Sat.’s Devo - Signs That Make Us Wonder -

Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8 God gave Moses and Aaron instructions for the sin offering for them and the people. It was to be a red heifer killed outside of the camp. The blood of the animal would then be sprinkled on the door of the Tabernacle and his body burned on the altar along with a stick of cead, a hyssop branch and some scarlet yarn. These are the same instruments used in the ceremony of the healing of leprosy. The ashes of the heifer would be put in a special place to be used for the purification ceremony. Anyone in the future who touched anything dead would use those ashes mixed with pure water. A hyssop branch would be dipped in the water and sprinkled on the tent of one who died or the person who touched a human who died. This is a picture of sanctification from the world of death. We are constantly being bombarded with things that pertain to sin and death. We can cleanse our soul from what defiles our soul by loosing it off ourselves and applying the sanctification of holiness that Jesus died to give us. It is the ashes of his death that we can be clean. In the first month of the year according to their religious calendar, which would be Nisan, Miriam died and was buried. The people had arrived at the same place that God had done a miraculous sign and given them water from the rock. This new generation started complaining just like their parents had. Moses and Aaron were beside themselves and went to inquire of God. God told them to assemble the people and Moses was to speak to the rock and it would pour out water enough for the whole community and their livestock. Moses did what he was told and assembled the people but his anger came out and he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. In Corinthians 10:4 we read that that rock was Christ who was struck once for our salvation and now we speak and pray to receive the grace to be saved. Water did gush from the rock but both Moses and Aaron were reprimanded for this and refused entrance into Gods promised land. With great position comes great responsibility. While the people were drinking the water, Moses sent ambassadors to the king of Edom to ask permission to pass through their land. They promised not to drink their water or harm anything. The king refused them entrance and threatened them with war if they tried. The children of Israel were forced to turn around and go another way. They came to Mt. Hor where Aaron died and was buried. Aaron’s high priesthood was passed on to his son Eliezar. Aaron was able to see into the promised land but never go. Luke is a letter written to a young man named Theophilus. Luke wanted to write the account of Jesus in the order in which it all happened. Theologians say that Luke was written to the Greeks and proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of Man. Luke starts way before Jesus’ birth at John the Baptist’s birth. John was his cousin but also the one who would announce his coming and prepare the way for him. John would be the last Old Testament prophet. John’s father was a priest named Zachariahs whose wife, Elizabeth was barren so they had no heir. They were now very old. The priests all took a month of service and this was Zachariahs’ turn. When he went into the Temple to offer incense, he was met by an angel standing on the right side of the altar of incense. He told them to not be afraid because God had heard his prayers and would give them a son. They were to call him John and that many would rejoice at his birth. He would be great in the Lord’s eyes and never drink strong wine or drink. He would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb. He will turn many back to the Lord and would be like Elijah, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Zachariah’s doubt caused him to be dumb and unable to speak until the prophesy was fulfilled. When Zachariah came out of the Temple, the people knew something had happened. Just like the angel said, Elizabeth became pregnant and hid for five months.