Tue.’s Devo - The Cross

Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25 God told Moses that when the Israelites set up their camp, they were to set it up in a certain order. Every tribe would have their own place. All the tribes, when they camped made the shape of the cross. To the east would be Judah, Issachar and Zebulun and their total would be 186,400 people. They made up the bottom of the cross. These three tribes led the way when they traveled. *** The next three were Reuben, Simeon and Gad. They were to settle on the south side making one of the sides of the cross. Their total was 151,450. *** The Tabernacle carried by the Levites was next to travel and settled in the middle of the cross. *** Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin were next making the north side of the cross. They totaled 157,600. *** Dan, Asher and Naphtali were next and camped making the top of the cross. Their total was 108,100. *** Each tribe camped under their own banners. From heaven, God looked down and saw his cross moving over the earth. *** The Levites served Aaron as his assistants. They served the whole community with things pertaining to the Tabernacle. They were the only ones who could go anywhere near the sanctuary. God had established all the first born as his when he saved them from the death angel. God told the Levites to record all the names of the members of the tribe of Levi by the families and clans from the age of one month and older. Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. From Gershon’s descendants there were 7,500. They were assigned to care for the Tabernacle, the coverings of the tent, the curtains, and the entrance - all the walls and coverings for the Tabernacle. *** The Kohath descendants numbered 8,600 were to care for the sanctuary - the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, and the articles used in the sanctuary. These were the holy things. *** The Merarites numbered 6,200 and they were responsible for the frames, cross bars, pillars and bases - the structural pieces for the Tabernacle. *** The total number of male Levites were 22,000. God told Moses to count all the firstborn sons of Israel who were one month and older and make a list of their names. The Levites were now going to be substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel. The livestock of the Levites would be substitutes for the livestock of the whole nation of Israel. The only problem was that there were 22,273 more firstborn sons which is 273 more than there were Levites. *** Nothing is ever a problem for God. He always has a solution. God’s solution was that they could just buy the extra 273 with silver. They were to collect five pieces of silver for each person and pay for the extra men. Five is the number of “grace” and silver means “redemption”. Everything God told Moses to do was a picture of what Christ would do for us one day. *** In Mark, Jesus and his disciples had been staying outside of Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Every day they could come back to Jerusalem. This trip, Jesus walked through the Temple area and the religious leaders stopped him and asked him who gave him the authority to do the things he was doing… because it sure wasn’t them. Jesus answered their question with a question. “Who gave John the Baptist his authority?” They couldn’t answer him or it would incriminate them, so they refused to answer him. So, he refused to answer them. *** But, he did then tell them a story. A man planted a vineyard and did everything to make the vineyard thrive. Then he leased it out to tenants to care for it while he moved to another country. At grape harvest, he sent servants to collect his share of the crop, but they were beat and sent back empty handed. This happened over and over until he finally sent his own son thinking they would respect him. They ended up killing him, thinking then the vineyard would be theirs. *** Jesus asked them what they thought the owner would do. He told them. He would come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyards to others. Then he quoted Psalm 118:22-23 about the stone that the builders rejected that had now become the cornerstone. *** Amazingly, the Pharisees and religious leaders got that Jesus was talking about them. They were the wicked farmers, but they were so afraid of the people, they couldn’t arrest Jesus then. *** Their next strategy was to trick Jesus into saying something against the Roman government and get them to arrest Jesus. They asked him about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked for a Roman coin and asked whose picture was on it. Then he told them to pay Caesar what was his and God what was his. They were amazed at his wisdom. Busted! *** Lord, you have an answer for everything. You are the answer. Help us to come to you quickly when we feel overwhelmed with life. Thank you for your peace and comfort. Thank you that you really have written the end from the beginning and it is all going according to your plan. May we walk and participate with you to bring your kingdom to earth.