Sun.’s Devo - God’s Appointed Feasts

Read: Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9 To honor the Lord, they were to celebrate the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread every year in the month of Abib. That was the month that God delivered them from Egypt. It must be celebrated at the place designated to worship the Lord. *** Seven weeks from when they first cut the wheat to harvest it they were to celebrate the Festival of Harvest. *** The Festival of Tabernacle was to be celebrated for seven days at the end of the grape harvest in the fall. It would be a great time of joy and thanksgiving for God’s abundance. The three festivals: Unleavened Bread, Festival of Harvest and the Festival of Shelters were to be celebrated every year. The men were required to appear before the Lord at these times at the place God chooses. They must not appear empty handed by must bring a gift in proportion to their blessing. *** They were to appoint judges and officials from each of their tribes to judge them fairly. They must not show partiality or accept bribes or twist justice. They must judge wisely and justly. *** Idol worship should never be allowed. If you anyone hears of someone worshiping false idols, it must be investigated thoroughly. If the person or persons is found guilty them they must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. There must always be two or more witnesses before a person can be condemned. These witnesses were to throw the first stones. *** All felony and murder cases were to be brought to the priests and the judges for them to hear and judge. Their sentence must be fully executed and not modified in any way. If this were to happen, that man would have to die. This was the way to purge the evil from Israel and put fear in the hearts of the people so that they wouldn’t disobey the Lord. *** If they decided to select a king to rule over them then they must appoint the one God chooses. He must be an Israelite. He must not send them to Egypt to buy horses because God has told them not to ever return to Egypt. He must not take many wives or accumulate large amounts of silver and gold for himself. He must copy the law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests and read it daily. This will keep him honest and humble and will ensure that he and his descendants reign for many generations in Israel. *** In Luke, Herod was very curious about Jesus. He had had John the Baptist beheaded and some were saying he was John who had come back to life. Others were saying Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets that had risen from the dead. *** Jesus slipped away to Bethsaida but the crowds learned where he was and followed him there. He taught them about the kingdom of God and healed their sick. The disciples urged Jesus to send the people home so they could eat. Jesus told his disciples to feed them. They only had five loaves and two fish and the crowd was 5,000 men. *** The disciples were not capable of feeding them so Jesus gave them to do something they were capable of doing. He told them to seat the people in groups of 50. That they could do. Then he took the food and blessed it and God did what they couldn’t do. He multiplied the food to feed the whole crowd and there were 12 baskets of left-overs. *** Jesus asked his disciples one day who the people said that he was and then he asked them who they thought he was. Peter said that he was the Messiah, sent from God. *** Jesus warned them not to tell anyone. He would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the religious leaders. He would be killed but on the third day he would be raised form the dead. *** To the crowd he told them to follow him they must take up their cross daily. To live they had to give up their lives. There is no benefit in gaining in the world’s system and losing your soul. Anyone who is ashamed of Him, He would be ashamed of them when he returns. *** Lord, may your justice prevail in righteousness in all the earth. May your enemies be defeated and your kingdom come.

Sat.’s Devo - Laws of the Land

Read: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7 God warned them about people who had a dream or did a miracle or gave them a sign that would entice them to worship anything besides him. They were to love the Lord their God with all their heart and soul. *** If one of their kin tried to get them to worship the gods of the people around them they were not to listen to them but expose them to the leaders of the people. They were to stone to death to put fear in the people so that they would not follow after wickedness. *** If a whole city had fallen into idolatry then they were to attack and utterly destroy all that was in the city along with the cattle. Then they were to gather all the spoil into the middle of the street of the city and burn it with fire. The whole city should go down in the fire. *** They were to be a holy people, a peculiar people unto the Lord and they were to be above all the nations that are in the earth. *** They were told what they could eat and what not to eat. Spiritually, God was telling us what to eat and what not to eat. We are to mediate on the Word of God that is rightly divided. We are to be covered with the Blood of Christ and let the Word of God and the Spirit of God guide us to walk uprightly. *** When God established a place of worship, they were to bring their tithe and share it with the Levite and the widow and the orphan. *** At the end of every seven years they were to have a year of release. Everyone is released from their debt. The foreigners were not released, but the one who were their own were released. There would be no more poor. *** It was God’s will that they be the lenders of nations and not the borrowers. No nation should reign over them. They were to freely give to the poor in their land. If they had a Hebrew man or woman working for them they were to release them at the year of release. When they released them they would furnish him liberally with cattle, grain and wine. God will bless that employer. *** They were to remember that they were once bondmen in Egypt and God redeemed them so they should be just as kind and generous. *** If that worker wants to continue working for the employer then the boss would talk an awl and pierce it through his ear to the door of his house. Then he would remain a servant forever. It must be done to the woman also. This is a picture of the man who decides to follow Christ and work in his kingdom forever. *** The firstborn of the bulls should not be worked and the firstborn of the sheep should not be sheared. They were to be eaten before the Lord at the place God gave them to worship him. If they have any blemish then they were not to be brought to the Lord, but be eaten within their gates. They were never to eat the blood of the animal. It was to be poured upon the ground. *** In Luke, Jesus had been begged to leave the city where the man was delivered of the legion of demons. Jesus told the man delivered to stay and be a witness to what God had done for him. He did and when Jesus did return, the people gladly received him and were waiting for him. *** A man named Jarius who was a ruler in the synagogue came and fell at Jesus’ feet begging him to come and heal his 12 year old daughter who was dying. Jesus was standing in the middle of a huge crowd of people and a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years reached out and touched the border of his garment and was instantly healed. Jesus felt the healing power leave his body and go to her so he turned and asked who touched him. She came and fell at his feet and confessed that she touched him and was healed. He said, “Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole: go in peace.” *** He then followed the ruler to his house. Along the way, Darius was told she had died but Jesus told him not to fear but only believe and she would be made whole. They continued to the house. *** When they got to the house all the people were mourning her death but Jesus told home to stop weeping because she was not dead, but sleeping. He went in and told her to arise and her spirit came into her and she rose up and Jesus commanded them to feed her. Her parents were astonished but Jesus told them not to tell anyone. *** Jesus called his disciples to him and gave them power and authority over all devils, and power to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. They were not to take anything with them but to stay with whoever would have them. If they were not received then they were to leave the city and shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against them. Lord, may we walk as Jesus walked and may we be in your service all the days of our lives.

Fri.’s Devo -Be a Testimony

Read: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4 Moses was speaking to the ones who were children when they left Egypt. They had seen all that God had done for them in Egypt and along the way. He admonished them to keep all the commandments that he had given them so that they may be strong and go in and possess the land. That would prolong their days and have a longer life-span than their parents. *** This land was not a land like Egypt where they had to plant seed and water it, but this was a land with seed in the soil and that was watered by God’s rain all year long. *** They were to teach their children all the laws of the Lord and speak of them often so that they and their children would experience longevity. *** If they obeyed the Lord, he would drive out all the nations that possess the land now even though they were mightier and greater in number. Every place the soles of their feet tread would be theirs within the boundaries God had given them. The whole land would fear them and not would prevail against them. *** When they came into the land they were to put the blessings on mount Gerizim and the curse upon mount Ebal. *** They were to utterly destroy all the places where the nations before them practiced their idol worship. They were to destroy the names of their gods and put his name in the place he designated for them. First, God would give them rest from their enemies and then he would choose the tribe that would house his name. There they would bring their sacrifices, tithes and offerings. *** In Luke, Jesus went with his disciples to the other side of the lake to the land of the Gaddarenes. There arose a great storm as they sailed. Jesus was asleep in the boat and they woke him up to help. He got up and rebuked the storm and it ceased to a calm. Then he asked them where their faith was. They wondered what a man he was that he could command the winds and the water to obey him. *** When they arrived to the land, they met a man who had had devils for a long time. He saw Jesus and fell to this knees asking him if he came to torment him. Jesus asked him his name and he said, Legion. The demons begged him to let them not be sent to the waters. There was a heard of swine nearby and they begged to go into them. Jesus cast them out and they went into the herd and they ran and were drown in the lake. So the demons got the water anyway. *** The man was now sane and it scared the townspeople so much they begged Jesus to leave. The man who was now delivered and sane begged Jesus to let him go with him. Jesus told him to go home and tell everyone what God had done for him. Lord, the power of a testimony is great. May we do the works that you do and live to have many testimonies of your power.

Thurs.’s Devo - Look What the Lord Hath Done

Read: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3 God told them to go and possess the land from these nations that were greater and mightier than them. Their cities were great and had walls that reached to heaven. The people were giants and no one had been able to defeat them, but they had the Lord and he was a consuming fire. God would destroy the giants. It wouldn’t be because the Israelites were so righteous that God was doing this but because these nations in the land were so wicked and evil. *** Then Moses went on to show them their rebellious hearts from the day they left Egypt until they came to where they were now. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to receive the commandments from the Lord, the people had made a golden calf and were worshiping it. Moses took the tablets of stone and threw them down and broke them. Moses fasted for 40 days and nights for all their sins afraid that God would kill them all. Then Moses took the calf and burnt it with fire and stamped it and ground it to very small dust and cast the dust into the brook. *** The Lord wanted to wipe them all out but Moses prayed to the Lord and begged him not to do that lest all the nations who were watching would say that God brought them out to the wilderness to kill. They would say that He could not bring them into the land. *** God gave them new tablets of the law. The children of Israel went to Mosera where Aaron died and was buried and his son, Eleazar ministered in the priest’s office instead of him. God separated the tribes of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant and to minister in the tabernacle. The Levites would have no inheritance in the land but their Lord would be their inheritance. *** Now it was time to take the land and the only thing the Lord required of them was to fear the Lord, walk in his ways and to love him and serve him with all their heart and their soul. He reminded them that they had started a people of 70 and now had become a multitude. *** In Luke, Jesus gave the parable that was the foundation for his parables. It is the parable about the seed and the sower. Jesus ended it with “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” But to his disciples, he opened up the meaning. The seed was the Word of God and the soils were the hearts of people. Depending on the condition of their heart was the degree in which the seed would bear fruit. Then Jesus told them that they could not hide their light. The evil people could not hide their deeds either. Nothing that is secret will be kept secret but will be brought out in the open so all can see. *** Jesus told them to be careful how their heard because those that received the truth would be given more but those who didn’t receive the truth would have the little they did have taken from them. *** When Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, he told the crowds that his mother and brothers were those who heard the word of God and did it. *** Lord, may we be your people who hear the Word and do it. Thank you for not giving up on us but by cleansing us with your blood and giving us salvation.

Wed.’s Devo - Don’t Forget

Read: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1 God warned them that the nations they were to displace were greater and mightier than them. But God would deliver them before their eyes and they were to utterly destroy them and make no covenants of peace with them or show them any mercy. They were not to intermarry with them because they would turn them away from following the Lord. That is why he was telling them to destroy their altars, cut down their groves and burn their graven images in the fire. *** The Israelites were a chosen people set apart for God to live holy lives. He didn’t choose them because there were many of them, because there were only a few. God chose them because he loved them and he promised Moses he would bring them out of bondage and into the land he was giving them. *** God would keep his promise to bring them into the land and bless them and multiply them. He would bless their crops and their flocks. Their women and their cattle would not be barren. He would take away all sickness from them and put none of the evil diseases of Egypt on them. *** When they stressed over how big their enemy is, they were to remember what God did for them in Egypt. He would do the same for them now. He would send hornets among them until their enemy leaves or are destroyed. He would drive them out little by little so that the beasts of the field wouldn’t take over the land before they could occupy it. *** They were not to leave a token left of their idol worship, but they were to detest their evil practices. *** They were not to forget all they went through in the wilderness to humble them and to prove to themselves whether they would be faithful to the Lord or not. They had to learn that God’s bread is enough to sustain them. *** When they got into the land they would eat of the land and not lack any good food. They must remember the Lord when they are blessed and have more than enough. It would be counted to them as righteous if they obeyed God’s commandments. *** In Luke, how appropriate for Jesus to be anointed for burial in the home of a Pharisee. The woman brought in her alabaster box and began washing his feet with her tears and wiping it with her hair. She kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. The Pharisee whose house he was at saw it and questioned Jesus’ authority in his mind. He knew this woman was a prostitute and if Jesus was a prophet, he should know this too. Jesus did and told the man a story of a person who had to men who owed him money. One owed him 500 pence and the other 50. He forgave them both. Then Jesus asked him which of the men loved the creditor the most. The Pharisee said, “the one who he forgave the most.” Jesus commended his answer and said it was the same for her. She had been forgiven much so she loved him the most. *** Jesus’ ministry was financed by the women who loved and followed Jesus. There was Mary Magdalene who Jesus cast out seven demons, Joanna the wife of China who was Herod’s steward and Susanna. All of these women gave so that Jesus could travel and preach the gospel. *** Lord, may we remember all you have forgiven us of and be grateful. May we remember all the storms you have brought us through and not fear the ones in our future. We know that you are the only God and there is no one like you. Thank you that you love us and are bringing us to a better place.

Tues.’s Devo - The Fear of the Lord

Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Provers 11:29-31 Moses continued giving them the last commandments. God had showed them his glory and his greatness. They had heard his voice out of the fire and lived. Now all they had to do was obey his commandment and they would be blessed and live a long life in the land he was giving them. *** The commands, statutes and judgments which God gave them were to be their laws that they lived by in the land. They were to fear God and his laws and teach them to their children that they might fear him also. It was God’s plan that they increase mightily in the land and be blessed. *** If they worshiped God as their only God and loved him with all their heart, soul and might, then they would teach his laws to their children. They would put his laws everywhere they looked and follow them closely. *** God promised to bring them into the land and give them cities and houses full of good things that they didn’t build. He promised to give them wells they didn’t dig and vineyard and olive trees that they didn’t plant. They were not to forget the Lord in the land of abundance, but fear him and serve him always. They were to cast out their enemies and not worship their gods but do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord. God had brought them out of Egypt, the land of bondage, to bring them in to the land of Canaan, the land of promise. *** Jesus came to the town of Nain just as a funeral was passing. The only son of a widow had died. Jesus felt compassion on the mother and touched the bier and the son came back to life. Fear of God fell on the people and they praised the Lord because he was visiting his people once again. *** John the Baptist heard of this and sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one, or if they should look for another. Jesus told them to go tell John all they saw he was doing: the blind were seeing, the lame were healed, the lepers cleansed, the deaf heard and the dead were raised. The gospel was being preached to the poor. He added, “and blessed is he, who is not offended in me.” I think he added this last bit to those who didn’t like the vessel God had chosen to use. *** Jesus pointed out that John the Baptist had not been the socially accepted priest dressed in a white robe, but he had been a wild man out in the wilderness dressed in camel’s hair and a leather belt. But, he was the greatest prophet. *** The ones who had been baptized by John were justified but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s chosen vessel and were not baptized by him. *** Jesus summed up their generation by saying that their children would prove their wisdom. John had come not drinking wine or eating bread and they said he had a devil and Jesus had come eating and drinking and they called him a sinner. *** God chooses who he wills to put his Spirit in, and it is usually one that offends our flesh to pull out all our faults. This is so obvious in President Trump. People either loved him or hated him with a vengeance. We need to stop and ask God what he thinks of President Trump. God is the one who raised him up and gave him a flesh like stone. God has empowered him to take all the ridicule and abuse that he has been given and not give up. *** We lift up President Trump and pray that You will refresh him and give him courage and strength to fight the war against evil in our world. May Your Spirit guide him, direct and protect him. May he be given all You have promised him and may our nation be saved to honor You. May we all walk in the fear of the Lord.

Mon.’s Devo - Faith of the Centurion

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Pslam 68:1-18; Proverb 11:28 Moses was still giving his speech to his people and was at the part warning them about idolatry. He reminded them of what God did to the wicked at Baal-peor who decided to worship idols with the women of Midian (Numbers 25). And, what happened on Mt. Sinai when God spoke to them with an audible voice and there was fire on the mountain top. God said that He was their God and they were to have no other gods. God only spoke with a voice and they saw no figure of him. He didn’t want them to make any image of him so he didn’t show himself to them. *** Moses went through the Ten Commandments told them that they were to keep them at all times. *** Jesus was in the middle of his most important speech to the people and to us also. He warned us that when we see the faults of others to examine their own lives and see if we weren’t guilty of the same thing. If we have put good treasure in our heart, then good things will come out of it, but an evil person has an evil heart so only evil can come out of it. *** Jesus ended his sermon with this: Only the man who builds his life upon the words of God will stand in the storms of life. *** Then Jesus went into Capernaum and met a centurion who had a dying servant. The centurion had heard of the healing power of Jesus and came to ask him to come to his house to heal his servant. This man was a loved Roman officer who had built a synagogue for the Jews. As Jesus was on his way to his house, he sent a servant to tell him that he didn’t need to make the journey to his house but could just sent the word to heal him and he would be healed. *** Jesus was so amazed that this man understood prayer, faith and authority. When the messengers returned to the man’s house, the centurion’s servant was healed. *** Lord, we thank you that you do answer our prayers and hear our hearts. You are our only God and we trust you with our whole hearts.

Sun.’s Devo - God Controls the Earth

Read: Deuterony 2:1-3:29; Luke 6:12-38; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 11:27 Moses was still recapping the history of their journey through the wilderness to the children. When they traveled north of mount Seir they came to the land of the children of Esau. God told them not to get in any arguments with them. Pay them for any food or water you use on their land because God had given them their land. *** Then they came to the land of the Moabites and God told them the same thing. God had given the Moabites their land for their possession. The giants called Anakims or Emims had lived there before God gave the land to the Moabites. *** The wandered for 38 years until all the first generation had died. Then they passed over the brook Zered which means “the stranger subdued”. The stranger that was subdued was their parents who refused to honor God as their God. They passed through Ar which belonged to the Moabites. Ar means “awakening” and those that had awakened were the ones who God would give the land. *** Next, they came to the land of the Ammonites who had taken their land from the giants called Zamzummims. The Lord had helped them take the land so they could possess it. So the Israelites were not to take their land because He had given it to the children of Esau, the Ammonites. *** But, when they passed over the river Arnon which means “eternity” they came to the land of the Amorites where Sihon was king, God told them to engage him in battle and possess his land. This battle would put fear in the people whose land they were to take in Canaan. *** So, Moses sent a message to King Sihon offering to pay them to let them pass through their land. He refused to let them because God hardened his heart so they would have to engage him in battle. Sihon came out against the Israelites and fought them at Jahaz. Jahaz means “trodden down” and the Lord delivered him to the Israelites and they took all his cities and utterly destroyed the men, women and children so that none remained and spoiled the cities. *** They did the same to King Og, the king of Bashan even though they had walled cities and even though they were giants. Og’s bed was 13.5 feet by 6 feet. His land was given to the Reubenites and the Gadites. Bashan was given to the half tribe of Manasseh. All of this was before they crossed over into Canaan. The fighting men of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh would cross over and fight for the land of their brothers and then return to enjoy their land. *** They were not to fear the people in the land because just like God had given them the land of Og and Sihon, he would give them the land of Canaan. *** Moses prayed that God would let him go over to the land and see what was beyond the Jordan, but the Lord told him not to ask him again. He would not go over, but he could climb Pisgah and see it with his eyes. He was to strengthen Joshua to go over and inherit the land. *** In Luke, Jesus went out to a mountain to pray and when he returned he chose 12 men to be his disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, Judas, and Judas Iscariot. *** A multitude was waiting for him to heal them and cleanse them of unclean spirits. He preached his famous sermon blessing the poor, and those who hunger and weep now. He spoke of a day when all their persecution, tears and suffering would be turned to joy. The ones who were prospering now would not prosper in the end. He told them how to handle their enemies. They were to love them, pray for them, and not seek revenge. They were to treat them like they would want to be treated and have mercy on them. They were not to judge them but forgive them. *** This is very convicting to me in the light of what is going on in the world. To save our souls, we can not let their hatred get into us. We have to be different and let God’s love rule our hearts. *** Lord, help us to live what you have told us is pleasing to you. Help us to forgive and not seek revenge or have hatred in our hearts. May we walk in faith and courage and stand for righteousness and Your truth.

Sat.’s Devo - The Chosen

Read: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29-6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26 The chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh came before Moses to present their case. God had given the daughters of Zelophehad who were in their tribe, the land of their fathers. But, if they married outside of their tribe, that land would go to their husband’s tribe. So Moses told the daughters of Zelophehad that they must marry men in their own tribe so their land would stay in their tribe. They obeyed and married their cousins. *** Deuteronomy marked the end of the wilderness and the beginning of a new life. All the older generation had died off and no one but Moses, Joshua and Caleb were living that had come out of Egypt. Moses brought everyone together to give them one last speech. It was only an eleven day journey from Mt. Sinai to the promised land but it had taken the people 40 years to make it due to their lack of faith and rebellion. Now, there was a new generation and Moses had great hopes for them, so he wanted them to know their history so they wouldn’t repeat it. *** It was the first day of the eleventh month that Moses stood before them. He told them that the land before them was promised to them by God. He told them how he could not bear the burden of ruling over such a great number of people so they had chosen leaders and judges that would judge righteously and fairly. When they came to the border of the land promised them, Moses had chosen 12 men, one from each tribe to spy out the land. They bought back the fruit of the land and said it was a good land that God had given them, but the land had giants and walled cities and the people were greater and taller than them. The only men who came back encouraging them to take the land because God was with them was Caleb and Joshua. So God sent them all to the wilderness. *** When they heard what the Lord said, some of them put on their weapons and were ready to fight but it was too late. God told them he would not go with them. Some went anyway and were chased out by the Amorites and many were destroyed. They returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not listen. They went back to wander in the wilderness. *** In Luke, Jesus called Matthew, a tax-collector to be his disciples. Then he went to his house to eat with him and his friends. The Pharisees judged him for eating with sinners but Jeuss told them that he did’t come to call the righteous to repentance but the sinners. The religious leaders also questioned why his disciples didn’t fast. Jesus told them that you don’t fast when you have the bridegroom with you, but when he is taken away, they would fast. (I’m sure they didn’t get that.) *** He gave them a parable. No one would use a piece of new fabric to patch an old garment because they wouldn’t match. And not one puts new win into old bottles because the new win would burst the bottles and both would be lost. New wine had to be put into new vessels. People that have had the old wine think it is better than the new. *** The problem was that Jesus was bringing new wine. He was saying that you can’t hold on to your old traditions and accept the new God is bringing. *** Lord, may we not be old bottles and old material but may we conform to the new wine. May we be new vessels that can receive the new you are bringing to the earth.

Fri.’s Devo - Cities of Refuge

Read: Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23 The king of the Canaanites was king Arad which means “wild ass”. He heard that the children of Israel were coming. When they came to the Jordan near Jericho, God spoke to Moses and told him when they passed over Jordan into Canaan, they were to drive out all the inhabitant of the land and destroy all their pictures and molten images and take down all their high places. They were to dispossess the people living there and posses their land. *** If they didn’t totally drive out the enemy in the land, they would remain as pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides. They would vex them with their detestable sins like Lot was vexed with the sins of Sodom. *** God gave them the borders of their land so they would know exactly the land he was giving them. They were to divide it and give the land out to the tribes according to their size of people. The land on the east side was not given in the boundaries. It had already been given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. Every tribe was to give cities for the Levites to live in totaling 42. Six more were designated cities of refuge. Three of the cities were on the east side of the Jordan and three on the west. *** These cities of refuge were for a person who accidentally killed another person. He could run to these cities and be safe from the avenger who would be seeking to avenge the blood of their relative who was killed. The murderer would stand before the congregation of priests and be judged. *** If the person was killed with intent in their heart, then the murderer must die. But if he was killed by accident then the priest must hear the case and proclaim whether they were innocent or not. If they were innocent, they must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Then they are free to go and the avenger could not kill him. If he choose to leave the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, then the avenger was free to kill him. *** Spiritually, this means that if we sinned, not knowing the law, God is a refuge from us and protects us from the law. The law is the avenger. We are free from the law when we accept the atoning blood of Christ for our lives. The death and resurrection of our high priest, Christ, sets us free from the penalty and guilt of sin. *** If the person is guilty of intent and there are witnesses, that person must die because blood must be atoned by those who shed it or it will pollute the land. This is talking about a person who is a sinner and doesn’t repent. This person must die for their sins. We should not give mercy to a person who is not repentant because he will continue to pollute society. *** Jesus came to a man who had leprosy and the man begged him to cleanse him. Jesus touched him and made him clean. He told him to go first to the priest and let them offer the offering for their cleansing according to the law so that it would be a testimony to them. *** News spread so fast about Jesus, that he had to withdraw into the wilderness to rest. and pray. One day, while teaching a man was brought to him who had palsy (was a paralytic). There were so many people in the house that the man’s friends lowered him through the roof right in front of Jesus. Jesus proclaimed that his sins were forgiven. The scribes and Pharisees thought this was blasphemous for him to forgive sins. Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them which was harder, to forgive sins or heal. Then he told the man to rise up and walk and he did. The people glorified God. Jesus met Levi (Matthew) who was a tax collector and told him to follow him. Matthew left his job and became a follower of Jesus. *** Lord, may we be repentant and receive the grace of God. Thank you for the blood of Christ that atones us and sets us free.

Thurs.’s Devo - Fishing For Men

Read: Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22 The tribes of Reuben and Gad saw that the land they had taken from the Ammonites was great pasture for animals and they had many. So they went to Moses and asked for that land for their possession instead of land in the promised land. *** At first, Moses was very upset with them but when they explained that they would send their fighting men to help all the other tribes secure their land, the Moses was okay with them living east of the Jordan. *** So, the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh got the territory that had belonged to King Simon of the Amorites and the land of King Og of Bashan. They got all their cities and the surrounding lands. They had fortified cities already there with pens for their animals thus fulfilling Deuteronomy 6:10-11. They drove out any remaining descendants of the land and changed the names of their towns to reflect their names. *** Chapter 33 gives the route the Israelites traveled through the wilderness to Canaan. They left the city of Rameses on the fifteenth, the day after the Passover. They left defiantly, in full view of all the Egyptians. They were busy burying their firstborn. The Lord had defeated the gods of Egypt that night with great acts of judgment. *** Aaron died the 40th year of their wandering at the age of 123. *** Everywhere Jesus taught, the people were amazed at the authority he spoke with. One time he was preaching, a man possess by a demon spoke up and identified him as the Holy One of God. Jesus commanded him to be quiet and ordered the demon to come out of the man. This made the people even more amazed at his authority. *** He went home that day and found Simon’s mother-in-law sick. He rebuked the fever and she got up and prepared them a meal, *** This prompted other people to bring their sick to him that night,. He healed them and cast out demons. *** The next morning Jesus went to an isolated place and the crowds searched for him everywhere. They finally found him and begged him not to leave them. He told them he had to go to others that needed him also. *** Jesus even preached from boats to the crowds at the sea shore. When he had finished, he told Simon to go out and let his nets down deeper. Peter explained that they had fished all night and hadn’t caught any. They would surely not catch any during the day, But they did and their nets were so full it took two boats to bring in the catch. Peter was humbled to his knees and repented. Jesus told him not to be afraid of him, that he would be fishing for men. Peter then left his fishing and followed Jesus. *** Lord, thank you for the callings on our lives that make this world seem so empty compared to you.

Wed.’s Devo - The Battle of Words

Read: Numbers 30:1-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21 God made provision for the vows of a woman. If the husband or father of the woman agrees, then her vow stands, but if he disagreed, he could void it. Thank God for this! This is such a great promise. Every silly vow we have said about ourselves or others goes through God’s filter and he can void the ones we said out of ignorance or that went against his plan for our lives. *** The Midianites were the ones who tried to get the children of Israel to worship Baal in the wilderness. Midian means “strife”. God told them to avenge the Lord by fighting them. Moses sent a thousand from each tribe to fight. Eleazar the priest went with the holy instruments (the ark) and blew the trumpets. They went against Midian and killed all their males. They slew the five kings of Midian and brought down lust, deception, and their doctrine of demons. All the women and children of Midian were taken captive as well as the spoil. They brought them to Moses and he was very upset that they let the women live since it was the women that caused them to sin. He commanded that they kill every woman that wasn’t a virgin and all the male child. All who had killed in the war was to stay outside the camp for a week. They were to be purified on the third and seventh day of their week. Everything they got in the spoils was to go through the fire to be purified. What would burn (like their clothes) would have to be washed in the water of purification. Then they were allowed to enter back into the camp. *** Jesus was baptized and led into the wilderness. There he was tempted of the devil for forty days. He fasted the whole time. The devil tempted him to turn a stone into bread. he told him that the Word said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. *** Then the devil took him up on a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. He told him that he would give him all the power and glory of the nations if he would worship him. Jesus told him to get behind him because he was not worshiping anyone but God. *** Next, the devil brought Jesus to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and told him to cast himself down and let God’s angels catch him. Jesus told him not to temp the Lord. The devil left him for a time. Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit and wen to Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and was esteemed by everyone. *** When he went home to Nazareth, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read. He was given the book of Elijah and found the place where it said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” He gave the scroll back to the minister and sat down. Then he began to tell them that this scripture was now fulfilled in their ears. When they wanted him to do what he had done elsewhere, he told them that no prophet was accepted in his own country. Then he told them that there were many widows in Israel when Israel shut up the heavens and it didn’t rain. But God went to a Gentile in Sidon and saved her. And there were many lepers in Israel when Elisha cleansed the Gentile Syrian. *** When the people heard this they were so angry that he would say this parable to them. They threw him out of the city and tried to throw him over a cliff, but he passed through the crowd and went his way. *** Lord, may our words bring life and healing as yours did.

Tues.’s Devo - The Feasts

Read: Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19 On the fourteenth of the first month on the spiritual calendar, Nissan, they would celebrate the Passover. The next day, 15th, would be unleavened bread, which would be celebrated a whole week. On the first day of the week they were to do no work. Every day during the feast they were to offer a burnt offering which would begin in the morning and continue all day. The last day of the feast was to be holy and no work done. *** On the day of first fruits they were to bring a new meat offering to the Lord and do no work. They were to offer a meat offering and a grain offering. *** In the seventh month on the religious calendar and the first month on the civil calendar, Tishri, they were to celebrate the feast of trumpets. Trumpets were to be blown and many offerings made. No work would be done on this day. On the tenth of this month they were not to work. It was the Day of Atonement. It was the most holy day and they were to afflict their souls in repentance. Offering of atonement were given and the feast would last seven days. *** On the fifteenth of that month it would be the feast of Tabernacles. A countdown of offerings was made. It began with 13 bulls, 2 rams and 14 lambs. The second day the offering would be 12 bulls, 2 rams and 14 lambs. The third would be 11 bulls, 2 rams and 14 lambs. Then the countdown continued with the bulls one less than the day before, but the rams and lambs staying the same. When it got to the seventh day the count was 7 bulls, 2 rams and 14 lambs. But on the eighth day it changed to 1 bull, 1 ram and 7 lambs. *** What does all this mean to us? Here are some thoughts. The Feast of Tabernacle has to do with God living in us and us in him. It begins with us needing more bulls to cover more sin but as the days continue, our need for more bulls diminishes as we become more like him. Seven is the number for completion so that is the number on the seventh day. Eight is the day of new beginning so when we become perfect in Christ, we become a new creature who is perfect and righteous. *** In Luke, Jesus had just been baptized and was thirty when he entered his public ministry. His supposed father was Joseph. His lineage was given and he was of the tribe of Judah. It went all the way to Adam who was the son of God. *** Lord, thank you that you know us by name and we have been chosen before the foundation of the earth to be your child. May we walk in righteousness and be in you as you are in us.

Mon.’s Devo - Out with the Old and In with the New

Read: Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17 The land was divided out by tribes and given out in proportion to how many people they had. Moses and Aaron had been from the tribe of Levi. The tribes were numbered from the age of twenty years old, but the Levites were numbered from the age of one month old (Numbers 3). Twenty was when you could go to war but Levites didn’t fight, they carried the ark and took care of it. At this time, the Levites were not numbered or given land. None of the original people were alive now except Joshua and Caleb. *** The daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh had no brothers so they would get no land. They came before Moses to present their case and God said to give them an inheritance to carry out their father’s name. This became law for men without heirs. *** God told Moses to go up on mount Abarim and see the land he had spent his last 40 years traveling to. He would not be able to pass into it but he could view it. Abarim means “land beyond”. *** Moses asked the Lord who would carry on his position as leader and God chose Joshua to be their shepherd and commander. Moses was to bring him out before the people and present him as their leader before Eleazar the priest. Moses laid his hands upon Joshua and honored him as leader before the people. *** God gave Moses instructions about the burnt offering, the grain offering, the drink offering, the daily offering and the Sabbath offerings. *** In Luke, Tiberius Caesar reigned over the land. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea and Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. But the Word of the Lord came to John who was the son of Zacharias who lived in the wilderness. He preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins all around Jordan. He was the voice in the wilderness that the prophets had foretold. *** John preached that it didn’t matter if you were born a Jew, you had to repent to be saved from the wrath to come. People came to him to be baptized and then asked what they should do. To the people he said they should give their extra to those who had none. He told the publicans to exact no more than that which was appointed to them. To the soldiers he told them to not be violent or accuse anyone falsely. *** The people wondered if he was the Messiah but John told him that he was just baptizing with water but the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. *** When Jesus came to be baptized of John, the heaven opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven saying, “thou art my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.” *** In both of these readings the old charge is being replaced with the new. New wine has to be put in new vessels. The people had to prepare their hearts and minds to follow Joshua now instead of Moses and the people of the New Testament had to prepare their hearts to follow God instead of man. *** Lord, thank you that you always lead us through people, your Word and your spirit. May our hearts be prepared to receive the new you are bringing.

Sun.’s Devo - The Promise Fulfilled

Read: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Pslam 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15 All the people who came out of Egypt and sinned against the Lord were now dead, so the Lord called Moses to recount the people. There were 601,730 registered troops in Israel. When they came out of Egypt and were in their second year there were 600,000 foot soldiers (Numbers 11:21). In their first census when they came out of Egypt the total number of men who could go to war were 603,550 (Numbers 1:45). So their numbers had ebbed and flowed and were a little less than when they came out of Egypt. If thousands hadn’t died because of disobedience there would have been so many more. In this list of the tribes it reminds us of what happened to the rebels from Reuben, Dathan and Abiram who rebelled with Koran and were swallowed by the earth. Their children survived. In the tribe of Manasseh, the Hepherites had no sons so their daughters were named. When it came to Asher’s tribe, the daughter, Sarah was named first. *** I just point these out because they are discrepancies that you usually don’t see in a genealogy back then. *** How ironic, our reading in Luke begins with a woman from the tribe of Asher named Anna. She is a prophet whose husband died seven years after they married. She had lived as a widow after his death until she was now 84 years old. She had never left the Temple but stayed there praying and fasting. She walked up as Simeon was prophesying over Jesus. She began praising God and mentioned him to all who had been waiting for the redemption of Israel. *** Mary and Joseph returned home and Jesus grew in wisdom and the grace of God. When he was 12, he went with his parents to Jerusalem for the Passover. After the feast, they began traveling home. Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with their company but found he was not and returned to Jerusalem. *** They finally found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the doctors asking them questions and giving them answers that astonished them. When Mary asked him why he was still there, he answered, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” *** At 12, every Jewish boy began to be employed in his father’s business. His father was God so he was doing God’s business. Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what he was saying and brought him home where he was subject to them. He grew in wisdom and matured. He also grew in God’s favor. *** Lord, may we grow in wisdom, maturity and grace for your business. We pray for the redemption of the world.

Sat.’s Devo - Our Covenant of Peace

Read: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14 This was Balaam’s third chance to please Barak and get his great reward, but he feared God more than he feared Barak. He didn’t resort to divination this time. He just looked at the people of Israel and the Holy Spirit came upon him and he gave his message. *** He blessed the tents of Jacob and Israel with prosperity, growth of their numbers, and power. They would conquer everyone who got in their way and everyone who blesses them will be blessed and everyone who curses them will be cursed. *** King Balak flew into a rage and shouted at Balaam for blessing them instead of cursing them like he had hired him to do. Balaam explained to him that he had told him from the very start that he had no power over God and God’s word; he would only speak what God said he could say. *** Before they parted ways, Balaam told Barak what Israel would do to his people in the far future. A leader would arise out of Israel who would conquer the Edomites, the Moabites, Seir and the Kenites. David did all of this in his time physically. Jesus destroyed these enemies spiritually when he came. ***Balak did find a way to weaken the Israelites through their Moabite women. They sent them down to lure the Israelites into their licentious worship of Baal. *** The leaders of the people were told to put to death all who were under their jurisdiction who had joined in worshiping Baal of Peor. As they were meeting, a man blatantly brought a Midianite woman into his tent. Eleazar followed him into his tent and killed them both with his sword. This act stopped the plague that had started which ended up killing 24,000 people. *** Because of Phinehas’ zeal for the Lord and his atoning act for the people, he was promised God’s covenant of peace which would be to his seed after him and the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. *** Moses then told the people to attack the Midianites and destroy them because they tricked them into worshipping Baal. *** In Luke, Caesar decreed that the whole world would be taxed so Mary and Joseph had to go back to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. Her baby was ready to come and did come when they got to Bethlehem. She had him in a stable and laid Jesus in the manger where they fed the sheep. *** That night the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds in the field who were watching their sheep. The angel told them not to fear but, they were bringing good news to the people of the earth. Today a Savior was being born who was Christ the Lord. They would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then the sky lit up with a multitude of angels all praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” *** When the angels left, the shepherds wanted to go and see this sign. They found Mary and Joseph and Jesus and he was lying in a manger, just as the angel had said. They told everyone but Mary kept these things in her heart. *** When Jesus was eight days old they took him to the synagogue to be circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. There was a devout man named Simeon who had been told by the Lord that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He was lead to go to the Temple that day and Mary brought Jesus to him to dedicate him. Simeon knew he was the Christ and prophesied over him that now his eyes had seen God’s salvation. He would be a light to the Gentiles and a glory to the Jews. Jesus would be a sign which would be spoken against. A sword would pierce through Jesus’ soul so that many hearts would be revealed. *** Thank you that your light shone on the earth and brought us to the light of your salvation. May we be the light of the world as Jesus was the light of the world that many would come to salvation. Thank you that you have given us your covenant of peace.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Message of Blessing

Read: Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13 Balak has hired a sorcerer named Balaam to curse Israel but God wants to make sure he fears Him enough to say exactly what he wants him to say. *** The angel of the Lord stood before his donkey blocking his way but only the donkey could see him. The angel had a sword drawn and the donkey bolted off the road into a field. Balaam beat the donkey and made it get back on the road. *** The angel went ahead of them and stood where the road became narrow between two walls, making the donkey squeeze by, crushing Balaam’s leg against the stone wall. Balaam beat his donkey again. ***Next, the angel of the Lord went down the road and stood in front of him and there was no room for the donkey to go around him so the donkey sat down. Balaam beat his donkey again. *** God spoke through and for the donkey. He asked Balaam why he had beaten him these three times. Balaam answered and told his donkey that he had made Balaam look like a fool. If he had had a sword, he would have killed him. *** The donkey asked him if he had ever acted this way before and Balaam said he had not. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and showed him what the donkey had seen. God told him he had came to block his way became his way was perverse. Another interpretation of that was that he was stubbornly resisting God. I wonder if he hadn’t been trying to figure out a way to curse Israel and bless them at the same time or if just going to meet Balak was perverse in God’s sight. *** God told Balaam he could go, but only say what he said. Balak took him to the border of his land. There the king sacrificed cattle to their gods and Balaam and Balak’s officials all ate of the sacrificed meat. The next day, they went to see the outer skirts of Israel’s people. Balaam told the king to build seven altars where he sacrificed a bull and a ram on each of them to the Lord. *** God told him to go tell Balak that Israel was a nation set apart and he could not curse what God had not cursed. Israel was prosperous and righteous. *** The king was upset but Balaam told him he had warned him he could only say what God allowed him to say. *** Balak was not finished. He took Balaam to another viewpoint of Israel and told him to at least curse this part. Balaam offered the same sacrifice on seven altars again to the Lord. *** He came back saying that God was not lying when he blessed them. None of his magic had any power against Israel. Then he blessed Israel with conquest over her enemies. *** Balak was so upset because not only did he not curse them but he blessed them and cursed himself. *** Still, Balak would not give up. He took him to one more view point where Balaam offered the same seven altars to the Lord. *** In Luke, Elizabeth had her baby and no one could believe she wanted to name him John since there were no ‘John’s’ in their family. But Zechariah wrote on a tablet, “His name is John” and then could speak. The people marveled at what John would grow up to be. *** Zechariah prophesied that John would fulfill God’s covenant promise to his people. He would be the prophet of the Most High and prepare the way for the Lord. He would tell people how to find salvation through forgiveness of the sins. God’s light was going to shine from heaven and give them light to guide them to the path of peace. *** John grew up in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. *** Lord, it is so wonderful to see a promise fulfilled! John was such a welcome sight. We are so pleased to see the evidence of justice beginning to be shown on the earth You are our defense and our strong tower. We run to you and are safe.

Thurs.’s Devo - Obedience to God’s Word

Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11 As the children of Israel came closer to Canaan, the king of Arad in Canaan attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners. The people of Israel promised the Lord that if he would help them get their people back, they would destroy all their towns. God heard their prayer and gave them victory. *** The children of Israel had asked the Edomites if they could pass through their land. They promised not to take anything and to pay for any food they might need. The Edomites refused to let them pass through so they had to go all the way around their territory into the wilderness. There was no water or food out in the wilderness, so the people cried out against the Lord and Moses. *** God sent them poisonous snakes to bite them and many died. They repented and asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take the snakes away. God told Moses to make a brass snake and put it on a pole and anyone who was bit could look at the brass snake and they would be healed. That snake on the pole is the symbol of healing for the medical field today. *** They traveled on until they came to Beer where there was a well. They sang a song about the well. *** When they came to the boundary into the land of the Ammonites, they sent a message to them like they had the Edomites. They also refused to let them travel through their land and the King of Sihon mobilized his whole army and came out to fight them. The Israelites slaughtered them and occupied their land and captured all their towns and surrounding villages. *** They came to the land of Bashan where Og was the king. Bashan attacked them with his army but the Lord told Moses not to be afraid of him because He would hand them over to Israel also. Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects and none of his people survived. Israel occupied his land also. As they approached Moab, Balak, the king of Moab heard of all they had done to the Edomites and the Ammorites so he took a different strategy. Since he had seen he would not be able to defeat them militarily, he decided he would beat them spiritually so he hired Balaam, a sorcerer to put a curse on Israel. Balak sent messengers to Balaam and offered to pay him to come and curse Israel. Balaam told the men to spend the night with him and he would ask God. God told him not to go with these men and he was not to curse Israel because they were blessed. When the messengers returned to King Balak and told him what Balaam said, he tried again. This time he sent more men in number and importance to Balaam to appeal to his pride. Balak reminded him, he would pay him well. *** Balaam told them that he was powerless against God but if they would stay the night he would ask God again. God told him he could go with these men but he could only say what God told him to say. *** In Luke, Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Gabriel was sent to Mary who was a virgin engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David. *** The angel told Mary that she was highly favored and she was chosen to conceive a son name Jesus. He would be very great and be called the Son of the Most High. He would be given the throne of his ancestor David and would reign over Israel forever. His Kingdom would never end. *** When Mary asked how this would happen, Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her. The baby would be holy and would be called the Son of God. Elizabeth, her relative, was now pregnant too, in her sixth month. *** Mary responded that she was God’s servant and may everything he said come true. A few days later Mary went to see Elizabeth in Judea. When Mary walked in the house and greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She began prophesying over Mary. She acknowledged that Mary would be the mother of her Lord. She blessed Mary because of her faith to believe all God said would happen. *** Lord, may we have the faith to believe that if you say it, we do not even need to question it. May we have faith like Mary and not like Balaam that was tempted to make money from evil kings. May we be God’s servant and give him our lives today to be used for his service.

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Faithfulness

Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proervs 11:8 God gave Moses the law of the red heifer which would stand for Jesus. It’s blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the tabernacle where the congregation stood. Then it was to be burned completely on the brazen altar along with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet. These were all the props at Mt. Calvary. Then the priest was to wash his clothes and bathe in the laver and he would be clean. A clean man was to gather up the ashes of the heifer and take them outside the camp to a clean place where it would be kept for use in the water of separation ceremony. This man would be unclean until the evening. Joseph of Arimathea was that clean man who took the body of Christ to his own tomb. *** If a person touched a dead body, he would be unclean for seven days. On the third day of that week, he was to purify himself and on the seventh day he would be clean. All of this was symbolic. Our lives constitute the seven days. Our day of salvation is the third day. If we are purified on the day of our salvation, then we will be pure before God the day we die. *** The law says that if the water of separation is not put on him, he will not be clean. This could be referring to baptism which cleanses us from our sins. If this is so, it is imperative that we be baptized. God gave us laws for a reason which goes beyond our comprehension. *** The people came to the desert of Zin once again. Miriam die there and was buried. *** There was no water and the people blamed Moses and Aaron. They accused them of bringing them to this evil place that had was not fertile and there was no water to drink. *** The Lord told Moses to gather the people and speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Instead, Moses took his rod and stuck the rock twice and water came out abundantly but God rebuked Moses and Aaron for not doing what he said. He called it the water of Meribah, the same thing he called it in Exodus 17:7 the first time they had come to this exact place. *** Aaron would die here for complaining with the people about not having water the first time (Exodus 17:7). At that time, it says that the people complained against only Moses, meaning that Aaron was on the side of the people. This second time, Moses and Aaron were mentioned together and the people complained against both of them. *** Moses would have to die for not obeying the Lord the second time. God had told Moses to speak to the rock. That rock was Christ and he was struck once for our sins. He doesn’t have to die again for our sins. Now we speak the word of confession and salvation and we are saved. *** It was time for Aaron to die so he was taken up on a mountain for all to see. Moses took the mantle off of Aaron and put it on his son, Eleazar. Aaron then died and the people mourned for 30 days. *** Luke set out to write the story of Jesus by talking to eye witnesses and putting the story in chronological order. He began with the birth of John the Baptist who would announce the coming of the Messiah. *** Zacharias was a priest married to Elisabeth who was of the line of Aaron. Both were righteous people who walked with God. She had been barren, so they had no children and now they were both elderly. *** It was Zacharias’ lot to burn incense this month but when he went in to burn incense, an angel met with him. It told him that his prayer had been heard. His wife would have a son and they were to name it John. It would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He would be great in God’s sight and he would not drink wine or strong drink. He would turn many people to the Lord. *** He would have the spirit of Elijah on him and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and prepare the people to receive the Lord. *** Zacharias questioned the angel about their age and the angel told him that since he didn’t believe, he would not be able to talk until it came to past. *** Zacharias was in the place of burning incense so long, the people outside began to worry. When he came out he couldn’t speak but made motions that let them know he had seen a vision. *** When Zacharias had completed his days as priest, he came home and he and Elizabeth conceived a child. She went into seclusion for five months. She rejoiced that God had taken away her reproach of barrenness away. *** Zacharias had prayed for years for a son. Little did he know that God had not forgotten them and was going to answer them at just the right time he needed his son on the earth. Our prayers are always heard by God. He is faithful. *** Lord, thank you that you answer our prayers even after we are gone from this earth. We proclaim your goodness over our lives, our health, our families and our nation. We say, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. We say good things are coming. Justice is coming. Grace and prosperity is coming. Revival is coming!

Tues.’s Devo - The Honor of the Priesthood

Read: Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7 Two hundred and fifty-four people had died as God poured out his vengeance on Korah and his rebels. The next day, Israel complained and blamed Moses and Aaron for killing them. God was so upset at the people he poured out a plague and people started dropping dead. Moses told Aaron to quickly go and get some coals from the altar in his incense burner and sprinkle incense on it and take it out among the people to stop the plague. He did, but not before 14,700 had died. *** God wanted to stop this arguing over who he had put in authority over them so he told every tribe’s leader to bring a staff with their name carved on it to the Tabernacle. Aaron brought his also. They put the staffs in the Tabernacle and the next morning only Aaron’s staff had leaves, buds and ripe almonds on it to prove that God had appointed him as the high priest and his sons to the priesthood. *** When the people saw what happened to Aaron’s rod they thought God would kill them all. God set Aaron’s rod up as a reminder to the people. *** The Lord told Aaron that he and his relatives, the Levites would be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary but that Aaron and his sons would bear the sins of the priesthood. *** All of the offerings that are not to be totally burnt on the altar would go to the priests for their portion. Any one who was ceremonially clean of their family was allowed to eat them. Everything that was set apart for the Lord also belonged to them. *** Every first born of man and animal belonged to the priests but the people could buy them back for five shekels. The priests were to give the Lord one tenth of everything they received from the people. *** In Mark, as soon as the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James came with spices to put on Jesus’ body. They wondered who was going to roll away the stone for them but when the got there, it was already moved. A young man was in the tomb sitting on the right side of Jesus wearing a long white garment. They were afraid at first. Then the man told them that Jesus was risen and was not there. They were to go tell his disciples and Peter that Jesus has gone before them to Galilee and they would find him there. *** The Mary’s went to tell the disciples but they didn’t believe them. *** Jesus appeared in another form to two men who were walking through the country. No one would believe them either. Then Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and they believed he told them to go into the world and preach his gospel to all people. In his name they would cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents and if they drank any deadly thing, it would not hurt them. They would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. They obeyed and God’s power confirmed his word with signs and wonders. *** Lord, as your priesthood, may we go and do the same that others would be blessed and brought into your family.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Judgment on Sin

Read: Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Provers 11:5-6 Moses instructed the people that would come into the land to give a first fruit of their grain to the Lord. If they unintentionally didn’t do this and wished to repent, they could offer their grain with a sin offering and God would forgive them. But, if a person brazenly violated the Lord’s will and blasphemed the Lord, they would not be forgiven but must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment of their guilt. *** They got to see this happen when a man gathered wood on the Sabbath day. They brought him to Moses and Moses took him to the courtroom in heaven and God declared him guilty. He was to be stoned outside the camp. *** God told the people as a reminder of his laws, they were to sew blue tassels to the bottom of their clothing. *** One day Korah from the Kohathites (Levites), along with Dathan, Abiram and On from the tribe of Reuben came to Moses with a complaint. They had rallied 250 of the prominent men of the Kohathites. They accused Moses and Aaron of lifting them selves above the congregation of the Lord when they were holy too. *** Moses was humbled to his knees. He rebuked Korah who as a Levite already came near to all the holy things of God and ministered before the Lord. He told them to gather all the Kohathites and meet him with their sensors tomorrow at the tabernacle. They would let God decide. *** Then Moses called Dathan and Abiram to meet with him but they refused to come. They accused Moses of bringing them out to the wilderness to kill them and complained that he had not brought them to a land of milk and honey. Moses took all this before the Lord. *** The next day he met with the Kohathites. He told them to take incense and put it in their censors with the fire. Korah and his 250 Kohathites did and then the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from them and the entire population of people because He was going to consume all of them. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and cried out to the Lord for the innocent congregation asking God to only punish the guilty. *** So God told Moses to tell the congregation to separate from Korah and his group. Dathan and Abiram came out of the tents to join Korah. Moses made a proclamation that if these men died a common death, then God had not sent him to lead the people to the promised land. But if God does something new and opens the ground and swallows them up along with their houses, and they go alive to the pit, then all would know that they had provoked the Lord. *** The ground opened and swallowed Korah and Dathan and Abiram along with their families and their tents. All Israel that saw it fled. A fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men that offered incense. *** Moses told Eleazar the priest to take the censers out of the fire and make them into broad plates to cover the brazen altar to be a reminder to the people that no person who was not a descendant of Aaron should enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense. *** Burning incense was very holy to the Lord because it represents our prayers. God watches over our prayers to make sure the devil doesn’t add his prayers. Aaron’s two sons died offering strange incense. God is serious about our prayers being offered with holy hands. *** In Mark, they had kept Jesus up all night questioning him and trying to bring an accusation against him that would stick. They discussed what to do next and decided to take him to Pilate, the Roman governor. *** Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus’ reply was “You have said it.” Then the priests gave their accusations. Pilate asked Jesus for a reply, but Jesus would give him none. *** It was his custom to release a prisoner at Passover so he brought up a well-known murderer and Jesus. He asked the crowd which one he should release. The priests stirred up the crowd to ask for Barabbas. When Pilate asked them what to do with Jesus, they cried “Crucify him!” *** Pilate had Jesus flogged and given to the officers to crucify. He was taken to Pilate’s courtyard and mocked by his soldiers as if he were a king. Then he was led away to be crucified. The soldiers forced Simon to carry his cross. They took Jesus to Golgotha which means “Place of the Skull”. Jesus refused the wine they offered to ease the pain. *** The soldiers nailed him to the cross and divided his clothes and drew lots of it. It was nine o’clock in the morning. The priests at the Temple were beginning to offer their first lamb on the altar and would continue slaying lambs all day until 6. *** A sign was put up saying “The King of The Jews” and two other revolutionaries were crucified on his right and left. *** People passing by mocked him along with the priests and teachers of the law. At noon the sky went dark until three. At three, Jesus called out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” quoting Psalm 22. *** Jesus let out a cry and the veil in the Temple tore from the top down allowing all in to the presence of the Lord. *** Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for Jesus body. Pilat was surprised he was dead already so he sent his soldiers to confirm it. They did and Pilate let Joseph take the body down, He gently wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of a rock. He rolled a stone in front of the entrance and both Mary’s saw this. *** It is amazing how much power the priests had over the government. That should show us that we govern the government as the Eklesia of God. What we say goes so we need to be declaring what we want to see done in our government. *** We declare that all the evil leaders and agendas of our government be thrown down and the justice of God replace the deception in the justice system. We declare that godly people will be put in positions of authority and God’s rightful leader, President Donald Trump will be reinstated as our President. Amen!

Sun.’s Devo - The Devastation of Unbelief

Read: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4 The people chose to believe the bad report of the ten spies instead of the great report of the two. They rose against Moses and Aaron but their protest was really against God. They plotted to choose a new leader and return to Egypt. How could they choose to go back into bondage? *** Caleb and Joshua tried to tell the people how wonderful the land was and how God would surely bring them safely into the land. The people there were helpless prey to them and had no protection while they had God with them. But, the people refused to listen to them and instead wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua. *** Then God spoke. His presence appeared at he Tabernacle. The Lord was angry with the people for being so rebellious and stubborn. God told Moses he would destroy them with a plague and raise up a new nation through him and give them the land. *** Moses reminded the Lord of what the Egyptians would think of him. They would think he was not powerful enough to bring them into the land he promised to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness. *** Moses told God to prove that his power was as great as he claimed. Prove that his love is unfailing and that he forgives every kind of sin and rebellion even though he does not excuse the guilty. Moses begged God to forgive the people. These were the people that wanted to get rid of him and elect a new leader. We see the steadfast love of the Lord through Moses. *** God chose to pardon them, but he swore that they would not enter or see the land he had for them. They would die in the wilderness and he would bring their children into the land. Their children would enjoy the land that they had despised. *** They were sentenced to wandering for 40 years in the wilderness suffering the consequence for their sins. God would be an enemy to those who rebelled. The ten who brought back the evil report were struck dead with a plague. Joshua and Caleb remained alive. *** When the people heard God’s response they were filled with grief. A few of them decided they would enter the land on their own, Moses warned them they would be crushed by their enemies because God would not be with them. They went anyway and were attacked by the Amalekites and Canaanites and chased back. *** The Lord began speaking to the future generation who would enter the land. God is always speaking into our future. He gave them specific instructions about the sacrifices that would please him. God is a loving God who wants us to succeed and be blessed. *** In Mark, they took Jesus to Caiaphus’ house to be tried. Peter followed and listened from the high priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards by the fire while inside they were trying to find something to use to warrant killing Jesus. All their false witnesses contradicted one another until finally some man stood up and said that he hear Jesus say that he would destroy this Temple made with human hands and in three days build up another made without human hands. But what Jesus had said was in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up.” He was talking to the Pharisees and telling them when they destroyed the Temple, he would build it up. *** Since they couldn’t get their stories straight, they asked Jesus what he had to say about the accusations against him. They asked him if he was the Messiah. He answered, “I Am and you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” *** The high priest tore his clothes and accused him of blasphemy. They all gave the verdict of guilty and sentenced him to die. *** Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Peter denied Jesus three times and the rooster crowd. He remembered the words of Jesus and broke down and wept. *** Both of our readings today end tragically because sin leads to death, but we know that the end is resurrection and victory. *** Lord, help us not to be lead by fear and bad reports but remember your promises of freedom and victory. You are the resurrection and the life.

Sat.’s Devo - The Spiritual War

Read: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3 Yesterday we read where Moses was getting overwhelmed with leading this multitude of people, so God put his spirit in 70 men that Moses chose. When the Spirit of God came upon them, they all prophesied. Two of the men chosen didn’t come to the meeting and they still prophesied in the camp. Joshua protested these two and Moses told Joshua not to be jealous of them for his sake. He wished that God would put his Spirit on all of them. *** Yesterday we also read that the people craved the meat they had in Egypt. Moses told God that it was impossible to find meat for all these people in the wilderness. Well, the God of the impossible did it again. He sent quail that flew three feet from the ground and they could catch them in their hands. They caught quail all day, that night and the next day. No one gathered less than fifty bushels! They began gorging themselves on the meat and God was so angry as he watched them that he sent a plague and many died. The place was called Kibroth-hattaavah which means “graves of gluttony”. *** Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses because he married a Cushite woman. They were really jealous of his position over the people. They asked “Has God spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken though us too?” *** Immediately, God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the Tabernacle. God called Aaron and Miriam to step forward and he spoke to them. He told them how he revealed himself to prophets through visions, dreams and riddles but he spoke plainly to Moses, face to face. God was angry with them and when his presence lifted, Miriam was white with leprosy. When Aaron saw it he cried out for Moses to pray for her. Moses prayed for God to heal her. God said that she would have to stay outside the camp for seven days and then she would be healed. Moses was more humble than any other person on the earth. *** We see the spiritual war that is waging under the surface as Satan tries to stir up division and chaos. We have to recognize it for what it is and choose not to participate. *** They traveled again and camped in the wilderness of Paran. God told Moses to send out a leader from each of the tribes to explore the land he had promised them. They were to go into the hill country and bring back a report about the land, the people, the towns and the soil and crops. *** They went out and explored around the city of Hebron. They brought back a cluster of grapes that was so large it took two of them to carry it on a pole. They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs. *** When they returned they gave their report. The land was fertile and beautiful but the people living there were powerful and their towns were large and fortified. They’re were also giants there. Caleb stood and quieted the people and encouraged them to take the land because they could surely conquer it. But the other men who were afraid spread their fear throughout the camp and the people listened to the bad report instead of Caleb’s report of victory. *** In Mark, Jesus was with his disciples eating the last meal with them. He took the cup and offered it to them saying that this was his blood. The next time he drank wine it would be new wine in the kingdom of God. Then they sang a song and went out to the mount of Olives. *** Jesus told them that the shepherd would be smitten that night and they would be scattered like sheep. But, when he had risen, He would go before them into Galilee. They had no idea what he meant till after he had risen. *** Peter said he would not scatter and Jesus told him he would deny him three times that night before the rooster crowed. *** They came to Gethsemene where Jesus told them to sit and pray. He went off from them and prayed sorrowfully. He prayed that the hour he was facing would be passed from him. But he wanted what God’s will was, not his will. *** When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He pointed out to Peter who had bragged about not scattering, that he couldn’t stay awake for an hour. He left them again to pray and came back to find them asleep again. *** Jesus told them to get up because his betrayer was near. Judas walked up with a great multitude with swords and staves. He kissed Jesus to show which one he was. The men with him took him and Peter drew a sword and cut off the high priests servant’s ear. *** Jesus asked them why they didn’t arrest him in the Temple out in the open. He was pointing out the fact that they had to do their evil in the cover of darkness. *** All the disciples scattered just as Jesus had said they would. One young man who had followed Jesus had a long linen shirt on. When they grabbed him he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked. All through scripture you find these men in linen garments who I wonder if they aren’t the priests of God’s Tabernacle in heaven. The Bible calls them watchers. *** Lord, it is encouraging to know that Jesus’ life was orchestrated and you knew every move that the enemy was going to make and were prepared. You are also prepared for every move the enemy is doing now and your plan will be done. We trust in your perfect plan that leads to victory. May we be awake and discerning and not fall for Satan's tricks.

Fri.’s Devo - The Betrayal

Read: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32 Moses was instructed to make two hammered silver trumpets to signal to the people. When both of them were blown the people were to meet at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When only one was blown it was for only the leaders to meet. Short blasts from the trumpets meant to break camp and begin to move. Different blasts were for different purposes. They were also to be blown at the time of the feasts, new moon and when they offered their offerings to the Lord. It was to remind them of God’s covenant with them. *** They finally got to move the 12th day of the second month. They traveled to they came to the wilderness of Pagan where the cloud stopped. When they traveled they traveled in this order: East: Judah Issachar Zebulun The Gershonites and Merarites with all the materials for building the Tabernacle. South: Reuben Simeon Gad The Kohathites with the Ark and the furniture for the Tabernacle West: Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin North: Dan Asher Naphtali *** When they left Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered: Let them flee before you.” and when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel” *** The people soon began to complain about their conditions. God sent fire to destroy some of them on the outskirts of the camp. Moses prayed and the fires stopped. *** Then some of the foreigners from Egypt stirred up those around them to crave the food from Egypt, especially meat since all they had to eat was manna. *** God was very angry at the people and Moses got angry at the Lord. Moses was overwhelmed with the responsibility of so many people who complained all the time. God told Moses to choose 70 leaders who he trusted and He would put his Spirit on them. They would help Moses with the responsibility of the people. Then God told him to sanctify himself because tomorrow they would have meat. It would be for a whole month and they would be sick of it by the time it was over. Moses didn’t see how that would be possible but God rebuked him and asked him, “Has my arm lost its power?” After all Moses had seen the Lord do, this was nothing. *** In Mark, it was two days before the Passover and the priests had decided to wait to kill Jesus until after the celebration. Jesus was at the home of Simon the one who he had cleansed of his leprosy. A woman with expensive perfume came and poured the perfume over Jesus’ head. When some of the people at the table saw this, they asked why she didn’t sell the perfume and give the money to the poor. Jesus rebuked them and told them not to criticize her for her act. They would always have the poor with them but she was anointing his head for burial and her act would be remembered throughout history. *** That was when Judas Iscariot left and went to the priest to arrange how he would betray Jesus. The priests were delighted and came up with a price. *** On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went and set up for their Passover meal together. At the meal, Jesus told them that one of them eating with him would betray him. This distressed the disciples as they asked him if it was them. He explained that he must die, but it would not go well with the one who betrayed him. It would be better if he was never born. *** Lord, I thank you that you notice all we do for you and reward us according to our heart. May we not be ashamed of your name and may we remain faithful and true to your Word.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Substitute

Read: Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30 God told Moses that when he set up the menorah, he was to make the light shine forward because God always speaks of our future. He wants to shine his revelation and light our way into our future. Satan always puts the light on our past and reminds who we were. God sees who we are going to be. *** There was a special ceremony for purifying the Levites. They were sprinkled with water and their whole body was shaved and washed. After they were clean, they were to present a young bull and a grain offering with oil and a second bull for a sin offering. The people were to lay their hands on the Levites and Aaron would present them to the Lord as a special offering from the people. Then the Levites were to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls and burn them on the altar. This set the Levites apart from the people. *** Now the Levites were the substitutes for all the first born of Israel. God shows this substitution principle all through scripture. The ram was given as a substitute for Isaac. Judah offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin in the story of Joseph. Jesus was given as a substitute for us. They would make sacrifices to purify the people so that no plague would strike them when they came to the tabernacle to worship the Lord. *** The Levites were to serve at the age of 35 and retire at 50. Fifty is the number for Jubilee where everyone is redeemed and goes free. *** A year after they left Egypt, God instructed them to celebrate the Passover on the same day they had first celebrated it in Egypt. If in the future they were unclean at that time because they had touched a dead body or were gone on a journey and could not be there, they were allowed to celebrate it the next month on the fourteenth. If they refused to celebrate the Passover they would be cut off from the community of Israel and suffer the consequences of their guilt. If foreigners wanted to join in the celebration they should be allowed to do this. *** From the day the Tabernacle was set up the cloud of God’s glory covered the Tabernacle. When it lifted and moved they were to break camp and follow whether it was day or night. When it lingered in a spot for a time, they were to stay also. They only moved when it moved. *** In Mark, Jesus continues the answer to the question his disciples asked him about the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem. He told them that when they saw the sacrilegious objects standing in the Temple then they must flee to the hill. This will be a time of anguish and turmoil. Many false Christs and prophets would arise and everything on earth and in the heavens would be shaken. *** Then they will see the Son of Man coming ion the clouds with power and glory. He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones. Jesus warning was to stay awake and on guard because no one knows the day or hour this will happen. *** Lord, may we only move when you move. Thank you that you light our path and shine your revelation on us. May we walk in the light as you are in the light and have fellowship with you. Thank you for being a substitute for us and dying in our place.

Wed.’s Devo - A Nazarite Vow

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 A person who wanted to set themselves apart to the Lord in a specials way could take a Nazarite vow. If they chose to do this they could not eat or drink anything that comes from the vine or drink any alcoholic drinks, they must not cut their hair during the time of their vow and they must not go near a dead body even if it is their next of kin. *** If someone died beside them then their hair is defiled. They were to wait seven days then shave their heads. On the eight day they must bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons to the priest. He will offer one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. Then he must reaffirm his vow and let his hair begin to grow and start his time of separation anew. *** When his time of separation is over, he is to bring a burnt offering, a sin offering, a peace offering a grain offering and a liquid offering to the Lord. He will then shave his head and place it on the fire beneath the peace offering. The priest would give the person some of the offering so that he could lift it up to the Lord. Whatever the person vowed during his time of separation he must be careful to do it. *** God gave Moses a special blessing to give to the people which became a popular song during Covid called “The Blessing.” (Numbers 6:24-27) *** Among the twelve tribes, they were to bring six wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. The wagons would be used to carry all the things for the Tabernacle. Each leader of their tribe was to donate certain things on their appointed day. The offering consisted of a silver platter to be used for grain offerings , a silver basin for olive oil, a gold container for the incense, a young bull, a ram and a lamb for burnt offerings, a male goat for sin offerings, two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and fie one-year-old male lambs for the peace offerings. All of these were the dedication offering at the time the altar was anointed. *** Speaking of offerings, Jesus sat watching the people bring their offering to the Temple. He rebuked the teachers of the religious law because they loved their show of importance and piousness while they shamelessly cheated the poor widows out of their property. *** Then he pointed out how one of these widows who gave the smallest gift, gave the greatest gift to the Lord because she gave all she had. *** The disciples brought attention to the massive stones in the walls of the buildings. Jesus said that they would be completely demolished and not one stone would be left on the other. *** Later, the disciples asked him when this would happen and what signs to lead up to it. Jesus told them that many would come first claiming to be the Messiah. There would be wars and threats of war but not to panic. There would be earthquakes and famines, but this is only birth pains. When these things begin to happen, beware because they would be handed over to their local councils and beaten in the synagogues. They would stand trial which will be their opportunity to witness for Him. The Holy Spirit will tell them what to say. Families will be torn apart and betray one another. *** All of this happened just as he depicted after Jesus rose from the dead. *** Lord, may we offer ourselves daily as a living sacrifice and be set apart for service to you.

Tues.’s Devo - We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit

Read: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26 The Koathites were the Levitical division in charge of the most holy objects in the Tabernacle. The Levites only had to serve in the Tabernacle 20 years of their lives - from the age of 30-50. *** When it was time to tear down the Tabernacle and move, the Koathites first took down the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies and covered the Ark of the Covenant. Since they couldn’t look at the ark, I would think they took it down and walked with the curtain backwards covering the Ark much like Noah’s two sons did to cover his nakedness in Genesis 9:22-23. They then put goatskin leather and a blue cloth over the Ark. *** To understand this better, think of the goatskin as being our own flesh and the blue cloth standing for heaven and the scarlet cloth being the blood of Jesus. Moses was instructed to make the objects like the ones God’s showed him on the mountain that were in heaven. So the ones that had the blue cloth are also in heaven. The only one that had purple was the brazen altar because it stood for the cross. Since purple is made with blue and red mixed together it is special. Jesus came from heaven to earth to blend the two as one. He did this by dying on the cross. *** We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit so all of these objects are in us. We have access to the Father through prayer which is the table of incense. We enjoy fellowship as we eat his Word at the table of shewbread. We are illuminated with revelation by the light of the candlestick and we are invited into the presence of the Lord at the Ark of mercy. *** The only one that was covered with a scarlet cloth was the table of shewbread where we drink the wine of his blood. *** The Gershonites and the Merarites were responsible for carrying the items in the Tabernacle when they marched. *** People who had skin diseases that were contagious were to stay outside the camp. If anyone betrayed the Lord by doing wrong to another person must confess their sin and make full restitution and add 20 percent to it. If there is no one living to make restitution to, then the restitution money was to go to the priests. *** If a man suspected his wife of unfaithfulness, then the man was to bring his wife to the priest and he would do a jealousy test. The woman would stand before the Lord and unbind her hair. She was to place her hands on the offering that her husband brought. Then she was to drink the bitter water given to her by the priest and he would pronounce over her a curse if she is guilty. She would then drink the water and if she was guilty her abdomen would spasm and swell and she would be barren. If she was innocent she would experience no ill effects. In this way, the truth would be known and the guilty condemned or the innocent affirmed. *** In Mark, the Sadducees came to Jesus with a trick question to get his opinion about resurrection since they didn’t believe in the resurrection. Jesus proved through scripture that God was the god of life and resurrection. *** Then one of the men listening realized he had answered well and asked him his question. He asked which of all the commandments were the most important. Jesus answered to love God with all your heart then he told them that the second most important commandment was equally important which was to love your neighbor as yourself. By saying this he was condemning the religious leaders who prided themselves in doing the first but failed miserably at the second. *** The man who asked the question had a sincere heart. When he heard Jesus’ answer he said that to love the Lord and others was more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law. Jesus was impressed by this man’s understanding and told him that he was not far from he Kingdom of God. No one dared ask him another question. *** Later Jesus asked the crowd a question. He asked them why the teachers of religious claim that the Messiah is the son of David. They had wrongly taught that the Messiah would be the son of David. Jesus pointed out that David called the Messiah his Lord not his son. The people loved Jesus’ teaching which fed their souls. The teachers of the law hated Jesus for exposing them. *** Lord, help us to keep things in perspective. We choose to put you first and honor the people in our lives.

Mon.’s Devo - The Responsibilities of the Priests

Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25 When the tribes set up camp, they were to camp under their banners in a certain formation. The tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were to camp on the east side of the Tabernacle. When it was time to leave, they would lead the way. They also marched under their banners. *** The tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad marched behind them and were to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle carried by the Levites were to set out from the middle of the camp. Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin came next and were to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle and the divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali brought up the rear and were to camp to the north of the Tabernacle. *** From heaven it looked like a huge cross walking on the earth with the foot of the cross going first. *** The priesthood came from the line of Aaron. He had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar which were all anointed to be priests. Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they offered strange fire before the Lord. After this, God called forward the tribe of Levi and presented them to Aaron to serve as his assistants in the Tabernacle. They were to carry and help maintain all the furnishings of the Tabernacle. Only the priests and Levites were allowed to come near the Tabernacle, anyone else would die. *** Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The descendants of Gershon were given the area west of the Tabernacle for their camp. They were to care for the Tabernacle by carrying and setting up all the outer curtains. The Kohath’s were given the area south of the Tabernacle to camp. Their responsibility was caring for the sanctuary - the Ark, the furniture, the inner curtain and all the equipment used inside the Tabernacle. Eleazar, Aaron’s son was the chief administrator over the Levites and the oversight of the sanctuary. *** The descendants of Merari were to camp north of the Tabernacle and their job was to care for the frames supporting the Tabernacle. *** God told Moses that now the Levites were to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people. God told Moses to take a census of the male sons one month old or older from the tribe of Levi. A census was also taken of the first born sons of the people. There were 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there were Levites so to redeem the extra first born sons they were to collect five pieces of silver for each of them and give it to the priest for their redemption price. *** In Mark, Jesus came back to Jerusalem the next day and came to the Temple area. He was met by the priests and religious leaders who had plotted to kill him. They demanded to know by what authority he was doing all his miracles. *** Jesus was not to be outsmarted. He asked them by what authority John the Baptist operated under. Because they were afraid of the people, they refused to answer him. So he refused to answer them. *** Then Jesus told the parable about the owner of a vineyard who leased his vineyard to tenant farmers. At the time of the harvest, the owner sent his servants to collect his share of the crops. But the farmers beat the servants and sent them back empty-handed. They did that to the next servant and killed the third. The owner decided to send his only beloved son to collect but the evil farmers thought they could kill him and take possession of the vineyard. They murdered his son. *** Jesus asked them what they thought the owner of the vineyard would do. Then he answered his own question. He would come and kill those famers and lease the vineyard to others. Then he quoted Psalm 118:22-23 about the chief cornerstone. *** The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus right them because they knew they were the evil farmers in the story. *** Later, they tried to trick Jesus by asking him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus asked them to show him a Roman coin and asked whose picture and title were stamped on it. They replied it was Caesar’s. Jesus said to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. They were amazed at his answer. *** God is wisdom and that wisdom is ours if we ask for it. He will give us an answer to everything we need. *** Lord, thank you for all the pictures you give us throughout the Bible of your great plan of redemption and salvation. Thank you for your wisdom to navigate our journey through this life. May we plant seeds for the future.