The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Numbers 29-32
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 3: The Sinai Covenant and law: God embraces and instructs his people
Background Information: Numbers 29-32
Rituals are the keys to understanding a family’s or a society’s deepest held values. Consider American rituals and what they tell us about our values as a nation. Some that have grown in scope the past few decades are Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween, and Black Friday. The sacrificial systems were embedded in every aspect of Israel’s culture. Why was this so? Leviticus tells us what the New Testament confirms, that sacrifice was at the heart of Israel’s culture because sin is in the heart of every person. God commanded sacrifice to deal with sin and to point to Jesus, the final sacrifice for our sin.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”
Leviticus 17:11
“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22
Vows are dealt with here because they were a type of sacrifice. They were not required, but once entered into, they were to be kept. To make a commitment to God and then not take that commitment seriously was (is) to not take God seriously. Wicked and foolish Balaam comes to an end in this passage along with a number of his fellow Midianites. The tribes of Gad and Reuben want to settle outside the Promised Land. Moses thinks they are shrinking back in fear, but they demonstrate that this is not the case and that they are willing to support the national effort to help Israel occupy the Promised Land. Everything is zeroing in on the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people to give them a land.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Rick and Amelia as they serve overseas. Amelia’s friend Irene has had several dreams about Jesus lately. Pray for Irene to come to a saving faith in Jesus.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.