Numbers 32 – Make me a blessing

Numbers 32:1-25 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock. So when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock, 2 the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 “…4 the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.” 6 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?…16 Then they came near to Moses and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 “We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance. 19 “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” 20 So Moses said to them, “If you will do this…this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD. 23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out…25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands.”

We are not alone. A God centered life is not a life of “every-man-for-himself”. We have a responsibility to be sure that the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of others are met.

The tribes of Gad and Reuben discovered the land that God was blessing them with. They were excited with this discovery and wanted to live in God’s blessing. But God was still in the process of bringing about the blessing for the rest of Israel. Gad and Reuben had a responsibility to work for God in bringing about the blessing of others.

When we discover the blessing that God has set aside for us, it is not an excuse to stop doing the work of God in other peoples lives.

When we wallow in our own blessing and ignore what we have been called to do to bless another, then we have sinned against God.

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Numbers 13 – Those who see what can not be

Numbers 13:27-33 Thus [the spies sent in to Canaan to scout the land] told [Moses], and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 “Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 “Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” 32 So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. 33 “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

In churches there are three kinds of people: those who see what is, those who see what could be, and those who see why something can not be. In my opinion, the leaders who set the vision for the community need to be people who see what could be. Leaders who organize day to day operations should be those who can see what is. And those who see why something can not be should not be in leadership.

When we put in leadership, people who see what can not be, the whole community becomes discouraged; we lose our focus on God; and we wind up wandering the desert, tottering on destruction for forty years.

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Romans 15 – Bearing the weaknesses of brothers and sisters

Romans 15:1-2,7 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification… 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

We have a responsibility to look out for those who are being trampled upon, those who are forgotten, those who are in need. Each of us has a responsibility to “bear the weaknesses” of those around us.

Christianity is not an individualist faith. Christianity is not just about my relationship with God. Christianity is about the family of God. I am to care for my brothers and sisters; I am to care for my potential brothers and sisters. More succinctly, I have some responsibility for everyone I meet. I am not ultimately responsible for their choices and circumstances; but, I am responsible for bearing some of their weaknesses.

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John 6 – Finding balance

“A large crowd followed [Jesus], because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.”

For the most part Jesus did three things while he was on Earth: he preached repentance, he entered into relationship with those around him, and he cared for those in need. These are the same three things the Church is called to do. We need to be sure that our church communities have a healthy balance of these three activities. If we are not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ AND living lives in relationship with the lost and the saved AND caring for the needs of others, then we are failing. i need to consciously align myself with people who will enable US to meet all three needs.

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Leviticus 24 – Native and alien

“You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.”

God expected all who were in the community to follow God’s commands. There was no difference between those who were born into the community and those who were adopted into the community.

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Leviticus 21 – Forsaking your in-laws

“A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband– for her he may make himself unclean. He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.”

When we are called by God to follow Jesus, sometimes we are asked to set aside some of our earthly relationships. Are we willing to do what God demands of us?

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Leviticus 20 – Do not turn a blind eye

“The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the community are to stone him. I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the people of the community close their eyes when that man gives one of his children to Molech and they fail to put him to death, I will set my face against that man and his family and will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech.”

God gave a command that the people are to worship no other gods; anyone found to worship other gods is to be eternally separated from the community by death. God then expanded on this command to say that any of the people witness the worship of other gods then the witnesses are implicated in the guilt of the worshiper.

In our church communities we have a responsibility to our fellow Christians. We are to build one another up in faith, but we are also to hold one another accountable. When we turn a blind eye to another’s sin and pretend it does not exist we are damaging the entire church community and committing a sin. When we witness the sin of our fellow Christians we need to address it with them, otherwise we implicate ourselves in their sin.

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Psalm 24 – Our responsibilities

The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

If the earth and everything on it does indeed belong to the Lord, what does that say about our responsibility to the earth and its dwellers?

We are blessed by God with life. Everyday that we live in fellowship with Jesus is another day of blessing. We have been blessed beyond what we can imagine. What blessings are we responsible for imparting on the rest of creation?

I would argue that we are called first to be a blessing to our human community, then we are called to bless all of God’s creation in whatever ways we can. We are stewards of the universe; may we be the best stewards we can be.

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Psalm 20 – Godly boasting

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.

What do we as a church boast in? Attendance? Fancy technology? A good band? The “purity” of our worship? Tradition? Our building? Our friendliness?

Bad church (he said with a rolled up newspaper in hand). Boast in the name of the Lord our God or boast in nothing at all.

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Psalm 15 – He’s going the distance

O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

The person David describes as being worthy of abiding in the tent of God and dwelling in God’s temple is the person we should all strive to be. We should strive to speak truth and not evil. We should strive do good to our neighbors and friends. We should strive to be holy as God is Holy. At the same time our pursuit of holiness is not an end in itself; rather it is a means of closing the distance between us and God.

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Exodus 40 – God in our midst

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

I would make the argument that the book of Exodus is really about God finding a home.

The people with whom God had made a covenant are in slavery, so God moves them out of bondage. He blesses them and instructs them how to act so they can remain a part of God’s community. Finally, he has a house built in which he can rest. The Israelites have not reached their destination. They have moved from bondage to chaos. They are no longer slaves but they are now nomads. They have moved in a positive direction, but they have not yet reached a conclusion. Exodus is about God bringing his community to him and building a home amongst them.

The church is now God’s community and God’s home is the heart of everyone who lives in relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to remember that we are living in community with God and not make the mistakes the Israelites made.

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Exodus 30 – To whom the Lord speaks

I know people who really get excited about these chapters in Exodus where God is instructing Moses. They like to picture what God is instructing Moses to make. They like to build models and contemplate the spiritual significance of the metals used and the different spices which create various fragrances. I am not one of those people. So my commentary on this chapter is a little shorter than normal.

In my quick count there are four times instances in this chapter of something along the lines of “the Lord spoke to Moses, saying…” As I read that phrase over and over I was struck by how dependent the people were on Moses and the priests to live in community with God.

We are not dependent on our pastors to live in community with God. We have been enabled to have a direct relationship with God through Jesus. This passage reminded me of how great a blessing that is.

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Exodus 22 – Laws for a God honoring community

Are Christians called to follow these rules established by God in Exodus? No…mostly. These rules were established to help the people begin to learn what it means to live in God honoring community with one another.

Why should a sorceress be put to death (v18)? Because if she is part of the community the community is not being faithful to God.

Why should money not be lent in interest (v25)? Because a God honoring community should not take advantage of one another.

Rather than trying to force these ancient culturally driven rules into our context, we need to ask what rules do we need to establish to aid us in living out a God honoring community of Christians.

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Exodus 21 – God as law giver

God begins to establish the legal code by which the nation of Israel shall live. The Hebrews have lived under the laws and rules of Egypt for over four hundred years, it is time for a Hebrew law and culture to develop. These are rules for a developing nation learning what it is to honor God and honor their neighbors.

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Exodus 18 – Being a good in-law

Jethro is my favorite father-in-law in the Old Testament and is an example for all father-in-laws. If you want to be a good in-law be sure to follow the pattern of Jethro as outline below.

1. Warn them before you show up. (v6 “I…am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.)
2. Be positive when you show up. (v9 “Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel”)
3. Go to church with them. (v12 “Then Jethro…took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God”)
4. If you must offer advice make it brief and recognize that it is their decision not yours. (v23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure”)
5. Go home; always be sure to understay your welcome. (v27 “Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land”)

If you follow this example you are far more likely to have a positive relationship with your child and your son/daughter-in-law.

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Exodus 17 – By stages, according to the Lord’s command

Exodus 17 has some amazing instruction for the churches of today.

“Then all the congregations of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord”

Did you catch the important parts there? They moved by stages and they moved according to the command of the Lord.

There are churches today that either are not moving or they are trying to move all at once. There are also churches that are moving in order to become large, important, not die, etc. Churches should only move “according to the command of the Lord.” If the Lord is not commanding us then we need to wait for the Lord’s command.

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Exodus 13 – A community of grace

“Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you from this place.’”

Each of us who have a relationship with Jesus Christ needs to remember that we have been brought out from a house of slavery; our slavery was a slavery to sin. We were brought out by the powerful hand of the Lord. We did not earn it, we did not deserve it, we merely accepted a gracious gift from our God. A gift which enabled us to live in community with God.

It is good to remember where we were and how for God has brought us out. Thank God today for his grace.

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Exodus 12 – The Christ of Passover

Exodus chapter 12 is probably one of the most important chapters in the Old Testament for Christians. This chapter teaches us about the Passover lamb which was sacrificed so that the spirit of God would pass over the houses of the Israelites and not take the life of the first born.

In the New Testament Jesus becomes our Passover lamb. We can use his blood so that God will forgive us and Passover our sins on the day of judgment.

In Exodus 12, God says, “[This] is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spare our homes.” God continues, “It is a night to be observed for the Lord for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, to be observed by all the sons of Israel through their generations.”

The Israelites celebrated Passover to remember God delivering them from bondage in Egypt. Christians celebrate Easter to remember Christ delivering us from the bondage of sin. Take time today to remember what Jesus has done for you.

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Exodus 11 – God provides

God prepares a means for the Israelites to be freed from Egypt. Not only will they be freed from their captors, but they will take with them much of the wealth of the nation. God made the Egyptians look favorably upon the Israelites, and the Egyptians freely gave them their wealth.

God will accomplish God’s will, and it will be accomplished to a degree of completeness that we seldom expect. The Israelites wanted freedom and to return to the Promised Land. God was setting them up to be released with great wealth. God is able to provide for our needs before we even now our needs.

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Exodus 9 – Confess and conversationssion

I had not noticed until chapter 9 that sometimes the Lord hardens Pharaoh’s heart and sometimes Pharaoh hardens his own heart. I would be interested to learn if there is any pattern, rhyme, or reason for these variations.

I was also interested by Pharaoh’s confession in 9:27, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

However, when Moses worships God and the plague is removed, Pharaoh reverts to his old self and refuses to let the Israelites go.

How often in times of trial do we call out to God for mercy? When our trials are over do we remember our petitions to God? If we can take the time to talk to God and confess our sins in the bad times, then we need to confess our sins and talk to God in the good times.

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