Short Reflection from Selected Chapters of Numbers

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

Leviticus, Numbers, and Chronicles are tough to put up updates from each chapter. I have done it once last year. This time, I decided to just skip updating from each chapter. So, these 4 updates will do. (Btw, I have read the entire book this night at one-sitting.)

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟞:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟟

"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them."

What a wonderful passage is this, right?

The most striking word for me tonight among all these wonderful words is "keep"— that the Lord will keep them. It's about the protection of God, that the Lord will preserve them.

This is my prayer for you all, friends. That the Lord will keep you.

 

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."

There were times, I just wanted to die, and asked the Lord to take my life if my life would be dishonoring the Lord and cause people to blaspheme God. And I found comfort in this verse.

Tonight, my prayer is a little different. I pray that the Lord will keep me to see His goodness come to pass.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.'"

See, how the Lord honored the one who honored Him. Let's be zealous for God, friends!

 

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."

Hmmm! "Your sin will find you out" that's pretty scary. But that's why we come to the Lord confessing our sins too since we have 1 John 1:9. However, sin has consequences. And the grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient for us to go through all consequences.

Short Reflection from Leviticus 26

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟠-𝟚𝟘

"If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will also break down your pride of power; I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze. Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit."

I was reading the book of Leviticus to meditate and put up an update for today. I read chapter 1; no verse seemed to stand out. This time I decided to not re-read again and again. So, I moved on with the chapter, no verse stood out. I moved to chapter 3, 4, 5, till the end of the book. Well, it's Sunday, I guess I had a lot of meditation already. But we've got to update. So, this verse.

The Lord will not give up on His requirements, rather He will increase the chastisement 7 times. I cannot confirm it directly in my experience, but I think I have gone through this. Here and there, sometimes I was obstinate, and I had to receive a lot of blows.

However, it's true the Lord disciplines whom He loves. Where could I go but to the Lord? Only the Lord grants repentance. Only the Lord changes the heart of a sinner. And that's true for the redeem too.

Short Reflection from Exodus 21-40

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟝

"He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death."

I grew up hearing people say that "Parents are the visible form of the Almighty God, obey them." Or "Parents are the representation of God in your life, obey them." They are certainly wrong btw. It's not in the Bible. It's even anti-biblical, far from being found in the Bible.

However, children are to obey their parents in the Lord. And to honor their parents. And in this verse, never to strike their parents.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟡

"You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me."

I think it's good to give offerings and "tithes" and contributions on time. It's good to pay rental fees on time too. You know when you don't get money on time, it's not pleasant na? Let's give on time too!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟛:𝟠

"You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just."

Bribe is still illegal by the law of the land. Much more evil in the eyes of the Lord.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟜:𝟚

"Moses alone, however, shall come near to the LORD, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him."

The idea of equality in all things is just impractical. Nor is it possible even in their dream world, heaven. There is a hierarchy of importance, value, and roles.

Even here, Moses was singled out among leaders.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟚

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution."

Apart from the required tithes, God still wanted the Israelites to be generous. The tithes under the Law constituted over 25% of their income. And they are encouraged to give more without further obligation but generously.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙

"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman."

God deserves the best works of humans. If the Taj Mahal can be built for a wife, God deserves much more of our praise, glory, honor, and our love.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually."

Sometimes, commanding the people of God and requiring their contribution is necessary. Even Apostle Paul urged his readers to be generous in giving!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟛𝟝

"It shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling shall be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the LORD, so that he will not die."

People must treat the worship of God sacred, solemn, and fearful.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟜𝟝

"I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God."

Again and again, here and there, God expressed His presence in the midst of His people. The real problem is people don't like the presence of God; they want the presence of Moses instead of God. They want pastors to pray for them instead of them praying to God.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟛𝟠

"Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people."

God demands that He be treated specially and uniquely. God is not like anything. He is other!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟠

"When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God."

It was oral first then written.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟝

"Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control--for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies--"

Aaron wasn't a strong leader. He bowed down to the sinful demands of the people. He wasn't a political leader but a spiritual leader; so, he shouldn't have done it.

Yesterday, in our meeting, I suggested that this coming Sunday (friendship Sunday) it would be good to find a friend in the church and pray together. One brother said that the idea of prayer might make people uncomfortable. Well, I said, the church is a place of prayer; if they are uncomfortable, let it be. I am not going to stop preaching the gospel in my church because a visitor doesn't find it uncomfortable.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟝

"Then he said to Him, 'If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.'"

Sure, we should be terrified to go anywhere the Lord is not favorable.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟡

"He said, 'If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.'"

How we need God when the people are rebellious! God wanted to abandon them, and how would Moses a mere man control them, if the Lord didn't put the fear of the Divine in their sight? Even in our modern churches, we need God to put the fear of the Divine in the hearts of the congregations. Oh! I pray for that in my church, among the people I dwell!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟘

"Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded"

An invitation to the skillful to serve the Lord willingly and gladly. It would be an honor to work for a reputed professional. God is more pro than anyone and reputable than anyone.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟚

"Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it."

I pray that the Lord will stir up the hearts of many congregants, His people to build up the body of Christ, in commitment, sincerity, love, faithfulness, and sound doctrine.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟟:𝟙

"Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits;"

This verse is full of "he made" referring to Bezalel. I think we better start comparing skillful people to Bezalel to increase our Bible vocabulary among God's people.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"Now Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD had commanded Moses."

Bezalel on his part has completed his work. Later on, the people would finish and Moses would approve their work and it was also approved by the Lord too!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟡:𝟜𝟚-𝟜𝟛

"So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses. And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them."

It's so nice to see the obedience of Israelites like this. They were rebellious people, but there were times they were faithful too! 👍

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟜

"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

They completed the instruction given to them and the Lord approved their work.

Short Reflection from Exodus 1-20

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:13 pm, 20/02/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them."

They dared to disobey Pharaoh because they feared God. We need God-fearing people!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock."

What a character Moses was! He always stood up for the oppressed!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟜

“"God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"”

God is a generic name. Just like man is a generic name. I am a man but I have a name. Thus, God has a name too. The name of God is "I AM," In the original language it is called "YHWH" or "Yahweh."

Yahweh is the name of God.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟙

"The LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?’"

The handicapped, physically challenged, differently abled are all created by God. No accident!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟝:𝟚𝟛

"Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."

God works differently than we suppose. But He does exceedingly abundantly than we can imagine or ask for. May we be restrained by the Spirit to not give up!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟞:𝟛𝟘

"But Moses said before the LORD, ‘Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?’"

If you feel inadequate to do the work of God, you're not alone!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟟:𝟚𝟛

"Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house with no concern even for this."

There are heart-hardened people like this Pharaoh even in our days!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟛

"I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur"

God knows whom to protect and whom to punish! Relax!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟡:𝟚𝟟-𝟚𝟠

"Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘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.’"

Some professing Christians aren't even shallow as Pharaoh! Examine your faith, if you are truly Christian!

 

[0:40 pm, 28/02/2022] S.R: —ɴᴏᴛɪғɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴs—

Today is the end of February. However, our 30 days commitment will get expired only by tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for your interest and participation.  👍🙏👏

If you choose to discontinue in the month of March, let me know, and I shall remove you peacefully! Whoever hasn't updated 60% is automatically disqualified, but should he choose to continue, he may continue so. Cool! 😎

Whoever wants a Memento (certificate) for a souvenir, let me know. [I've all the energies to issue for the interested ones and no time for the scoffers! 😎😂]

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟠-𝟚𝟡

"Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!" Moses said, "You are right; I shall never see your face again!"

Sinners in unrepentant frustration shut themselves off from God's grace by avoiding His messenger!

 

𝕋𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝟞𝟙𝕤𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟚. 𝕆𝕦𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕕 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟 (𝕄𝔸ℝℂℍ) 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕦𝕖𝕤...

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟛

"The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people."

God can even change the heart of enemies to respect and honor us as He did to the Egyptians!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟛𝟘-𝟛𝟙

"Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said."

Whether we like it or not, nobody can thwart the plan of God, His will shall be done just as Pharaoh had let the Israelites go!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟟

"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."

God knows how to deliver the Israelites from the temptations, even to let them avoid that they wouldn't be tempted. Also, Remember "The Lord's Prayer: do not lead us to temptation"

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟜

"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."

If we walk with God, He will fight for us.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟚-𝟛

"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name."

Notice the personal pronoun "my"

This great God of the Bible is my God too!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟛𝟝

"The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan."

The Providence and Provision of God!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟚

"But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set."

Aaron and Hur had their unlikely but crucial part in that battle!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said."

Moses, this great man, still humbled himself to listen to his father-in-law. That's what wise man does!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟝-𝟞

"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

God has a great purpose of His calling and a good one!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟡

"Then they said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.'"

This is the problem of sinners and ungodly people. They don't like God. They would rather have man than God. The Israelites had revealed their stiff-necked nature leading them to their damnation in the wilderness.