Vows

Num. 30:2

"If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of His mouth."

A man was never excused from a vow before God, but a woman could be if she were still under the authority of her father or her husband.  The words that were uttered became  a bond or a pledge attesting to the faithfulness of that person, to the character and commitment of that person.

God gave His people His Word as His bond or and pledge as well. He always did what He said He would,  " For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory." 

"He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." 

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful--for He cannot deny Himself." 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Is it the same for me? Am I to be faithful and true to my words? Certainly, not vowing anything would be a way out, but what are the strength of my words? The problem for me comes in Rom. 7. In the flesh I delight in God and in being faithful to all that He says, but in my flesh, I am a captive prevented from doing what I truly want. So what is the answer?? Grace. Grace must be the only motivation for all that I say, think, or do. If I try to do all that I say I will in my own strength, then I will fail, more than that it will not bring glory and honor to His name. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  So "whoever speaks as one who speaks the oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Father,

Keep my sensitive to all that I say, think, and do. Make Your grace my  all. Crucify my flesh that clings so closely and tries so hard to defeat me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sin is Serious

Num. 27:14

"Because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes."

Moses was given specific instructions because of his sin of failing to uphold God as holy. He offered no excuses, but instead "did as the Lord commanded." Perhaps, it might seem harsh since Moses had to deal with the Israelite's constant grumbling and complaining. Could this one slip be excused by all the times he interceded for them and pleaded their case before God? God's answer was NO. The crux of the matter was not the people, their sin, or even Moses' temper or weakness as a man. The crux of the matter was God. God' s character was degraded by Moses' actions. He did not uphold God as holy before the people God had placed in his life. 

Not only is God's holiness powerful, but there are consequences for violating it! Moses would not enter in to the promised land but only be able to look at it. It is a sobering thought and reminds me of Heb. 12:1-2, "Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. "  What are these weights and sins which cling so closely? Could it be violating God's holiness before those He has placed in my life? Could it be giving up and justifying fleshly responses?

Father,

Keep Your holiness ever before my eyes so that I may uphold You as my holy, sovereign God. I confess the power of my flesh that still defeats me. Teach me how to run this race with endurance honoring you as I run.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Unchanging

Num. 24:13

If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak?"

Balak took Balaam to three separate locations where he offered sacrifices and waited for Balaam to curse Israel, but the outcome was always the same. Balaam could not! He knew that he must take care to speak what the Lord had put in His mouth.

In his first oracle, Balaam said that he saw God from the top of the crags and from the hills. His sovereign creator's power surrounded him, consequently, death at the hand of Balak was preferable to countering his God in any way.

On the second oracle, God's answer revealed more of His nature in dealing with man. "God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?"

By the third oracle, Balaam did not even need to examine the omens, instead the spirit of God overtook him. His words: "The oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered." What a distance Balaam had come! His experience had grown him as God's servant. Speaking for God must first come from a life that is in tune with God. His conclusion: "Blessed are those who bless you [Israel] and cursed are those who curse you." 

Balaam's life was changed drastically. His rocky start progressed into a union with His sovereign God. Not only was he able to see life from God's point of view, he had exposed the folly of man's effort to change the mind of God or even understand the mind of God. Unafraid of what Balak could do to him, he rested securely in the Word of God!

Father,
Keep my eyes focused on You so that I can be secure in Your words. Help me to resist the ploys of the world that pull me from Your presence.
In Jesus name,
Amen 

Perversely Blinded

Num. 22:32:b-33

"Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live."

On the first encounter, Balak sent the elders of Moab and Midian with a divination fee and a request for Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam stayed put and sought the Lord. The answer from God was a resounding, NO. He could not curse these people because they were blessed of the Lord.

Once again Balak sent princes to request Balaam's presence. His answer was "though you give me silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the command of the Lord."  Since money was now in the mix, Balaam asked the Lord again seemingly ignoring the previous resounding, NO. Getting some kind of permission, he went, but not at a great cost. "God's anger was kindled against him." Was it worth it? Was the promise of reward more important than his relationship with God? Was this similar to the quail that the people desired? God gave it to them, but while it was yet in their teeth, God's judgment came upon them! 

As he traveled, the angel of the Lord blocked the way. However, Balaam's spiritual senses were so dulled that he didn't notice, but his donkey did! After the repeated beatings, the donkey remained unmoving. Then the donkey himself questioned Balaam's actions making Balaam exceedingly angry. His pride was so exposed and wounded! But soon, God opened Balaam's eyes and the truth was known. "Behold, I have come to oppose you because your way is perverse before me."  Even though Balaam knew what God had originally said, he tried a second time wanting the money and power. Maybe he thought it was worth a shot. Would God let it slide? He would not! Balaam fell on the ground and confessed his sin.  Balaam did go with Balak, but the end of the story is for tomorrow....

Are my senses ever spiritually dulled by perverse and worldly desires? Do I allow things of this world to cloud my spiritual vision? Are my choices clearly honoring and obeying God?

Father,

Convict me harshly when I choose my own desires over your expressed will. Keep me strong to obey and strong to resist.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Priests and Guards

Num. 18

God spoke to Aaron telling him that he and his sons would bear the iniquities of the sanctuary and the priesthood, but his brothers from the tribe would guard over the priests and the whole tent. Now the entire tabernacle area was protected inside and out. No outsider would ever come near the priests. God's specific purpose was that "there never again be wrath on the people of Israel."  What a devastation Israel had just brought upon themselves![ Num. 17] The people as a whole were protected from any further divine judgment, instead the priests and Levites would take the judgment for the people. They were to be solely responsible to God for His holy things, for the sacrifices, and for the offerings. 

Similarly, I can only come to God through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus. I can not bring my own works or ideas, my self-sufficiency, or even express my displeasure at His will one-on-one apart from the covering of the blood.  My unholiness can not survive in light of His holiness! [ Definitely a harsh lesson that Israel experienced!] But God in His great mercy provided a way for me as He had for them. Now I can come to His throne of grace and mercy where I can pour out my heart, and through His Holy Spirit I can call Him my Abba Father, but all at a cost, the cost of the life of His son. Thank You, Jesus for drawing me to Yourself.   

Father,

My heart is full of thanks for Your gift of salvation through the blood of Your Son. You are so merciful, gracious, and forgiving. Root out any weeds of rebellion and grumbling hidden away within my heart. Keep me ever close to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Stop the Grumbling

Num. 17:8

"...the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds."

Immediately following the tassels which were to be a visual to keep God and His commands ever before their eyes, Korah instituted a rebellion. Were the tassels accomplishing their purpose? Certainly not for some. These rebels refused to think that only Moses and Aaron were worthy to come before the Lord because what Moses had said would come to pass had not. To Korah it didn't matter that the people themselves were fighting Moses left and right. In several very dramatic ways, God made His choice clear. First the earth opened up and swallowed the rebellious ones with their entire households and families. After which fire from the Lord swallowed up 250 more men.

Surely this should have calmed the people, "but on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron."  It is as if these people are incensed with 'gumbling insanity,' and the sparing of their lives the day before was not enough. So God sent a plague to end their miserable, complaining lives. But quick to the rescue, Moses dispatched Aaron to save as many people as he could. "And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped." But 14,700 people died in the plague besides those who died with Korah. What horrible consequences for grumbling!

But there was still yet another miraculous incident to prove God's choice of leadership. Each tribe was to bring a staff to be taken into the tent. On each staff was inscribed the tribe's name. God would choose His leaders by making the staff bud. Why would God do this? "Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you." So, obviously, since God was not wrong or had not chosen incorrectly. Aaron's staff budded, bloomed, and produced almonds. What a sign to prove the power and the plan of God! What was the response of these grumblers? "We are undone, we are all undone. Are we all to perish?"  A good response and one that really was indicative of their spiritual condition. Perhaps they finally saw how deep their heart of rebellion was and were identifying with those who had already been killed. But that's for the next chapter.... What is my heart like? Do I indulge in seasons of  grumbling and dissatisfaction? Does my life show that God is in control of all my decisions?

Father,

Keep my heart sincere and pure before You as I seek to obey all Your words without my own qualifications or reasons. Keep me content as You teach me to wait for Your timing.

In Jesus name,
Amen

Tassesls for Remembrance

Num. 15:39-40

"And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God."

Disobedience abounded for Israel. They allowed fear to overwhelm their trust in God when the spies came back reporting giants in the land. So much so that God wanted to destroy them and form a new people for Moses to lead into the land. When Joshua tried to restore perspective about conquering the land, the people even tried to stone him. Moses interceded for the people, but God said that none of those who had tested Him would go into the land, but instead they would begin their circuitous route in the wilderness for 40 years. They were there, right at the land's edge.  All they had to do was believe and claim the land, but they wouldn't. What a lesson! Have I ever allowed my flesh to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit? Has my fear kept me in a wilderness instead of in a glorious promised land?

Some people did feel badly about what they had done, and went into fight against Moses' warning. This was not the time or the way. And as Moses said, they were defeated and pursued. They are still not understanding that it must be a matter of the Lord's timing and obedience, a concept the people truly struggled with. It made no difference whether they refused to fight when they should have or if they fought when they were not supposed to. It was all disobedience to the commands of the Lord. Have I pursued the Lord's work but in my own strength and in my own timing?

Then the Sabbath breaker was executed. He was only gathering sticks on the Sabbath which sounds like a small infraction. But when God spoke to Moses about the man, the verdict was stoning outside the camp. Even such a thing as this was disobedience. I can only imagine Moses' heart for these people and for God. It was as if the two would never be in sync. To help the people, God told them to make blue cords to fasten on their garments to remind them to obey the commandments of the Lord. Maybe a visual would be what the people needed. It would keep the issue of obedience physically ever before them. But why blue? The priests wore blue so symbolically this blue would remind them that they were a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Specifically, God said not only to remember His commands, but also not to follow after their own hearts and their own eyes. What strong words!

Blue would be the color for me as well. I Pet. 1:9 says "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  I need a similar focus since God has warned me in I Jn. 2:15 "Do  not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the desires of he flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the father but is from the world." In very strong words, God commands me not to follow my own heart or my own eyes as well. It seems as if the problems are the same! The years have not modified the flesh, but the grace of God has conquered it. I praise Him for His grace for my weakness because in my weakness His grace is perfected.

Father,

If I need a visual, I am willing to do whatever to obey and to crucify the desires of my flesh and my eyes. Help me to listen to Your words and to walk forward unafraid because You have promised to be with me.

In Jesus name,

Amen