Bible Reading Reflection from Numbers 26-36

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

"The sons of Korah, however, did not die."

Korah rebelled against Moses. In doing so, it was against God who had chosen Moses to be the leader of the Israelites. God killed Korah and his men, but God spared his children who were innocent of Korah's rebellion. God knows whom to punish and whom to spare.

Another man in a different episode, Achan, was killed along with his family members! Most probably because they [Achan’s family members] were guilty of covering up. And interestingly, it was man (the Israelites, not God by natural calamity) who stoned them to death!

God knows who are His!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟛

"Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons."

These daughters of a [sinful] father weren't abused, mocked, jeered, looked down, but were taken care of by the leaders. That's how it ought to be.

Children shouldn't be discriminated against by the actions of their parents. That's what we see in the genealogy of Jesus as well. Jesus was a great, great-grandson of many people of ill reputation: like Ruth the Moabite, Rahab, the prostitute, Bathsheba, the adulteress, and oh those wicked kings as well.

Stand up for the orphans, illegitimate children, children of outcast people. They are innocent, like the rest of the people. They aren't their parents!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟛𝟙

"Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥."

Notice how many times the phrase "without defect" is used in this chapter: v3, 9,11, 19, 31.

God deserves the best! Use your best pen to underline your Bible 😂 Bring the best notes of currency for an offering. Come to the church in your best dresses.

Will you go to hell if not? Should your salvation be doubted if not? No. But it shows what's in the heart!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟟

"Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, And you shall ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖 yourselves; you shall ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝔻𝕠 𝔸𝕟𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜."

Man takes pride in their works, achievements, successes. God wants us to stop sometimes and gives Him the glory He deserves. Indeed, it's God who gives life, renews life, sustains life. Make your practice to honor God in your works by knowing it's God who produces the fruits in your work no matter how you work. Then, we shall realize it's in vain we work hard without resting which God commands.

When I was in my senior student days, I never opened my textbook or Academic books on Sunday. I just read Bible, Christian books, or attend multiple church programs. I love it. (Maybe I hated textbooks as well 😂) But, nobody smiles brighter than me in the examination hall. I worried nothing, feared nothing. I didn't dream to be a topper and never was. If I dreamt and desired, most probably I would a few times!

All this to say, God commanded us to rest. Rest. Honor God!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟚

"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."

A chapter is written concerning taking a vow. It just reminds us to be very careful of our words. We must really be a man of our word.

I hate those people who say they will come to church and don't come. I hate those who say they will call back later on (when they are free) and don't call back. Why tell a lie?

They have the freedom not to come, not to pick up a call, not to talk, whatever they like. They just shouldn't cook up a lie. I want to make an imprecatory for such lying people who do not take their words seriously!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. And Moses said to them, ‘Have you spared all the women?’"

Moses' wife was a Midianite woman. Yet he had no mercy upon them (the Midianites). Rather, he was angry when they spared the women.

Moses was zealous for God. Jesus was zealous too when he overturned the tables of money changers and drove away animals by a whip.

Godly leaders are both gentle and ferocious!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟛

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out."

There's no excuse for any sin. Because any sin and all sin are ultimately against God. So, there's no hiding from God.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟛-𝟜

"They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had struck down among them. The LORD had also executed judgments on their gods."

What a change of fortune! The Israelites who were living in fear of Egyptians were bold now. And The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. Israel’s Yahweh was shown more powerful than their [Egypt’s] Pharaoh.

Bible is full of such contrast, irony, and examples for us to learn a lesson and live wisely and joyfully!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟡

"These are those whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the sons of Israel in the land of Canaan."

Division or Apportioning is good. It's wise to make things clear.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟝

"These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there."

Man loves vengeance, revenge. We even enjoy the MCU movie, Avengers!

God makes sure that man does not sin in his wrath. So, there are cities of refuge where the guilty ones can flee to before justice is properly given!

Don't underestimate the sinful nature of man, especially in his wrath!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟟

"Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers."

Land, Inheritance, and Tribalism are what defined the Israelites. They did so because God commanded them.

The tribalism of our modern times, fighting for land (Kuki-Naga), fighting for inheritance in our times is devoid of God. Anything even heaven devoid of God is a place of horror.

A God-centered theology reflecting Land ownership, inheritance, and tribal identity made them distinct. Unfortunately, they weren't able to live up to that standard!

Bible Reading Reflection from Numbers 11-25

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (FG), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟝

"So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness."

Moses, the great leader of Israel had a moment when he felt incompetent to lead. There were no other people whom he could entrust the leadership. He was so discouraged and was in despair, longing to die.

Sin makes people weary [not only the perpetrators but everyone]. As Paul said that his greatest sufferings were not the personal sickness, beating, or even shipwreck experiences, but they were his concerns for the church. True leaders suffered from the sins of the members. That's not hard to imagine. When a part of your body suffers, your whole body suffers.

It's said of apou Dimngampou (now IRB) that when he got into a bus accident, he had the probability of living the rest of his life crippled, he is said to have told, "I'd rather die than to live without the ability to walk." A weak member of the body wearied even the healthy members of the body.

Well, Moses, even in this situation did not have a higher view of self, but a wretched view of self. He saw not only the wretchedness of his people but even his own wretchedness.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟛

"(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)"

There's such thing called false humility according to Philippians 2. Therefore, let not the world define what humility is and is not. Get used to the biblical understanding of everything.

Now, Moses was given the title, humble man of God, which was surpassed only by Lord Jesus Christ.

Humility is recognizing "God is God and we aren't God. We live in God's world and must live to please Him. He has the right to do whatever He pleases."

That would shut up all our pride, arrogance, boasting, complaints, jealousy, and disappointment.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟛𝟘

"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.’"

Caleb and Joshua were willing to risk their lives to possess the God-given land. They had confidence in God that they shall not only survive but overpower the enemies and enjoy the fruits of the land.

Disobedient people are cowards. Also. cowardice leads to disobedience.

God was pleased to bless Joshua and Caleb above every one of that generation!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟚-𝟛

"All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’"

Do we not find ourselves often complaining about what we do not have than being grateful for what we have been given?

The Israelites were given freedom; instead of being eternally grateful, they crave temporal onions and garlic (Num.11:5).

Learn to thank God. Learn to count God's blessings. Learn to be contented, satisfied. Learn to enjoy what you have.

It doesn't mean we should not have high ambition. It just means learning to enjoy life, God's gift, God's universe, and God Himself!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟚-𝟛

"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.’"

God wants an offering because offering symbolizes many things. One of them is gratitude.

Learn to give offerings to God!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟟

"And put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of the LORD tomorrow; and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!"

There are times we have gone far enough. It's good to have the practice of a quiet time to examine ourselves in the Lord.

Psalmists often did that!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟠

"Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds."

It not only blossomed but yielded fruits, yes, fully grown, ripen fruits. Unarguable confirmation!

God has the habit of doing exceedingly than we can ever imagine as well! Trust Him!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟛𝟙-𝟛𝟚

"You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the tent of meeting. You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die."

The tithes they received from the other tribes of Israelites they shall take for themselves after paying tithe from them [the tithe from the tithes received]. They should do so in reverence, gratefulness, and faithfulness.

Surely, wasting, negligence, and mismanagement wouldn't be tolerated!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟘

"But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean."

The teaching on the purification of the unclean magnifies the holiness (otherness) of God. That God is totally different from His creatures. His people must also be different from the rest of the people!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟚

"But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’"

There's no excuse even in wrath. God must be treated holy at all times. Some people speak uncomely things in anger. Well, that shows how shallow their religion is.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟝-𝟞

 “The people spoke against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.’ The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.”

God will not back down because of complaints. Rather, He sent serpents to stop them from complaining. It's not God to stop, it's man who should stop complaining!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟠

“Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.’”

Balaam really had a great philosophical tongue, but a hypocritical heart!

One can really speak sweetly godly, and live out very differently!

Balaam is a great example and lesson to this!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟟

"Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be agreeable with God that you curse them for me from there.’"

Haven't we ever thought of God in this way, changing (modifying) the circumstances and the environment around us?

God is not a man, He will not back down. He will not change, because He is perfect. He does only the best thing, and everything He does is the best!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟘

"Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, ‘I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!’"

Who can be against those whom God is with them? Will they prevail? No!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟚

"Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace;"

A Covenant of Peace given to a wrathful guy by a wrathful God.

Godly wrath and godly peace go hand in hand. Jesus was not just gentle but wrathful too. Look at how he cleansed the temple.

Bible Reading Reflection from Numbers 1-10

 [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!