chapters the Israelites are agreeing to God’s rules and are following them to the tee. That’s important because later when they are punished for ignoring them, we can remember that they agreed to God’s law and this is not God just making up rules for no reason and holding people unjustly to them.
Thanks! Totally helps!
I found that looking at the maps of the camps and envisioning the clans organized around the tabernacle, watching for God in the cloud, waiting for their instruction. God was in effect reorganizing that chaotic world preparing those early people and eventually all of us for His great plan and the arrival of Jesus . They needed strict details in order to virtually be “retrained” for His arrival and a new world order.
I agree, Rachel. Thanks for your comment, Amy – Very helpful. It also amazes me at this point the community’s obedience to the commands given to Moses by God. Kind of like they’re “all in it together”. It’s a neat picture of how things come together when working in unison.
I was marveling on this point also Jennifer! Beautiful picture for sure.
Thank you, Amy and Jennifer! Your insights help!
2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
I feel like as my faith is growing more and more Gods grace and peace is coming over me. No matter how hard or easy the road is at the time God is right here. That is such a good feeling to have. I never knew what that really meant until I finally gave it ALL up to him. Reading his book and comments from you guys truly helps.
Andria powerful words “I finally gave it ALL up to him”. May we all surrender fully! It is not easy…
Nope. Not easy at all. I use to be a huge control freak but realized it was because I had lack of faith. Once I admitted that to myself God just started working in my life a whole lot more. If I catch myself going down that road I just start to remember HIS word.
This is SO powerful! I am such a control freak and it really impacts all my relationships – including my relationship with the Lord. Your comment makes me realise that it is time to let go and give it all up and surrender to God. Thank you! PS: I am new here! Just downloaded the app and started that #366daysoftruth readings; very excited to be here!
Awe so true I never truly experienced the awesomeness the closeness of God our father until I let him into every part of my life. He has been showering me with his love, mercy, and grace!! He loves each and everyone of us so much, he just wants to know we truly trust believe and have full faith in him. I just love God so much !!! Thank you Jesus!!!!