Tues.’s Devo - The Feasts

Read: Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9 The feasts centered around the different harvest times. The first feasts were in the spring at the time of the barley and wheat harvest. These were Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. After they harvested their first fruit, they were to count seven weeks and then celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. *** The next set of feasts were in the fall and they centered around the fruit harvests like grapes, figs and olives. These feasts were Roshashana or the New Year, Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement and Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles. *** At these three feasts, all the men of Israel were to come to the place designated and bring their offering to the Lord. They were to be times of great celebration and joy. *** All the city’s were to appoint judges and officials to judge the people fairly and according to God’s laws. They were not to show partiality or take bribes. *** Anyone found worshiping other gods or constructing altars for foreign gods were to be stoned to death on the evidence of at least two witnesses. Any cases that were too hard for the city judges to decide were to be brought to the Levites. *** When they came into their land, and they wanted a king, it must be the one the Lord chooses. He must be a fellow Israelite. He must not buy horses for himself or send the people to Egypt to buy horses, because God told them never to return there. He was not to have many wives or excessive gold and silver. All these things Solomon did. *** The king was to write for himself a copy of all the law which should be a reference for him to follow. He must do this to remind himself that he is not above his people. If he obeys the law, his kingdom will be established and continue to be passed down to his posterity. *** Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 says that God has made us kings and priests and we shall reign upon the earth. If we write God’s Word in our heart and obey it we will pass our legacy down to our posterity. *** In Luke, Herod heard about what Jesus was doing and was afraid that John, who he had killed, was now raised from the dead. Others said that Jesus was a prophet. Herod wanted to see Jesus for himself. (He would get to see him soon enough.) *** The disciples returned from being sent out and told Jesus all the wonderful things they saw the Lord do through them. Jesus took them apart to Bethsaida but the crowds followed. It was a desolate place and when Jesus had taught all day, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the people home so they could find a place to eat and sleep. *** Jesus told the disciples to feed them. They could only find five loaves and two fish which was not enough to feed over 5,000 people. Jesus took what they had and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to his disciples to distribute. Everyone was satisfied and they took up twelve baskets of left-overs. *** Jesus asked his disciple who the people were saying he was. They told him that some thought he was John the Baptist, others one of the prophets. Then he asked them who they thought he was and Peter spoke up. He said that he was the Christ of God. *** Jesus told them not to tell anyone this. He would be rejected by the religious leaders and killed. He would rise on the third day. If they wanted to follow him that would have to take up their cross daily and follow him. They would have to be willing to lose their lives for him to save their soul. *** Lord, we have all answered the question of salvation. We have given our lives to you to save our soul. May we take up our cross today and bear it proudly for your name sake.

Mon.’s Devo - The Kingom of God Has Come

Read: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7 God warned them that prophets and dreamers would arise and try to get them to go after other gods. It would be a test to them to see if they would follow them. They were to purge the evil from their midst, even if it was their kin. Anyone who drew them away from the Lord were not to be allowed to live. Whoever discovered their evil tactic, were to be the first to throw the stone of death. *** If a whole city turns from God and begins to worship other gods, God’s people were to go to war against that city and kill its inhabitants. All of the spoil from that city was to be burned. *** There were certain animals that would be sinful to eat because of what that animal symbolized, or what that animal ate. What they ate represented what we are to eat spiritually. We are to eat the Word of God and things that are good and true and righteous. The animals they were allowed to eat had to have cloven hoofs, which mean they stand on a firm foundation. The Word is rightly divided and gives us stability. They were to eat animals that chew the cud. This is a picture of a person who meditates on the Word and what he hears before he swallows it as truth. *** They were to eat fish with fins and scales. The fins help it stay upright and the scales cover and protect it. All of these things are what the Word does for us. They were to tithe from the net worth of their field every year. They were to bring it to the place of worship and offer it there and eat it as a family. If they lived too far and had too much to bring, they could sell it in their town and bring the money to buy it again in the place of worship. *** At the end of three years, their tithes were dedicated to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow. *** At the end of seven years there was to be a kind of jubilee where all debt was to be released against their neighbor or kin. This did not apply to foreigners, only their own people. *** If they continued in God’s laws they would be a nation who lent to others and would not need to borrow. *** They were to be kind and giving to the poor. If they had a Hebrew slave working for them, they were to release him in the seventh year with provisions of food, drink and animals. They were to remember where they came from. They were once slaves themselves and God redeemed them. If that slave wants to stay and serve his master then his ear would be nailed to the door of the master’s house with an awl. This would make him his slave forever. *** We were once God’s servants, but when we make him our Lord, we are having our ears pierced to the door which is Christ. We are fellowshipping in his suffering which included being nailed to a tree. God no longer calls us his slaves, but his friends and his family (John 15:15). *** All the firstborn males of the herd and flock were to be dedicated to the Lord. If it was blemished it was to be eaten in the town and not brought to the Lord. They were never to drink its blood. The only blood we are to partake in is Christ’s. *** In Luke, Jesus returned to Galilee and was met by Jairus who was a ruler of the synagogue. His 12 year old daughter was dying. He came to beg Jesus to come to this house and heal her. On Jesus’ way to his house, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came to touch his garment hoping to be healed. When she did, Jesus felt healing power leave his body and heal her. When Jesus found the recipient of his power he told the woman that her faith had healed her. *** Jesus continued to the house of the child and found she had died. He told everyone she was just sleeping and he went and woke her up from death and her spirit came back to her body. Jesus was demonstrating to the people that he alone had power over sickness and death. *** Then, Jesus gave this power and authority to his disciples and sent them out to heal and proclaim the kingdom of God. We have been given the same power and authority and mandate to heal the sick, cast out demons and proclaim the kingdom of God. *** Lord, may we walk in your authority and power and may your kingdom come.

Sun.’s Devo - Choose Blessings

Read: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4 Moses is still instructing the people what to do when they enter into the land, so that they can maintain their blessings from the Lord. The number one thing he told them was to love the Lord and keep his commandments. They had witnessed the miracle at the Red Sea. They saw how they passed over on dry land, while the Egyptians had been drown in the sea. They had witnessed what happened to Dathan and Abiram when the earth swallowed them because they rebelled against God and Moses. *** Moses encouraged them to be strong and courageous and to go in and take the land the Lord had given them. This land is not like the land of Egypt where they had to irrigate to get water. This land is full of rivers, hills and valleys. God blessed this land and it will be a blessing for them as long as they keep his commandments. *** The key to their blessing was in their heart. If they continued to love the Lord and do his commands and teach them to their children they will live long in the land and be blessed. God will drive out their enemies before them. They will flee in fear of them because of their God. *** The choice was theirs either to walk in God’s blessings or to walk in the curse. When they came into the land they were to set the blessing on Mt. Gerizim and the curse on Mt. Ebal. Then they were to cross the Jordan and take the land as their possession. They were to tear down all their altars of idolatry and burn them. They were to seek a place of worship that God could put his name on and that is where they will bring their burnt offerings, their sacrifices, and their tithes and offerings. They were to always take care of the Levites. *** When they came into the land, they could eat meat as long as they drained the blood from it. All offerings to the Lord were to be eaten in the place designated for worship. *** They were not to imitate the worship of the heathens in the land who even sacrificed their children in the fire. *** In Luke, Jesus and his disciples were headed across the sea to the land of the Gerasenes. Every time they went to this land they faced a storm first. The demons did not want Jesus to enter their land. This time Jesus was asleep in the boat. He was awakened by his disciples to do something about the storm. *** Jesus spoke to it and rebuked it and it stopped. Then, he rebuked the disciples for not doing it themselves. He had demonstrated to them already how to do that. The legions of demons were waiting for him on the other side. They all resided in one man. When Jesus went to cast them out of the man, the demons begged Jesus to let them enter into the pigs that were close by. Jesus allowed them to and the pigs ran over the cliff and all drowned in the water. When the shepherds, who were watching the pigs saw this, they ran into the city and told everyone. *** The people came out to see Jesus and the man who was now sane and clothed. They were so afraid, they told Jesus to leave. The man who was delivered begged to go with Jesus but he told him to stay and be his witness. The next time Jesus would come there, the people would receive him with open arms because of this man’s witness. *** We will have trials and tribulation, but we can choose to go through them calmly in peace by our faith. *** Lord, your ways are always perfect. May we exercise our faith to speak to our storms and tell them to be calm. May we speak to our soul and tell it to be calm. Thank you for the peace that surpasses our understanding. We choose to obey you and walk in your blessings.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Seed on the Earth

Read: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3 It was the day they were to cross over the Jordan to possess their land. God made it clear that they were to take no prisoners and destroy them all quickly. God was not helping them conquer these nations because they were so righteous, but because the people who now lived there were so wicked. And, because God had promised their forefathers he would give them this land. *** God reminded the people of Israel how stubborn they were and how they had rebelled against him when Moses went on Mt. Sinai to receive the commandments. They had quickly made a golden calf to worship. God had wanted to destroy them, but Moses interceded for them and saved them. They also caused God to be angry at Taberah, Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah. He wanted to destroy them then also, but Moses interceded for them. *** When Aaron died he was replaced by Eleazar his son. God promoted the Levites to carry the ark and minister to him. *** The Lord only requires that they fear him and walk in his ways, love him and serve him with all their heart and soul. God made the whole earth and chose to love their fathers and chose their off-spring to be his family. God is fair and just and loves those who have no family or no home. He supplies their needs just like he did for them. They began with seventy people who went down to Egypt and now are as the stars in the sky - innumerable. *** In Luke, Jesus gave us the parable about the seed, the sower, and the soil. The seed is the Word of God. God is the sower of his seed, and the soil is the hearts of people. The seed only grew and flourished in the hearts of the ones who heard the truth, held it fast and had a good and honest heart. They are the ones who with patience will bear the fruit of the seed. They are the ones whose light will shine brightly, leading others to the truth. They are the ones who God calls his family. *** Lord, thank you that you have chosen us to be your family. May our lives reflect your righteousness and love.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Promises For His People

Read: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1 There were seven nations in the promised land that they were to defeat. I call them the “ites”. God told them to completely destroy them and have no mercy. They were not to make any covenant of peace with these “ites”, because if they allowed them to live, they would turn them away from serving him and lead them into idolatry. They were also to destroy everything that had to do with the worship of their gods. *** The Israelites were God’s people and were to be holy and set apart from the people in the world. God chose them out of all the people in the earth to set his name on and to love and care for. His covenant with those who love him would last for a thousand generations, but he promised to repay those who hate him. *** God’s promise to his faithful was to love, bless and multiply them. He would bless their womb and their possessions. He would keep them well and help them conquer nations much more numerous and more physically stronger than them. They would not need to fear their enemy because they Lord was with them. He would clear the nations before them by throwing them into confusion until they were destroyed. Their kings would be brought down and destroyed. They were to burn all their pagan possessions in the fire and not covet the gold and silver in them. If they bring any of their idols into their house, their house will be devoted to destruction. (Remember Rachel who stole her father’s idols. She died soon after that.) *** God had tested them and tried them in the wilderness to prepare them for this moment. He had fed them, given them water, kept them safe and clothed. God had given them laws teaching them how to love him and love one another so that they would prosper in all they did. *** When they did prosper and had more than they need, they were to remember where it came from and who allowed them to have it. It is the Lord who gives a person power to get wealth. They were to always remember the Lord and serve him only. *** In Luke, Jesus was invited to the Simon’s to eat. Simon was a Pharisee. A woman who was a sinner, entered the house and knelt at Jesus feet as he was reclining to eat. She wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She kissed his feet then anointed them with the ointment. *** Simon thought that if Jesus was a prophet he would know what kind of woman this was and not let her continue. Jesus perceived his thoughts and gave Simon a parable. *** In his parable there was a money lender who had two clients. One owed him 500 denarii and the other 50. The money lender decided to forgive them both their debt. He asked Simon which would love the money lender the most. Simon replied the one who owed him the most. Jesus explained that this woman, because of her sins owed God the most and is more appreciative of God’s forgiveness than Simon who was “righteous”. This was her way of showing her appreciation. *** Jesus then told the woman that her sins were forgiven and her faith had saved her. He released her to go in peace. The other Pharisees had a big problem with Jesus forgiving her sins. 
 *** Their opinion did not stop Jesus from continuing to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. The women who followed Jesus provided for his ministry out of their means. One of them, Chuza, was married to the manager of Herod’s household. *** Lord, we know that a great wealth transfer is coming to the earth and the wealth of the wicked has been stored up for us. May we remember what we read today and use it to glorify you and grow your kingdom. May we be like the women who supported your work on the earth.

Thur.’s Devo - Love the Lord

Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31 God had made a covenant with the children of Israel at Horeb. He emphasized that he made it with them and not their children. He gave them the ten commandments which sum up all the other commandments. God himself wrote them and did it amidst fire, the cloud and thick darkness. All of them had drawn near and had seen the glory of God and heard his voice. The people agreed to obey the Lord and he heard their promise. God lamented that he wished they would always have a heart to hear him and obey him so that it would always go well for them. *** God commanded them to continue to love him with all their heart, soul and might and to teach their children to do the same. When they enter the land he promised them and live in prosperity and wealth, they are not to forget the Lord who did all this for them. They are not to be tempted to worship the gods of the inhabitants of the land. *** When asked by their children, why they follow the laws of the Lord, they are to tell them how he delivered them from the bondage of the Egyptians with great signs and wonders and brought them to this land. He commanded them to keep his laws so that he could preserve them and keep them safe. *** In Luke, Jesus went to Nain with his disciples and the crowd that were now following him. They came to the gate of the city where a man was being brought out who had died. The man was his mother’s only son. Jesus had compassion on the mother and told her not to weep. He touched the bier that the man was in and told the man to arise. He woke up from his death and was returned to his mother. The people saw this and feared and worshiped the Lord. They believed Jesus to be a great prophet and his fame spread. *** The disciples of John reported to John what Jesus was doing. John sent them to Jesus to ask him if he was indeed the Messiah or should they keep looking for him to come. Jesus told them to tell John all he was doing - the blind were seeing, the lame walking, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf were hearing and the dead were raised. Then he added blessed are those who are not offended in me. I wonder if he didn’t add this last statement because John was offended that he was still in prison when the scriptures say that the Messiah would open the prison doors and set the prisoner free. Jesus wanted him to rejoice in what God was doing, and not in what he was not doing. This is a great word for us. When we don’t see what we are praying for answered, we should rejoice at all the prayers God has answered. We don’t understand God’s total plan and neither did John. *** Jesus then spoke to the people about John praising him as being the greatest prophet of all time. His calling was to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord and he had done just that. The same people that had a hard time accepting John because he wasn’t what they had expected, were the same ones who were having a hard time accepting Jesus because he wasn’t what they had expected. *** Lord, may we give you all our expectations of how you are supposed to be working right now. May we accept your ways and thank you for the things we do see and help us have faith to keep believing in you when we don’t understand.

Wed.’s Devo - Moses’ Last Words

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28 We are reading the last advice from Moses before he is going to leave the earth. He commanded them to keep every law and commandment God had given them and not add or take away from them. He reminded them what happened with the people who began to worship Baal at Baal Peor. *** God’s laws would give them wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the people of other nations. They would envy them for having a God who is so near and hears them when they cry out to him. *** Moses warned them to guard their soul and not forget what they had seen the Lord do for them. They were to pass down these stories to their children and their grandchildren so they would fear the Lord also. They were to recount how they stood at the bottom of the mountain at Sinai and heard the voice of the Lord out of the midst of the fire. They were to recount to them how the Lord himself wrote their laws on tablets of stone. *** When God spoke to them, they didn’t see him so they were not to try to make any image to represent him that resembles any creature on earth. Nor were they to worship the elements in the sky like they did in Egypt. God brought them out of that nation to be his own possession. *** If they did begin to worship other gods, they would not live long in their land. God would scatter them among the nations of the earth where they would worship false gods that were not real. Then, if they began to seek Him with all their hearts and soul, they would find him. In the latter days, when they are in tribulation, they will return to the Lord and obey him. God, who is merciful, will forgive them and he will remember his covenant he made with them and save them. *** What God did for Israel, he had never done before. Never had he birthed a nation with such signs and wonders. He did this so they would not forget him and his covenant with them. It would go well with them as long as they obeyed his commandments. *** Moses set apart three cities of refuge in the land they now possessed which was now the land of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. Theses cities were Bezer in the land of Reuben, Ramoth in Gad and Golan in Manasseh. *** In Luke, Jesus gave a parable explaining that everything we do comes from our heart. If our heart is bad then we cannot do good, but if our heart is good, then we will do good. The things we complain about in others are the blind spots in our own eyes. *** Those that followed Jesus and actually did what he preached were building firm foundations to stand on during the storms of life. Those who just listened and didn’t let it affect their lives would not stand in the storms. *** Jesus then went into the town of Capernaum. One of the centurions sent his elders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant who was very valuable to him. They spoke highly of the centurion telling Jesus how he had built their synagogues for them. Jesus followed them and when he was near the house, the centurion sent servants to Jesus. The centurion didn’t think he was worthy to have Jesus come to his house, but if Jesus would pronounce his servant healed, it would be enough. Jesus marveled that this man understood the power of confession and prayer. He commented that he had not found such faith in Israel. When the servants returned home, they found the servant healed. *** Lord, may we have the faith to believe in things we cannot see. Thank you that you hear our every prayer and you answer when we cry for help. We honor and praise your name.

Tues.’s Devo - God Reigns Over All

Read: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29; Luke 6:12-38; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 11:27 The children of Israel had been traveling around the mountain country of Mt. Seir until the Lord told them to turn north. They would pass through the land of Esau who would be afraid of them. They were to be considerate of them and their land because the Lord had given their land to them. They were to pay for food and water with all the Lord had blessed them. The land Esau lived in had been given them as a possession just like the land God was giving them in Canaan. *** Then they would go through the wilderness of the Moabites. They were to treat them the same as they treated Esau’s people. God had given the Moabites their land and they were just to pass through. The Lord had helped the Moabites take their land from the Anakim and the Horites who were giants. *** Next, they were to pass through the land the Lord had given to the people of Ammon. The Moabites and the Ammonites were both descendants of Lot. They had both dispossessed the giants that lived in their land by the help of the Lord. *** God was showing the children of Israel that He was the one who owned the land, and he could give it to whoever he wanted. The people of Esau, the Amonites and the Moabites had all encountered land possessed by giants and had prevailed. This should encourage them that they could also possess their land full of giants. *** Once they had passed through their relative’s land they would come to the land of Sihon the Amorite. They were to war with him and take his land. God would cause the whole earth to fear them because God was with them. *** First, they sent word ahead to Sihon the king of the Amorites asking if they could pass peacefully through their land. They offered to pay for their food and water. God hardened Sihon’s heart so he wouldn’t give them permission to pass through their land. Now, they had a reason to war with Sihon. Sihon came out against them to fight and God gave the Israelites the victory. They took their cities and their land leaving no survivors. They kept the livestock and the possessions. *** Then they traveled to Bashan and met king Og. He met them to battle and the Lord gave them over to him as he did king Sihon. Their land was given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. They settled their children and wives in the land, then their warriors went with the rest of Israel into possess the land God had given them. *** Moses was allowed to go up on Mt. Pisgah and see the land he had spent his life leading the people to possess. He came down and charged Joshua to be strong and courageous and take possession of the land because God had given it to them. *** In Luke, Jesus and his disciples were together with a huge crowd of followers. Jesus began to teach them and bless them. He blessed them with the kingdom, satisfaction, laughter, and joy in the midst of persecution. Then he cursed their persecutors - those who were now rich, full, laughing and revered, because they wouldn’t end up that way. *** To those who had ears to hear, he told to love their enemies, bless the ones who cursed them and pray for their abusers. He told them to return good for bad and do to their enemies like they want to be treated. *** We are to do the hard thing that is not natural because God is love and he loves the sinner. We are to be merciful like God is. We are not to judge or condemn because that is God’s job. We are to forgive and be kind because that is what will come back on us if we do. *** Lord, may we store up treasures in heaven with our attitude, our actions and our love. May we remember how you have forgiven us, and give that same forgiveness to others. May we remember that it is You who own the whole earth. You decide who rules and who owns the land. May we trust you to bring us into our possession.

Mon.’s Devo - The New Wine

Read: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29-6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26 The heads of the clan of Gilead from the tribe of Manasseh came to Moses and explained that if the daughters of Zelophehad received their inheritance from their father then married a man outside their tribe, their land would eventually end up belonging to that tribe. So, Moses got the Lord’s counsel and told the daughters of Zelophehad that they must marry within their tribe so this wouldn’t happen, so they did. Moses made a command for all the tribes that they must marry within their tribe to maintain the integrity of the land given to each tribe. *** It had now been 39 years and 11 months since they had been told they would have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief. They had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites and Og the king of Bashan. God told them that it was time to go in and possess their land in Canaan. They had multiplied into a great nation and they would continue to grow. When they became too many for Moses to manage, he had told them to appoint wise, understanding and experienced men as their heads throughout their tribes, and they had. These men judged the people within their tribes. *** When they had come to the land the first time, they asked to send out spies to spy out the land first. Each tribe had sent one man. They brought back word that the land was good, but they were too afraid of the giants in the land to go in and possess it. The only ones who brought back a good report were Caleb and Joshua. *** God was angry with the people. They had forgotten all God had done for them and how he led them with his glory. God told them that they would not enter the land, but their children would. They were sent to the wilderness to die. Some sinned and decided to go possess the land without the Lord. They were humiliated and driven back. *** In Luke, Jesus had just called Levi (Matthew), the tax collector to follow him. Levi was so excited he had a great feast in his home and invited all his fellow tax-collectors to come. The Pharisees and scribe showed up and criticized Jesus for eating with such sinners. Jesus told them that it wasn’t those who are well who needed a doctor, but it was those who were sick. He had come to call the sinners, not the righteous to repentance. *** Then the Pharisees and scribes complained that John the Baptist’s followers fasted, but his disciples didn’t. Jesus explained that you don’t fast when you have the bridegroom with you. The day would come when the bridegroom will be taken away and then they would fast. *** He told them two parables. One was about sewing a new piece of fabric on an old garment. It wouldn’t work because it would shrink when it got wet and tear away from the garment. The next parable was about putting new wine in old wineskins which would break them. *** Jesus was the new material and the new wine. They would have to change their mindsets if they wanted to receive his new fabric and new wine. *** Jesus then demonstrated this in the next things he did. He allowed his disciples to do things their law did not allow because they were hungry. Then he healed on the Sabbath. All of these things upset the religious status quo. They were living in old mindsets - old wineskins and old garments. Jesus was there to do a new thing. *** Lord, may we put on the new man in Christ who is the new wine and the new garment. May we walk in truth and light. May you make our paths straight.

Sun.’s Devo - When You Come Into the Land…

Read: Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23 In the middle of their travel log we have the statement that the people who lived in Canaan knew they were coming to Canaan. Todays, travel takes us from where Aaron died on Mt. Hor to the Jordan River in the plains of Moab across from Jericho. *** The Lord told Moses to tell the people they were to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their images and places of their worship. They were to possess the land because God was giving the land to them. If they failed to drive them out, they would become thorns in their sides and a stumbling block for them. *** God gave them all the borders of their land. The nine and a half tribes yet to receive their land would receive it by lot. Their lot would be sized according to the number of people they had. Every tribe was lead by the chief the Lord appointed. *** Each tribe was to give some of their cities to the Levites for them to live in. These cities should have pasturelands for the Levites livestock and beasts that extend outside their city a thousand cubits on all sides. Six of these cities were to be cities of refuge where a person could run to if he accidentally killed a person. There, he could present his case and be allowed to stay until the death of the high priest, then he would be allowed to go home safely. If a person murdered a person with intent then he must be put to death. *** How interesting that we are talking about cities in the Old Testament and our New Testament scripture opens with: “While Jesus was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.” This is a great picture of what would happen in a city of refuge. The person would come to the priest at the gate of the city and present his case just like this guy did. The man at the gate would decide if his story was plausible enough to investigate. He would determine if the guy could enter the city of refuge. This man in Luke told Jesus that if he wanted to he could make him clean. Jesus was the priest who would decide. He touched him and the leprosy left him. He told him to go and present himself to the priest as proof of his miracle. Other books tell us that he didn’t do this. *** One day, while Jesus was preaching, a paralyzed man was brought to him on his bed. The crowd was so thick, the man was lowered through the roof in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of this man’s friends and told the man that his sins were forgiven. The scribes and Pharisees heard this and thought he was blaspheming God for thinking he could forgive sins. Jesus told them that to prove he had the power to forgive sins, he told the man to get up and walk and he did. *** Then, Jesus went out and demonstrated his point even greater by choosing the tax collector, the chief of sinners in the eyes of the religious, to be his follower. He chose Matthew. *** When we are saved, we have entered into our land and we have to drive out all the past inhabitants of our land like fear, hate, envy, lust, religion, etc. *** Lord, thank you that you forgive our sins and chose us to walk with you. Thank you that you are our city of refuge where we can run and receive forgiveness of every sin we can imagine.

Sat.’s Devo - Possessing the Land

Read: Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psaom 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22 The children of Israel had just fought and conquered the Midianites. Their land was fertile pastureland and since the people of Reuben and Gad were shepherds, they went to Moses to ask to possess their land instead of land on the other side of the Jordan. *** Moses was not for it at first, until he learned their plan. They promised to set up cities for their families, then send their men of fighting age over the Jordan to help all the tribes conquer their land. They would not come home till every tribe possessed their land. When Moses and Eleazar and Joshua and the other leaders of the tribes heard this, they agreed. Half of the tribe of Manasseh also joined Gad and Reuben. *** Chapter 33 is a summary of the travels of the children of Israel from when they left Egypt the night of the first Passover to the day Aaron climbed Mt. Hor and died. *** In Luke, Jesus went to Capernaum, a city of Galilee and taught on the Sabbath. An unclean demon manifested in a man who was there. He began crying out that Jesus was the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the demon and told him to come out of the man. The demon threw him down to the ground and then left him. The people were amazed at the authority Jesus had in his preaching and over evil spirits. Word spread about Jesus. *** Jesus was staying at the house of Simon Peter whose mother-in-law was ill with a fever. He rebuked the fever and she got up immediately and began to serve them. *** Many brought their sick and diseased to him for him to lay his hands on them. Jesus healed them all and would not allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. *** One day, when Jesus was by the lake of Gennesaret he saw some fishermen in their boats washing them nets. One of the boat belonged to Simon. He asked them to let him preach from their boat. They put him on the boat and pushed their boat away from the shore so he could speak to the crowd. When he was finished preaching, he rewarded them by telling them to cast their nets. Simon complained that they had fished all night and it was useless but he obeyed and let down his net. Their net instantly filled with so many fish they had to get the other boat to help them. They filled both boats full with fish until they were both about to sink. Simon Peter saw the miracle and fell on his knees before Jesus. Jesus told him not to be afraid because from now on he would be catching men, not fish. From that moment on, Peter, James, John and Andrew left fishing and followed Jesus. *** Lord, may we be like those disciples who quickly responded to Jesus’ word. Thank you that you have revealed to us who you are. Everything in heaven and on earth is under your control. You are our Creator and Sustainer.

Fri.’s Devo - Jesus’ Rejection

Read: Numbers 30:1-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21 When I read the laws about making vows I am so thankful for these laws because I think of the thoughtless vows I have made that I know the Lord opposed and kept me from having to keep them. Just think of things we say like, “I’d rather die than…”, or “Over my dead body…” We have so many euphemisms which are so detrimental to our health and spiritual well-being. It is a great thing that God as our Father can step in and annul it, or Jesus as our husband can also. *** God told Moses that he was to avenge the people of Israel by fighting the Midianties. They were to send one thousand warriors from each tribe to fight against them. Phinehas, the priest went with them to war with the vessels of the tabernacle and the trumpet to sound for the attack. *** God gave them total success and they killed Balaam who had been paid to curse them, only God wouldn’t let him. They took the women and children of Midian captive and all the spoil. When they brought them to Moses he was so angry with them because they let them live. These were the very ones who led Israel to worship Baal. He told them to kill every male child and every married woman. The virgins could be spared. Those who did this were to stay outside the camp for seven days to be purified. *** They made it a law that the only plunder they could take from an enemy was metal that could go through the fire to be purified and anything that could be washed in water. They were to wash their own clothes, then on the seventh day they would be clean. *** We go through battles and trials all through our lives. We try to be clean and pure through it all, but it is impossible since we are humans. On the seventh day when everyone is judged, everything we have done will go through the fire and the water and what survives will be what will stand as our good deeds before the Lord. *** When they counted all the plunder, it was split between the people who went to battle and the ones who stayed home. A small part of the half that went to the warriors was given to Eleazar as the Lord’s part. A larger part was taken from the people’s half and given to the Levites who guarded the tabernacle. The plunder was abundant as listed in verses 32-47. *** When the officers did a count of their soldiers they found that not one had died. They freely gave of their plunder to the Lord as a thanksgiving for saving them all. Their gifts stood as a memorial to the Lord of what he had done for them. *** In Luke, Jesus went from baptism to the fire of testing. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness just for this reason. He fasted the whole 40 days and nights and at the end of the time, the devil came to him to tempt him to turn a stone into bread. Jesus gave scripture saying that man doesn’t live by bread alone. *** Then the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a glimpse. The devil promised to him him authority and glory on earth if he would bow down and worship him. Jesus told him he would only worship the Lord and only serve him. Lastly, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and told him to jump because the scriptures say that he could command angels to catch him. Jesus rebuked him for testing God. The devil left him to fight another day. *** Jesus returned to Galilee filled with God’s Spirit. He taught in the synagogues and was becoming well-known. Then he went home to Nazareth and was not as well received. When he went into the synagogue that Sabbath, he stood up to read the scripture for the day. He took the scroll of Isaiah and found the place where it said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. When everyone was looking at him for an explanation, he told them that today that Scripture is being fulfilled in their ears. *** He knew they were questioning his authority because they knew he was just Mary and Joseph’s son, so Jesus reminded them that a prophet is never accepted in his hometown. Jesus told of two stories which all had to do with outsiders. God had chosen to save the widow in Sidon during the famine when there were many godly people dying in Israel. And God had healed the leper from Syria when there were many lepers in Israel that he didn’t heal. He was using these stories to tell why he couldn’t heal them of his own hometown, but could heal many people elsewhere. It had to do with their faith. This made the people so mad that he would insinuate that God would choose to help, especially the Gentiles over them, that they drove him out of town to a cliff. They had planned to throw him off, but Jesus just walked right through the crowd and left. *** May this be a lesson to us, that God is God and he can do whatever he wants for whoever he chooses. We don’t have the right to challenge his decisions. *** Lord, may we walk in gratefulness that you would move in anyone you choose. May we be joyful for those you choose to bless and not jealous or feel entitled. We choose to love and worship you because you are God and that is enough.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Offerings of the Feasts 3-19-26 Read: Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19 God went through the feasts and told them what was to be offered at each of them. Atonement was made at each feast. Passover was first followed by Feast of Unleavened Bread the next day. Then First Fruits and the Feast of Weeks. Those feast were the spring feasts. *** In the fall, on the first day of the seventh month was the Feast of Trumpets, then on the tenth day of that month was the Day of Atonement, the most holy day. On the fifteenth of that same month was the Feast of Tabernacles where the most interesting sacrifices were given. The Feast of Tabernacle lasted seven days. The sacrifices were the same each day except for the number of bulls. On the first day the number of bulls was 13, then every day it counted down one less bull ending with seven on the seventh day. Then on the eighth day it began over with only one bull. *** The feasts are God’s timetable of events. The Feast of Tabernacles, the last feast, is a picture of Christ’s reign on earth. On the eighth day, they do a celebration of the Torah which is called Simbat Torah. That is the day they begin reading the Torah again starting with Genesis One. This represents the day when everything will start over with a new heaven and a new earth. *** In Luke, Jesus begins his ministry at the age of 30 as Joseph’s son. We are given Joseph’s lineage which is taken all the way back to Adam who was the son of God. Joseph is from the line of Judah and a descendant of David. Many great people like Boaz, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, and Methuselah were in his line. *** Even though Joseph was not Jesus’ blood father, he was chosen by God to father him on earth. His lineage was important because it determined that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. *** Lord, thank you that you wrote each of our stories. Our beginning and the end. We trust your plan for our lives even when we don’t understand it. We know Jesus had days where he didn’t understand the plan either. Help us to walk by faith and trust in the author of our book.

Wed.’s Devo - In Need of a Saviour

Read: Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8 Proverbs 11:16-17 God told Moses what to do with the census he had taken. He was to divide the land and give the largest land to the tribes with the largest number of people. *** The Levites were listed according to their clans - the Gershonites, the Kohathites and the Merarites. Moses and Aaron were from the Kohathites. There were 23,000 Levites from the ages of a month old and upward. They were not given an inheritance in the land because the Lord was their inheritance. *** We are a kingdom of priest according to 2 Peter and our inheritance is not earthly but heavenly. Our inheritance is the Lord. *** This new census didn’t include any of the first census Moses had taken. They had all died in the wilderness because of their sin, except for Joshua and Caleb who brought back a good report about the land the Lord had given them. *** The daughters of Zelophehad who had no brothers came to present their case. They wanted to inherit their father’s land when he died. Moses sought the Lord’s counsel and he agreed with the women. It became a presidence that if a person died without a son, their land would go to their daughters. If he had no children, it would go to his brother, then if that was not possible it would go to his closest of kin. *** Moses was then taken on the mountain where he could see the land he had brought the people to, but he would die there and not get to enter. The land had never been about Moses, it had been about God’s promise to his people. *** Moses asked the Lord to appoint a leader for the people and God chose Joshua. He was to stand him before Eleazar, the priest and all the congregation and commission him so everyone would see who God had chosen to lead them. *** Then God gave Moses the details of the different offerings the people were to offer to him. They were to also bring offerings on the Sabbath and on their new moon at the beginning of their months. Everything was to begin with honoring him and being thankful. *** In Luke, Luke makes sure we understand that Judea was ruled by non-Jews. Iberius Caesar was in his 15th reign over them. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea and Herod was the tetrarch over Galilee. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priest who were not chosen by God. They needed a Savior. *** God came to John who lived in the wilderness and told him to begin baptizing people who wanted to repent of their sins He was the voice in the wilderness telling the people to get their lives ready to receive the salvation of the Lord. *** John told them that being a child of Abraham was not enough to save their soul from sin. They need to change the way they lived. Stop extorting money from one another and begin honoring God in the way they treated others. *** People began saying that John could be the Messiah but he quickly put a stop to that. He told them that he only baptized with water, but the one coming was far greater than him and he would baptized them with the Holy Spirit and fire. *** John reproved Herod the tetrarch for taking his brother’s wife, Herodias from him, so Herod had John put in prison. *** Before this, John had baptized Jesus and when he did the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” *** Lord, may we remember to always be thankful every day for what you have given us. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins and save us from death.

Tues.’s Devo - The Father’s Business

Read: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15 Twenty-four thousand had just died in the plague God sent to punish Israel for their rebellion. God told Moses to count how many were left to go to war - 20 years of age and older. Here are some interesting facts from our list of tribes. In Reuben’s tribe Dathan and Abiram and their families had been swallowed up with Korah. But, Korah’s family, who were sons of Aaron were not killed. *** In the tribe of Manasseh, one of the clans had no sons but had five daughters. *** The tribe of Dan only had one clan which were the Shuhamites, yet they had the most people other than the tribe of Judah. Shuhamite means “their pit.” I always think of the tribe of Dan like Judas Iscarot, the tare in the field. The tribe of Dan was know throughout the years for their idolatry and wickedness. Dan means “to judge.” *** In Luke, Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to the Temple to dedicate him to the Lord and a prophetess named Anna was there. When she saw him she gave thanks to the Lord because she knew he was the one who would bring redemption to Jerusalem. *** When Jesus was 12, he went with his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When it was over, his parents began their travel home, only to find out Jesus was not with the group. They had to return to Jerusalem and it took them 3 days to find him. When they did, he was in the Temple astonishing the teachers with his answers and understanding of God. Mary asked him how he could have done this to them, he replied, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business.” *** Jesus had just turned 12 and it was customary for the son to then begin to work in his father’s business. Jesus’ father was God and his business was in the Temple, so it made perfect sense to Jesus to stay and work there. *** Jesus submitted to his parents and returned home to do the business of a carpenter like Joseph. Jesus increased in wisdom and favor with God and man. *** Lord, may we be about your business on the earth. May we increase in wisdom and favor with you and with man.

Mon.’s Devo - Infiltrating Israel

Read: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14 Balaam realized that God enjoyed blessing Israel so this time he didn’t do all his rituals to get God to talk. God’s Spirit came upon him and he spoke. He described the dwellings of the Israelites as beautiful gardens beside a river. God himself would water them and cause them to prosper and multiply. God brought them out of Egypt to destroy other nations. Blessed are those who bless them and cursed are those who curse them. *** Needless to say, Balak was not pleased with this prophecy especially since he was the one wanting to curse them. He told Balaam to flee from his presence and he would receive no honor from him. Balaam reminded him that he had told his servants from the start that he could only say what the Lord allowed him to say. Then he added that he would tell him what the Israelites would do to Balak’s people in the latter days. *** A star and a scepter (a king) would come out of Jacob and he would crush Moab, Edom, Seir, Amalek, and Kittim (Greece and Italy). *** Balaam and Balak departed but not before he gave Balak some advise in how to take Israel down. Revelation 2:14 tells us that Balaam taught Balak how to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel - how to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. So the next thing we read is that the daughters of Moab were the stumbling block. They taught the people of Israel to worship Baal. *** God was so upset he told Moses to take all the leaders of this rebellion and hang them in the sun. Before they could act on this a man brought a Midianite woman to his family and into his tent. This was so flagrant that when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar saw it, he took a spear and went into the man’s tent and drove it through both of them. This stopped the plague that had begun. Twenty-four thousand died in the plague. *** Moses was so proud of what Phinehas did he blessed him with the covenant peace and the covenant of a perpetual priesthood to him and his descendants. The man killed was a chief in the tribe of Simeon. The woman’s name was Cozbi which means “my lie” from Zur which mean “to besiege.” So that means that she was sent to bring them down through deceit. Isn’t that what a stumbling block is supposed to do? *** In Luke, Caesar Agustus made a decree that all the world had to go register themselves at their birthplace. Joseph had to go to Nazareth to Bethlehem where he was born to register. He took Mary his fiancé with him. She was about to deliver and barely made it to Bethlehem. Jesus was born in the stable and placed in the manger because the inns were full because of the census. *** Shepherds outside of Bethlehem were visited by an angel of the Lord. He told them that he had great news. A child had just been born as a gift to them who is Christ the Lord, their Savior. They would find him in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Then the sky was filled with angels who sang glory and honor to the Lord and peace to the earth. *** When the angels left, the shepherds wanted to go to Bethlehem and find this baby. They did find him and told many people what they had heard from the Lord. Mary treasured these words in her heart. They left praising the Lord for what he was doing. *** Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and given the name, Jesus. Then Mary and Joseph brought him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice. *** A old man named Simeon was there who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die till he beheld the Lord’s Christ. He took Jesus in his arms and blessed him as a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Simeon also blessed Mary and Joseph and told Mary that many in Israel would fall and many rise because of Jesus. She would feel the sword in her own soul, but Jesus would reveal the heart of many. Boy, did that ever come true and is still true today. *** Lord, we are so thankful you sent your son, Jesus to reveal hearts, to be a light of revelation to us, and to see Israel be glorified. We trust what you are doing right now in Israel and know that you are causing the rise and fall of many. May your name be great in the earth!

Sun.’s Devo - From Curse to Blessing

Read: Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13 God had told Balaam to go with the men of Moab, but he wanted to make it clear who was in control, and that he was not pleased that he was following this king who wanted to put a curse on Israel. The angel of the Lord went and tried to stop Balaam from going three times, but Balaam was spiritually blind and couldn’t see the angel posed with a sword. But his donkey could and tried to avoid the angel. Each time Balaam struck his donkey. The third time, his donkey spoke! Surely, that was not a common occurrence. But, instead of being shocked his donkey was talking, Balaam carried on a conversation with it. Balaam was probably used to strange phenomenon since he was a sorcerer. *** God finally opened Balaam’s eyes so he could see the angel with the sword. He bowed down in reverence and fear. God told him he could continue, but this was a warning to only speak what he said. *** Balak met Balaam and Balak was incensed that he had waited so long to meet with him and get his reward. Balaam told him he didn’t have the power to speak just anything he wanted. He could only speak what God put in his mouth. His ability to curse on demand had been denied him by the Lord. *** Balak took Balaam to a place where he could see a small portion of the children of Israel. Balaam went through his rituals with his seven altars and sacrifices, then he spoke what the Lord told him to say. Instead of cursing Israel, he blessed them as upright who would multiply and have a good ending. *** Balak was very upset that Balaam had blessed them and not cursed them. He took Balaam to another place where he could view a different tribe of Israel. Once again, Balaam did his seven altars and consulted the Lord. He gave Balak the message. God wasn’t a god who changes his mind. He brought Israel out of Egypt and their is no enchantment that can be used against them. They will rise up like a lion and devour its prey. (I wonder if he wasn’t looking at the tribe of Judah.) *** Balak was not happy with Balaam, even though he kept telling him he could only say what the Lord said. Balak was not giving up. He took Balaam to a third place hoping he could curse them from that viewpoint. Once again, Balaam prepared his seven altars and his sacrifices. (You would think that Balak would give up by now, but his life depended on Balaam’s curse.) *** The amazing thing about this story is that Israel had no idea this was going on. They were grumbling over food and water and their discomforts of the moment and didn’t realize God was protecting them from being cursed by their enemies. I wonder how many times this happens in our lives and we don’t even know the warfare is going on. God is a great defender and protector. He is our loving Father. *** In Luke, Elizabeth had her son, John, and just like the angel had said, many rejoiced with her at his birth. When the baby was brought on the eighth day to be circumcised, they assumed his name would be Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth said the boys name was John. Zechariah still couldn’t talk so he wrote John’s name on a tablet and immediately his mouth was opened. The first thing he did was to bless the Lord. The people who saw this were amazed and the word of this miracle spread. They wondered what God had in store for this child. *** Zechariah prophesied that God had visited his people to redeem them. John would be a prophet of God who would go before the Lord to prepare his way. He would tell the people of God’s salvation and forgiveness of sins. He would give light to those who were spiritually blind and lead them to the path of life and peace. *** John grew up in the wilderness until it was time for him to appear publicly to Israel. *** Lord, thank you that no curse can touch us when we walk with you. You guard over us and make sure we are blessed. Thank you for your great love.

Sat.’s Devo - Victory After Victory

Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11 The Edomite king had refused to let Israel pass through their land so they had to go around their land the long way to Canaan. When they got to Arad, land owned by a Canaanite king, he came out to fight them. Moses vowed if the Lord would give them victory over him, they would devote their cities to destruction. God gave them victory and they destroyed their cities. *** The people began to grumble again about their conditions. The Lord sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many died. They repented for complaining, and begged Moses to ask the Lord to take away the serpents. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. When the people looked at it they would live. We see that symbol today on medical buildings. *** They came to a well and the Lord told Moses to have the people sing to the well and it brought forth water for them. They soon came to the land belonging to Sihon king of the Amorites. They asked them to let them pass through their land and promised not to touch or take anything. He rallied his troops to fight Israel and Israel took all his cities and villages. They camped in their land and their next stop was the land of Bashan. Og was the king. They fought him in Edrei and defeated him and possessed his land. *** They set out from there to the land of the Moabites. The king of Moab was Balak. He had heard of all Israel did to the Amorites and decided to take a different strategy. Since he couldn’t win fighting them physically, he decided to defeat them spiritually. He wanted to hire Balaam, a prophet to curse them. He sent ambassadors with fees to pay him to curse Israel. They found Balaam and told him what they wanted him to do. When Balaam sought the Lord, He told Balaam that he was not to go with him to do this. He would not curse these people because they were blessed. *** Balak sent princes to convince him to come and curse Israel. Balak explained that even if they gave him a house full of silver and gold, he could not do anything or say anything the Lord didn’t allow him. But, he told them to let him ask the Lord again. God told Balaam that he could go with the men, but only say what he told him to say. *** In Luke, it was the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy and the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary in Nazareth. She was a virgin who was engaged to marriage a man named Joseph. Gabriel told Mary that she was honored by God and would bear his Son and name him Jesus. He would reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom would be everlasting. *** When Mary asked how this could happen since she was a virgin, Gabriel said the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her. The child would be holy and be the son of God. Then he told her that her aunt Elizabeth was also pregnant and in her sixth month. She who was barren was now pregnant because nothing is impossible with God. Mary submitted to the angel’s words and he left her. *** Mary got up and went immediately to see Elizabeth. When she entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth began prophesying that the baby in Mary’s womb would be the Lord. She blessed Mary for believing God would fulfill his word through her. *** Mary praised the Lord, honored to be used by the Lord for so great a task. Mary stayed with Elizabeth the next three months then went home. *** We have all been called to carry his son in our belly. Scripture says that out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. *** Lord, may our answer to your call be like Mary’s. What a blessing it is to steward your spirit in us. May we praise and honor you with our lives.

Fri.’s Devo - God Speaks

Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8 The Lord commanded Moses to find a red heifer that was without defect and had never been yoked. Everything about this heifer would point to Jesus as our sacrifice for sin. Moses was to have Eleazar the priest take the heifer outside the camp and slaughter him there. Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. Then Eleazar was to take some of its blood and sprinkle it on the front of the tent of meeting seven times. Jesus blood was the perfect sacrifice for the sin of all who believed. The heifer was to be completely burned before him. Jesus body was totally given to the Lord as the Lamb of God. The priest would take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn and throw them into the fire with the heifer. These were all the props we see at the cross. The cedar wood was the cross. They offered Jesus vinegar on hyssop and the scarlet thread was the story of redemption that runs all through God’s plan. *** The one who burns the heifer was to wash his clothes in water and bathe his body and be unclean until the evening. We who appropriate what Jesus did for us on the cross must be baptized to wash away our guilt and shame. Then we will still be unclean until we are resurrected a new creature in Christ. *** A man who was clean was to gather the ashes of the heifer and deposit the outside the camp in a clean place. Joseph of Arimathea was a devout man who came and asked for Jesus’ body and took his remains to his own grave that had not been used and laid it there. The ashes of the heifer were to be kept for the water of impurity for the people as a sin offering. What Jesus did for us on the cross forever frees people from sin. *** Whoever touches the dead body of any person was unclean for seven days. He was to be cleansed on the third day and the seventh to be completely clean. If he doesn’t do this on the third and seventh day, he will not be clean. *** We all are responsible for the death of Christ so we have all “touched a dead body” and are unclean. But, if we give our life to Christ and experience his death, burial and resurrection then we are clean on our resurrection day which will be our third day. We will then be clean on our seventh day which is the day we complete our life on earth and enter heaven. *** This same concept is true no matter where the person gives their life to the Lord. *** In the wilderness of Zin in the first month, Miriam died and was buried there in Kadesh. *** The people ran out of water and blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. Moses and Aaron sought the Lord and he met with them and told Moses to go out before the people and tell the rock to bring forth water. *** Moses took his staff and struck the rock twice and water came gushing out, but the Lord was very upset at Moses because he didn’t do what he told him to do. He didn’t have faith to just speak to the rock. 
 *** We know that 1 Corinthians 10:4 says that the rock that followed them in the wilderness was Christ and he died once for our sins. Moses had already struck the rock once for the water to represent Christ being struck on the cross. Now, he was to speak to it showing us that salvation comes by confession. Moses messed up the picture God was giving us. We don’t crucify Christ again for our sins, we confess he is the Lord and believe in our hearts that he died, was buried and raised to life. Because Moses disobeyed, he was not allowed to enter into the land the Lord had promised them. They called this place Meribah. *** Moses sent a message to the king of Edom reminding him that they were relatives and had been oppressed for years and now were free. He asked that they be able to peacefully pass through their land. They would not take water or anything from their land, but the king refused to let them go through his land. He even brought an army out against them to verify his decision. *** So, Moses had to take the people around the land of the Edomites to Mount Hor. The Lord told Moses that Aaron was to die on this mountain because he rebelled at Meribah. Moses, Aaron and Eleazar went up Mount Hor while the people looked on and Moses took the high priest robe off of Aaron and put it on Eleazar. Aaron died there and Moses and Eleazar returned. The people of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days. *** We begin the book of Luke today. Luke was written in order of events and was a compilation of those who walked with Jesus and saw with their own eyes what he did. We begin the book with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah was a priest from the line of Abijah, the one who rebelled with Korah in the wilderness. Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They had no children and were very old. *** The priesthood was divided into 24 groups that served one group per month. It was Zechariah’s month to serve in the Temple. He was at the table of incense when an angel appeared to him and told him that God had heard their prayer and was granting them a son. Elizabeth would have a son and his name would be John. He would be a Nazarene from birth, like Samson. He would turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord and would have the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. *** Zechariah doubted the Lord could bring a child from Elizabeth’s aged body so the Lord told him he would not be able to speak till it happened. *** Zechariah was in the Temple so long, the people began to wonder what was going on. When he came out and he couldn’t speak, they realized he had seen a vision. He tried to act out what he saw. *** Elizabeth became pregnant just as the Lord had said and Elizabeth stayed hidden in her house. She knew the Lord had blessed her and taken away her reproach of being barren. *** This was what God was doing for Israel. He was taking away the reproach of not being fruitful as a people. God was answering the prayers of the faithful. *** Lord, I thank you that you are taking away the reproach of America and other nations who have been under evil leadership. Guide the plans of our godly leaders and expose those who are not following you. May you turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. May we make ourselves ready for your coming.

Thur.’s Devo - God Decides Who His Leaders Are

Read: Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7 Yesterday we read where Korah, Dathan and Abiram who were leaders rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were swallowed along with 250 of their followers into the earth. Today, we see that the people blamed Moses and Aaron for killing them. How absurd! Did they really think that Moses had the power to open the earth? God wanted to kill the whole bunch of them but Moses told Aaron to run and put fire and incense in his censer and make atonement for the people. A plague broke out and before Aaron could get there with his censer, 14,700 had dropped dead. *** God spoke to Moses and told them to have each leader of each tribe bring a rod with their name carved on it and lay it before the Lord in the tent of meeting. God would cause the man who he chooses by making his rod sprout. When Moses went in the next day Aaron’s rod had sprouted, bud, blossoms and ripe almonds. Everyone could see this when they came to get their rod. God had Moses keep Aaron’s rod as a reminder in case they grumbled over who was in charge again. *** The people were now afraid of the Lord and claimed that everyone who came near the tabernacle died. So God put on Aaron and his sons the responsibility of the people’s sins. The Levites wee to help them in their jobs and guard the tabernacle. The Levites were to be a gift to the priests. *** The Lord gave to Aaron and his sons every offering - grain, sin, guilt and wave offering for them as food. They were to treat it as holy. They also were given the first fruits of what the people gave. Even of their children and their animals. The people were able to redeem them with five shekels of silver. But, the Levites and the priests were to own no land in the promised land. God was to be their inheritance and their portion. *** The Levites were given the people’s tithe as payment for their service to the Lord. They were to give a tithe of the best of what they received back to the Lord. *** In Mark, Mary Magdalene and Mary, James’ mother and Salome brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body. It was the third day since Jesus had died. They were amazed to see that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. A young man was sitting on the right side in a white robe and told them that Jesus was not here but risen. They were to go and tell his disciples and Peter that he was going to meet them in Galilee, just like he told them before. *** After Jesus had risen from the dead, he appeared to many people first Mary Magdalene, then the two walking to Emaus, then the eleven disciples. He told his disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel. Those who believe, they were to baptize, but those who didn’t believe would be condemned. *** They will have signs that now with them. In his name they will cast out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up serpents in their hands and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover. *** After Jesus had given them their commission, he returned to sit at the right hand of God. His disciples went and did as he told them to do and experienced God’s miraculous power. *** Lord, we have been given the same commission. May we go out in boldness and power and experience your miracles working through our hands.

Wed.’s Devo - Judgement and Atonement

Read: Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6 When they came into the land God promised they were to bring him a sacrifice from the first fruits of the land. *** If they as a congregation sinned by mistake, they were to offer one bull for a burnt offering, a grain offering, a drink offering and a goat for a sin offering. Then, they and everyone who lives among them will be forgiven. *** If just one person sinned by mistake he was to offer a female goat as a sin offering and the priest will make atonement for the person. But if a person sins purposely to defile the Lord, that person would be cut off and bear his own sin. There was no repentance for him. *** They found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath and the Lord said to stone him to death. *** God told them to make tassels on the corners of their garments and to put blue tassels in the corners of their shawl. This was to remind them of the commandments of the Lord and to not follow the desires of their flesh. *** Korah who was a son of Levi, Dathan and Abiram who were sons of Eliab along with 250 of the chiefs of the congregation joined together to stand against Moses and Aaron. They were tired of following Moses and Aaron and wanted to rule instead. *** Moses told them to bring censers with fire and incense in them to the tent of meeting and the Lord would choose who was holy and who was not. Dathan and Abiram refused to come but Korah showed up. The Lord wanted to kill them all but Moses cried out for the innocent. The Lord then told Moses to get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Moses stood before their tents and told the people to stand back or they would be judged along with them. Dathan and Abiram and all their families came to the front of their tent. Moses told them that the ground was going to open its mouth and swallow them if they had despised the Lord. That is exactly what happened and they went to Sheol alive along with their families and all their belongings. The earth closed over them and all Israel fled with fear. *** God told Moses to tell Eleazar to take their censers and scatter the fire to make them holy. Eleazar obeyed then took their bronze censers of the ones who had died and hammered them out as a covert for the altar. It was to remind the people of what happened and that no one who was not a descendant of Aaron should draw near to burn incense before the Lord lest they die like these men did. *** We have a mirror of that same rebellion in Mark. The chief priests and scribes and the whole council bound Jesus and took him to Pilate. Pilate wanted to know if Jesus was the King of the Jews. Jesus told him he said it. The chief priest told Pilate all the things they were accusing Jesus of and Jesus refused to give a rebuttal. Pilate was amazed at that. ** It was the feast and Pilate would customarily release a prisoner each year. He had a man named Barabbas who was a murderer and a insurrectionist. He brought him and Jesus before the crowd and asked which they wanted released. Because of their jealousy of Jesus, the priest instigated the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released. When Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, they yelled to crucify him. Pilate could make no sense of their request but he released Barabbas and had Jesus scrounged and delivered to them to crucify. *** Jesus was led inside the palace of the governor and they clothed Jesus in purple cloth and a crown of thorns was placed on his head. They mocked him as the King of the Jews and spat on him and beat him. Then they put his own clothes back on him and led him to the cross. *** They made Simon, who was just passing by, carry his cross for him and led him to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. They cast lots for his garments and crucified him between two robbers. He was taunted and mocked by those who walked by. *** At the sixth hour, darkness covered the whole land for three hours. Then Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus cried out and then died. The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom and the centurions who were guarding him said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” *** The two Mary’s and many of the women who had followed Jesus watched all this from a distance. *** Joseph of Arimathea, who was a respected member of the council went to Pilate and asked for Jesus body. and took a linen shroud and wrapped him in it and laid him in his own tomb. He rolled a stone over the entrance. The two Mary’s saw where Jesus was brought. *** Lord, thank you for tearing the curtain between man and You. Thank you that we can come boldly before your throne any time we want and need to. Thank you that you are accessible and forgiving. You are our perfect High Priest.

Tues.’s Devo - God’s Way is Narrow -

Read: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4 The people had just heard the report of the ten spies who thought it would be suicide to fight the giants in the land. So, the people cried out against Moses and Aaron and some wanted to choose a leader and go back to Egypt. *** Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people and Joshua stood up and reminded them that the Lord was with them and would help them defeat the giants. The people wanted to stone all three of them but God intervened. His glory came down to the tent of meeting. *** God told Moses that he was tired of working with these stubborn people and would make a nation from Moses’ offspring. He wanted to kill them and disinherit the grumblers. Moses interceded for the people and told the Lord that it would hurt his reputation on the earth if he did that. He reminded God of his promise that he was slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and he promised to forgive their iniquity and transgressions. *** The Lord answered on the promise that one day the whole earth would be filled with his glory. (We are living in expectation of this promise.) He swore that none of the people who had seen all his miracles and doubted would enter into the land. But, their children who they said would be prey to the giants, would enter and inherit the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would live to enter the land of their generation. *** When Moses told this to the people, they realized they had really messed up and some of them decided to go into the land and fight the giants. Moses told them not to go because God would not be with them and they would not succeed. They went anyway and were not successful. *** God was already preparing for the day they would go in. He told Moses exactly how much their offering would be when they entered into the land. It would be the same for them and the stranger with them. *** In Mark, Jesus was then taken to the home of the high priest. Peter stayed in the courtyard with the guards. He listened as false witnesses brought their charges against Jesus. None of them were strong enough until one of them quoted Jesus saying he would destroy the temple made with hands and in three days, build another not made with hands. That is not what Jesus said, but they liked it and Jesus had no rebuttal. When the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his robe and called it blasphemy. The council agreed and condemned him to death. They spit on him and covered his face to strike him. They mocked him, telling him to prophesy. *** Peter was recognized by one of the servant first of the high priest but he denied being one of his disciples. The rooster crowed. He denied knowing Jesus two more times and the rooster crowed again. He remembered what Jesus had said and broke into tears. *** Lord, Thank you that we have the Holy Spirit to give us strength when we are weak and afraid. Thank you that your promises can be trusted and one day the whole earth will be filled with your glory.

Mon.’s Devo - Sending the Spies

Read: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3 God had told Moses to gather 70 faithful leaders from among the tribes and he would give them instructions. He had also told them that he would give them meat till it was up to their nose. 
 *** Moses called the 70 leaders to the tent but only 68 came. God came down in the cloud and spoke to them and filled these men with His Spirit. The men began to prophesy and the two who had not came out began to prophesy in the camp. *** Joshua told Moses to stop the two who were prophesying in the camp. Moses refused to do it and told Joshua he wished everyone in the camp were prophets. *** God sent a wind to blow in quail from the sea which fell all around their camp. The next day, the people went out and gathered them. The least anyone gathered was 60 bushels! They were like ravenous beasts. (I wonder if they drained them and cooked them first.) Before they could take a bite, God was so angry with them that he struck them down with a plague. They were buried there named the place Kibroth-hattaavah which means “the graves of lust.” *** Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses’ marriage to a Cushite woman. Cush was the son of Ham so I can see the problem they had, but God didn’t seem to have the same problem with it. God called the three of them: Moses, Aaron and Miriam to the tent of meeting. God defended Moses who he spoke to face to face. He asked them why they were not afraid to speak against Moses. When the Lord left in his cloud, Miriam was covered with leprosy. Aaron immediately repented for both of them. Miriam was set outside the camp for seven days then brought back in. *** The Lord had Moses send out 12 spies to the promised land of Canaan. Each tribe sent a spy. Joshua went from Judah and Caleb went from the tribe of Issachar. The twelve traveled the land for 40 days and saw the cities, the hill country and the land by the sea. Everywhere they went they saw the assets of the fruitful land, but they also saw the giants living there. Moses had told them to bring back the produce from the land so they brought back the first fruits of the grape harvest which tells us this was the time of the fall feasts. They should have blown their trumpets and taken the land and set up God’s kingdom there. Caleb stood up and encouraged the people to take the land at once, but fear and the bad reports caused them to miss their opportunity. They looked at the circumstances and forgot God’s promises and all he had done to get them there. *** In Mark, Jesus gave his disciples the bread, blessed it and broke it. He told them that it signified his body. Then he gave them the wine and gave thanks. He told them to drink it because it signified his blood and the covenant they had with him. He would not drink from the fruit of the vine till he drinks it in the new kingdom. *** They sang a hymn, then Jesus took them to the Mount of Olives. He told them they would all fall away from him. Peter, of course, said he wouldn’t. Jesus told him he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. *** They went to Gethsemane and Jesus asked them to pray. Jesus was deep in prayer wanting not to have to go through this great trial, but he wanted what God wanted more than his own life. Jesus came back to find them sleeping three times. He named Peter and asked him why he couldn’t pray for an hour with him. *** Finally, the last time he returned to them it was time for his betrayer to come. Judas arrived with a crowd armed with clubs and swords. He kissed Jesus and called him Rabbi. This was the sign for the leaderss to seize Jesus. Peter drew his sword and cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear. In another gospel, Jesus healed his ear. *** There was a young man in a linen cloth who was a follower of Jesus. They seized him but he fled leaving his linen cloth behind. All through the Bible you will find these “watchers” in linen. *** Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth and teaching us about God. Thank you for enduring the cross so that we might have everlasting life. Thank you for your great plans for our future. May we purpose to walk worthy of your sacrifice.

Sun.’s Devo - The Trumpets

Read: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32 God told Moses to make two silver trumpets to use to bring the congregation together and to signal the time to break camp. When both trumpets were blown, the people were to gather. When only one was blown, only the heads of the tribes were to gather. When an alarm was blown, which consisted of several short blasts, the tribes on the east were to begin their march. When it was blown again then the tribes on the south would begin their march and it would continue till they were all moving. *** To gather all the people a long blast was sounded like the one that sounded when Moses went up on Mt. Sinai. A separate alarm was blasted when they were to go to war. This one would reach heaven and God would save them from their enemies. They were also to sound these trumpets at their appointed feasts and at the first day of their months. These trumpet blasts would remind them that they belong to the Lord. *** On the 20th day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year the cloud lifted and the people set out by their stages from Mt. Sinai. It took them to the wilderness of Paran where Ishmael had ended up (Gen. 21:21). They traveled for three days. At the start of each day, Moses would declare, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” Then at the end of the day, when they stopped to rest he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.” *** The Holy Spirit is the trumpet in our spiritual ears who warns us, calls us to meet with the Lord and tells us when to go to minister. It is up to us to heed the sound. *** The people complained about how unfortunate they were and when the Lord heard it, he sent fire to burn among them and it consumed some of the outer parts of the camp. The people went to Moses who prayed to God for mercy. He called the place Taberah which means “burning.” *** The instigators among them complained there was no meat to eat. They reminded the people of the fish they ate in Egypt and all the vegetables they had there. All they ate day and night now was manna. *** Moses went to the Lord and complained that the people complained all the time and the burden of them was too much for him. *** God told Moses to find 70 elders and meet with them. They were to help Moses carry the burden of all the people’s complaints. He also told him to have the people consecrate themselves because they were eating meat the next day. In fact they would eat meat a whole month till it was coming out of their nostrils. When Moses questioned how the Lord was going to do this since they didn’t have enough animals to kill and feed this crowd, God told him to wait and see. He was true to his word. *** Is there anything too hard for the Lord? In our lives, that is the question God is asking us. Nothing comes as a surprise to the Lord. He has already come up with the solution to every problem we have and will ever have. *** In Mark it was two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priest had decided they would kill Jesus in private after the feast because there were too many people during the feast. God had other plans. *** In Bethany, Jesus was anointed for his burial by a woman who would always be remembered for her act of love. *** This was the last straw for Judas Iscarot when he saw the costly perfume being wasted on Jesus. He went to the chief priests and made a deal to betray Jesus for money. *** On the first day of Unleavened Bread, Jesus sent two of his disciples to find a place for them to eat the Passover. It was a room God had prepared for them. *** At this last meal, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. They were all sorrowful, hoping it wasn’t them. Jesus exposed him as the one who was dipping out of the same dish. Jesus pronounced a curse on him. He said it would have been better for him if he hadn’t been born. Judas had seen all the miracles and had experienced deliverances from his own hand and yet he turned his back on Jesus and gave him over to his enemies. *** Lord, today’s Psalm is our prayer. May we not judge but be humble and grateful for your merciful salvation. Thank you for giving your life as a ransom for our souls.

Sat.’s Devo - Stay Awake!

Read: Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30 Moses was to set up the lamp stands so that the light was in front of the lamp stand. It was made of hammered gold to resemble almond branches. *** The Levites were to be cleansed by shaving all of their skin and washing themselves and their clothes in the water of purification. Moses was to bring the whole congregation to watch him lay his hands on the heads of the priests and offer them before the Lord as a wave offering from the people. Then the Levites were to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls transferring their sins to the bull and offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for their sins. This was to make them separate from the people. The priests, now, took the place of the first born. *** This purification made them authorized to minister in the tabernacle. The Levites were also authorized to do their duties of serving the priests and guarding the tent of meeting. *** A year from when they had left Egypt, they were going to celebrate the Passover for the first time in the wilderness. There were a few men who were unclean because they had touched a dead body. They wanted to be part of the celebration so Moses asked God what they could do. *** The Lord told them that if they were unclean or out of town on the day of Passover, they could wait and serve it in the second month instead of the first month. But, if they were clean and present and didn’t celebrate it then they would be cut off from their people. Passover represents salvation from sin. Our only way to eternal life is to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ. *** When the tabernacle was all in place the cloud of God’s glory covered the tabernacle. It became fire at night. Whenever the cloud lifted and moved, they broke camp and moved with it. *** In Mark, Jesus continues his teaching about the end times. When they witnessed abomination going on in the Temple they were to run. This will be the sign that great tribulation was upon they land. God will shorten those days for the elect. False saviors will arise, but don’t be fooled. They will try to deceive even the elect, if possible. *** The sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine and stars will fall from the sky. The powers in the sky will be shaken. They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Angels will be sent out to gather together God’s elect on the earth. *** These signs will be like the fig tree bearing its leaves. That happens in the summer. This will tell us that the time is very hear. This generation will not pass away till all the things he said, take place. Heaven and earth will pass away but his words will not pass away. *** No one knows the hour that will happen, not even the angels or the Son, only the Father. Our job is to always be awake, alert and ready. *** We have seen many of these things already manifested in the natural. 1 Corinthians 15:46 says that first we see the natural, then the spiritual comes afterwards. Paul goes on to say that our mortality will be swallowed up in immortality in the blink of an eye. I have more questions than answers. Revelation becomes clearer and clearer the closer we get to the time of its revealing. *** Lord, we may not understand all you said, but we can be awake, alert and ready. May we not get entangled with the things of this world and become spiritually asleep.

Fri.’s Devo - Endure Till the End

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 A Nazarite vow was when someone promises to do something concrete for the Lord or to give a certain thing to the Lord. That person is not to drink wine or strong drink because this is something he should be very sober about. Also he must not let a razor touch his head which is to remind him of his promise. In the Hebrew a razor meant to “empty or make bare.” I wonder if this means he is not to empty his mind of or let anything distract him from his vow. He is not to go near a dead body. In the Hebrew one of the meanings of the dead was “anyone worthy of death.” I wonder if this means, we are not to get involved with the world while we are fulfilling our vow. Apparently, this vow is a very serious thing and should not be taken lightly. *** When the vow is completed, the man can finally shave the burden of his hair. He is to bring the hair and put it on the fire that is under the peace offering. Then the priest will take the shoulder of the ram when it is cooked and one unleavened wafer and put it in the hands of the Nazarite. The priest will wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. Then the Nazarite may drink wine. He may have joy! *** God told Moses to have Aaron bless the people with a blessing of peace. He put his name on the people of Israel. *** When Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle the chiefs of all the tribes brought six wagons full of sacrificial animals. Two tribes went together to fill one wagon. He gave two of these wagons and four of the ox to the sons of Gershon and the other four wagons and eight ox to the sons of Merari. He gave none to the sons of Kohath because their duty was the sacred holy things. *** For twelve days the different tribes brought their offering to the Lord. They each gave silver plates, basins, flour mixed with oil, a golden dish, a bull, a ram, a lamb and a male goat. Also two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs were given. *** They all gave the same offering in the order that they marched with Judah going on the first day and Naphtali ended on the twelfth day. All of Leah’s sons, except Asher were listed first, then her concubine’s sons, then Rachael’s sons then her concubine’s sons. *** These offerings ended the dedication ceremony of the altar. Moses went into the tent of meeting and heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him above the mercy seat. Tomorrow we will hear what God said. *** In Mark, after reading all the great offerings that the tribes brought to the Lord, we read about a widow how brought two small copper coins which total one cent. Jesus made the comment that she had given more than all the people who gave out of their abundance. She had given all that she had. He was trying to tell us that it is not how much to give but how you give. *** The disciples were leaving the temple and commented on the wonderful stones and buildings around the temple. Jesus told them that the day was coming when not one of these stones would be left in its place. Jesus was not only referring to the buildings, but the whole system of worship. *** When Jesus was alone with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Peter came and asked him when all this would happen. He told them that when people rise up claiming to be the Messiah, and when they see kingdoms rising up against one another, and hear of earthquakes, and famines, then the birth pains have begun. *** During that time his followers will be persecuted and lied against. They will be brought to trial and judged wrongly, but the Holy Spirit will give them their defense. Families will turn against one another and his children will be hated for bearing the name of Christ. Those who endure till the end will be saved. *** Lord, we rejoice because we are living in these times of birth pains. We can rejoice because the Kingdom of God is at hand! May we endure till the end!

Thurs.’s Devo - Holy Service

Read: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26 God told Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the sons of Kohath 30 to 50 years old. When they got ready to move and take down the tabernacle, the sons of Kohath were to take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark with it. Then they were to cover it with goatskin and a cloth of blue. The were to cover the bread of Presence with a blue cloth and put the plate, bowls, dishes and shewbread on it. Then they were to cover it with a scarlet cloth and then goatskin. The lamp stand and all the accessories that went with it were only to be covered with blue cloth. They were to cover them with goatskin and put on a cart to carry. The altar of incense was to be covered with a blue cloth then goatskin. The ashes from the altar were to be spread with a purple cloth and all the utensils for the altar were to be covered with goatskin. All these things were to be carried by poles by the sons of Kohath. *** What is the significance of all the cloths? I wonder if the ones with blue cloth were ones that are in heaven. The red cloth was only used on the table where they ate the bread. This bread stood for Jesus who became our high priest when he shed his blood for our sins. He turned the stone law to palpable bread that we can eat. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit so the goatskin might represent our skin. All of these things are in us. We can eat of his Word and absorb it. We have the light of his revelation. We have the very presence of the Lord. We have the ability to pray and cover people with forgiveness and healing. *** Eleazar who represents the Holy Spirit was over the whole tabernacle - the oil for the light, the incense and grain offering and anointing oil. *** Then they were to take a census of the sons of Gershon. They were to serve and carry burdens. They carried the curtains and the coverings. *** The sons of Merari were also counted and they were to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its bars, pillars, and bases. *** There was atonement for anyone who repents and pays the price and offers the sacrifice for his sin. ** If a man felt his wife was unfaithful to him yet had no proof, he was to bring her before the priest along with the required offering. He was not to add incense or oil because this was not a pleasing offering but an offering of jealousy. It was to expose iniquity. *** Then the priest would set her before the Lord. The priest would mix holy water with some of the dust on the floor of the tabernacle in an earthenware vessel. Then the priest would unbind her hair so all her sins would be exposed and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance. She shall take an oath saying that she has not lain with a man while she was married to her husband. If she is innocent, she will be free from the curse of the bitter water. But, if she is guilty, and she lies in her oath, then the priest will declare that her thigh will fall away and her body will swell. She must agree. *** The priest will write the curse in a book and wash the words away with the water. He then makes the woman drink the water. If she is guilty, she will immediately feel bitter pain like she is in labor. Her thigh will rot, which means her genitals will be disfigured. Her belly would swell as if she was pregnant but she would have no fruit inside. She will be barren from that time on. *** Jesus drank this bitter water for us. We are the adulterous wife, but Jesus took our curse from us and we can now produce fruit. *** In Mark, the Sadducees were next up to try and trick Jesus. Of course, they would ask him a question about resurrection because they didn’t believe in the resurrection. Their question was ridiculous, but the real issue was whether Jesus would support resurrection or not. *** Jesus went straight for the real answer. They did not believe in the power of God to resurrect. He proved the resurrection with what God told Abraham. He is the God of the living, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. *** A scribe asked Jesus which of the commandments were the most important and Jesus answered with the quote every Jew knew. “Hear of Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second he said was to love your neighbor as yourself. The scribe agreed that he had answered correctly. Jesus told that scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God. *** Everyone thought that the Messiah was going to be a son of David but Jesus corrected them. David called the Messiah his Lord, not his son. *** Lord, thank you that you cover us with your blood. You protect us from the storms and you guard over your temple which is with in us. May we strive to keep your temple pure and holy.