Numbers 6:24-26

It was my 24th wedding anniversary earlier this week so I made sure to drop by the store to get a card for April.* Greeting card companies stay in business because sometimes you just need the right words for a special occasion. Saying just what you want to say when you can’t string together the words on your own helps justify paying $6 for a folded piece of cardstock. 

Sometimes, “gosh, you’re pretty” will suffice. But sometimes the moment calls for more of a, “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”**I think the wording of my card lay somewhere between those two sentiments. 

God wanted to relate His love to the Israelites in a way that would impress upon them all that it entailed. And He wanted to make sure it was said just right, so he didn’t just leave it up to the priests to shoot from the hip (Aaron had already proved that he wasn’t very good at that). God gave Moses a script for Aaron and his sons to repeat verbatim as a special blessing every time they finished leading the people in worship. And I’ve got to say, He nailed it. 

The blessing was not only a prayer to say over the congregants, but a reminder to them of 

• God’s PROVISION (manifested in the manna and quail)
• His PROTECTION (manifested through His covenant with them and claims on them as His chosen people), and 
• His PRESENCE (manifested by the pillar of smoke by day and fire by night).

This beautiful blessing is used in many churches today as a benediction, just as it was in Moses’s time. So if I may, let me leave this devotional thought with just the right words. 

“The Lord bless you and keep 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.”

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 

• What portion of this blessing speaks most to you at this moment? Which element do you need most right now? 
• How might this blessing parallel the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 

Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 

Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

*my plans did include more than a card

**Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 

• What is something that you are tempted to grumble or complain about at the moment? 
• How has God been faithful in your life recently? 
• Do you believe that being grateful for what God has done helps to cure misery? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 

Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 

Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Pastor Stephen Williams

Then God voted. All “no votes” (Israelites over 20 years of age) would not be going into Canaan. So, the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert wandering around until all the “no votes” died off. In 38 years 603,000 men died. 

The rest of the book highlights the process of those 40 years. God structured each tribe and gave instructions for the Ark of the Covenant, Priestly duties, and how the Levites were separated from the people as Priests.  

In the meantime, Israel constantly complained and rebelled against Moses. Remarkably, even though God punished them for it, He was still faithful to lead Israel through the desert. He continued to instruct them and get them ready for another chance. He provided food for them, shelter, clothing, power over enemies, forgiveness, wise leaders in each tribe, and a connection with Him. These were tough years, but God still provided. Numbers could have easily been the last book of the Bible if it were not for God’s grace.

Even when we complain, rebel, and refuse to be led, God is still faithful. He is even faithful to discipline us back to Him. And He cares for us all the way. God is good!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 

• What are some times when you doubted that God would carry through on a promise? 
• How has God led you and shown His care even as you might have grumbled and complained?  

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 

Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 

Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

While the early church faced many trials and temptations, Peter reminded them of God’s grace and mercy. He used specific language from the Old Testament to reference the story of Israel. God didn’t choose Israel because of their great power or numbers. He chose them through His own mercy – “Because the LORD loved them” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). God brought them out of the darkness of slavery and redeemed them with His mighty hand. God made them a holy people to himself. He chose them to be a priesthood, a people for His own possession. 

Peter wanted the believers to understand that just as God called the Israelites out of slavery to be a people holy to God, He also chose those in the early church, by his grace and mercy, to be holy and set apart. However, unlike the Israelites who wandered as exiles in the desert and fell into temptation, the believers, themselves exiles, were to abstain from the passions of the flesh. (1 Peter 2:11)

Peter reminded the believers that once they were not a people. Once they were in slavery. Once they had not received mercy. But now, God was showing them mercy. He had brought them out of darkness into His marvelous light, SO THAT they would be God’s own holy people, proclaiming His excellencies. 

So, remember your past slavery to sin and darkness. Remember that God called you by his grace and mercy and not by your good works. Remember that you are now God’s holy people. Therefore, don’t go back into being slaves of your sinful desires. Instead, be a holy people, eager to proclaim the excellencies of God’s salvation to all people. We are destined for HIS purpose. (Revelation 5:9-10)

• A church member gave me a collectors Gibson guitar in the late seventies when my first 12 string guitar fell apart. 
• I sold my 88H Elkhart trombone in the eighties to purchase my 12 string Ovation guitar. 
• In the nineties, I traded an electric guitar from my teen years to purchase my first bass. 
• The Lord gave me back a trombone – this one belonged to my father-in-law before WWII. 
• Treva and I found a professional trumpet at a garage sale that was dirt cheap because of a crinkle dent in the bell. (Now repaired.) 
• I traded basses locally when someone didn’t pick up their pawn and traded old books and DVDs for a ukulele. 

For years I searched for a classical guitar that played wonderfully, sounded great, and was affordable. Most sounded horrible, and others that sounded great could not be purchased with my wallet. I played hundreds of classical guitars. Then one day it happened, I picked up a used classical guitar and it was the one. The only path was to trade my precious 12 string ovation for the classical. I was willing to sacrifice something very special. My family blocked my plan and later surprised me with this gift. 

Sacrifice is something special for something special. We offer praise to the Lord when we feel like it, and most of all, when we don’t feel like it as a sacrifice of praise. We search for that conversation with the Lord when we play the instruments of praise, prayer, sacrifice, meditation, the study of scripture, and obedience to His leadership. Those special times of His still, small, voice transform your life. What praise are we willing to sacrifice for a conversation in the glory of His salvation and to be satisfied in His presence?

In the conversation of a love-struck couple, she asked, “Would you sacrifice all your possessions for me?“ He answered. “You know I would!” She inquired, “Would you search the world to find where I am?” Again he said, “You know I would!” Then she asked, “Would you give your life for me?” He answered, “My love is an undying love!”

Use the HEAR method with today’s passage: 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 

Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 

Respond – how is God leading you to respond?