LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?
THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
According to the outline laid out on Day #52, we are just finishing up the "wandering" section (Numbers 16-21) of the book.
Numbers 19 seems out of place at first, but remember that this is paired together with chapter 18--it reaffirms the partnership of Aaron's sons and the Levites after Korah's rebellion in yesterday's reading. This is God rebuilding an understanding between them.
Numbers 20 shows a series of losses among the senior leadership of Israel. Miriam and Aaron both die, Moses disqualifies himself from entering the Promised Land out of frustration with his people, and to make things worse Edom (a people descended from Jacob's brother Esau) refuses to let Israel pass along the standard travel route in the area called The King's Highway--the same route which was used by the Kings of the North in Genesis 14, during the episode where Abram rescued his nephew Lot.
Numbers 21 contains a few stories of God's grace. Israel begins to conquer land starting with Arad, and then the land of King Sihon of the Amorites, and then there is a "mini-Conquest" complete with spies being sent out, a military victory, and the possession of land. The actual Promised Land still lies over the Jordan. But for the first time in human history, Israel is a country that has its own land. It's a taste of what's to come. Also: note, the episode with the bronze snake in this chapter points forward to Jesus. Jesus himself said in John 3:14-16, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
RESPOND | WHAT IS OUR PART?
- Look to Jesus, like Israel looked to the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Whoever puts their trust in him is rescued! Our eyes tend to drift from time to time, so we must focus them again.
- It is possible to be provoked into doing the wrong thing, as Moses was in Numbers 20, and yet still be guilty. If someone "makes you" lose your temper, it's still important to own up to it.
- Setbacks don't mean that hope is lost. Israel encounters a series of important setbacks in Numbers 20, and yet this causes them to go down a path that God ultimately uses to give Israel the first taste of possession of the Promised Land in Numbers 21. I have often seen that the biggest breakthroughs come after persevering through the biggest setbacks. So let's persevere.
PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US CLOSER TO GOD?
Rather than write a scripted prayer, I think it might be good to pray in general terms for God to lead us through difficult circumstances like Israel encountered in Numbers 20. And, to show us amazing new opportunities like we see in Numbers 21. And to help us look to Jesus, who was the fulfillment of the sign of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Enter into the conversation! No anonymous comments.