Numbers 26:52-28:15
Everything we
are reading is preparation for the new generation to enter the land. God is
getting them ready. Some of these instructions are new and some are a restating
of what had been given 38 years earlier. Although we may have a hard time
reading some of this, for these people there was a growing excitement and
energy. They had just won some battles and survived the trial at Baal-Peor. Now
they were being counted and equipped to follow God into the land promised to
their fathers.
Numbers
26:52-65
Vs. 52-56 God
is giving instructions how each tribe is to be given its land. Joshua and
Eleazar will do this in the book of Joshua. The lots were probably the Urim and
Thummim. It is possible that the initial decisions were made during this time
before Moses died, and it was confirmed after the main military opposition in
Canaan had been removed.
Vs. 57-62 This
is the renumbering of the Levites. Notice that Moses’ mother is a daughter of
Levi. Too bad Levi died 400 years earlier. The way to understand this is that
she was probably descended from him in some direct way. A couple of days ago in
Luke 1:5, we read that Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron, meaning that she
descended from the line of Aaron. Tribes could intermarry, but saying it like
this means that the woman was a descendant through Levites of that tribe. We
already noted that Aaron’s wife was from Judah.
I don’t see any
indication that the tribe of Levi was included in God’s punishment of the
people for the rebellion at Kadesh-barnea. Also, note that they gained 1000
people in the previous 38 years.
Vs. 63-65 This
is confirming that none of the men who were part of the first census was alive
for this census. Only Caleb and Joshua were alive from that generation. I think
that Caleb, from Judah, and Joshua, from Joseph (Ephraim), both being godly
leaders is somehow a fulfillment of Jacob's blessings on both Ephraim and Judah
in Genesis 49.
Numbers 27
Vs. 1-11 As the
word was circulating through the camp, how the land would be divided and how
the inheritance would be disbursed, these women came forward and God honored
them in their request. This created a new law. Who says God isn't for women's
rights? Actually, it also shows that the laws that God gave were to become the
basis of the people coming to Him in specific situations where He had not given
a clear word. The laws didn’t give guidance for every possible contingency, but
they were general enough to show the people what to do in normal circumstances.
These women showed what would happen when godly people came to inquire when a
general law didn’t address a specific situation. This is no little event. We
will hear about it at least two more times.
Vs. 12-23 God's
words to Moses are absolute. We can invest this with all the human emotion we
want to, but really, Moses needed a rest. I still cringe when I visualize
Charlton Heston falling on his knees and saying, "You are a hard
God." Moses definitely blew it, and God was using the situation as a
lesson to all of us lesser men that if He didn't cut Moses any slack, we should
be a little afraid to overstep the boundaries of our stupidity. I get that. And
now, Moses was going into retirement. First, Moses would ease Joshua into his
position as the new leader, and then later Moses would enter into heaven. Into heaven!! Sitting in a lounge chair, sipping
something cool, watching the mountains or sea or universe, chilling, eating a
Maria's Pizza from Milwaukee (the best in the universe if you eat it hot). I
understand the human pathos of not achieving a goal, but really, I can't feel
too sorry for Moses. And remember, God has already used Moses (Numbers 21,
31-32) to lead Israel in its initial battles and in obtaining the inheritance
of 2.5 tribes.
Vs. 15-17 Moses
asks God to appoint a leader. This plea was passionate. Notice that Moses asks
that God appoint a shepherd for the people.
Vs. 18-23 The
selection of Joshua was evident. Moses had been mentoring Joshua for 40 years.
Again, this is interesting because of Jacob's blessing on Ephraim. As a young
man, Joshua was visibly a man of faith. Now, as one of the oldest men in the
community, and a hero of faith, God is elevating Joshua in the sight of Israel
while Moses is still alive. What a great idea. Now Israel has a new leader who,
still for a while, is being mentored by Moses. Also, just as God chose to use
Moses when he was eighty years old, Joshua is very likely about eighty years
young too. It is interesting that God would use men this old, seasoned and
mature, to lead 6-10 million people. That certainly doesn't fit our church
growth thinking today. Apparently God looks for something different in choosing
a disciple who will act as a shepherd.
Notice too,
that God has also brought Eleazar to the forefront. I find it interesting in v.
21 that Eleazar and Joshua are to be a team. If Joshua has any questions of the
Lord, he is to go to Eleazar who will use the Urim and Thummim to find out
God’s will. God is putting all the pieces into place.
Numbers 28:1-15
This chapter is
an old instruction for a new generation. When the people walked into the land,
their daily sacrifices, their seeking of forgiveness and renewal before God
would be important. I would guess that is why God says this now. Notice also
that with the restating of these sacrifices, the grain and wine offerings are
also mentioned. The emphasis is not only on forgiveness, but on how God gives
them every day “all things richly to enjoy.”
I got something
completely different out of this chapter. On March 16 I mentioned something
about people who make a big deal of saying that the time of Jesus' birth might
not have been in December. One of the "proofs" of this is that flocks
shouldn't have been out around Bethlehem and Jerusalem in winter. Anyway, it's
really not a big deal either way. But when I read this chapter, for the daily
offering, the monthly offering and the offering on each Sabbath, I began
adding. I came up with needing 90 lambs a month, plus, when people came to
Jerusalem from a long distance, they would have bought a lamb locally to
sacrifice. They always would have had flocks around Jerusalem, even in the
winter.
As disciples in
the harvest one of the things the Lord does with us is to simplify our needs
and desires. The less we desire of anything else than Him, the more we have of
Him, and in that simplicity, we realize more and more the wonder of what He
gives us to enjoy.
Luke 3:1-22
Vs. 1-2 John
the Baptist appears and Luke pinpoints the date.
Vs. 3-6 Notice
that John’s message had to do with preparation for the Messiah and focusing the
people on their need for forgiveness. Notice too in Isaiah’s prophecy, that all flesh would see the salvation of
God. We are now a part of that.
Vs. 7-9 In
Mark, this "rant" was because the Pharisees and Sadducees showed up
for baptism. John was testing the sincerity of their hearts and also said this
to the people. The people responded with open hearts. Even tax collectors and
soldiers (Romans) wanted to know what to do to escape the wrath to come. The
Pharisees and Sadducees probably immediately stopped listening, since they
considered themselves righteous.
Vs. 10-14
Notice that everyone wanted to understand what they needed to do. The assumed
answer might have been to perform some religious duty or sacrifice at the
temple. Instead, God pointed them to loving God by loving their neighbor.
Vs. 15-16 John
didn’t have a self-serving bone in his body. He was a total servant and took no
glory. John was not only unworthy to carry or untie Jesus’ sandals, but his
baptism didn’t bring life or the cleansing of judgment. Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Think of that. When
we trust Christ as our Savior, it is as if He is standing beside us. Instead of
some “unseen” act, we are told that the Spirit comes as Jesus personally
baptizes us. That is pretty cool. The baptism of fire is the sense of judging
the world, casting fire upon the earth.
Vs. 17-18 I
love the contrast of these two verses. John was authentic and passionate and
truthful, and the people responded.
Vs. 19-20 are a
summary of John's active ministry. John wasn't thrown into jail until after
Jesus' temptation and after he overturned the tables in the temple at the next
Passover. According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, John’s ministry
was less than a year and he was in jail about two years.
Vs. 21-22 This
is the purpose that John came for, to baptize and give testimony to the Christ.
Luke is the only writer who tells us that Jesus was praying after His baptism,
and then the Spirit came upon Him. This is also where Luke eases us into the
ministry of Jesus, beginning here with His baptism/anointing, followed by His
genealogy and then His showdown with Satan.
Psalm 61
I never noticed
how often David talks in his psalms about dwelling with the Lord. For a man
like David, who ran for his life and lived in caves and then among the
Philistines, to be absolutely secure meant to live with the Lord.
Vs. 1-4 David
did rock climbing (running from Saul) for about ten years. He knew how to climb
and how to defend himself. But David was seeking a Rock higher than he could
climb and a defense more secure than what he could provide for himself. He
wanted to be safe on God’s rock, in His refuge and under His wings. It takes
being driven in fear to appreciate how much we need the Lord. At this point in
his life, God had “simplified” David’s heart through suffering.
Vs. 5-8 Whether
David was the king now isn’t known, but David had been anointed as king years
earlier as a young teen. I’m sure David spoke of this when he prayed and made
vows and held on to faith in God’s faithfulness.
In so many of
David’s prayers, he expresses that what God wants from us is not sacrifice, but
public praise for His love and salvation. That is what we are to be doing in
the harvest.
As disciples
reading Romans 8 you see Paul talking about our security as believers, but this
security is in the love of Christ. The love of Christ, in the context of Romans
8, means a lot. In Christ, we have the Spirit; we are adopted, foreknown,
predestined, called, justified and glorified. There is nothing that can condemn
us or separate us from Christ. There is nothing that can make God not love us,
and because of Christ, death just becomes a dark little line on the sidewalk.
You step over it and there's a lounge chair waiting. That gives us, as
disciples, the confidence to go for it here and share our praise for God. We are
already abiding in the Rock who is higher than we are.
Proverbs 11:16-17
Great words.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One
Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101. This version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different
version or different language.I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.
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