Today’s reading: Joshua 1-2, Psalm 46

“But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” – Deuteronomy 3:28

Joshua served faithfully under the leadership of Moses and Moses took the time to teach him along the way. Moses was the mentor and Joshua was his apprentice. Moses would not be entering the Promised Land but God allowed him to be a part by investing in the future of His people — by training his successor.

Moses was now gone and Joshua heard from God firsthand, making it clear that this was his God-appointed moment – that God had called him and would be with him. He was no longer the intern; he was now the leader.

“…the time has come for you to lead…I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you…No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people…Be strong and VERY courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command – be strong and very courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:2-9

That last verse is one of my daughter’s favorite verses. She learned it at a very young age in bible quizzing and often wrote it on her mirror or spoke it out loud to remind herself of God’s words to Joshua: “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Don’t be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

My daughter was a risk-taker at a young age, loving the idea of adventure and fun, but she also has to overcome fear. I think we can all relate to those moments when we want to follow God with all our heart but it takes overcoming fear to really embrace our faith.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. – Psalm 34:4

I am guessing Joshua knows a lot about this battle between fear and faith. Fear fights our faith, weakening our resolve and attacking our confidence in the God who has promised to provide and protect. But faith is exactly what we need to overcome the power of our fear. It is a gift from God. Let’s take time to pray the words of Psalm 46.

God, I recognize this morning that you are my refuge and my strength. You are always there for me when I am in trouble or feeling troubled. Because of that, I will not fear when my world is shaken, I will not be afraid when life comes crumbling down around me. I choose to be still and know that you are God. (Psalm 46:1-2,10a)

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 31-34, Psalm 18

Today we finish up the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The last 5 weeks have given us a great opportunity to picture God’s relationship with humankind – from the Garden of Eden to crossing over into the Promised Land. God clearly laid out how to enter into a covenant relationship and what will break that covenant relationship. He has given us a choice of whether or not to follow Him. If we truly love God, obedience will flow from that love relationship and faith will grow.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, GOD IS WITH YOU.

“When you go out to fight your enemies and face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, is with you.” – Deuteronomy 20:1

Moses told the people that he would not be going with them into the promised land but that God would be with them. In fact, not only was God going WITH them, He was also going BEFORE them. As he handed leadership over to Joshua, he gave them these words of encouragement:

“Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them…Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8

Then the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.” – Deut. 31:23

The reason Moses would not be going with them into Canaan was because he did not fully obey God’s instructions. When God told him to speak to the rock to make water flow, Moses struck the rock instead. God gave Moses his own “rock song” to sing and teach the people in his last moments – a song that speaks of a different kind of ROCK.

GOD IS THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION.

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! – Deut. 32:1-4

THE LORD IS MY ROCK, MY PLACE OF SAFETY.

Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo where he could see all of Canaan to the east. The Lord showed him the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses died, just as the Lord had said he would, and the Lord buried him in a valley but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was strong and his eyesight was clear when he died. The same Moses who had argued with God when called, who questioned his own ability to be used by God, and who had a moment of trusting more in his own strength than in God’s word – this imperfect man had an intimate relationship with God like no other man had ever had.

There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. The Lord sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharoah, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. – Deut. 34:10-12

Thank you for being a personal and intimate God! Thank you for your grace and mercy that picks us up when we fall and gives us new opportunities to be used for your purposes. Father God, we praise you for your steady and faithful presence in our lives. May we see moments today when you make us strong and courageous, trusting in the Rock that goes before us and is with us. May it be said of us when we die that we had a personal relationship with the Rock of our Salvation! Amen.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety. – Psalm 18:1-2

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 27-30

“Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.” – Deuteronomy 26:16-18

LOVE & OBEDIENCE

What a great description of the covenant relationship God set up with His people. If the people would declare their obedience, not just in word but with all their heart, they would be his special treasure. Love and obedience were both necessary in this covenant relationship. If they chose love but not obedience, or if they chose obedience but not love, they were breaking their covenant with God.

God was looking for more than just token obedience – following a set of rules, doing the bare minimum required. He was looking for a wholehearted commitment. The psalmist put it beautifully when he declared, “I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32). Can you picture the path and the choice to run with vigor the path marked out ahead? God’s commands provide the boundaries for the path He calls us to walk.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers

Moses laid out for the Israelites all the blessings that would be theirs if they would FULLY obey the Lord and CAREFULLY keep all his commands. He also laid out the curses that would come and overwhelm them if they walked outside of the boundaries God’s commands had established. In fact, he spent 14 verses describing the blessings and 54 verses describing the curses.

Moses explained that this covenant relationship was for all of them standing there that day but also for future generations. Their decision today would affect the next generation and the generations to come. Someday someone will ask, “Why has the Lord done this to the land? Why was he so angry?” The answer will be because the people abandoned their covenant relationship with God. They thought they were safe and could follow the desires of their own stubborn heart (28:24-25,19). But if you return to the Lord, the Lord will have mercy and do a work in your heart. It’s your choice.

“The Lord will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” – Deuteronomy 30:10

This next passage is one of my favorites. I love how Moses lays out the choice before God’s people – the choice for life or death, for blessings or curses.

“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach…No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you LOVE and OBEY the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” – Deut. 30:11-20

Father God, thank you for loving us. Our heart’s desire is to walk in your ways and to respond in obedience. Because you have set our hearts free, our response is to joyfully run down the path of your commands. We ask for you to fill us with your Spirit and give us the strength to be fully committed to you. Help us to see the path you have laid out for us on this love journey – a path with boundaries provided to keep us in the center of your plan for our lives. Today, we choose you. We choose to love you, to obey you and to commit our lives firmly to you. We thank you for the blessings you pour out on our lives each day. You are truly amazing! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 18–26

As we read the next few chapters of Deuteronomy, we clearly see that we serve a God of compassion. The people of Israel were instructed to set aside three cities of refuge for people to escape to in case they accidentally caused another person’s death. God also set up protections for landowners and for those accused by only one person of committing a crime. He also provided a way for the foreign nations to surrender to the people Israel and live in slavery instead of being attacked and killed.

Moses went through a long list of instructions and rules. He described specific scenarios and taught the people how to respond in various situations. In all this, he wanted the people to obey out of love for God and compassion for others. He called them to have a generous mindset towards those in need.

“Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.” – Deut. 24:14-15

Remember that you were once slaves and that God rescued you from your slavery. That is why I am commanding you to be generous with those in need, as you were once in need. When you are harvesting your crop, don’t take it all for yourself but always set some aside for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do (Deut. 24:18-19).

FROM A IT’S-MINE ATTITUDE TO A HERE-YOU-GO GENEROSITY

God calls us to look at the treasures of this earth as temporary and unimportant. He knows that clinging to our earthly belongings will only bring us satisfaction for a short time, but using our earthly resources to make a difference in the lives of others will give us lasting joy. Do not look at the blessings received on earth with pride or selfishness, but turn around and offer those blessings back to the Lord. Perhaps He will do something wonderful with your earthly treasures and be glorified because of your selfless attitude.

Moses continued with expectations of generosity towards the church as well. Take all that you have harvested from the land God has given you and put some of the first produce from each crop into a basket and bring it to the place of worship – the place where the Lord your God chooses for His name to be honored. In thanksgiving for all God has done for you, bring the first portion of the harvest to God. Then you may go and celebrate all of the good things the Lord your God has given to you and to your household (Deut. 26:2,10-11, 13).

Just as Moses was calling God’s people to a spirit of generosity towards the church (Levites) and the less fortunate, God is calling us to share freely with the church and those in need. He cries out for us to listen to His voice and keep all His commands, doing what pleases Him instead of what pleases others.

Father God, give us a heart of compassion for those in need and a spirit of generosity towards others. Help us to respond in obedience when you call us to let go of all you have blessed us with for the sake of your kingdom. Take away our tendency to claim what we possess and replace it with the desire to claim that all we own is yours.

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. – Deuteronomy 15:10

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 12–17

Have you ever sliced a pie and then eyed the piece you want for yourself? Have you ever looked at the cake and thought – I want the piece with the most icing? Have you ever rushed to the front of the potluck line to get your pick of the food before the best is gone? Have you ever had a “me first” attitude, or an “every man for himself” spirit?

FROM A ME-FIRST MENTALITY TO A GOD-FIRST PASSION

In Deuteronomy, we can see that God is calling His people from a “me first” mentality to a “God first” passion. The words of Moses to God’s people as they were entering the Promised Land hold great advice for us today. By studying Moses’ instructions to the Israelites, we increase our understanding of the holiness to which God has called us. Moses starts by calling God’s people to obedience and love.

“Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 12:28

Do not follow the example of the world and its ways; do not follow their customs or inquire about their gods. You have been set apart as holy and God has chosen you as His own special treasure (14:2,21b). There will be those who will try to lead you away from your walk with God. They will try to talk you out of doing all that the Lord your God has commanded you to do. Do not give in or listen to them.

“The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” – Deut. 13:3b-4

And here is Moses’ advice to those in leadership – to the king or the one the Lord chooses to lead His people: Do not store up wealth for yourself. Do not build up a large stable of horses for yourself or take many wives for yourself, or accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold.

FROM A MORE-STUFF LIFESTYLE TO A MORE-GOD PURSUIT

Your focus should be on God’s word. Keep a copy with you and read it daily as long as you live. Then you will learn to fear the Lord by obeying all His instructions and decrees. This regular reading of God’s word will prevent you from becoming proud and acting as if you are above those God has given you the privilege of leading (Deut. 17:15-20).

In fact, it is your responsibility to take care of the church and of those who are less fortunate – the poor, the widows, the orphans and the foreigners. If you truly love the God you are serving, you will serve those He calls you to serve – sharing your blessings with those in need.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” – Deut. 15:10-11

So, before you slice the pie and enjoy what God has blessed you with, give God His portion and share generously with those in need. Then you can enjoy what God has given you.

Father God, thank you for your words of wisdom for us today. As we sit in your presence and drink from your cup, fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity that we may think of others more than we think of ourselves. May our love for you increase and pour out toward others. Whatever you have called us to do, whatever land you have laid out before us, remind us that our calling is still about you and not about us. Lord, we love you and it is our heart’s cry to obey and please you in all that we do. We give today to you, recognizing that this day was first given to us by you. Show us the needs of those around us and give us opportunities today to bless others with the blessings you have given us.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 9–11

It is because of God’s grace that the people of Israel experienced victory over their enemies, not because of their own righteousness. It is because of God’s undeserved favor in our lives that we experience His blessings, not because of anything we have done to earn His love. I am overwhelmed with gratitude this morning that God crosses over ahead of us, that He allows us to experience His presence, that He sets out a road for us to follow. I will choose to love Him, serve Him and obey Him.

“..But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire…Don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No…it is not because you are so good or have such integrity…You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this land because you are good, for you are not – you are a stubborn people.” – Deut. 9:3-6

So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.

Look around you: Everything you see is God’s—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; he picked their children—that’s you!—out of all the other peoples. That’s where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome. He doesn’t play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing.

You must treat foreigners with the same loving care—
remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
Reverently respect God, your God, serve him, hold tight to him, back up your promises with the authority of his name.
He’s your praise! He’s your God!
He did all these tremendous, these staggering things
that you saw with your own eyes.
When your ancestors entered Egypt, they numbered a mere seventy souls. And now look at you—you look more like the stars in the night skies in number. And your God did it. – Deuteronomy 10:12-17 (The Message)

Father God, I cannot help but laugh out loud at your goodness! My heart is overflowing with all you have done! Thank you for being a generous God, even when we fail and struggle. Lord, thank you for the privilege to be called to holiness, to be set apart for your glory and for your excellence. We feast in your presence this morning as we rejoice in all you have accomplished! Fill us with your strength and your righteousness today, we pray.

Lord, we take this time to pray for our country. We know we are not a nation that deserves your blessings. Please forgive us for our hardheadedness and cut away our thick calluses. Help us to find a balance between protecting our freedoms and protecting our country. Help us to always be a refuge for those in need, to be compassionate towards ALL people. You are a God immense and powerful and awesome, taking loving care of all your children. Give us hearts that extend that same love to one another, treating foreigners with the same loving care we receive from you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 6-8, Psalm 77

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves WHOLEHEARTEDLY to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Moses continued his farewell speech to the Israelites by encouraging them to remember how the Lord had rescued them. He told them to fear the Lord and serve Him only, for God is a jealous God and He desires for us to DILIGENTLY obey the His commands. He calls us to do what is right and good in His sight so that all will go well with us (Deut. 6:18).

Each January, our administrative team meets to look back over the past year. Together we remember ALL that God has done and all HE has accomplished. We celebrate God’s generosity and His grace over the ministry to which He has called us. We then look forward to the new year, asking God for His guidance and His blessing. We long to see His vision for this ministry – His plan in His time.

My husband and I are about to go through a new stage of life as our youngest leaves for college in the fall. As we reflect on the last 21 years of raising our three daughters, we see decisions we can feel really good about and also moments we would choose to do over if we could. Thankfully there are more memories to celebrate and less to regret.

Perhaps you have gone through this same process at the beginning of a new year or at the start of a new stage of your life. Perhaps you felt like the Israelites as they saw the mistakes they had made and the consequences of their decisions. There are probably moments to celebrate and memories to regret. Looking forward to what is ahead might have felt like getting a blank slate or a chance to start a new chapter of your life. God gives us moments like these to purposefully stand between what He has done for us and what He promises to do in the coming years — looking back and looking forward while praising God for every moment.

Moses was having a similar moment with God’s people as they stood between the wilderness and the promised land, looking back and looking forward. He told them their children would ask – Why do we do what we do? Why do we follow these traditions and rules? LET THEM HEAR THE STORIES. Make them aware of where God has brought us from and that we will be counted as righteous when we obey all God’s commands (Deut. 6:20-25).

“…Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure… Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.” – Deut. 7:6-10

You have seen it with your own eyes! God has led you — sometimes humbling you, sometimes testing you, but all the time teaching you. He has provided in order to teach you that people do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes have not worn out; your journey has been long but your feet are neither blistered nor swollen. Now praise the Lord for this good land He has given you. In the midst of your plenty, do not become proud and forget the source of all blessings. Don’t think you have achieved anything by your own strength and energy but remember that it is the Lord who gives you the power to be successful (Deut. 8).

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles;…
The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. – Psalm 77:10-20

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 1-5

Have you ever anticipated something for a long time? Then you get to that moment and someone makes you pause for a moment of reflection. Have you felt the anticipation of what is about to happen and the anxiety of something delaying that moment you have been waiting for? It’s Christmas morning, but wait — the Christmas story hasn’t been read yet. You have arrived at the amusement park and you can hear others on the roller coaster, but wait — time to pose for a picture. You are finally at the beach, but wait — you have to let your sunscreen dry before you run into the waves!

I wonder if this is what the Israelites were feeling as they stood between the desert they had wandered in for so long and the beautiful Promised Land of Canaan. The time had finally come, but Moses took the time to address the people he had led this far. What could have taken eleven days had taken forty years due to the Israelites disobedience. Moses reminded the people of what God had done for them and of the covenant relationship He had entered into with His people.

PAUSE AND REMEMBER.

The majority of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last speech to the Israelites before handing leadership over to Joshua. He looked back over his time with God’s people, reminding them of God’s faithfulness to them through some of the hardest times. He intentionally reminded them of the last time God said to go into the Promised Land and take possession of it.

Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. – Deuteronomy 1:29-33

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has WATCHED OVER your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has BEEN WITH YOU and you have not lacked anything. – Deuteronomy 2:7

DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember…” Deuteronomy 4:9-10a

There will be tough times ahead of you, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

Moses’ strong desire was that history would not repeat itself – that Israel would learn from their past mistakes and move forward in righteousness and faithfulness to their covenant relationship with God. He reminded them of the 10 Commandments and then gave them this very wise advice:

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” – Deuteronomy 4:39

“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” – Deuteronomy 5:32-33

NOTICE YOU HAVE LACKED FOR NOTHING.

Dear God, we thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the times in our lives when you have carried us as a father carries his child. We praise you for those times when you have made us pause – when you have gone ahead of us in our journey, preparing the way and directing us down the right path. Your plan has never been for us to fear but always for us to trust in your provision. Thank you for watching over us, for remaining with us even when we struggled to trust you, and for your provision.

Abba Father, we thank you for being a God who is there for us — a God we find every time we seek you with all our heart and with all our soul. Lord, we patiently wait in anticipation of what you have next for us. Give us courage through the unknowns and patience in the waiting. We choose to walk in your way today, to remain in a covenant relationship with you. Guide us into your perfect plan, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Numbers 28-36, John 2:13-17

The next few chapters describe the many offerings God asked His people to make, and the timing of each of those offerings. Each offering had a purpose and came with detailed instructions. These sacrificial moments were described as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (28:2, 29:8). He then expressed to them the importance of keeping any vow or promise made.

“This is what the Lord has commanded: A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.” – Numbers 30:2

If you say you are going to do something, you should do it. If you commit yourself to something, you should faithfully follow through on your commitment. Obedience to God is expected and sacrificial living is like a pleasing aroma to Him.

The Israelite people were fickle and lacked the integrity God was calling them to. As they settled into the land of Canaan, there were Midianites living in the area (descendants of Abraham from his wife Keturah). The Israelites were strongly influenced by the Midianites, having sex with their women and participating in the worship of idols. This brought about a plague on God’s people.

We cannot be indifferent to the sinful world around us. If God calls us to make a change in our life, we must do it. If He reveals in us a sinful attitude or a temptation that is pulling us away from him, we must rid ourselves of all that is causing us to drift away from him. We must keep our promise to the Lord and make sure nothing becomes more important than living out our faith in Him.

God gave Moses one more mission – to lead the people of Israel in a battle against the Midianites. The army was successful in winning the battle but they compromised by bringing back the women and children along with the plunder. They held onto that which had caused them to sin in the first place – the sexual relationships with those who did not believe in God. The Lord had plans to bless His people but they were not fully following His instructions.

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” – John 2:13-16

What have we allowed into our lives that is causing us to slowly drift away from God? What is causing our hearts to be unfaithful to the One we have committed our lives to? Is there anything we have made room for in our lives that needs driven out in order to serve God with integrity and purity?

Lord, thank you for being a holy God who cares to have a relationship with us. Reveal in us all we have let slip into our lives, drawing our attention away from you. Cleanse us from the impurities of this world and the desire for earthly gain, so that our lives can be a pleasing aroma to you and to those in need of salvation. May our love for you be displayed in our lives with integrity and obedience. Amen.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Today’s Reading: Numbers 23-27

God had a purpose for Balaam – a place he needed him to be. Because Balaam responded in obedience when God blocked his way, God was able to use him in this next story.

AVOIDING ROAMING CHARGES

After forty years of wandering around in the wilderness, the Israelites were finally making their way toward the promised land of Canaan. When they came to the edge of the land occupied by the Amorites, they sent a message to the king asking for permission to travel through their land on their way to Canaan. They promised to stay out of the fields and vineyards, staying only on the King’s road and refraining from drinking from any of the wells.

The King of the Amorites refused to be generous with God’s people and instead mobilized an army to attack the people of Israel. The King obviously UNDERESTIMATED THE POWER OF GOD. The Israelites slaughtered the army sent by King Sihon and occupied the land. They moved on to Jazer and then marched up the road to Bashan, where King Og was waiting to attack them.

The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I HAVE HANDED HIM OVER TO YOU, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who rules in Heshbon.” And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land. – Numbers 21:34-35

Now King Balak of Moab saw everything that happened and watched the Israelites camp across the river from Jericho. He sent for Balaam, offering him money to curse the people of Israel. Unlike King Sihon, Balaam understood the power of the Israelite’s God and replied:

Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God (Numbers 22:18). After hearing from the Lord, Balaam traveled to King Balak but warned him, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth” (Numbers 22:38).

SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL

Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal, built altars and made sacrifices in hopes that Balaam would curse Israel. Balaam went alone to the top of the hill and God met him there, giving Balaam the words to say and the message to give – a message blessing Israel instead of cursing them. Frustrated, Balak took Balaam to another place overlooking the Israelites. Balak asked Balaam to at least curse some of the Israelites if he couldn’t curse all of them. They built more altars and offered more sacrifices. God commanded Balaam again to bless the people of Israel.

“Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor. God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!…” – Numbers 23:18-20

Balak took Balaam to a third place, hoping it would please God to curse the Israelites from there. God again blessed His people and Balak flew into a rage. God gave Balaam a final message for King Balak. Not only would He bless and not curse the people of Israel, He would use Israel to crush and destroy the nation of Moab.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

I wonder if we ever communicate with God in the same way that King Balak did. Like moving from place to place to get better cell phone reception, do we refuse to listen to God’s first reply to us and continue to manipulate our circumstances to get a different result? “Can you hear me now?” When God gives us clear instructions, do we stall and try other methods to get what we want instead of obeying and accepting His plan?

God, this morning we have gone alone to our mountaintop and you have met us there. Show us your plan and give us direction, giving us also the strength to accept your will. Reveal if there is anything you have told us to do and we have ignored it, hoping for a different message next time we hear from you. Forgive us for manipulating our situation instead of submitting to your Lordship. God, may our heart’s desire to please and serve you be stronger than our own selfish desires. We love you, Lord. Amen.