Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture today is Numbers 28:6 (NET).

It is a continual burnt offering that was instituted on Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

We have looked at the sacrificial system before in Numbers. We remember that it goes back to the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis. God calls us to give back a portion of what we have been given in blessing for His purposes. We learn that it provides sustenance for the priests and their families. Most importantly, it prepared God’s people for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, His only Son. We know that through His obedience, we can be forgiven and become part of God’s plan for us.

Loving Lord, we are amazed and humbled that You ask us to be Your stewards in the world. Help us to see that everything is a gift from Your goodness, to be used for the good of all Your children. May we be a living sacrifice! Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Numbers 27:22-23 (NET).

So Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded, by the authority of Moses.

In many churches we recognize people who serve in various ways through commissioning them during a worship service. The pastor and sometimes the entire congregation lay hands on them and pray for their ministry. These verses reflect the beginning of that tradition, as leadership of the people transitions from Moses to Joshua. God called Joshua to this position, as He calls all of us to kingdom work. Being recognized for our contribution is not important, our joy is that God has a part for each one of us in His plan.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You call us by name to be part of Your work in creation. May we be energetic disciples, sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Numbers 26:65 (NET).

For the Lord had said of them, “They will surely die in the wilderness.” And there was not left a single man of them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

I have a hard time reading some passages in the Old Testament, but we need to understand that God certainly has cause to be angry with us. The Book of Numbers deals with some difficult scenes where the people disobey, lose their trust in God and even make idols for themselves. Earlier in this book we read “You will by no means enter into the land where I swore to settle you. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun” (Numbers 14:30). Today’s verse near the end of Numbers is the fulfilment of that judgement, that the “evil generation” has passed away and a new group will be the ones to take possession of the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua were the two spies sent into the land who brought back an encouraging, faithful report, while the others were afraid to follow God’s instructions. God blesses our obedience, even when it is hard. We must be ready to accept His will over our own thoughts and fears.

Heavenly Father, we ask forgiveness for the times we doubt and fail. Strengthen us through faith and let us be Your face and hands to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Numbers 6:24-26 (NET).

The Lord bless you and protect you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

If you are like me, these might be the only verses from Numbers we can quote. When we look carefully there is much more to this book than just lists, rules and instructions. Here God gives the priests a blessing to say over the people. God is teaching them how to minister to those in their care. Many churches still use this benediction to close worship services. It shows God’s love for us and the connection we have with Him. He tells us we can ask for these things – His blessing, His presence and His peace – and share them with the world.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your many blessings, none more wonderful than sending us Your Son that we might be saved. Still us and fill us, mend us and send us that we might be the face of Your love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Numbers 1:2 (NET).

Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and families, counting the name of every individual male.

God took a large group of people who had lived in slavery for many years and was making a nation of them. He had promised descendants and land to Abraham, and that with God’s help, his family would be a blessing to everyone. The Book of Numbers, as we know it in English, refers to the census God directs. He is organizing His people to take possession of the Promised Land. Abraham’s family has grown to a population of over 600,000 through God’s blessing. God gives them very detailed instructions on how to move all the people and how they are to live. We must remember that while He made stars and galaxies, He also created the subatomic particles and elements that make up everything. With God, there is no small stuff – everything matters to our Creator.

Wise and wonderful God, while we struggle with a plan for this and a plan for that, You have a plan for everything that is. Help us to rely on Your strength and wisdom and not our own. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 26:45 (NET).

I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out from the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.

God tells us that the promise He made in the beginning is the same throughout history. He created us out of love and continues to love us, even in our selfishness and disobedience. While He accepts us, He loves us too much to leave us in our sinful state and has acted to redeem us. In Isaiah 43:1 we read “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.” While God has made a promise to all of us as His people, He knows each of us individually and loves us in our uniqueness. We are “wonderfully and fearfully made” (Psalm 139:14) according to His plan, and sent to share His love with the world.

Heavenly Father, we know You created everything with a purpose, including us. Help us to see what You intend for us and go in Your name to bring the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Leviticus 26:12 (NET).

I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people.

God again reminds us of the relationship we once shared, walking together in the garden. He offers us the chance to renew that relationship with Him and one another. Even though we have disobeyed, God has made a way for us to be forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice for us. At the time God determined, Jesus came and walked among us as a human, showing us what a life lived in God could really be. We are invited to be His people, but we must choose to do so; He will not force anyone. Our God calls us with loving, open hands.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have failed You. Forgive us and bless us to be Your people, freed from sin by the blood of Jesus and sent to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 26:1-2 (NET).

You must not make for yourselves idols, so you must not set up for yourselves a carved image or a pillar, and you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down before it, for I am the Lord your God. You must keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Again God repeats guidance from the Ten Commandments: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below” (Exodus 20:4). God wants us to understand clearly our relationship with Him. We can’t be His people if we put something other than God on the throne. We might think the idea of “graven images” as the focus of our lives sounds silly, but what are our graven images? Money, power, prestige…anything that keeps our focus away from Him is an idol in our lives. In Matthew 24:2 Jesus tells them regarding the temple “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” An idol or a temple we construct is no longer needed, God has sent His Spirit to dwell in us as His holy temple.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You continue to offer us Your presence and the free gift of salvation through Jesus. Strengthen us in faith and send us to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 23:3 (NET).

Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You must not do any work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in all the places where you live.

Why do we hear the same commandments repeated different places in scripture? Apparently we humans have a hearing problem, and once is never enough! God said this to us in Genesis 2:1-3. He repeats it to us in Exodus 20:8-11. Here He tells us once more, before outlining the annual remembrance celebrations. Notice the instruction about “holy assembly”, telling us that Sabbath is to be celebrated together as His people. When Jesus came He found we had hundreds of trivial instructions for Sabbath that we used to control each other rather than honoring God through gathering for worship. He tells us that God wants our attention for Sabbath, but He also wants us to use common sense and not judge each other about how we celebrate. Praise and worship, loud or quiet, God accepts our observance of His Sabbath.

Heavenly Father, help us to remember the importance of gathering for worship together in Your name. Forgive us for letting worldly things control our Sabbath. Help us to honor Christ’s sacrifice for us and live new lives in Him. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 7:37-38 (NET).

This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering sacrifice, which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai.

God gave the Israelites very specific instructions for offerings and we may never fully understand their meaning to the people of that time. Offerings to God are not a new thing. This was the subject of the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:3-5. God is trying to rebuild the relationship with His people that He intended at Creation. An offering is basically giving up something important to you, knowing God can use all our gifts for good. When Jesus came as our Savior, the perfect sacrifice for all time, the sacrificial system was no longer needed. Instead of our sacrifices, we focus on His, and go to share that sacrificial love with the world.

Loving Lord, You sent Your only Son to save us from our sin. No sacrifice we make could ever equal that. Bless us to give of our time, talent and treasure for the work of Your kingdom. Amen.