Tag: Numbers

numbers

Week 6: Day 3- Numbers 27:18-21

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Numbers 27:18-21

18 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;

19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

21 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.

Explanation:

God told Moses how to set up the next leaders for success.  He told him to take his replacement, Joshua the Son of Nun, and do three things with him.

First, he was told to lay his hand on him.  Laying a hand on him could signify a blessing, or a dedication to an office.  There is a sense in doing this in the transfer of authority.

Second, he was to set, or present, Joshua to Eleazar the priest.  He was to do this in front of the people as well.  Joshua was to replace Moses, and Eleazar had replaced Aaron.  Their leadership was to be shared.

Third, he was to charge Joshua.  To charge meant to commission or command.  He gives only some of his honor to him at this time.  Now in matters of decision, Joshua was to go to Eleazar to inquire of the Lord.  Eleazar would use the Urim, part of the priestly garb, to know what to do.

Application:

God takes leadership seriously.  When it was time to choose a new leader, he wanted Moses, Joshua, Eleazar, and the people to know what His choice.  He wanted everyone to believe that He was involved throughout the whole process, and that He would be with them in the future through these leaders.

Joshua was ready to be leader because he had been faithful in his responsibilities already.  We should take leadership seriously like God does.  That means we should be faithful in the tasks and roles that we are given, and we should seek for God to be involved in our leadership at every level.  We should be faithful currently, and look for faithful capable people to commission to lead as well.

Response:

  • Always be looking to train and equip others.
  • Seek God’s direction in the execution and delegation of responsibilities.
numbers

Week 6: Day 2- Numbers 27:15-17

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Numbers 27:15-17

15 And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying,

16 Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Explanation:

After hearing his fate, God’s decision not to let him into the promised land, Moses thins of the people and pleads with God to give them a leader.  He calls God “the God of the spirits of all flesh”.  He is appealing to the fact that God is the right one to pick the next leader because God knows the inner man and the outer man.  The scripture says that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Moses interceded in the past for the lives of the children of Israel.  Here he intercedes for their future and for future leaders.

Application:

Godly leaders think about the future.  They plan for it.  They do this at least in part by investing in people who are trained for the future.  They train these people to train others.

Godly leaders look to God to lead them to the right people.  They look to God to find people who are faithful, available, teachable, that have initiative and a heart for the Lord.

Moses pleaded for the Lord to choose the next leader.  We should seek the Lord on who we ought to pour our lives into in order to make a difference for the future.

Response:

Take extra time today to pray for God to lead me in training future leaders.

numbers

Week 6: Day 1- Numbers 27:12-14

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, LeadershipLeave a comment

Numbers 27:12-14

12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Explanation:

God gave Moses instruction about how his life would end and what would be next for the children of Israel.  He told Moses that he would see the promised land from Mount Abarim, but that he would not enter.  Why?  Moses had rebelled against God in not sanctify God in the eyes of the people at the rock in the desert of Zin.  The wages of his sin was death.

Application:

  1. Death is the inevitable consequence of sin for everyone in this fallen world, other than those who will be raptured.  Moses faced death and did not enter the promised land.
  2. God demands more out of those who are leaders.  The way we lead, especially in regards to how we point others to God, is of utmost importance to the Lord.

Response:

Since it is so critical how I lead to the Lord, I must…

  • Pray more intensely today
  • Seek wise counsel
  • Seek God’s direction
  • Rest in the fact that God has a plan and will help me to accomplish what He wants me to do.
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Week 5: Day 5- Numbers 22:32-35

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 

Numbers 22:32-35

Explanation:

God was not angry at Balaam because he went, but because he knew Balaams heart and plans in going. The word “perverse” (v.32) here has the idea of taking something good (here it would be obedience in going with God’s permission) and twisting it into something evil.

Balaam is so scared he is willing to go home. The “angel of the Lord” responds, “No. You’re going. But you will say exactly what I will tell you.” This is what happens.

Balsam was mad at the donkey. He perceived it as dumb, disobedient, and stubborn. Yet the donkey had more vision and sense than Balaam. In taking a beating from Balaam he saved Balaam’s life. One commentator said, “The irony is this lowly donkey had better vision to see the ‘angel of the Lord’ than did Balaam who was known as a ‘seer of the gods’.”

Application:

God deserves and demands total obedience.  Is it possible that the things we are mad at or see as hindrances are God-ordained?  They may very well be.

Response:

Is there anything in your life that you see as good, that you are twisting for your own selfish desires? Ask God to open your eyes to spiritual truth today!