Numbers 5:1-6:27

August 9, 2011 in Bible Explanation, Numbers with 0 Comments

Several censuses of Israel were taken nearly one year after they were miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage by the mighty hand of God (Exodus 12:29-51).  Each census was necessary to take an account of the approximately 2 million people who comprised the nation of Israel.  The censuses helped them determine military strength (Numbers 1), encampment structure (Numbers 2), priestly organization (Numbers 3), and tabernacle transport details (Numbers 4).  Although these details may seem unimportant, the numbering of the people provided information to Moses that would assist him in leading the people into the land which God had promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3).  After numbering the people, God commands Moses to make sure they are physically as well as spiritually clean.  God specifically mentions three areas: removing ceremonially unclean persons from the camp (5:1-4), removing any hidden sins from the heart of individuals (5:5-10), and removing those in adulterous relationships (5:11-31).  Those who were diseased or had touched a corpse were considered unclean and were to be placed outside the camp (5:1-4).  The presence of God dwelling with the people demanded that they be physically clean because He could not look on that which was unclean.  There was a process of becoming clean again and those instructions are found in Leviticus 12-15.  If a personal sin was committed, confession and restitution was to be accompanied by a trespass offering before the individual’s worship was acceptable to God (5:5-10; see also Leviticus 5:14-6:7).  If a woman was accused of adultery (5:11-14), her husband was to bring her to the priest and present an offering (5:15).  The priest would then set the woman before the Lord, who would determine if the accusation of adultery was true or false (5:16).  The verdict would be revealed through a ritual where she would drink bitter water (5:17-18).  If she was not guilty, the bitter water would not harm her (5:19); however, if she was guilty, the bitter water would cause her thighs to rot and her belly to swell (5:20-22).  This probably means that she would be barren for the rest of her life.  Numbers 5:23-31 simply repeats what has already been declared in this test of adultery.

A cleansing of the camp was required to maintain purity among the people, but God also revealed how a person could consecrate himself to the Lord for a certain period of time (Numbers 6).  This act of consecration was known as a Nazirite vow (6:1-2).  This type of vow was typically made by adults who wanted to express their devotion to God and be used in service for Him.  Taking a Nazirite vow required a person to abstain from the following things: fermented drinks or things produced by the grapevine  (6:3-4), cutting his hair (6:5), and having contact with a dead body (6:6-8).  If he accidentally came in contact with a dead body, he would need to shave his head (6:9), make offerings (6:10-11).  His vow would then start all over (6:12).  When the vow was completed, he was to make offerings (6:13-17) and shave his head and his hair was to be given as an offering (6:18-21).  God also established a way for the priests to bless the people (6:22-27).  These are the words the priests could declare as a blessing over the people, “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (6:24-26).  In these two chapters of Numbers, it is very clear that God demands holiness from the people (Numbers 5), but also gives them an opportunity to consecrate themselves to Him (Numbers 6).

Dear God, may I live a life that is consecrated to You. 

End of the World – Tribulation

August 9, 2011 in End Times, Thoughts with 3 Comments

All Christians, dead and living, will be removed from earth before God pours out His wrath on those who have rejected or ignored the forgiveness offered through His Son, Jesus Christ.  This removal of all who believe (the church) is known as the rapture and is described in John 14:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55.  The only people left on earth immediately following the rapture will be individuals who have not believed in Jesus’ death for sin, burial, and resurrection.  Since these individuals rejected the offer of forgiveness and eternal life, they will experience God’s wrath.  God certainly will not judge them in a moment of anger because He has been extremely patient in awaiting their repentance (2 Peter 3:9); however, at this point, His patience will have run out and his judgment upon the unbelieving is imminent.  God’s punishment upon the unbelieving will be unleashed in a series of three judgments during this seven-year time period known as the tribulation.  Each series of judgments will include seven different forms of punishment.  The three series of judgments are known as the seven seal judgments (Revelation 6:1-8:6), seven trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:7-11:21), and seven vial judgments (Revelation 15:1-16:21).  Here is a brief description of what will happen during each series of judgments:

Seven Seal Judgments (Revelation 6:1-8:6)
1st seal – a deceitful world ruler, known as the Antichrist, will be revealed (Rev. 6:1-2)
2nd seal – worldwide war (Rev. 6:3-4)
3rd seal – famine (Rev. 6:5-6)
4th seal – death, 25% of the world’s population will die (Rev. 6:7-8)
5th seal – a cry for vengeance on the earth (Rev. 6:9-11)
6th seal – cosmic events (Rev.6:12-17)

  • A great earthquake
  • Sun turns black (probably due to the volcanic ash caused by the great earthquake)
  • Moon turns red (also due to the volcanic ash caused by the great earthquake)
  • Meteor shower and large asteroids hitting the earth
  • Sky is removed
  • Continents shift
7th seal – unveiling of 7 trumpet judgments
Seven Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8:7-11:21)
1st trumpet – one-third of trees/grass Burned (Rev.8:7)
2nd trumpet – one-third of the seas polluted (Rev. 8:8-9)
  • One-third of the sea is turned to blood
  • One-third of the sea life dies
  • One-third of the ships are destroyed (possible tidal wave)

3rd trumpet – one-third of freshwater affected (Rev. 8:10-11)
4th trumpet – one-third part of the sun, moon, stars darkened (Rev. 8:12-13)
5th trumpet – unsightly locusts will inflict painful stings on people (Rev. 9:1-12)
6th trumpet – one-third of population dies by the hands of demonic armies (Rev. 9:13-21)
7th trumpet – unveiling of the 7 vial judgments

Seven Vial Judgments (Revelation 15:1-16:21)

1st bowl – painful sores or boils (Rev. 16:1-2)
2nd bowl – sea turns to blood (Rev. 16:3)
3rd bowl – freshwater turns to blood (Rev. 16:4-7)
4th bowl – sun scorches men (Rev. 16:8-9)
5th bowl – severe darkness and pain (Rev. 16:10-11)
6th bowl Euphrates River dries up (Rev. 16:12-16)
7th bowl – earth shaken up (Rev. 16:17-21)

  • Islands will disappear into oceans
  • Mountains will be leveled
  • Hailstones (approx. 100 lbs.) will fall on the earth killing people and destroying what is left on the earth

The seven-year tribulation period may seem very confusing because there is so much happening during that time, but it is important to remember that there are only two opposing characters in this war – God and Satan.  Satan is still trying to deceive people on earth during the tribulation and he does this by using a world leader known as the Antichrist.  Many will be deceived into thinking that the Antichrist is the Messiah; however, there will be some who reject him as the Messiah but they will ultimately be martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:14).  Specifically, God will seal 144,000 Jews to go throughout the earth to preach salvation and a great multitude of people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues will receive forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:1-10).  This means that people will be converted during the tribulation period, but they will probably experience death by the hands of the Antichrist.

Why is it important to discuss the details of the tribulation?  I believe there are two reasons.  First, the coming judgments should be a warning to all those who reject or ignore Jesus Christ.  At the current point in history, God’s patience has not run out and there is still hope for every person to be forgiven.  Secondly, the coming judgments should motivate Christians to talk with the unbelieving about the forgiveness offered through Christ.

Sometimes it helps to see the timeline of these major events that comprise the end of the world, so here is the chart we have been using:

This series, End of the World, includes the following posts:

End of the World
End of the World – Rapture
End of the World – Tribulation
End of the World – Millennial Reign of Christ
End of the World – Eternity

Numbers 4:1-49

August 8, 2011 in Bible Explanation, Numbers with 2 Comments

A census was taken of all males twenty years old and older in order to determine the military strength of Israel as they would soon battle the people occupying the land of Canaan that God had promised to them (Numbers 1).  The census revealed that there were 603,550 eligible men to fight against the Canaanites (1:44-46).  Along with numbering the soldiers, the Lord also commanded that each tribe (identified by a unique banner) be situated around the tabernacle of meeting when Israel was encamped at a certain location (Numbers 2).  Placing the tribes in an organized fashion while they marched and camped would provide efficiency and structure in such a large group of people, which may have been approximately two million at this point in Israel’s history (2:1-2).  The only tribe not numbered with the soldiers or given a specific location around the tabernacle was the tribe of Levi because God had set them aside to perform the duties in the tabernacle (Numbers 3).  A census of all males in the tribe of Levi one month old and above was taken to determine how many would be available to serve in the tabernacle (3:14-16).  Levi had three sons – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Each of Levi’s sons and their families would serve a specific purpose in moving the tabernacle as Israel journeyed from one camp to the next; therefore, God commanded Moses to take a census of all the men 30-50 years of age in tribe of Levi.  The sons of Kohath (see also Numbers 3:27-32) were responsible for transporting the holy objects in the tabernacle only after they had been covered by Aaron and his sons (4:1-20).  If any son of Kohath touched or looked upon a holy object before it had been covered by the sons of Aaron, they would die (4:15, 20).  The census revealed that there were 2,750 sons of Kohath eligible for this responsibility (4:34-37).  The sons of Gershon (see also Numbers 3:21-26) were responsible for transporting the coverings of the tabernacle (4:21-28).  The census revealed that there were 2,630 sons of Gershon eligible for this responsibility (4:38-41).  The sons of Merari (see also Numbers 3:33-37) were responsible for transporting the wooden framework of the tabernacle (4:29-33).  The census revealed that there were 3,200 sons of Merari eligible for this responsibility (4:42-45).  The total number of Levites available for transporting the parts of the tabernacle was 8,580 men 30-50 years old (4:46-49).  All of the people had their own unique responsibility in transporting the pieces of the tabernacle when Israel traveled from one place to the next.  Organizing these details would provide structure for the nation of Israel and allow them to quickly move nearly two million from one campsite to another without chaos.  Numbering all these groups and people may seem tedious, but God was teaching Israel about the importance of relying on His plan for their own protection and provision.

Dear God, help me to be responsible in the duties you have given me so that I can work together with others. 

End of the World – Rapture

August 8, 2011 in End Times, Thoughts with 3 Comments

Before Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind, He spoke to His disciples and told them He would be leaving (John 13:31-35).  The disciples reacted with worry but Jesus calmed their fears saying, “I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).  Jesus informs His disciples that He is departing to prepare a place in heaven for them, which they would inhabit when He returned for them.  The event Jesus was referring to is known as the rapture, an unknown time when Jesus will appear in the clouds and receive all those who have believed in Him into heaven.  The church is awaiting the rapture as the next event on God’s timeline of prophetic history and it will set it motion the end times.

Paul described the details surrounding the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  As one of the earliest writings of the New Testament (AD 51-52), Paul provides instructions to the early Christians regarding the rapture of the church. The church at Thessalonica had some misunderstandings concerning those who had died prior to Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  They apparently thought that dead Christians would miss this event because they were no longer alive, but Paul wrote to correct their thinking and fully explain the “mystery” of the rapture.  Paul makes it clear that anyone, dead or alive, who believes in Jesus’ death for sin and resurrection will experience the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:14).  If any person believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth that Jesus’ death paid for sin and that His resurrection guaranteed that they will live again, the rapture will become a reality for them (John 3:16, 36; Romans 10:9-13).  Paul then reveals what will occur during the rapture.

  • First, Jesus Christ will appear in the clouds and a trumpet will sound, which will be the call for believers to ascend to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16a).
  • Second, the bodies of dead Christians (whose spirits are already in the presence of God) will come out of their graves and begin their ascension to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16b).
  • Third, the bodies of living Christians will then be “caught up” with the bodies of the dead in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17a).  The word rapture never appears in Scripture, but it is a Latin word which is related to the words “caught up.”
  • Although Paul does not mention it here, the fourth happening during the rapture is that the bodies of both the living and dead believers will be changed instantaneously (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).  New bodies are necessary so that Christians will be able to survive in a heavenly environment.
  • Last, the rapture of believers will begin their unending dwelling in the presence of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17b).

Although this will be a great time of joy for those who have believed in Jesus’ death for sin, it will also be a time of great sorrow for those left on the earth because they will soon experience the seven-year tribulation period.  The tribulation will be a time when God will pour out His wrath on those who have rejected the forgiveness provided through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Many people ask, “If Jesus is going to return, what is taking Him so long?”  The answer is found in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”  God delays His return in order to give people time to repent of their sin.  The only punishment for sin is death and Jesus took that penalty upon Himself when He gave His life in place of the sinner (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Any person can be forgiven when he puts his faith in the death of Jesus Christ for sin.

Have put your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin?

This series, End of the World, includes the following posts:
End of the World
End of the World – Rapture
End of the World – Tribulation
End of the World – Millennial Reign of Christ
End of the World – Eternity

In case you missed it yesterday, here is the timeline we are using for this series of posts:

End of the World

August 7, 2011 in End Times, Thoughts with 1 Comment

The end of the world has been a topic that has captured the attention of thousands, if not millions, of people for many centuries.  I must admit that it is also a subject that has intrigued me for years, but so much misinformation and misunderstanding has resulted in lots of confusion inside and outside the church.  Even after reading and studying the book of Revelation, I certainly don’t have all the answers concerning the end times, but I would like to make an attempt to simplify the major events that will characterize the end of the world.  These series of posts are not meant to be an exhaustive study, but a very basic one that focuses on the event rather than all the details.  If you desire a detailed study of the book of Revelation, I wrote out all my thoughts and you can view/download them here.  Before I begin, I would also like to admit that there are varying opinions regarding the timeline of events referred to as the end times; therefore, my purpose is not to spark a debate, but simply spark our thinking about the eventual end to our world.  You have every right to disagree with me, but I will not argue with you.

In my opinion, there are FOUR major events that characterize the end times: the rapture, the tribulation, the millennial reign of Christ, and eternity (heaven or hell).  Maybe these terms are not familiar to you, so let me provide a brief description of each for future reference.

Rapture (instantaneous) – Jesus Christ, God’s Son, will suddenly appear in the clouds at an unknown time (this event should not be confused with the second coming of Christ, which occurs following the seven-year tribulation period).  All those on earth who have believed in Jesus’ death for sin, burial, and resurrection will be removed from earth and taken to heaven.  During their transport to heaven, their bodies will be transformed into ones suited to live in heaven.  But those who have either rejected or ignored Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin will be left on earth to experience the tribulation period.  The major Scriptures teaching about the rapture are 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Tribulation (lasts seven years) – Following the removal of Christians from the earth, God will pour out His wrath on all who have rejected or ignored the forgiveness of sin that was offered through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Natural and supernatural disasters will be instruments of God’s wrath on the unbelieving world. This part of future history includes characters such as the anti-christ, the false prophet, the two witnesses, and the 144,000 witnesses.  This time of  judgment will last seven years and the primary Scripture that teaches about the tribulation period is Revelation 4-16.

Millennial Reign of Christ (lasts 1,000 years) –  At the conclusion of the seven-year tribulation period, Christ will return to the earth (known as the second coming of Christ) with those who have believed in Him and He will set up a righteous rule for 1,000 years.  Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for the duration of Christ’s reign on earth.  His kingdom will exemplify a perfect environment of peace and righteousness.  The major Scriptures used to teach concerning the Millennial Reign are Revelation 20:4-6 as well as some prophetic Old Testament passages.

Eternity (lasts forever)-  After the millennial reign of Christ has been completed, the unbelieving dead from all ages will stand before God and be cast into the lake of fire as their final judgment.  Those who have rejected or ignored Christ’s death for sin, burial, and resurrection will spend forever in hell.  The major Scripture teaching about unbelievers being cast into hell is Revelation 20:14-15.  In contrast to those who have rejected Christ, all those who believe will spend forever in the presence of God.  The major Scripture describing heaven is Revelation 21-22.

I do not believe that anyone knows the timing of these events but once the rapture occurs, the rest of the events will be set in motion.  In case you are completely confused at this point, here is a chart that will provide a reference for our end of the world timeline.  It’s nothing fancy, but it will be helpful for the future.

This series, End of the World, includes the following posts:
End of the World
End of the World – Rapture
End of the World – Tribulation
End of the World – Millennial Reign of Christ
End of the World – Eternity

Panic at the Restroom

August 5, 2011 in Funny Stories, True Stories with 0 Comments

This morning at the gym I watched the funniest thing happen.  A young girl, oblivious to the rest of the world, walked into the gym and she was texting on her phone.  She wasn’t just texting, she was in the texting zone!    There’s a big difference.  I’m sure you’ve seen those type of people…or maybe you are guilty of being in the texting zone?  Instead of beginning her workout immediately, she decided to hit the locker room first; however, as she took a step into what she thought was the women’s locker room, she quickly snapped out of the zone.  The girl looked up from her phone, stepped back out of the locker room, and checked the sign on the door.  A sigh of relief came over her as she realized that she was, in fact, in the right place – the women’s locker room.  There’s nothing like the feeling of possibly being in a place where you do not belong.

I could sympathize with her moment of uncertainty.  The other day I used the bathroom in a restaurant where they labeled the restrooms with pictures instead of words.  Some people may think that this is a great idea, but I am convinced that it is an irresponsible design element.  I’d rather plainly see “Men” or “Women” on the door instead of forcing my non-artistic mind to guess weather a cutesy little picture on the door is a man or woman.  The bathroom is not the place to mess with labels!  Luckily, I chose the right restroom solely based on the hairstyle on the label.

As I said before, there’s nothing like the feeling of possibly being in a place where you do not belong.  Before walking through the door, you had better make sure that you are headed in the right direction.

I’m So Ashamed of Myself…

August 4, 2011 in Failure, Forgiveness, Thoughts with 2 Comments

If I have confessed my past sins to God and if I have sought reconciliation with the people from my past, then why can’t I forgive myself?  It’s a valid question since, in my opinion, people have an easier time receiving God’s forgiveness than they do forgiving themselves.  Maybe it’s because we still live with the consequences of our sin or maybe it results from being disappointed in ourselves.  I’m not sure if I have all the answers.  What makes matters worse is that the Bible never speaks concerning “forgiving yourself,” so the follower doesn’t really have a reference point…or do they?  Although the Bible never specifically mentions forgiving ourselves, the Bible provides numerous examples of people who moved on with their lives after a shameful event.  The past is the past and will never change no matter how much you beat yourself up.  If you grieve every single day of your life for the sins of your past, it still won’t change what has already been done.  Please listen to me.  It’s time to move on.  You cannot change the past, but you can change today and tomorrow and the next day if God grants you life.

  • Adam and Eve were responsible for bringing sin upon the whole human race (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12).
  • Noah brought shame on his family when he got drunk and naked in his tent (Genesis 9:18-29).
  • Sarah suggested that her husband, Abraham, have sex with her servant (and he did) so that they could have a child (Genesis 16).
  • Moses murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15) and later in his life objected to God’s will (Exodus 3-4).
  • Israel, God’s chosen people, repeatedly turned their back on God and worshiped other gods (too many occurrences to list here).
  • David, king of Israel, committed adultery and conspired in the murder of her husband (2 Samuel 11-12).
  • Solomon had it all, but still wasn’t satisfied (Ecclesiastes).
  • Hosea, one of God’s prophets to Israel, was married to a woman who became a prostitute (Hosea).
  • Jonah refused to obey God and later pouted because God allowed Gentiles to be forgiven (Jonah).
  • All of Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him during the hardest time in His life (Matthew 26:56).
  • Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, denied that he even knew Him (Matthew 26:69-75).
  • Saul, who later became Paul, persecuted and probably even killed Christians (Acts 8:1-3).

These characters in the Bible did some very shameful things, but they all had one thing in common – they chose to move on.  In no way am I excusing their sins, but they had no choice but to move forward with their life.  My advice to you is the same.  Confess your sin to God.  Reconcile with others.  Move on.  I know you are ashamed of what you have done, but it will be more shameful if you choose to waste the rest of your life wishing to change the past.

Forget the past so you can free yourself for the future.

Posts in this series, Erasing the Past:
Something I’d Rather Forget
A Big ‘If’
Are You Ready To Do This?
I’m So Ashamed of Myself…

Numbers 3:1-51

August 3, 2011 in Bible Explanation, Numbers with 2 Comments

The nation of Israel was encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai one year following their exodus from Egyptian bondage.  During that year they had received the Law of God (Exodus 19-24; Leviticus) as well as constructed the tabernacle (Exodus 25-40).  Now they were poised to enter Canaan, the land God had promised to give to the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), but God needed to bring some organization and structure to the people.  At this time in Israel’s history their population was approximately two million people.  In order to conquer the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, Israel would first need to determine how many men were capable of going to battle.  In Numbers 1 a census was taken and it was discovered that there were 603,550 men 20 years or older who were ready for battle (2:32); however, there was one tribe of Israel that was not accounted for in this particular census.  Aaron, his descendants, and the tribe of Levi had been set aside to perform the duties of the tabernacle; therefore, they were not eligible for military service.  Aaron had four sons who became the priests of Israel, but two of them disobeyed (Nadab and Abihu; Leviticus 10:1-7) which left Eleazar and Ithamar to carry on the role of the priests (3:1-4).

After the events of Numbers 1-2, God spoke to Moses and asked him to bring the tribe of Levi before Him (3:5-6).  He then proclaimed them as the ones who would assist Aaron in doing the work of the tabernacle (3:7-13).  The tribe of Levi had been taken from all the tribes of Israel and given the priestly duties of the tabernacle.  It is important to understand that of all the tribe of Levi, only the sons of Aaron were to serve as priests.  This meant that they were the only ones who could offer sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7).  The rest of the tribe of Levi would assist the priests in the duties of the tabernacle (3:7-9).  God then commanded Moses to take a census of all males in the tribe of Levi one month old and above (3:14-16).  Levi had three sons – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – and a count was taken of all the male descendants (3:17-20).  Here is the information regarding each son’s descendants:

Gershon (3:21-26)
Male Population: 7,500 (3:22)
Camp Placement:  Behind the tabernacle on the west side (3:23)
Leader of the House: Eliasaph (3:24)
Duties: Responsible for the coverings of the tabernacle (3:25-26)

Kohath (3:27-32)
Male Population:  8,600 (3:28)
Camp Placement:  south side of the tabernacle (3:29)
Leader of the House: Elizaphan (3:30), Eleazar was to be over all the Levites (3:32)
Duties: Responsible for the holy objects in the tabernacle (3:31)

Merari (3:33-37)
Male Population:  6,200 (3:34)
Camp Placement:  north side of the tabernacle (3:35)
Duties: Responsible for the wooden framework of the tabernacle (3:36-37)

Moses, Aaron, and his sons would camp on the east side of the tabernacle and be responsible for “keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel” (3:38).  After the census was completed, the number of male Levites one month and above was 22,000 (3:39).  ”Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.  The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the Lord. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel’” (3:40-41, NLT).  God had spared the firstborn of every family in Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:1-28) , so now He demanded the Levites be consecrated to Him as a form of compensation; however, instead of putting them to death, their lives would be spent in service to God.  The census of the firstborn males one month and above in all of Israel revealed that there were 22,273 (3:42-43).  The Lord then spoke to Moses saying, “Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord” (3:45).  Since there were 273 more firstborn in all of Israel than were in the tribe of Levi, five shekels were required for each individual, which was a total of 1,365 shekels (3:46-50).  Moses took the money and gave it to Aaron and his sons as redemption of the 273 extra males in Israel (3:51).  Even though these details seem insignificant to us, God was helping Moses take an account of the nation of Israel.  The military capability (Numbers 1), the encampment structure (Numbers 2), and now the priestly assignments had been designated (Numbers 3).  God was preparing the Israelites to enter the land that had been promised to them.

Dear God, help me to be alert to the details of today so that I might be prepared for what tomorrow may bring. 

Are You Ready To Do This?

August 3, 2011 in Forgiveness, Thoughts with 2 Comments

IF you confess, God will forgive.  Does the past end here?  The answer is yes and no.  When a part of your past is a private matter, the past is erased; however, when a shameful part of your past involves another person, there must be an attempt at restoring that relationship.  Making things right with God is the first step, but making things right with others is the next step.  I will go as far to say that you cannot properly worship God until you have attempted to reconcile with an enemy.  Maybe you believe my statement to be extreme, so I would like to show you the words of Jesus regarding this matter.  Matthew 5:23-24 says, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”    Jesus’ teaching is very clear.  Worship of God is unacceptable until an attempt to resolve conflict with someone else has been made.  Did you leave your last job with unresolved issues?  Have you refused to speak with a family member because of a past argument?  Did your relationship end on a sour note?  If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes,’ the past cannot be erased until you make an honest effort to reconcile.  I’m sure you can think of numerous reasons NOT to reconcile but according to the words of Scripture, you have a responsibility to make it right.  Unresolved conflict with another person will always be a part of your past until you have sought restoration.  There is no way to sidestep this requirement.

You may be asking, “What if I go to that person and they refuse to forgive me?”  This a great and honest question.  I believe that when you approach another individual with the right heart attitude and they reject you, the responsibility now rests with them.  You cannot force someone to reconcile.  The situation must then be entrusted to God so He can be free to work in their heart.

There will never be an easy time to make amends, but it is a necessary step in erasing the past.

Are you ready to do this?  Make the phone call.  Write the letter.  Schedule a conversation over coffee.

Posts in this series, Erasing the Past:
Something I’d Rather Forget
A Big ‘If’
Are You Ready To Do This?
I’m So Ashamed of Myself…

Numbers 1:1-2:34

August 2, 2011 in Bible Explanation, Numbers with 5 Comments

God had given the Law to Moses (Exodus 19-24; Leviticus) and the people of Israel while they were encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai.  The giving of the Law would govern the people in their relationships with God and others as well as provide structure to the nation of Israel when they inhabited the land of Canaan.  Without the giving of the Law, chaos would prevail in the land they would soon inherit.  After the Law was given, the tabernacle was completed and would become the center of worship for Israel because it was the dwelling place of God (Exodus 25-40).  Now the only thing that was missing is Israel inhabiting Canaan, the land God had promised to the descendants of Abraham (Exodus 12:1-3).  Dwelling in the land of Canaan would not be such an easy endeavor since Israel would have to fight against the people already occupying the land.  In order to overtake the land, Israel would need to take a census of all males twenty years old or older who were capable of going to battle against the Canaanites.  God commanded Moses to gather a man from each tribe of Israel (listed in Numbers 1:5-19) in order to help him tally the number of available soldiers (1:1-4).  The census yielded the following numbers from each tribe:

Reuben – 46,500 (1:21)
Simeon – 59,300 (1:22-23)
Gad – 45,650 (1:24-25)
Judah – 74,600 (1:26-27)
Issachar – 54,400 (1:28-29)
Zebulun – 57,400 (1:30-31)
Ephraim, son of Joseph – 40,500 (1:32-33)
Manasseh, son of Joseph – 32,200 (1:34-35)
Benjamin – 35,400 (1:36-37)
Dan – 62,700 (1:38-39)
Asher – 41,500 (1:40-41)
Naphtali – 53,400 (1:42-43)

The total number of soldiers capable of going to battle against the Canaanites was 603,550 (1:44-46).  Military service was not required for the tribe of Levi because they were to maintain the duties of the tabernacle; therefore, the number of Levities was not included here (1:47-54).  Along with numbering the soldiers, the Lord also commanded that each tribe (identified by a unique banner) be situated around the tabernacle of meeting when Israel was encamped at a location (Numbers 2).  Placing the tribes in an organized fashion while they marched and camped would provide efficiency and structure in such a large group of people, which may have been approximately two million at this point in Israel’s history (2:1-2).  Here is an explanation of how the tribes were to be placed around the tabernacle:

East Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:3-9)
Judah (Nahshon son of Amminadab) – 74,600 (2:3-4)
Issachar (Nethanel son of Zuar) – 54,400 (2:5-6)
Zebulun (Eliab son of Helon) – 57,400 (2:7-8)
Total: 186,400 (2:9)

South Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:10-17)
Reuben (Elizur son of Shedeur) – 46,500 (2:10-11)
Simeon (Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai) – 59,300 (2:12-13)
Gad (Eliasaph son of Deuelt) – 45,650 (2:14-15)
Total: 151,450 (2:16-17)

West Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:18-24)
Ephraim (Elishama son of Ammihud) – 40,500 (2:18-19)
Manasseh (Gamaliel son of Pedahzur) – 32,200 (2:20-21)
Benjamin (Abidan son of Gideoni) – 35,400 (2:22-23)
Total: 108,100 (2:24)

North Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:25-31)
Dan (Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai) – 62,700 (2:25-26)
Asher (Pagiel son of Ocran) – 41,500 (2:27-28)
Naphtali (Ahira son of Enan) – 53,400 (2:29-30)
Total: 157,600 (2:31)

Again, the total of all the soldiers listed in this arrangement is 603,550 (2:32); however, the Levities were not numbered because they were exempt from military service (2:33).  ”So the people of Israel did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses.  Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them” (2:34).  Although these preparations may seem insignificant, they provided organization to Israel so that they would be ready to go to war.  Tasks which seem needless to us may be the very things that God is using to prepare us for a future encounter with Him.

Dear God, may I follow You in the simple things so that I might be ready for those things ahead of me. 

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