Do Not Curse Whom God Loves…

Read: Numbers 23-25
Marked: Numbers 23:8, How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?

Three times Balak tried to have Balaam curse Israel, but God would not let him.

God has repeatedly spoken of His love for Israel. Christians should consider the special place this nation has in His heart.

Unfortunately, it is becoming more popular among some Christians to speak against Israel and condemn them for their actions against others.

But we should be careful that we don’t curse whom God has not cursed. Or denounce whom God has not denounced.

Who Are You?…

Read: Numbers 21-22
Marked: Numbers 22:9, Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

God is the God of the unrighteous as well as the righteous. God came to Balaam, a man gifted by God, but a man driven by his own lusts rather than the will of God.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

I can be very gifted, but I am to love God first. It is not the gifts of God that make a man righteous, it is his willingness to obey God.

The Best from God…

Read: Numbers 18-20
Marked: Numbers 18:12, All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the LORD, I have given them to you.

The priests were given, for their use, the first fruits of the offering. This included the best of the oil, the best of the new wine, and the best of the grain.

I am reminded that, in Jesus, I receive the best too. He gives the oil of the Holy Spirit, the new wine of a new life in Christ, and the grain of the bread of life.

These are the first fruits given by the Lord so I can be a kind of first fruits to Him in return.

Separated for Work…

Read: Numbers 16-17
Marked: Numbers 16:9, Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them.

I might feel inadequate in my task before the Lord, but it’s no small thing, no matter what role I serve in. That God has saved me should be all that matters. Without His grace I could not stand.

Access Denied…

Read: Numbers 14-15
Marked: 14:40, And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!”

Ten of the spies had brought an evil report about the land and the people refused to enter the land. Consequently, the ten spies died by a plague of the Lord and the people were refused entry into the Promised Land.

The next morning they saw their sin and said they would go, but it was too late. Sometimes it takes consequences for me to see my sin. It’s always better to obey the Lord.

His strength…

Read: Numbers 11-13
Marked: Numbers 11:23, And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”

How often do I doubt the capability of the Lord? Centuries have passed. Do I think that the Lord has weakened with time?

No, for He says in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Be strong in the Lord.

Getting Direction…

Read: Numbers 8-10
Marked: Numbers 9:23, At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

God led them; their going and their staying. Without the Word of God over me and in me, I wouldn’t have a clue when I should go or stay, or do or don’t do.

Lord, help me to trust in You so that You alone direct my paths.

Unity in Christ…

Read: Numbers 7
Marked: Numbers 7:2, Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who [were] the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering.

Each of the leaders of the Twelve Tribes made an offering. What strikes me is that all twelve offerings were exactly the same. There was unity. There was no competition. None was less, none were more, and each contained an offering for sin.

There should be no competition between followers of Christ. We are all one in the Lord regardless of our task in the work of God.

And we are all sinners forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus. No matter who we are or what we are doing, we have the blood of Christ in common. And that is enough.

Holy to the Lord…

Read: Numbers 5-6
Marked: Numbers 6:8, All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the LORD.

This verse pertains to the Nazirite vow where an individual vows to be separated unto the Lord for a period of time.

There was no means by which someone could be permanently cleansed from sin which is why sin had to be atoned for annually.

During the period of the Nazirite vow he was to follow strict observances of separation from sin and even the appearance of sin. For this time he was holy to the Lord.

Through the blood of Christ the Bible says I am washed clean from all sin. How much more then should I separate myself from sin?

Like the Nazirite, who was inadvertently stained by sin during his time of separation, I am to confess my sin and be cleansed to continue in my separation from sin and the world.

A Special Purpose…

Read: Numbers 3-4
Marked: Numbers 3:12, Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine.

The Levite’s were chosen (redeemed) out of all the Israelites. They had a special purpose to fulfill. They did the work of the service of the tabernacle.

All Christians have been redeemed from the world for a special purpose; to do the work of the kingdom and point others to God.