[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (FG), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟙:𝟝𝟛
"But the Levites shall camp
around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation
of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of
the testimony."
Only those who are old and strong
enough to go to war were counted. The Levites weren't counted because the
greatest war is not with flesh and blood, not even with swords or bows, nor
with guns and bombs, nay, even virus and bacteria; the greatest battle is
ungodliness. The Israelites must make sure they remember God always, and for
that, the whole tribe of Levi was called upon to let the Israelites remember
God!
After all, all other wars are
designed to discipline the ungodly and to make them godly! Pursue godliness.
God will make sure it will cost you everything to achieve that.
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟚:𝟙-𝟚
"Now the LORD spoke to Moses
and to Aaron, saying, ‘The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard,
with the banners of their fathers' households; they shall camp around the tent
of meeting at a distance.’"
Unity is not uniformity; there can
be unity even in diversity.
The Israelites were told to camp
according to their tribe. Moses saw this to be fitting and effective!
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟛:𝟜𝟞-𝟜𝟟
"For the ransom of the 273 of
the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, you
shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the
shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs)"
The firstborns of Israelites were more
numerous than all the people of Levi. Well, there was no excuse, nor did they
come up with a population-control policy. Rather, they have to pay money for
every [excess] single child.
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟜:𝟚𝟛
"From thirty years and upward
to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service
to do the work in the tent of meeting."
Those who will serve God on behalf
of the people are matured but [still] energetic people. They aren't younger
than 30. They aren’t kids. They are old enough to be mature. They should be
younger than 50. Not old enough to forget things, and not old enough to get
weak. God deserves the best. It's a 20-year span of service.
If church leaders are properly
trained before 30, get them to pastoral staff by 30, make them a lead-pastor by
40, and promote them to some other leadership by 50, wow, it will [could] be a
great church. But I don't think there hardly exists such church. Denomination
enforcing this model would actually retard the growth of a church because we
can't just follow a principle without a substance.
So, like Apostle John who was still
the leader in his 90's or like the prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah who were in their
20's, God's ministers have no hard and fast rules concerning age in matters of
induction and retirement.
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟝:𝟜
"The sons of Israel did so and
sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD had spoken to Moses, thus the sons
of Israel did."
Wouldn't it be great if such
refrain is our way of report whenever we meet one another in the church?
Saying, "I read the word of God says such and such, and I did it",
"I did this week as it was taught in the sermon last Sunday".
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟞:𝟟
"He shall not make himself
unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister,
when they die, because his separation to God is on his head."
Jesus likewise said that every
Christian who cannot leave behind the most precious people, things, dreams to
follow after Him will not receive eternal life. There's nothing realistic,
better, deeper, blissful than to be owned by God.
Have a high view of God. A
God-honouring perspective of life.
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟟:𝟠𝟡
"Now when Moses went into the
tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from
above the mercy seat
that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He
spoke to him."
Hmmm! This is the 2nd longest
chapter (in numbers of verses) just next to Ps. 119, which has 176 verses,
almost twice of Num. 7. In terms of words, it's the 4th, having 1939 words.
Sometimes, a statistic like this is interesting! Now to the point. Notice the
word "mercy seat".
That's where God is, that's what
God does—mercy. That's where we seek, what we need, where we want Him to be
found. We want the mercy of God. And this mercy is "from above," it's
heavenly, perfect, genuine, no side-effect, no strings attached. Given freely
to us.
Every time, we come in prayer,
let's remember, that God is seated on the throne of Grace, on the throne of
Mercy. This is refreshing to think about!
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟠:𝟚𝟜-𝟚𝟞
"This is what applies to the
Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform
service in the work of the tent of meeting. But at the age of fifty years they
shall retire from service in the work and not work any more. They may, however,
assist their brothers in the tent of meeting, to keep an obligation, but they
themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites concerning
their obligations."
All the Levites by the age of 25
shall enter into service and retire by 50.
The strength of Levites to the rest
of the Israelites would be from 1:6 to 1:13 [ratio]
All in temple service, no other
works. Can you imagine that?
And how many leaders do we have in a
church?
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟡:𝟙𝟟
"Whenever the cloud was lifted
from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the
place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp."
God leading them through natural
means—using the clouds. Whenever the Israelites saw the clouds even after they
have reached the promised land, they must really have remembered the Providence
of God.
ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤
𝟙𝟘:𝟛𝟝-𝟛𝟞
"Then it came about when the
ark set out that Moses said, ‘Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.’ When it came to rest, he said, ‘Return,
O LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.’"
When we are thankful and want to
thank someone, everyone knows we are, but that doesn't stop us; we [still] say
"Thank You" anyway. There's satisfaction in saying, even if it's
known, even if it's one of the most common words.
That's true in our communication
with God as well. God knows everything we need. He is a perfect lover, who
keeps loving us even in our weirdest and vilest sin. He loves us so much that
He will do everything well (even our sin) for our own good (leading to His
glory). He will still be our God and bless us even when we fail to pray. Yet,
if we are truly His people, we shall truly pray and thank Him.
This verse 35-36, is not
just a ritual. It has meaning, significance, and is effective. This is about
the leading of God through clouds in the wilderness, yet we can picture this in
our life's journey, the presence of God, the providence of God, the direction
of God.
Would we proclaim with our tongue,
"God, I rejoice in Your ways: In Your rising, I shall go; and in Your
rest, I shall rest”? May it be so! Not just in mind, in thought, or action.
Open-mouth prayer, confession, testimony are parts of a Christian's life!