Day 49 (Saturday) - Numbers 21-23

It seems that when most people read or teach this passage of Scripture, they focus on the bizarre miracle of the talking donkey that could see the sword wielding angel. This event seems to create a veil that keeps us from seeing what I see as the most shocking part of the story. Balaam knows God, speaks to God, performs curses and blessings fir God but doesn’t even know the Israelites! This is a big hairy deal! God is up to something in this world and we want to box him in and limit where He can and can’t be. We think God can only work one way or another, but it’s not true. God can do anything he wants. He stated that he would bless the nations through Abraham, but God is also doing his own blessings (and curses) in the world.

Day 48 (Friday) - Numbers 17-20

What did Moses and Aaron do? God said to speak to the rock and Aaron and Moses struck the rock. As a result of this, they don’t get to go into the Promised Land. Does this work for you? First of all, how were they going to go in if the people couldn’t go in? Second, how is this such a bad thing? I don’t like this passage but it doesn’t matter. God is God and he does not require my approval of his ways and judgments. Do you have passages or portions of the Bible you wish went differently? I need to remember to trust God, even when it seems unfair or like I’m a victim of some injustice. God’s ways are not my ways, but it’s still tough sometimes to not let those things bug me.

Day 47 (Thursday) - Numbers 15:22-16:50

Are you shocked at the defiance and disobedience of these people in Numbers? I am! I have had many people tell me that it would be easier to live the Christian life if Jesus were still here in human form or if God showed up like he did in the burning bush or like he did at the entrance to the tabernacle, but I’m not sure it’s true. These people knew God that way yet rebelled violently. They watched as God destroyed the rebellion and woke up the next day with more rebellion in their hearts. If I were Moses, I’m not sure I would try to stand in the gap for these people. When God says to step out of the way so He can smite them, I just might get out of the way! May God continue to be merciful and gracious to us, His people. May his promises come tru even though we are sinful. May we all do a better job of obeying the God that loves us enough to keep us around and die in our place. How great is our God?

Day 46 (Wednesday) - Numbers 13:17-15:21

Chapter 14 has to be one of the top ten sobering chapters in all the Old Testament. God has done so much and proved his promises and the people toss it out like old bath water. The land really is as good as he said, but they fear that God does not have the power to protect them or the follow-through to give them the land. God is upset. Now the God who was willing to clear the land with his power is going to turn it on His people. These folks are dumb! I know I’ve said it before, but I am so much like these people.

Day 45 (Tuesday) - Numbers 10:11-13:16

Numbers 11 has always interested me. The people who are free from slavery start to think it was better back in bondage. I know I do this. I get freed from some thing I used to do and I think back to the days that I did it and wish I could do it again, just one more time. I think about women in abusive relationships and wonder why they go back. God is not pleased with the actions of his Israelite people; he promises them that they will eat quail until they gag. This reminds me of some wise advice my Grandmother told me when I said I wished I could eat a whole half gallon of ice-cream…”Be careful what you wish for”. She was right, I got very sick and I didn’t eat ice-cream for quite a while. What do you wish you could go back to?

Day 44 (Monday) - Numbers 7:60-10:10

It’s a bit shocking to realize the amount of work that went into setting up and tearing down camp and that the Israelite people did this when ever God moved in the fire/cloud. As they set up camp they didn’t know if it was going to be for overnight or a year! Could you do this mentally? I couldn’t do this at Newton Hills, let alone a desert with a tent the size of half a football field! Not to mention the thousands of personal residence tents that had to be set up and torn down. The cooking facilities and the managing of the thousands of livestock! God has always wanted his people ready and willing to go when he says go. I wonder how many things in my life keep me from going or doing the things God wants me to do because I’m unwilling to do the work to respond or because I value my comfort too much?

Day 43 (Sunday) - Numbers 5:23-7:59

The Nazirite vow is a cool deal. It was done by men and women and we see it (them) throughout the scriptures. Most Nazirite vows were for a period of time and some were permanent. Some of the more popular people were Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul. It was a choice that a person would make for a period of time (minimum of 30 days). Fasting or lent are some modern day ways of dedicating ourselves to God’s service or reflecting deeper in our faith and relationship with God.

Do you think you could ever be a Nazirite? By the way, there are some false teaching that says that Rasta’s are Nazirites but it’s not true, but it is true that people like John the Baptist would have had dreadlocks!