All of It

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Numbers 30-31

War is horrible. The killing, looting, and destruction reveals the worst in man. But what do you do when it’s God ordering you to go to war? How about when He orders you to kill all men, women, and children? You probably do what the Israelite soldiers did, and show compassion, and take the women and children captive instead of actually killing them.

Bring them home. Give them work to do and a place to live. That’s the compassionate thing to do.

We learn, however, that there was a very good reason God insisted the women die. They were the ones who had embraced idolatry and lured the Jews into their sin. They were more God’s enemies than the men! And here the Israelite soldiers are inviting them into their own homes.

This side of the cross our battles are not with flesh and blood. Thankfully we are NOT called to take the lives of people who have different beliefs or who have hurt us in some way.

Our enemies are spiritual, but they are no less threatening. God commands us to go to war… and kill them all.

Yet sometimes we think, “I’ll eliminate greed. I’ll destroy adultery. I’ll put to death impure thoughts. But…”

We tell ourselves God didn’t really mean put pride to death. I’m supposed to look out for number one! Surely God didn’t mean to eliminate resentment. That man hurt me. He doesn’t deserve to be forgiven.

One little lie. One unkind word. Just a little gossip. That hint of jealousy. I’ll make room for them in my heart. They are just “children.”

But the Israelites had to kill the children, too. Why? Because children grow up, get stronger, have more influence. And so do baby sins.

Yes, it’s hard to read these chapters. We are compassionate people. But don’t let your compassion prevent you from hearing God tell you to go to war against sin in your life.

All of it.

It’s Ahead

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Numbers 20-21

So the Israelites occupied the cities they conquered. I have so many questions. It wasn’t technically the Promised Land, but it sounds like many of the Jews found homes there. Were these the 2 1/2 tribes that eventually stayed there? Did their wanderings end there? It would seem so, although there are a lot of things that happened to the nation of Israel in the wilderness before they crossed the Jordan River.

I get it, I guess. We all like to be comfortable. We get tired of the journey, of the battle out there. We find a comfortable place to lay our faith, and call it home. But there are battles yet to fight. God wants to grow our faith, stretch us, strengthen us, use us to show our world how awesome He is so that they’ll want Him, too.

Am I satisfied with my relationship with God to the point I don’t feel the need or desire to grow any more? Do I convince myself my days of serving God are behind me, and it’s time to put my feet up? The Promised Land is still ahead.

Am I going to quit now?

Them is Me

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Numbers 16

The people just saw the men who challenged Moses’ God-given authority, along with their families and possessions, being swallowed up by the earth. The ground split, they fell in, the land closed up.

But then, and this has me shaking my head, they went back to Moses and complained THE NEXT DAY. About 1,500 more people had to die before the Israelites got the message: You don’t mess with God.

I could lament over the same thick-headedness of people in 2024. The blatant rejection of God, of Truth, begs for the same judgment we read about in Numbers.

But I can’t make this about “them.” If I’m honest, there I times my own heart is stubborn, my “self” rears its ugly head, I question and complain against God. And there are times I find myself thinking I should be able to do and/or believe what I want and expect God to just accept it. It begs for the same judgment we read about in Numbers.

Oh, I’m not out there picketing against God’s Law, or filming a Tik-Tok video about how unfair God is. My rebellion is much more subtle than that. It’s rooted in my heart. It shows up in my attitude, my unrest, my refusal to forgive. It ignores the parts of Scripture that require me to submit, to repent, and to stand firm.

I’m so thankful for God’s patience and long-suffering grace and mercy. But I best pay attention. God is not fooled. Eventually the guilty will be punished. And it’s not just about “them.” Them is me.

Cover Them

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Numbers 4

When the Israelites moved, the Levites needed to be very careful to protect the most holy things used in worship. They covered the Ark with the shielding curtain, the table of the Presence with a blue cloth. Then they put the utensils, bowls, etc. on top of the table and covered it all with a red cloth.

The lamp stand was wrapped in blue cloth as were the gold altar and articles. Even the ashes were protected by a purple cloth. Then everything was covered with top layers of sea cow hides.

The Israelites were told by God to first protect the most holy things, then they were ready to get on the road. Nothing, not a dent or scratch or smudge, was going to harm the most holy things as the Israelites followed God.

What does that have to do with anything? I’m not sure we are as carful to protect the holy things of God today. What about our hearts, our minds, God’s Word, the light He has called us to be to the world, the Gospel of Jesus? Do we cover those things in prayer and Scripture before we follow God into our day?

I’m afraid too often we start our days without giving a thought to the most holy things. I’m afraid we go into worship services with such a casual attitude the most holy things are exposed to the elements of the world. I’m afraid the most holy things are dented, scratched, and smudged by our neglect.

The Jews were intentional about covering the most holy things. I wonder if we shouldn’t learn from their example.

Rest

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Leviticus 25

I can understand why the Israelites might express concern over God’s command that every seven years the land was not to be planted, nor crops harvested. God was really saying there would be no food for two years; the first when the land was resting, the second as the crops grew before the harvest. It wasn’t like they could just go to the grocery.

God foresaw their objection and said, “Don’t worry. The bounty of the sixth year will sustain you for three years!” More than they would need.

Ok, God, if you say so. But I am a bit anxious about the whole thing.

I hear God asking me this morning if I really trust Him with my own future. Or am I so busy making things happen, I miss the blessing that come from rest? Do I plunge into my day with just a quick nod to my Lord, or do I stop and let Him feed me from His bounty?

I hear God remind me to “be still and know that (He) is God.” (Ps 46:10)

He says, “Come unto me… and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

And, “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before you eyes!” (1 Sam 12:16)

Is it possible to be too busy serving God? It would seem so, according to Scripture. Even Jesus took a break from time to time to be alone with the Father.

Do you trust God? Don’t neglect the rest. Not rest FROM God or from serving Him, but rest IN Him before you serve.

Rest. Then get back to work.

All Of Me

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Leviticus 11-14

I was wondering why God instructed that blood be placed on a person’s right ear, thumb, and big toe during a cleansing ceremony. So I Googled it. And what I learned challenges me.

First, the blood of the sacrifice on the ear lobe. It is believed to be a symbol of holy thoughts, which also entails guarding what kinds of things I listen to.

Second, the blood on the thumb represents holy actions. The choices I make every day, from what I put in my mouth to what and who I touch is holy to the Lord. Or should be.

And last, the big toe. It represents my walk with God, my obedience. Following God means not following the world.

Now, this is certainly not an exhaustive study on the subject. It’s a synopsis of the opinions I read on the internet, so I’m not sure how accurate it is. But I am challenged today to apply the blood of Jesus to my thoughts, my actions, and my walk today.

Lord, cleanse all of me. And may I live with the visible signs of your holiness in my thoughts, my actions and obedience to You.

Living What We Believe

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Leviticus 8-11

I recently saw the phrase, “Christian Atheist,” referring to believers who live like God doesn’t exist. I think it can refer to people who believe some, but not all Scripture is true. People who go to church, maybe even preach, who are holding onto sins they refuse to surrender to God. They are Christians who believe God makes exceptions to His rules, and live like they will avoid the consequences spelled out in Scripture.

Nadab and Abihu fit that category. There have been times I have fit that category.

Are you a believer? Is Jesus your Savior? Do you read your Bible, go to church, sing in the choir or teach Sunday School? Then the question is, are you living the truth of what you know? Or are there sins you have yet to surrender to the cross?

James tells us our faith without works is dead. (2:14-26). Faith without living lives that honor God with every choice is as useful as a corpse. Having faith in God yet living like He doesn’t exist is not faith at all. It’s what Christian Atheists are made of.

Dear Christian, if we want to live what we believe, we need to stop right now and confess our sins. All of them. We need to repent, which means turn from those sins, and with the help of the Holy Spirit never repeat them again. It means to surrender to the demands of God as spelled out in His Word, and receive the grace and mercy Jesus died to give us.

Then one step, one choice at a time, we must live to glorify God and not ourselves, to point our loved ones to Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture. We must love our neighbor enough to speak truth, love God enough to stand firm.

It means living like our Holy God really does exist, and to be as serious about sin as He is. It means living what we believe so that others will see Jesus in us and want what we have in Him.

Silence is a Sin

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Leviticus 5-7

If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about he will be held responsible. (5:1)

Why do we send missionaries? Because we are responsible to tell what we know. Why do we stand up for life, deny the current belief that gender can be changed, say no to drag queens in public schools, call truth Truth? Because if we don’t, we sin.

And sin is serious. All sin is serious.

It’s easy to say, “Those sinners out there are gonna pay,” until I look in the mirror and see a believer with her mouth closed.

Big Deal

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Exodus 24

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders of Israel went to a dinner party hosted by God. (24:9-11) They saw God, which would normally be a death sentence. But God was merciful. They enjoyed dinner with the God of Creation, and lived to tell about it.

Now I would think that having that experience wouldn’t be soon forgotten. I would think it would change a person, cement belief in and result in obedience to this gracious God. Many skeptics say they would believe in God if they could see Him. These guys we read about today not only saw God up close and personal, they spent time with Him up there on that mountain.

I’ve read their story before and, sadly, this encounter with God did not prevent them from later denying Him. I’m sitting here shaking my head and wondering how that could be.

I see it as a warning.

An encounter with God, a mountain-top experience doesn’t necessarily indicate a relationship with Him. We try so hard to manufacture an experience in our worship services. We aim at a mountain-top experience. But is that the same as encouraging and nurturing a relationship with God?

It is not.

All those guys got out of that encounter with God there on the mountain was a good meal. Their bellies were full. Big deal.

We can sit through a rocking worship service, emotions soaring, tear flowing, hands clapping. Our hearts are full. Big deal.

What I see here in Exodus is that you can encounter God and leave as empty and broken as when you came. The missing elements in this story are repentance, submission, commitment, and the first step toward a relationship with the God whose presence they had just enjoyed.

Oh, that our churches would understand the difference. Because it is a big deal.

Listen

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Exodus 4-7

The thing that stood out to me today is that the Israelites did not listen to what God was telling them through Moses because of their circumstances and emotions (6:9). They were discouraged because they were being treated unfairly.

Understandable because Pharaoh really wasn’t being fair. They really were being mistreated and most likely couldn’t see a way out.

But instead of going to God, trusting God, they cut Him off. Instead of being open to hearing His voice, they stopped listening.

Boy, can I relate. I haven’t gone through a fraction of what these Israelites did in Egypt. Yet when faced with my own hardships I’ve been known to give God the cold shoulder. My prayers are fewer. My expressions of love more guarded. My time in His Word is met with silence.

And when I stop listening, I fall deeper and deeper into self-pity and even despair. It’s at those times I’m discouraged, and can’t see a way out.

God, help me – help all of us – to keep the lines of communication open between us and You. I don’t even want to think about all we miss when we allow our circumstances to drown out Your voice. Help us to trust You, and submit ourselves and our circumstances into Your capable hands. Speaking for myself, I don’t want to miss anything You want to say to me.