Friday 8 May 2015 Numbers 29-31; Matthew 3 ~ Elizabeth

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 29-31; Matthew 3

In our Numbers reading the provisions for the celebration of this eight-day holiday are expanded. Added here are the numbers and kinds of animals to be sacrificed, together with the required grain and drink offerings. A total of 70 bulls are offered. The decreasing number of bulls offered (from 13-7) probably symbolized the gradual unwinding of the festival from its high point, though it still ended with the sacred number seven. With the older generation buried in the wilderness, God begins grooming the younger generation as faithful stewards of His Law. As sacrificial some wends heavenward, we glimpse the worshiper’s total dedication to God. Present as well is the underlying theme ultimately fulfilled in the death of Jesus Christ: blood is necessary for atonement.

Vows made to God-made in His name- are to be carried out faithfully. When these vows are not fulfilled, they reflect poorly on God’s good name and shame His people. Our word must be our bond, including our word of repentance when we do not live up to our words. God’s Word does not fail us. All His promises are yes to us in Christ Jesus. This also highlights relationships between fathers/daughters and husbands/wives. An Israelite woman was typically in a dependent relationship with a male family member. This reality has offended some advocates of women’s rights, who view such a situation as “patriarchal” or unfair. Such assessments fail to appreciate the realities of life in a tribal culture, where raids on villages were common. Women who did not have a protector were extremely vulnerable. Women in Israel sought a dependent relationship; interdependency was regarded as a matter of survival. The modern battle between the sexes was completely unknown to ancient Israelites and is foreign to God’s design for families. Dependents need the approval of their father or husband to make a binding vow. Our decisions are often not simply our own; they certainly affect other people-especially in a family. As we pray about the paths of life ahead, we must consider how our choices will affect others.

Moses is given a final assignment. He is to oversee the destruction of a group of Midianites who have tempted Israel to idolatry and falling away. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, coordinates the attack. The victory secures the east bank of the Jordan, from which the Israelites will conquer Canaan. Moses was concerned about the assimilation of the women and the boys because the Midianites had specifically sought to corrupt Israel before. However, because adultery was punishable by death under the Law, Moses might have regarded the Midianites here as adulterous and deserving the full punishment. Though Moses’ decisions accord with God’s original command to avenge the people of Israel, the specific orders about treatment of prisoners do not have God’s explicit command or approval. The plague refers to a disease that had earlier taken the lives of 24,000 Israelites. It’s the same term used in 1 Samuel 6:5, where the men break out with tumors. The character of the plague is not explained. It is possible that it spread by sexual contact, which could have informed Moses’ decisions about handling the Midianite prisoners. The tactics described here were meant for this specific situation and cannot be used by people today as a guide to “holy war.” Vengeance belongs to god and is enacted through His chosen authorities, not by individuals. We must pray for the safety and peace of soldiers, police, and all in such callings.

In our Matthew reading for today we find John was a preacher of repentance, as was Martin Luther, who often emphasized that we believers must not only sincerely confess out sins but also be certain of forgiveness. He is surprised by Jesus’ wanting to be baptized by him. The fact that all four Gospels report the Baptism of Jesus points to its importance. Luther captured the primary meaning for His Baptism: “Christ accepted it from John for the reason that he was entering into our stead, indeed, our person, that is becoming a sinner for us, taking upon himself the sins which he had not committed, and wiping them out and drowning them in his holy baptism.” (AE 51:315)

What happened after the Baptism of Jesus was startling and completely unexpected. The entire Trinity was revealed when the Father’s voice declared Jesus to be His beloved Son and the Spirit descended on Him. Melancthon wrote: In the New Testament the three persons are most clearly revealed in the baptism of Christ, where the Father says, ‘This is My beloved Son’ and the Son is seen standing publicly in the river, and the Holy Spirit sits in visible form upon the Son”.

Because Jesus is our substitute, we need not fear God’s wrath and punishment for our sins. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, who prepared the waters of Baptism for us.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 32-34; Matthew 4

Thursday, May 7th: Numbers 26-28, Matthew 2 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 26-28; Matthew 2

In today's Numbers passage we find a new census for a new generation.  39 years had passed since the first census recorded in Numbers (1-2) and since that time every Israelite man and over over the age of 20 (except Caleb, Joshua, and Moses) had died.  I found it interesting that the census called attention to the men who lost their lives due to their faithlessness, not to mention that the census itself was a reminder of the faithlessness of all the Israelites which resulted in their 40 years of wandering in the desert.  Just like the saying "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

The Bible often speaks of remembering - in both negative and positive ways.  In a negative way, we need to remember the dire consequences of sin.  In a positive way, we need to remember the faithfulness of God.  We remember this also when we celebrate the Lord's supper today.

This verse struck me in our Matthew passage...
v18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

This verse was speaking, of course, about the killing of all Israelite males under 2 years (and is a quote from Jeremiah which spoke of those lost in the exile), in Herod's vain attempt to kill the Messiah.  But it also reminds me of the holocaust of abortion that is going on right now.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 29-31; Matthew 3

Wednesday, May 6th: Numbers 23-25, Matthew 1 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 23-25; Matthew 1

I found our Numbers passage to be rather humourous.   After Balaam's donkey talks to him (shades of Narnia), he keeps blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them, as was Balak's intent and Balaam's desire - it was quite clear that Balaam wanted the silver and golf Balak offered him.  Balaam's heart was certainly not in the right place, but God, in His sovereignty, used him anyway.

Something we can learn from this passage is that our motives are just as, if not more than, important as our actions.  If we do the right thing for the wrong reason, we are still sinning.  Outwardly, Balaam said the right things, but his outward facade of spirituality simply covered up a corrupt inward life.  Does our walk match our talk?  And do we have the right motives?

In Matthew we see one of the genealogies of Jesus.  Matthew's version traced Jesus' ancestry back through David and Abraham on Joseph's side, showing that He was the Messiah from a kingly perspective (kingship is passed on through the father's side).  I love that it includes four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba) - it raises both ethnic and ethical questions.  At least two of them were not Israelites by birth and they all had reputations that would have made it easy to want to exclude them from a genealogy.  But Jesus' geneaology makes it clear that Jesus is the Savior of all people - Jews, Gentiles, men, and women.  And no sin could thwart His plan and no sin is too great for Him to forgive.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 26-28; Matthew 2

Tuesday, May 5th: Numbers 20-22, Revelation 22 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 20-22; Revelation 22

Our reading begins with both the Israelites and Moses sinning against God. The Israelites complained again about God not helping them when they figured He should, and Moses for not giving God glory when  He used Moses to provide the Israelites with water.

It's hard to believe the Israelites could complain after all God had done for them,  and all that was in store for them. But this is a reminder for me to be more thankful and not go to my first instinct and complain when things aren't as I think they should be. The Israelites would go to complain again in chapter 21:5.

In some ways I felt sorry for Moses that God punished him for not giving Him glory,  I mean he has his hands full with  the complaining Israelites and has to put up with this numerous times. But God is holy and deserves to be treated that way all the time. This is a good reminder for me to think to give Him the glory and not take it for myself.

Revelation chapter 22 is the last chapter in the Bible,  and closes by first warning that God will punish anyone who adds or takes away anything from the Bible,  this is a warning to us not to make up our own rules and regulations concerning what God wants and what He considers sin. A good way to know the Bible is by reading and studying it, it has all we need.

Secondly, verse 20 says that Jesus is the one who says that all of the Bible is true,  and goes on to say that He is coming soon,  what an encouragement!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage is Numbers 23-25; Matthew 1

Monday, May 4th: Numbers 17-19, Revelation 21 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 17-19; Revelation 21


Numbers chapter 17 begins with the Israelites still dealing with the aftermath of the rebellion in chapter 16.  Israel needs a definitive word from God declaring who is the God-authorized leader of Israel.  Upon the Lord's command through Moses, one rod from every leader from their ancestral tribe was placed in the Tent of Meeting and left overnight with their names carefully inscribed on them.

"The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout" (vs 5a).  As I was reading this, I had a picture in my mind of how our tree in our front yard is starting to bud, and eventually will develop leaves.

The next day in verse 8 it indicates that Aaron's staff "not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds."  Surprise!  Not just a small amount of growth....but already yielding almonds.  Now that's decisive!

The Lord spoke and provided without question a leader for Israel.  I am sure each leader from the different tribes was wondering if it would be them, so they would have been waiting for the results.  It caused me to ponder my own life and wonder if I am believing enough that God will provide clear direction for my requests, and am I listening for them?

In Revelation 21, we get a vision about the new heaven and new earth where God is eternally with his people in all His glory!  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, and He will wipe away every tear.

"He who overcomes will inherit all this" (vs 7)

Not an easy verse to live up to, but challenge accepted!

One last verse that stood out to me was in vs 27 - "Nothing impure will ever enter into it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

When we were having our kids, I can recall thinking why are we bringing innocent children into this sinful world?  Reading this verse provided me with some hope and reminded me that the world we are living in is only temporary.  It's our eternal world (Heaven) that we need to raising our children for!  


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage is Numbers 20-22; Revelation 22

Sunday, May 3rd: Numbers 15-16, Revelation 20 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 15-16; Revelation 20

This verse stood out for me in Numbers 15...
For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. 16 One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.
There is a lot of talk about racism in the news again lately, and it is true that as long as mankind exists on the earth racism (and lots of other isms) will continue to exist.  But it should not be so.  God created all of us in His image, He loves all of us equally, He wants a relationship with all of us, and His law applies equally to all of us.  We have all sinned, we all deserve death, we all need to accept the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf in order to receive salvation.  There are no shortcuts, there is no nepotism, there is no favoritism - we are all on an equal playing field. There is only one to to God and that is through Jesus.

In Chapter 16 we see the fact that God has placed people in authority in our lives and we need to submit to that authority - in the government, in our business lives, and yes, in our churches.

Our Revelation passage describes the Millennium  which is understood differently among Christian scholars.

Postmillennialism views the 1000 year period as a literal time period of, basically, a great spiritual revival and that Christ will return at the end of the 1000 years.

Premillennialism also views it as literal but that Christ's second coming initiates the 1000 year reign which occurs before the final removal of Satan.

Amillennialism understands it to be symbolic of the time between Christ's ascension and the second coming - it's the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers (the church age) and will end with the second coming of Christ.

Rayburn had an interesting thought on this that I don't recall hearing before....
In Premillennialism....  the church exactly recapitulates the history of her Head. Jesus, remember, came into the world. He died. He rose again. He remained in the world for a symbolic period of time (40 days). And then he went to heaven. In the premillennial scheme, the church also lives in the world. She also dies as the generations of believers come and go. At the Second Coming of Jesus the church also rises from the dead to new and bodily life. Then she also remains in the world for a symbolic period of time (not forty days but a thousand years) and then, and only then, she also goes to heaven. The premillennial scheme has the great advantage of reproducing the pattern established in the life history of Christ, from whose life history the life story of the church is derived.

Ultimately, each view agrees on what is crucial to Christianity and should not be a divisive issue among us - Christ will return, defeat Satan and live forever.  And that is where our ultimate focus needs to be.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage:  Numbers 17-19; Revelation 21

Saturday, May 2nd: Numbers 12-14, Revelation 19 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 12-14; Revelation 19 

In our Numbers passage today we see the folly that comes when we fix our eyes on ourselves instead of on God.

Miriam and Aaron allow their pride and self-importance to become their focus and they experience the wrath of God.

The 10 spies allow their fear to become their focus and they pay with their lives.  They convince the rest of the Israelites to give in to their fear as well and they forfeit the Promised Land and receive a 40 year sentence for themselves and their children in the dessert.  Caleb and Joshua, however, keep their focus where is belongs - on God.  They focus on His promises, His power, His might, His glory - and He rewards them for their faithfulness.

Our Revelation passage is so fitting because it focuses almost exclusive on Jesus - His salvation, glory, power, truth, and justice.  He alone is worthy of all worship.  He alone is worth of our focus.

Reminds me of the song by For King and Country
Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You
Where are your eyes fixed?


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 15-16; Revelation 20

Friday, May 1: Numbers 9-11, Revelation 18 ~ Elizabeth

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 9-11 and Revelation 18

Yes, I know I'm a day late, and late in the day too. Thursday got away from me and yesterday I had a sick kid home from school. Hopefully this is the only time I ever post this late. Sorry.

In our Numbers passage for today, we see that the census, instructions, and consecrations of chapters 1-8 took place over about 2 weeks. Israel would now observe its second Passover before leaving Sinai.God commands Moses to celebrate Passover anew as a memorial of His great deliverance. All people were to participate, even if they could not observe the event on the same dates. God reveals His grace in the Passover and in the exceptions He allows for its observance. Just as He continually sought the good and unity of Israel, He seeks our good and unity in the services of His precious Word, which describes our creation, redemption, and sanctification as His people through faith in Christ, our Passover Lamb. At God’s directive, the Israelites move away from Mount Sinai. God’s providential care is evident. The pillar of cloud/fire symbolizes His gracious hand over His covenant community. Today, God continues to care for His people, sustaining them on the journey of faith through His means of grace.

Blasts on the silver trumpets signal the time to move, but they also serve the purpose of calling leaders of the entire community to assemble at the tent of meeting. God ordains an Israelite theocracy with Himself as King. In mercy, God leads His people toward the land promised long ago. Scripture teaches that a trumpet blast will also signal our call to heaven on the Last Day. The Israelites march to the Promised Land; the ark of the covenant leads the way. The Lord deals gently with His people by providing constant guidance and sound leadership.

The grumbling begins only three days into the journey. Perhaps aching muscles or sore feet cause their discomfort. God provides guidance to the Promised Land and manna to eat on the way; in return for His love, He receives grumbling. Sometimes, obeying God causes pain and suffering. When tempted to grumble, think of Christ at Gethsemane and how He turned His pains into prayers. Meditate on how He willingly submitted to the Father’s will for the sake of our salvation. Earlier, we learned of Moses’ helplessness as Israel’s leader-one man amid a throng of rebellious people. Mercifully, God grants 70 elders to help Moses. Like Moses, you may at times feel frustration and become angry with the Lord. Thanks be to God, He is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”. In His mercy, the Lord provides for you and calls you to repentance and faith through His faithful servants.

In our Revelation reading, John describes the collapse and judgment of Babylon, the great oppressor of the innocent and exploiter of the weak. As modern, Western Christians hear the charges against Babylon, they note that some strike very close to home, especially greed and an addiction to luxury. The Church must remember where its true treasures are to be found. Whoever has Jesus can look forward to enjoying eternal splendor and joy in heaven.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 12-14; Revelation 19 

Thursday, April 30th: Numbers 7-8, Revelation 17 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 7-8; Revelation 17

Obviously, the key to Chapter 7 is repetition.  The same exact gifts are described for every tribe, twelve times.  Why?  Why not just summarize?  Summarizing would not give the same weight as repetition does.  So, what is the emphasis?

Rayburn: here the weight falls on the gifts given and the fact that they were given by every tribe. In fact, put yourself in the place of an Israelite listening to this passage being read in worship. You happen to belong to the tribe of Naphtali or Zebulon. You would listen intently for the name of your tribe and so would the members of every tribe. And you would listen carefully to be sure that your tribe contributed everything the other tribes did.

In this particular case the gifts given were given in support of what nowadays we would call the mission of the church. All the gifts were given to the Levites to enable them to perform their responsibility – the ox-carts, the animals for sacrifice, and the utensils filled with meal and oil – gifts for grain and incense offerings – all fall into the category of gifts for the work of the church...

I have been asked many times through the years and often, frankly, with somewhat of an aggrieved tone of voice why a person needs to go to church.... Communion with God, cleansing from sin, peace with God, commitment to God, hearing God’s voice, enjoying fellowship with him: all of that can certainly be experienced by individuals. The Bible leaves us in no doubt about that. But these blessings are chiefly communicated to individuals when the church is together in worship....The individual is present here in chapter 7 only as part of his tribe and only as part of the people of God at worship together....

If there is a subtitle that would apply to Numbers 7 both in its historical context in Numbers and with respect to the timeless principle that is enunciated here it should read: “We are all in this together and need to be.” The gifts that were given in this way for the use of the sanctuary were precisely not gifts that were used by an individual for his own worship of God. They were used in the sanctuary for the worship of the entire people. These were gifts, in other words, that were given both to God and to others. They were not first an investment in one’s own spiritual welfare.

It is important to note that we give because we have been given so much, because we have been loved so much.

Chapter 8 deals with the purification and offering of the Levites which has to do with atonement.  And in order to atonement to take place, there must be sacrifice.  Everything that Jesus Christ would accomplish for us is anticipated in the sacrificial system of the OT.  We are only saved because Jesus took our place and died for us.  He took our punishment while we took His righteousness.   That is love! And it is so undeserving, which is what makes it mercy.

In Revelation we see that sin always results in self-destruction.  There is a great spiritual warfare going on.  Babylon represents any system that is hostile to God (IOW - our own American and Canadian cultures), that uses immoral means to gain its own pleasure and power.   As Christians, we are to live in stark contrast to the rest of society around us.  Yes, we are Canadians (and Americans) and there are many good things about our countries, and in many ways we are proud to identify ourselves with our nation.  But deep down, we are not Canadian or American or any other nationality - we are Christians and our ultimate loyalty is to Christ.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 9-11; Revelation 18

Wednesday, April 29th: Numbers 5-6, Revelation 16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 5-6; Revelation 16


We see from our  Numbers passage that mankind is unavoidably dirty and impure - simply from living in this fallen world.  We are both ceremonially unclean from the ordinary actions of human life (like childbirth, sex, death, etc) and from sinful actions.  This demonstrates the truth that we sin because we are sinful creatures.

This sinfulness alienates us from our holy God, and that gap can only be bridged by the atonement of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Rayburn had some thought-provoking points in his sermon about the Nazirite vow....

 the passion for godliness that is expressed in the practice of the Nazirite vow will always offend a moderating, accommodating, compromising, worldly church.

So here is the challenge of this text for us in our self-regarding, comfortable, indulgent world. You say, because you are a Christian, that Christ is more important to you than your pleasures: wine or food or entertainment or anything. Really? Prove it. And if you are not willing to prove it in some demonstrable way – for your sake, for the sake of others, and for the Lord’s sake supremely – why not? Is the Lord not worth it? Is salvation not worth it? Do you want only such a Christian life such as can be lived with little or no effort?

Are you really willing to be separated from the realm of sin and death, to give your life-force to God without reservation? Are you really? Prove it. If you are a Christian surely you have from time to time felt the desire to prove it. Well, prove it. Undertake the same sort of self-denial the Nazirite did and do so for the same reason. Are you willing to offer to the Lord your life in some way that others in our world – others perhaps among your Christian friends, even your family – will certainly find over-zealous, fanatical, akin to refusing to attend the funeral of your mother or father. Are you really willing? Prove it. And if you aren’t really willing to take such steps – such steps as the godly have taken before you through the ages of Christian devotion – why not?..

There are things in our lives that need to be rooted out. There are things in our lives that need to be put in and we are to let nothing stand in the way. We love God because he first loved us. We boast in nothing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. But, we will, come what may, put on holiness in the fear of the Lord; we will not be deterred from growing up as high in godliness as we can by God’s grace and our own concentrated effort. And one principal way in which this is done, in which this has always been done, is to take steps to put that godliness into practice in ways that matter, to embody it in specific commitments before the Lord.

A vow is a promise you do not have to make; but once you have made it you must keep it. Serious Christians know that; you must keep your vows. And yet serious Christians make those vows and those commitments anyway because they know that this is a biblically approved, a divinely ordered way of taking great steps forward and upward in everything that is pleasing to God.

In our Revelation passage we see that when people become entrenched in their sin, the obvious judgment of God does not turn them to repentance like we think it would/should, but rather causes them to shake their fists in rebellion against Him.

Rayburn: It is this fact, by the way, that explains in some significant measure the reality of hell. It is important for us to know this and to include this as part of our explanation for what is, of course, one of the principle objections that people have to the Christian faith. Hell would be hard to explain if it were inhabited by those now sorry for their sins, entirely aware of the foolishness of their unbelief, and wishing to repent. How could God continue to punish such people? But that is not what people will be like in hell. We see that here. God’s judgment does not bring them to repentance and the knowledge of the truth. It does not sweeten their spirits or soften their wills. They become still more defiantly unwilling to submit to God. This is the fearful thing about human sin. It creates a blindness and a hardness of heart so profound that nothing can penetrate, least of all the truth. Every tongue may finally confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but many tongues will make that confession bitterly and unrepentantly....

For the non-Christian this text is a solemn warning to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near....

And for the believer it is another reminder to take every sin, especially the sins that so easily beset us, seriously. To refuse to give in to them. To allow them no entrance and no peace in your soul, lest they sink their hook and be impossible to get out and then over time take full control.

 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 7-8; Revelation 17