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MARCH 18
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. 1-3 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.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full presentation
of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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