Numbers 9-12

Hollywood and the media portray Moses as a great leader. if we look closely we see he was more of a representative who listened and followed God’s instruction. Several times in the book of numbers we read that God spoke and the people acted. He told them when to pick up and move and when to stop and stay. It was when they did not listen and resorted to their own idea of what was needed that they got into trouble.

How often do we fall into the same trap of listening to our own desires instead of waiting on God to give us insight on where He wants us to go? It’s easy when God’s plan aligns with ours, but when we are challenged it gets tough to accept that His ways are greater than our ways.

Several of God’s character traits are shown as the people of Israel sought the Promised Land. the one that stands out, and is key to being able to follow, is to remember that God Speaks, and we need to listen.

Numbers 6:24-26

The book of Numbers provides some detail on the 11 day journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, that took 40 years! God offered blessings to His people through the trials, but they still managed to go their own way, and suffered the effects of their disobedience and mistrust.

How do we handle the blessings in our own lives today? Do we wake up each day thanking God for what he has done for us, especially how He sent Jesus to be a sacrifice for our lives. Do we look at how we can share the blessings with others, and then act on those opportunities? This passage is a simple reminder of what God has done for us, and what we can do with it.

Leviticus 16-20

When we look back at the sacrificial offerings God required of His people we learn that they are focused on the Holiness of God and how to honor and restore our relationship. These original offerings were not about how we could get something from God by giving from our own, but helped His people to draw closer to Him.

As we review the process around the Day of Atonement we learned that God provided a way for His people to gain forgiveness from their sins. However, this offering did not require the individual to give, but was offered for the whole community. Once each year for all. It required the shedding of blood with one sacrifice, and sending away the sins via the scapegoat to remove them from the people for their purification.

Jesus provided this sacrifice for us once for all time when He went to the cross. Again, not something we had to provide, we just have to accept as we strive to be holy as God is holy.

Psalms 16

David had his faults, but he always trusted in God to guide him back. In this Psalm he expresses his joy for what God has done for him and how He has been there when needed.

How often in our lives do we seek the Joy that God can provide, as long as we are walking with Him? If we remain in His presence, He will show us true Joy in Christ.