Numbers

When Blood Defiles The Land

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Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.  So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.  Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
Numbers 35:30-34

God is grieved by the bloodshed that was happening in the world back thousands of years ago; and He is still grieved by it.  We are talking about premeditated murder, not accidental or self defense.

The Ten Commandments has the sixth commandment,  “You shall not kill (murder).”

Now, the verses above tells us that God is telling them what to do with the murderer, “He shall surely be put to death.”  This commandment is in the category of “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Should I ask?  Who among us wants to be murdered?  I would dare to say, “Not a one of us,”  therefore we ought to love the way we would want to be loved.

The one who murders defiles the land, and there is no cleansing of the land, except by the death of the one who has murdered the innocent.

Jesus Christ was hanged on a cross, unjustly, He was guilty of none of the charges brought against Him.  This was a murder of the worst sort.  But Jesus did this, offering Himself as a sacrifice for sin.  We should have been the ones who hanged there, and died a slow and miserable death; but Jesus did, then He was buried in a borrowed stone tomb, and He rose again.

Our sin debt- your sin debt was paid in full;

Our sins were carried away, and cast as far away from  us as far as east is from west;

With our sins forgiven, we must repent and receive this marvelous gift of God’s grace, and we receive eternal life.  His resurrection is our assurance that we will be forever with Him.

A Troubling Prophet

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And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.  And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.  And he took up his parable, and said,

“Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:   ‘He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:  How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
“As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.  He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.  He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”

Numbers 24:1-9

The words spoken  by the false prophet Balaam were spoken after he had tried to curse the people of God who were over one million in numbers of all the people.  They frightened Balak who was king of the Moabites a the time, and Balak heard of the man named Balaam, who, when he said  something, it came about as he said.

Balaam was a man for hire.  He could curse a group of people, and would for a price.  However, the poem of song he writes above sounds as though he believes God will not allow him to curse Israel.  When the matter is all said and done there are 24,000 people are slain due to the mingling of Moabites with Israel.

Phineas, a grandson of Aaron, has the Spirit of the LORD upon him, and with the zeal of God, runs with a spear into the tent of an Israelite man, who has entered with a Medianite woman, and ran them through together.  This stopped the plague which came upon the due to their lustful actions (Numbers 25)

It would seem that Balaam is the cause of the mingling, because he told Balak where their weakness was, and Balak took note; and thus Balaam got his reward from Balak.  He would not, and will not ever be blessed by receiving reward from the LORD.  Even for the words which he spoke above; neither will he be remembered or blessed for the words spoken in verses 15 through 24 of this same chapter.

They are actually a curse to him.  He knew who God was and is, yet he refused to love Him.  Yet his bed has been made, and in that bed he remains; guilty as a false prophet.

Where do you stand with the LORD God?  Do you know and believe that God is?  If you do; have you called on the name of His Son Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, and death?

Jesus Christ came to earth as the Incarnation of God to die for our  sins, by becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and He rose again the third day.  I you call on Him, He will hear you and deliver you.

To Be Alive

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But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Numbers 33:55-56

As I was thinking about these verses I was reminded of Colossians 3:5, where the Apostle said, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…”  The word “Mortify” means “to put to death,” and that is what a Christian is to do. Put the evil desires of the flesh to death.

In our text for today we have a warning from the LORD God through Moses, His faithful servant to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Now, remember God had promised this land, the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For four hundred plus years the children of Israel who is Jacob, were held captive as slaves to the Egyptians. Mean while the Canaanites were growing more and more vile and wicked refusing the love, mercy, and grace of the one true  God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything therein.

The children of Israel are nearing the time of going into this land that flowed with milk and honey.  I can understand why some people think God is cruel, mean, and offensive. He is not though. He tells  His people to cleanse the land. God is holy, and cannot look upon iniquity, and He was going to bless Israel for their obedience in purifying His land.

Now the comparison of Colossians 3:5; as Christians we are to die daily to self, and selfish interest. The Apostle even said, “I am crucified with Christ… “Galatians 2:20), and for the Christian that means we were as well if we are in Christ Jesus. Though we are Christians we still must fight the enemy. Our enemy is not people. Our enemy is the devil, and our own sin within. So the Christian life is a battle.

We are to drive out these lustful, selfish, covetous, rowdy desires, so that we might be better witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Even though we are saved from the penalty of sin, in our continued fighting against sin and evil within – which is our sanctification – we are being saved from the power of sin; and one day, when Jesus comes again we will be saved from the presence of sin – which is our glorification with Christ.

As long as we are living in this world, let us ever be faithful to drive out the enemy, and not let any of it remain within us.

The Prophet for Profit

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God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do, or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

Numbers 23:19-20

These are the words from an oracle spoken by Balaam. Balaam was a sorcerer who sought economic gain for his prophecies. He was asked by many to curse or to bless. He knew that he could curse whom God had blessed; and neither could he bless whom God had cursed.

At the time Balaam said these words he was working for Balak the king of Moab. Balak had sent for the sorcerer to come and curse Israel. The Moabites greatly feared the massive number of these people who were traveling through the wilderness for these many years.

The words Balaam speaks are true. False prophets do not often speak the truth when they are being paid to curse or lead someone away from the truth. Here he speaks the truth; but it is not what is in his heart. He is not a prophet of the LORD God.

He is not a child of God. He is a child of the devil. I say that because his heart is still on being paid for his services. He does something that causes the people of Israel to sin against God, and causes a curse to be on them (Numbers 31:16).

We are warned of Balaam in the New Testament as well in 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11; and The Revelation 2:14.

May we men who are called by God be always faithful to proclaim what God says. May we also be faithful when we are not paid to do so. Let us not be a Prophet for Profit. Let us neither seek to lead God’s people into sin. Neither should we trust in those who do not love God’s people.

We are to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without fear or favor from any man, and to preach it without charge. Christ Jesus died on the cross in our stead, He was buried, and He rose again. He is also coming again. If you are not ready for His return you can get ready by praying, asking Him for forgiveness of your sins in repentance, believing on Him with all your heart.

In His Anger He Struck The Rock

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron,
“Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:7-12

What did Moses do wrong? The people of the congregation of Israel came to Moses and Aaron complaining again of having no water to drink, for themselves or their animals. Of course water is a necessary element for living of anything on this earth that breathes air.

The people had already witnessed one other time when God provided water from the rock, and Moses was told by God to “Strike the rock,” and Moses did and water came from the stricken rock (Exodus 17:6). This time, however, God had said, “Speak to the rock,” and instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice; evidently in anger by the phrase He uses, “Hear now, you rebels…” I have a sneaking suspicion that Moses at that moment, in anger, had tunnel vision, and did not fully hear what God said, and remembering the last time he struck the rock, he did so again.

Anger can keep one from hearing God. Moses’s anger may have been justified, but was not good when he did not obey what God said.

I know what being angry and having tunnel vision is like. When I was a teenager we were at a cousins house, and the oldest boy in that family did something to me, while we were outside playing, that made me very angry. It was summer time, and in my anger all I could see while I was chasing him, was him; there was nothing else around me only my cousin in front of me. There was a pickup truck with a hay elevator laying over the tail gate of that pickup, sticking out six to eight feet out, and my cousin ran under that elevator. Well, with my eyes only on him I did not see the elevator, and I did not make the journey under the hay elevator. The elevator stopped at the bridge of my nose, and I went down. Today, I am very thankful for that elevator being there. My anger was not good. Neither is tunnel vision. To this very day I do not remember another time I have lost sight of what is around me.

Paul the apostle says that this rock is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). First the Rock was struck showing us that the Messiah who is Jesus Christ would be smitten. In the second event speaking to the rock was what GOD had told Moses to do, but he struck it not once, but twice, and Christ was to struck only  once, and then He can be spoken to.

Because of this event of anger the LORD tells Moses and Aaron that they will neither one enter the Promised Land. God tells them “Because you did not believe Me.” It is very important for the child of God to believe God, and believe His word. God’s word concerning Jesus Christ in the Old and the New Testaments is true. He tells us clearly that Jesus is His only begotten Son, whom He sent into the world to redeem all who would come to Him, and give them eternal life.

Jesus, the Rock, was stricken one time, dying on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again. Jesus told us, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself…” (John 14:1-3). Are you ready? If not call on His name in repentance, and ask Him. He will hear, and He will deliver you from sin and death.

How Big Is GOD?

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And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.  If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”
Numbers 14:6-9

The title of this post is “How Big Is GOD?” He is as big as His word; in that not one word He has spoken will fail. He keeps His word.

Joshua and Caleb knew how big the LORD is. When they went with the other ten men to survey the land, and check it out they saw the Promised Land. The other ten saw trouble. Joshua and Caleb believed the LORD, and were full ready to go into the Promised Land. Their GOD, was a big GOD, fully able to conquer the people’s of Canaan.

Those of us who are in Christ Jesus we are not working for victory, but working in the victory Jesus Christ gave us in His death on the cross,  His burial, and resurrection. We know the enemy has already been defeated, so what do we have to fear. The victory is already ours

Do not rebel against the LORD, but believe Him and trust Him from the victory that is His. Do not look at how big the trouble, the problem, the sickness, or whatever you are facing is. Look at God, and remind your enemy how big God is.

Jesus Christ came in love, mercy, and grace to accomplish our salvation, by becoming sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God, in Him. In becoming sin for us He died on the cross, being a perfect, sinless, sacrifice for sin. When He was dead they laid Him in a tomb, and three days later He walked out alive forever more. Believe Him and call on His name.

By Day, and By Night

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And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Numbers 9:15-16

The “Tent of the testimony” was completed, the priesthood, was consecrated  to the LORD. All had been done just as the LORD had commanded Moses. At the raising of the “Tent of the testimony” a powerful show of approval from God is seen by all the people.

The LORD God gives His approval by showing up in a cloud over the tent of testimony by day, and a fire by night. Both of these things rested on the tent showing the people of God’s powerful presence.

The cloud by day, and fire by night had been present when they were  fleeing from Egypt. Now the people can see that God is dwelling in their midst. They could know and say, “GOD is with us.” When the cloud or the fire would move from the tent, then the people knew it was time to move on. When the cloud and the fire stayed, even for a week, a month or a year, they would stay.

Today, the follower of Jesus Christ can know that “GOD is with us,” because we trust in the Son of God who is Jesus Christ, who is also Immanuel which means, “God with us.” When we called on the name of the Lord for our eternal salvation He gave us the Holy Spirit who is our earnest payment (2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) for assurance of God’s presence in us, on us, and around us. He always leads us to continue in fellowship with Christ.

How do we stay in fellowship with Christ? First we must have the Holy Spirit, and be attentive to Him. He is present in the reading, study, and doing of the word of God. He is the One who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). We must have a heart and an ear for hearing the Spirit,  and following His lead. That comes by communicating with Christ Jesus through prayer, and hearing Him through His word; His commandments, statutes, His law, His judgments, His precepts, His total, and trustworthy word. God will do what He says He will do. Not one word will fail.

Are you in fellowship with God. I can tell you with full assurance that if you do not know Jesus Christ for who He is – the Christ, Son of the Living God – believing He died on the cross for you, was buried, and arose from the dead. That you are not in fellowship with God.

Call on the name of the Lord, believing Him, and He will hear you and deliver you from all your sins. Will you do that today?

Do Not Defile The Land

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Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
Numbers 35:30-34

Zealous Against Sin and Evil

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And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses,
“Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.”
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, “Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”   And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Numbers 25:1-9

Striking The Rock

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And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?”  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron,
“Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and He was sanctified in them.
Numbers 20:6-13

We Are Well Able To Overcome

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And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.  And they told him, and said, “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.”
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Numbers 13:25-30

Your Sin Will Find You Out

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And Moses said unto them, “If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until He hath driven out His enemies from before Him, and the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
“Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.”  And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, “Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: but thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.”
Numbers 32:20-27

Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Matthew 18:7

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Acts 18:28

GOD Is Not Silent

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And the LORD said unto Moses, “Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
Numbers 27:18-21

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them.
Matthew 17:12

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, “For we are also his offspring.”  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Acts 17:24-29

The Holiness Of GOD Will Not Be Snubbed

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And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Numbers 25:6-9

For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.
Matthew 16:27

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Acts 16:29-31

You Cannot Curse Whom GOD Has Blessed

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And he took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
“Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.  He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What hath God wrought!’  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”
Numbers 23:18-24

But He answered and said,
“Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”
Matthew 15:13

Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
Acts 15:18

Confession, Believing, and Obedience

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And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
“Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah.  Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”
And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Numbers 20:22-29

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, “Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:33

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
Acts 14:1

GOD’S Treasure In The World

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And Moses said unto Aaron,
“Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.”
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.  And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.  And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
Numbers 16:46-50

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 13:44

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it.  And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness.
Acts 13:17-18

My Word Shall Come To Pass

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And Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, ‘I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.’ Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?” And the LORD said unto Moses,
“Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”
Numbers 11:21-23

All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
Matthew 11:27

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:25-26

GOD Blesses His People

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, ‘On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
‘The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.’
“And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:22-27

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Matthew 10:14

To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 10:43

Laborers In The Harvest

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be Mine; because all the firstborn are Mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: Mine shall they be: I am the LORD.”
Numbers 3:11-13

Then saith He unto His disciples,
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9:19-20

Order and Priority

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These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.  And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
Numbers 2:32-34

When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
Matthew 8:16-17

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.                     Acts 8:4
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.        Acts 8:35

An Uprising

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“And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?” Numbers 16:8-11 (KJV)

Korah, Dathan and Abiram were family in the tribe of Levi, and the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, out of Egypt.  The family of Aaron was appointed as the family of the priesthood, and these Levites were caretakers of the “Holy articles” of the tabernacle.  Yet, at least these three raised a ruckus against Moses and Aaron and GOD.

This is one sad, but too often repeated in the Biblical history, as well as throughout world history.  People who are not content with their God given place in service and life.  That is where wars and strife come from (James 4:1-2).

Look at the leadership of Moses.  He states the case for what it is.  It is a rebellion against the LORD (v. 11 in the text above).  These were God’s people, going God’s way, doing God’s will; and yet there was discontent, jealousy, and bitterness.  All those things are against God.

As Korah gathered the congregation together against God, Moses and Aaron “…The glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation” (V. 19).  The LORD had appointed Moses and Aaron to their positions of leadership, and the other Levites to their positions.  It is a dangerous thing to challenge God, and His appointments, and/or His authority to do so; then to question the authority of those He  has placed in authority.

Moses plead with Korah, Dathan and Abiram (vv. 8-9), to change their heart and mind; but to no avail.  Moses and Aaron fall on their faces before the LORD (v. 22), and plead with God for the congregation, and God’s mercy upon them.

All who would separate themselves from the uprising, and the three men would be spared the event that was about to happen.

Because they refused to repent the judgment of God was about to fall.  Hear the words of Moses to the men and the congregation….

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. vv. 28-34

We all need to consider these words which are from God.  This by no means even hints at toleration of evil and godless leadership; especially within a Congregation of Christian people.  Neither does it allow for false teachers who preach contrary to the content of Scripture, or of Christ Jesus.

Let us be content with our calling and place in life.  Let us do our part, and not even desire the office of another.  If we could we might want to ask Korah, Dathan and Abiram about the reality of God’s wrath and judgment.  I think they would agree with…

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of  the living God”  (Hebrews 10:31).

You do not need to perish.  Realize you have sinned, that God sent His Son Jesus to die for you; that He was buried, and that He rose again from the grave, and that He eternally lives giving life to all who believe Him.

 

 

Jesus Through the Bible – Even the Vision of Balaam

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“And he took up his parable, and said, ‘Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: ‘He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.’” Numbers 24:15-19

Often the words of a false prophet are not worth posting; however in this case they are documented in Scripture and the prophecies of true prophets to be considered worthy.

Balaam prophesied of Jesus. Jesus is the “Star out of Jacob”. He is also the “Sceptre” that “shall rise out of Israel”. Jesus is the Conqueror of the enemies of Israel, and forever shall be.

If a false prophet has some vision of who Jesus is why do you not have the heart and vision to see, that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, God the Living Son; crucified, buried, raised bodily from the grave; and coming again. Jesus is the conqueror of all sin, and the Victor over all enemies of God and His people (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Romans 8:35-39).

Christmas Day Two Hundred Twenty and One

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What do I want for Christmas?

I want the LORD God of all creation to comfort, encourage, and give strength to the families of the Egypt Air flight 804 into the Mediterranean Sea; and that they will find peace through the Son Jesus Christ, and eternal life in Him.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:24-25 (KJV)

“Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 38:23

Day Three Hundred Forty and Eight

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What do I want for Christmas?

I want my family, friends and neighbors to be blessed, in peace, comfort and wealth; most of all to be blessed with the peace and presence of the Lord in their lives.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)