June 5 -- "Is The Lord's Hand Shortened?"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 11 & 12

"Is The Lord's Hand Shortened?"

The Israelites had been complaining about their lack of food and were longing for the meat and bread they had in Egypt. God promises to provide them with meat, but Moses doubts that it is possible to feed such a large number of people in the wilderness. God responds with this statement, assuring Moses that nothing is too difficult for Him and that He will keep His promises.

In the Bible, the imagery of the hand is often used to represent power, strength, and ability. For example, in the book of Exodus, God's "mighty hand" is mentioned several times as a symbol of His power and ability to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Similarly, in the book of Psalms, the phrase "the right hand of God" is used to signify God's strength and favor towards His people.

The question, "Is the Lord's hand shortened?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the absurdity of the notion that God's power is limited. It reminds Moses that God is all-powerful and that nothing is impossible for Him.

This is a powerful reminder of His faithfulness and power to provide for His people. This promise is not limited to the Israelites in the wilderness but is applicable to every person who trusts in God. As Christ-followers, we may face trials, difficulties, and challenges that may make us doubt God's ability to provide for us. However, this verse teaches us that we should not doubt God's provision but trust that He will keep His promises.

Let us trust in God's promises and have faith in His power, knowing that He will always be with us and that His arm is never too short to reach us in our time of need.

June 4 -- "Signal for Help"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 10

"Signal for Help"

In Numbers 10:9, God instructs the Israelites to sound the alarm with the trumpets when they go to war. This alarm served two purposes. First, it reminded the Israelites that God is with them and that they can trust in Him to protect and save them. Second, it signaled to God that the Israelites were calling on Him for help.

It's worth noting that the Israelites used several different trumpet sounds for different purposes, including calling the community together, signaling the start of a journey, and announcing the arrival of a festival, and so on. Each of these sounds had a different meaning and was used in a specific context.

The Hebrew word used for "alarm" in this verse is "teruah," which refers to a specific type of trumpet sound that was used in ancient Israel. The "teruah" sound was made by blowing a trumpet or a shofar (a ram's horn) in a rapid, repetitive pattern. The pattern of the "teruah" sound is often described as consisting of nine short blasts, followed by a longer blast. The entire sequence would be repeated several times to create a sustained and urgent sound.

The Israelites were instructed to sound this alarm with the trumpets when they went to war, so that they would be remembered before the Lord their God, and He would save them from their enemies.

This principle of sounding the alarm to God is relevant to us as Christ-followers today. We may not be sounding literal trumpets or facing literal battles like the Israelites, but we do face challenges and struggles in our daily lives. We can apply the same principle of sounding the alarm to God when we face these challenges through our prayers and by calling upon Him. By doing so, we acknowledge our reliance on God and signal to Him that we need Him to be a part of our struggle.

We are not alone in our battles. We can trust in God to be with us and help us through our struggles, and we should always be ready to sound an alarm to Him when we face challenges or spiritual battles. As Christ-followers, we can take comfort in the fact that God is always with us and that He hears us when we signal for His help.

June 3 -- "God's Stunning Presence"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 9

"God's Stunning Presence"

Today’s verse tells us about a spectacular and stunning event that happened on the day the Tabernacle was set up:  God’s presence showed up in a mysterious and powerful way – as a cloud and as fire. Just as the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire had led the Israelites on their wilderness journey, we now see the worship center engulfed with God’s presence in the form of this same cloud and fire.

The pillar of cloud and fire served as a visible dramatic manifestation of God's presence and guidance. As Christians, we do not have a physical pillar of cloud and fire to guide us, but we do have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us as believers.

The Holy Spirit serves as our guide, comforter, and counselor, leading us in the way that we should go and teaching us all things (John 14:26). In a sense, the Holy Spirit is like a spiritual "cloud" that hovers over our lives, guiding and directing us according to God's will.

Additionally, the "fire" aspect of the pillar of cloud and fire represents the power and presence of God. Fire is often associated with purification, refining, and testing, and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to refine and purify us, burning away the impurities and sin in our lives.

Furthermore, the "fire" can represent the passion and zeal that comes from a relationship with God. Just as the burning bush caught Moses' attention and ignited his passion for God's work, so too can the Holy Spirit ignite a passion within us to serve and follow God's calling in our lives.

We can experience the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we seek to follow God's will and live according to His Word. We can trust in the Holy Spirit's leading and direction, knowing that He will guide us to where we need to be and empower us to do the work that God has called us to do.

June 2 -- "A Gift for Aaron"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 8

"A Gift for Aaron"

The Levites who helped serve at the Tabernacle are described here as God’s “gift” to Aaron and his sons, the priests. And what a gift they were! The Levites were set apart as a special tribe in Israel, and their dedication to the service of God was considered a high honor. In a sense, the Levites were God's gift to the priests and to all the people of Israel, as they helped to facilitate their worship and maintain the holiness of the Tabernacle. By giving the Levites to Aaron and his sons, God ensured that the priesthood would have the necessary support and resources to carry out their duties effectively.

As Christians, we are called to serve and love one another within the body of Christ (Galatians 5:13). When we use our gifts and talents to serve others, we become a “gift” from God to our leaders, just as the Levites were a gift to Aaron and his sons. Every pastor is humbled and blessed when he thinks of those “gifts” amongst his congregation who help carry the load.

Christian leaders are tasked with the responsibility of guiding and shepherding the flock of believers under their care (1 Peter 5:2-3). This can be a challenging task, and having a team of dedicated and faithful servants can be a tremendous blessing. When we serve our leaders with humility and enthusiasm, we help to lighten their load and free them up to focus on other important tasks, such as prayer, teaching, and discipleship.

In addition, when we serve alongside our leaders, we help to build up the body of Christ and encourage others to use their own gifts and talents to serve the Lord. We become role models and examples for others to follow, and we help to create a culture of service and selflessness within the church.

By using our gifts and talents to bless others and build up the body of Christ, we become a precious gift to those who lead us in our spiritual journeys.  Become a “gift” to someone today!

June 1 -- "He Heard the Voice"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 7:54-89 

"He Heard the Voice"

How did Moses “hear” the voice speaking to him? Was it an audible voice he heard with his ears? Or was it the quiet voice of the Spirit making impressions on his heart and mind? We’re not certain how Moses heard the voice, but it is astonishing to realize that he actually heard the Lord speaking to him.

Throughout the Bible, there are several instances where people hear an audible voice of God. For example, in the Old Testament, God speaks audibly to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4), and He speaks audibly to the Israelites from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). In the New Testament, God speaks audibly to Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:17) and to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).

While there are instances of people hearing an audible voice of God in the Bible, it is important to note that these occurrences are relatively rare. The vast majority of people throughout history have not heard an audible voice from God. The most important thing for us is to discern whether the message we are hearing is actually from God. There are several ways you can do this:

Test it against God's Word: The Bible is the ultimate standard for truth and morality, and God will never contradict His Word. So, if you hear a voice or impression that seems to go against the teachings of the Bible, it is not from God.

Seek confirmation: Seek guidance and confirmation from wise and godly people, such as pastors, mentors, and friends who have a strong faith. Share with them what you believe God is speaking to you, and ask for their insight and counsel.

Pray for discernment: Ask God to give you the discernment to know His voice from other voices that may be speaking to you, such as your own thoughts or the voice of the enemy.

Look for the fruit of the Spirit: In Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If what you are hearing or sensing aligns with these fruit, it is likely from God.

Remember, discerning God's voice takes time and practice. It is important to be patient, prayerful, humble, and to sit quietly in His presence.

May 31 -- "One Male Goat"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 7:30-53

"One Male Goat"

The offering of the male goat for sin emphasizes the need for atonement for our sins. In the Old Testament, the sin offering was a way of making amends for sins committed and restoring the relationship between the individual and God.

As Christians, we believe that sin is a reality in our lives, and it separates us from God. The Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 ESV). This means that no one is exempt from the effects of sin, and we all need a savior.

However, the good news is that Jesus Christ has made a way for us to be reconciled with God. Not by offering a goat for a sin offering but because He became our sin offering and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to offer us forgiveness and redemption. Through faith in Him, we can be saved from the consequences of our sins and receive eternal life.

In Hebrews 10:4, we read that "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." This means that the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were ultimately insufficient to fully remove sin and reconcile people to God.

However, in Hebrews 10:10-14, we read that "we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." This passage emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for our sins and the completeness of His atonement.

As Christ-followers, we believe that Jesus Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins through His death on the cross. He is the perfect, unblemished “one male goat” who takes away the sin of the world. Through faith in Him, we have been offered forgiveness and redemption, and we no longer need to make animal sacrifices for our sins. However, the symbolism of the animal sacrifice can still serve as a reminder of the gravity of sin and the need for repentance and restoration with God.

May 30 -- "Accepting Their Offering"

Today's Reading: Numbers 7:1-29

"Accepting Their Offering"

As part of the dedication of the Tabernacle, each of the twelve tribal leaders was instructed to bring a wagon and an ox as an offering for the service of the Tabernacle.

This offering of wagons and oxen was a significant act of generosity and devotion on the part of the tribal leaders. It was not just a one-time gift, but an ongoing commitment to support the work of the Tabernacle and to honor God with their resources. In this way, they were demonstrating their willingness to offer themselves fully to God and to prioritize His purposes above their own.

God specifically instructs Moses to "accept" the offerings of the tribal leaders for the service of the Tabernacle. By doing so, God was affirming the importance of their gifts and showing that He valued their willingness to give. God wanted His people to understand that their offerings were not just a duty or obligation, but a privilege and a way of participating in His work and His purposes for their lives.

As Christ-followers, we are called to offer ourselves fully to God as well. This means surrendering our own desires, plans, and ambitions to His will and trusting in His guidance for our lives. It means recognizing that everything we have comes from God and using our resources, time, and talents in ways that honor and serve Him.

But offering ourselves fully to God goes beyond just our financial resources. It also means using our time, talents, and abilities in ways that serve and glorify Him. This might mean volunteering at a local ministry or non-profit, using our skills to serve others, or simply being available and willing to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

Ultimately, the example of the tribal leaders in Numbers 7:5 ESV reminds us that offering ourselves fully to God is an ongoing commitment that requires sacrifice, dedication, and a willingness to prioritize God's purposes above our own. As we seek to live out this calling in our own lives, we can trust that God will accept our sacrifices and use us to advance His kingdom in powerful ways.