Mon.’s Devo - Preparation to Cross into their Promise

Read: Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17
Today we read the purpose of the census. It was to determine the size of their inheritance. The larger tribes needed more land because they had more people. Where their land was was decided by lot so no-one could say they were treated unfairly. Lots were determined by the Lord. The Levites were numbered separately because they would receive no inheritance of their own. The only two people who were in the first census of those who came out of Egypt were Caleb and Joshua because they had believed God and wanted to take the land the first time they came to the border. The rest of the people died in the wilderness. Even Moses would die before entering in.
I think that the size of the inheritance is a picture of our inheritances. We are given a task to do in accordance to our faith. God will also increase our faith to the size of his assignment for us.
The daughters of Zelophadah complained that they had no male heir but they wanted an inheritance to build up their father’s name. God agreed with them and made a law that women could have inheritances if there was no living male.
God called Moses up a mountain so he could see the promised land before he died. Moses prayed for a new leader for the people and God chose Joshua. He had Moses bring Joshua in front of all the people and let the high priest, Eleazar lay his hands on his head to commission him to lead the people into the promised land.
Then God gave Moses instructions about the morning and evening sacrifice that must be made once a year. Each was to be made with a drink offering that was to be poured out and a grain offering. This offering was also to be made on every Sabbath. An offering of two bulls, one ram and seven male lambs with a grain offering and a drink offering made at every new moon. This was all about atonement. Jesus was bound to the cross at the time of the morning sacrifice and dieded at the time of the evening sacrifice. His blood was poured out for our sins and his body was consumed as a grain offering.
In Luke, John the Baptist preached a straightforward message: repent of your sins and be baptized. He brought people’s hearts to repentance so they could receive the truth that Jesus would bring. John was not afraid of anything or anybody. When he spoke out against the sin of the Roman tetrarch because he had taken his brother’s wife, John was thrown into prison. Before he was imprisoned he baptized many including Jesus who manifested a dove from heaven that came and landed on his shoulder. That was John’s sign that the Holy Spirit had chosen this man to be the Messiah, the son of God.
Lord, may we be bold like John and faithful like Joshua and Caleb. Thank you for all the promises you have given us to walk in and for being our sacrifice that would once and for all atone for our sins.