Under the Cloud

After the priests gave their blessing over the people in Numbers 6, it was time to focus on God’s house.  Moses anoints it, consecrates it and dedicates its furnishings and the bronze altar.  This is the same anointing the priests receive.  The anointing oil is applied, symbolically making these furnishings and the place holy.  The presence of God Almighty is what really makes the tabernacle holy, but man must do what he can to show the proper reverence in God’s house.   God gave them the formulas for the anointing oil and for the incense.  This same mixture was not to be made anywhere else.  The unique fragrance of God would be in the air of the Tabernacle.  When you think of smells, they can bring back memories.  God says that we believers are a sweet savor to those who are being drawn to Him.  However, we can also be an "aroma that brings death." (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) The steps that Moses and the priests took to prepare ...

Have you ever made a vow?  Have you ever made a vow you didn't keep?  People in tight spots often make big promises to get relief.  Follow through is another story... Our account now moves on from cleansing the camp to providing guidelines to those who want to be especially dedicated to the Lord.  The Nazirite vow was a temporary separation from anything to do with the vine: wine and fermented drink, grapes and raisins.  Also during this separation period, no razor is to be used on the head of the one who vows.  Throughout the period of his separation, the Nazirite is not to go near a dead body because he is consecrated to the Lord.  If someone dies in the presence of a Nazirite, he must shave his head, make offerings and start all over with the vow.  At the end of his time of separation, the Nazirite presents himself to the priest and offers sacrifices and shaves off his hair that was dedicated. Reading these verses immediately brings to...

Purity.  Not a popular subject.  Purity.  What God wants from us.  Purity.  What God gives to us.  We want to be pure in heart.  Being in the world tarnishes our purity.  How can we be pure? As we move on to Numbers Chapter 5, we see that order is still being kept in the camp in that God is telling Moses to send anything impure outside the camp.  God lives in the camp and He cannot tolerate impurity.  The correlation to our lives is direct in this instance. We need to do the same in our houses: keep God at the center and remove any impurities.  How do we purify our homes today? Is there something in your home that is impure and needs to be dealt with?  God says, "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" ( 1 John 1:9 ). Think about this: The impurity could be an attitude of yours or of another family member.  Anything come to mind? It could...

Welcome to Numbers chapter 4! You are doing a great job! Guess what Moses is doing at the beginning of this week’s passage? Counting!  Now that the Levites have been counted for redemption, they need to be counted for service to the Lord. Men could serve in the army at age 20 but priests served from ages 30 to 50. We need more maturity to be ministers of grace than to fight with arms. Matthew Henry says, “ A man may make a good soldier much sooner than a good minister.” Later, in Numbers chapter 8, the priest is said to enter service at age 25. It is thought that the first five years were more of an apprenticeship (expositors Bible commentary). Five years was a long training period. The Israelites did not take lightly the honor to serve God and make sure its men were appropriately prepared.  Jesus our Great High Priest began his ministry at age 30 ( Luke 3:21-23 ). Jesus subjected Himself to the age of priestly acceptance because everything He did fulfilled the L...

In the previous post, we looked at pastoral exemption.  The tribe of Levi did not fight in Israel's army.  They belonged to the Lord.  They served at the tabernacle and carried it around as Israel wandered in the desert.  We continue in Numbers 3 by learning about the three clans in the tribe of Levi and the work God has for them. The Levites will be counted by clan and given work assignments in the tabernacle.  The first son of Levi was Gershon. The Gershonites were counted if they were over one month in age.  This greatly differs from the numbering of the army.  A Levite would not serve at such a young age, but they would be recorded in the records.  The 7,500 Gershonites were to guard the tabernacle tents and camp to the west of the tabernacle.  The Levites were encamped between the tabernacle and the tribal divisions. Levi's second son was Kohath, and there were 8,600 Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle. ...

As we move on to Numbers 3, we are focusing on the Levites who are dedicated to service in the tabernacle.  In the last chapter, we looked at the setup of the camp. In Exodus 33:7-11 , we see that the tent of meeting was outside the camp.  Moses would go outside the camp to meet with God.  Now the presence of God is central to the camp.  This reflects the progressive revelation of God among his people and the progressive preparation of a people to be fit to live in his presence.  God also gives us progressive revelation today.  As we grow closer to God, we see more of Him. “[O]n a day yet to come, there will be the full realization of the presence of the person of God dwelling in the midst of his people in the New Jerusalem ( Rev 21:1-4 ).”  (Expositor’s Commentary p. 716) Reflection: When have you seen this to be true in your life? When have you grown closer to God then seen more of Him? Balaam says in Num 24:5 , “How beautiful are your t...

God in the Center   Numbers Chapter 2 begins with God giving Moses directions on how the Israelites should camp.  The nation is living in tents in the desert, following God's direction as communicated verbally by Moses and symbolically by the cloud lifting.  To avoid chaos and confusion, quarreling and jockeying for position, God tells them how He wants them to arrange themselves around the Tabernacle in the center of their encampment.  Nobody will take the place of honor for themselves or push someone else out of place because God is giving the design to them.  Our God is a God of order. " For  God  is not a  God   of  disorder but  of  peace—as in all the congregations  of  the Lord’s people" ( 1 Corinthians 14:33 ).  When you see God's people behaving "out of order" they are also out of the will of God.  Nobody is perfect, but we need to be close to the Lord through His Word and prayer so we ca...