Author: Gary

Numbers 13 is a powerful chapter about faith versus fear. God had already promised the Israelites the land of Canaan, but when they saw the size and strength of the people living there, most of them allowed fear to overcome their faith. This chapter also points forward to Jesus by showing us humanity’s need for a faithful Savior who trusts and obeys God completely. God tells Moses to send one leader from each of the twelve tribes to explore the land of Canaan. They spend forty days exploring the land and return with evidence that the land is incredibly fruitful, but ten of the spies focus on the obstacles. They see fortified cities and powerful people and conclude that Israel cannot take the land. Only Caleb and Joshua believe that God can give them victory. This teaches us an important truth that faith doesn’t deny the existence of obstacles. Faith believes that God is greater than the obstacles. The ten spies said, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” The people become afraid and begin to doubt God’s promise. This is important because God had already demonstrated His power. He had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven, led them with His presence, and protected them in the wilderness. When they faced a new challenge, they forgot what God had already done. This is something we still struggle with today. We can look back and see God’s faithfulness, but when we face a new difficulty, fear can make us question whether God will be faithful again. Caleb responds differently than everyone else. He says, “Let’s go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” Caleb wasn’t saying the Canaanites were weak. He was saying that God was greater. Joshua and Caleb understood that the battle wasn’t ultimately about Israel’s strength. It was about God’s faithfulness to His promise. This is where we can see a connection to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate example of trusting the Father. Where Israel repeatedly failed to trust God, Jesus perfectly trusted and obeyed the Father. Israel was overcome by fear when facing the promised land. Jesus faced the cross knowing exactly what was ahead, yet He remained obedient to the Father’s will. The ten spies’ report spread fear throughout the entire nation. Their unbelief affected everyone. This becomes a major theme throughout Scripture. Unbelief keeps people from experiencing what God has promised. The problem wasn’t that Israel didn’t know about God. They had witnessed God’s power firsthand. The problem was that they didn’t trust God enough to follow Him. This points us toward Jesus because salvation is not achieved by human strength or courage. We need to trust in Christ and rely on what He has accomplished for us. There is an especially interesting connection between Joshua and Jesus. The name Joshua comes from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, meaning “The LORD saves.” The name Jesus comes from the same root and carries the meaning “The LORD saves.” Joshua would eventually lead Israel into the Promised Land. Jesus leads us into something far greater. Eternal salvation and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. Joshua could lead Israel into an earthly inheritance, but Jesus brings His people into an eternal inheritance. Joshua fought battles to give Israel the land. Jesus defeated sin and death to give His people eternal life. Joshua was a faithful servant who trusted God. Jesus is the perfect Son of God who completely fulfilled the Father’s will. The land of Canaan was a real place and a real promise to Israel, but it also helps us understand a greater spiritual reality. The Israelites were looking toward a place of rest and blessing. In Christ, we look toward something far greater: salvation, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. The ultimate message is that Jesus is our true source of rest. We don’t earn salvation by being strong enough, brave enough, or good enough. We trust in the One who has already accomplished salvation for us. Love y’all! Have a great day!

Numbers 12 is about Miriam and Aaron challenging Moses, but at a deeper level, it reveals important truths about God’s authority, humility, sin, judgment, intercession, and ultimately points us toward Jesus. Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of his Cushite wife, but their deeper issue appears to be jealousy and a desire for greater authority. God had certainly spoken through Miriam and Aaron. Miriam was a prophetess, and Aaron was Israel’s high priest. But they were not satisfied with the role God had given them. They questioned why Moses should have unique authority.
This teaches us that spiritual gifts and leadership should never become a source of pride or competition. God gives different people different responsibilities. One of the most important statements in the chapter says, “Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.” Moses did not defend himself or fight back against Miriam and Aaron. Instead, God defended His servant. This is significant when we look at Jesus. Jesus was the ultimate example of humility. He had every right to glory and authority, yet He willingly humbled Himself and became a servant. Phillipians 2:8 says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” Moses was a humble servant of God, but Jesus was the perfect and sinless Servant of God. God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the tent of meeting and confronted them. God explained that He spoke to prophets through visions and dreams, but Moses had a unique relationship with Him. “I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.” God’s point was that Moses had been given a unique role and authority. This points forward to Jesus because Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses was a servant in God’s house, but Jesus is the Son over God’s house. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ is faithful as the Son. Moses received God’s word and delivered it to Israel. Jesus is the Word who came to us in the flesh. Because Miriam and Aaron had rebelled against God’s appointed authority, God’s anger burned against them. Miriam was struck with a serious skin disease and became “white as snow.”
This shows the seriousness of pride, rebellion, and speaking against God’s authority. It also shows us something important about sin. Sin brings separation and uncleanness.
Miriam had to be put outside the camp for seven days. She was separated from the community because she was ceremonially unclean. Under the Old Covenant, uncleanness resulted in separation from God’s people. But Jesus came to restore the unclean. Jesus repeatedly touched and healed people who were considered ceremonially unclean. Instead of their uncleanness making Jesus unclean, Jesus’ holiness overcame their uncleanness. One of the most beautiful parts of the chapter is when Aaron recognizes their sin and asks Moses to intercede. Moses then cries out. “God, please heal her!” Miriam had sinned against Moses, yet Moses prayed for her healing.
This is a powerful picture of what Jesus does for sinners. Moses was wronged, but he prayed for the person who wronged him. Jesus was rejected, mocked, beaten, and crucified, yet He prayed “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Moses’ intercession gives us a small glimpse of the heart of Christ. Jesus is the greater Intercessor, standing before the Father on behalf of His people. If anyone in this world was in the position to rightfully be prideful it was Jesus. He was the son of God. He looked at all of our sin and instead of sitting on the sidelines he came to forgive us. He knew he was the only one who could. If the perfect God of the universe can bear the weight of all of this world’s sin who are we not to forgive each other. Pride is a very dangerous thing. It is like a cancer that can tear you down from the inside out. We must always trust that God is doing everything for our good and not take vengeance in our own hand. Jesus is the example and Jesus forgave a million times more than we could even think to forgive. We love because Christ first loved us and we forgive because Jesus forgave us. Love y’all! Have a great day!

This chapter shows just how much human nature hasn’t changed. Numbers 11 shows us a people who are hungry, dissatisfied, spiritually forgetful, and burdened by their own desires. Jesus is the answer to every one of those problems. Israel was hungry. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Israel was dissatisfied. Jesus provides true spiritual satisfaction. Israel wanted to return to Egypt. Jesus sets us free from slavery to sin. Moses was overwhelmed by the people’s burdens. Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest. The elders needed God’s Spirit to serve. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to His people. Israel’s cravings led them away from God. Jesus teaches us to seek God’s kingdom and trust the Father. What has changed? Absolutely nothing. How many times do we think we need something more, when what we really need is to trust God and recognize that His provision is enough. The Israelites had manna from heaven but wanted something else. Centuries later, Jesus came as the true Bread from Heaven. Numbers 11 asks us a question that is still relevant today. Are we constantly looking for something else to satisfy us, or are we satisfied in Christ? Jesus doesn’t simply give us bread. He is the Bread. And unlike the manna that Israel ate in the wilderness and eventually died, Jesus gives eternal life to those who come to Him in faith. John 6:51 says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” This chapter ultimately points us to Jesus as the One who satisfies our deepest hunger, carries our greatest burdens, frees us from slavery, and gives us His Spirit so that we can live and serve as God’s people. The things we chase in this world always leave us wanting more each and every time. We receive peace and rest from Jesus when we realize that he is the only thing that is enough. Love y’all! Have a great day!

This chapter marks an important transition for Israel. After being organized, cleansed, and prepared in the wilderness, the Israelites are finally called to move forward towards the promised land. God gives Moses instructions for two silver trumpets, tells Israel when to break camp, and then records the beginning of their journey from Mount Sinai. The main purpose of everything in this chapter points to God’s people learning to listen to God’s call, following his presence, and trusting him as he leads them forward. The silver trumpets had different purposes. They called the people together, announced movement, and signaled times of battle and celebration. The Israelites did not decide when to move. They moved when God directed them to. This points to Jesus because Jesus is the One who calls us to follow Him. The Christian life is not simply about believing in Jesus and then living however we want. We are called to listen to his voice and follow him. Throughout Israel’s journey, God’s presence was represented by the cloud over the tabernacle. When the cloud moved, Israel moved. When the cloud remained, they stayed. The Israelites set out to God’s direction. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was visibly associated with the tabernacle. In Jesus, God came to dwell among humanity in the flesh. The Israelites followed God’s presence through the wilderness. Today, we follow Jesus through the wilderness of this life. We may not know exactly where the road leads, but we know who leads us. Israel had been at Mount Sinai receiving God’s instructions. Now it was time to leave. There is a spiritual lesson here. God does not call us to remain spiritually stagnant. Jesus calls us to follow Him. Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Following Jesus means being willing to leave behind our old way of life and move forward in obedience. Israel had to trust God for every step of the journey. We have the same calling. We don’t always know what tomorrow holds, but we know that Jesus goes before us. The Ark represented God’s covenant presence among Israel, and it went ahead of them. This is a picture of what Jesus does for us. Jesus goes before us. He prepares the way, guides us, and ultimately leads us to our true place of rest. John 14:2-3 says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” Israel was looking for a physical place of rest. The Promised Land. We are now looking toward an eternal rest found in Christ and ultimately fulfilled in God’s presence. Jesus has already defeated the greatest enemies humanity faces, which is sin and death. Just as Israel depended upon God’s presence to face its enemies, we depend upon Jesus. Moses asks Hobab to come with them because he knows the wilderness and could help guide them. This is interesting because Israel had God’s presence, yet Moses still recognized the value of human wisdom and assistance. There is a lesson for us here. Following Jesus does not mean we don’t need other people. God designed us for community. We need brothers and sisters who can encourage us, challenge us, teach us, and walk alongside us. This connects well with the Christian life and discipleship. We follow Jesus together, not by ourselves. Love y’all! Have a great day!

In this chapter God instructs Aaron to arrange the seven lamps of the golden lampstand so they shine forward into the Holy Place. The lampstand represented God’s presence, God’s truth, God’s guidance, and God’s holiness. John 8:12 says, “Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Just as the lampstand lit up the tabernacle, Jesus is the true Light who reveals God’s character, God’s will, and the way to salvation. The lampstand itself could not create light. It simply held the oil-fed lamps. Jesus doesn’t just reflect God’s light. He is God’s light in human flesh. John 1:9 says, “Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Before the Levites could minister, God required several steps. They were sprinkled with purification water, they shaved their bodies, they washed their clothes they offered sacrifices, and the Israelites laid hands on them. This ceremony symbolized complete cleansing and dedication. Now Jesus is the One who truly cleanses us. The Levites needed water, sacrifices, and ceremonies. Jesus accomplishes permanently what those rituals only pictured. His blood cleanses us from sin. Hebrews 9:14 says, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?” Also in this chapter God reminds Israel that every firstborn belonged to Him after the Passover in Egypt. Instead of requiring every firstborn son to serve in the tabernacle, God accepted the Levites as substitutes. The Levites served on behalf of all Israel. Now Jesus is the ultimate Substitute. Instead of just serving in our place, He died in our place. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.” Just as the Levites represented Israel before God, Jesus represents us before the Father as our perfect High Priest. The Levites did not inherit land like the other tribes. Their entire lives belonged to God’s service. Their purpose wasn’t personal success but faithful ministry. Jesus perfectly lived a life completely devoted to His Father. John 4:34 says, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Everything Jesus did was for the Father’s glory. God says the Levites were given “so that no plague may strike the Israelites when they come near the sanctuary.” Their ministry prevented improper worship that could bring judgment. Jesus protects believers from the judgment their sins deserve. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Because Jesus fulfilled God’s justice, those who trust Him are spared condemnation. The Levites served from age 25 to 50 before stepping back from the heavy work while continuing to assist. This showed that ministry requires strength, wisdom, and orderly service. Jesus began His public ministry at about 30 years old. He entered His mission at the appointed time. Unlike the Levites, however, His priesthood never ends. Hebrews 7:24 says, “But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.” Jesus never retires from interceding for us. Love y’all!Have a great day!

Numbers 7 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Its main purpose is straightforward. It records the offerings brought by the twelve leaders of Israel for the dedication of the tabernacle after it had been set up. Each leader brought the exact same offering. It is important to note that God records each one individually. Instead of saying, “They all brought the same thing,” God chose to record each offering individually. This teaches us that every act of worship and obedience matters to God. God values each person’s faithfulness, even when it looks similar to someone else’s. This chapter is very long but it can be divided into three parts. In verses 1-9 the leaders donate six covered carts and twelve oxen to help the Levites transport the tabernacle. The Gershonites and Merarites receive them because of the heavy loads they carry, but the Kohathites receive none because they carry the holy objects on their shoulders. In verses 10-83 each tribe’s leader presents the same offering over twelve consecutive days. In verses 84-89 Moses enters the tabernacle and hears God’s voice speaking from above the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. The Tabernacle points directly to Jesus. This whole chapter revolves around dedicating the tabernacle, the place where God dwelled among His people. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” We have to remember that the word “dwelt” literally means “tabernacled.” Jesus became God’s presence living among His people. Israel came to the tabernacle to meet God, today we come to Jesus. Each leader brought a silver dish, a silver basin, a gold bowl of incense, a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a fellowship offering. These sacrifices reminded Israel that sin separates people from God. For us Jesus fulfilled every sacrifice. For our burnt offering Jesus completely surrendered Himself to the Father. For our sin offering Jesus paid for our sins. For our fellowship offering Jesus reconciled us to God. Hebrews 10:12 says, “But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” Instead of bringing animals repeatedly, we now trust in Christ’s once for all sacrifice. Although each tribe had a different history, leader, and territory, they all brought identical offerings. This teaches us that every tribe stood equally before God. For us, Jesus creates this same unity in the Church. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Our backgrounds differ, but our salvation is the same. When we read this chapter we all notice the repetition. God records every offering fully twelve times. When I read it, it just seems repetitive to me but from God’s perspective, every gift mattered. In Mark 12, Jesus noticed the widow giving two small coins while everyone else overlooked her. Every gift matters to God. Every prayer, act of generosity, service, and obedience we offer is seen by God. The chapter ends with Moses entering the tabernacle. God spoke from above the mercy seat. The mercy seat represented God’s throne where atonement was made. Now, Jesus is our true mercy seat. Romans 3:25 says, “God presented him as the mercy seat , by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.” Jesus fulfilled every sacrifice required under the Old Covenant. Because of Jesus, we no longer approach God through animal sacrifices but through what he did for us on the cross. We can confidently come into God’s presence because Jesus is our perfect High Priest and our perfect sacrifice. Love y’all! Have a great day!

Numbers 6 teaches us that God desires a people who are wholly devoted to Him. The Nazirite vow was a temporary picture of complete dedication, symbolized by abstinence, visible separation, and ceremonial purity. While no Nazirite perfectly fulfilled that calling, Jesus did. His entire life was a perfect consecration to the Father. Unlike the Nazirites, He did not avoid sinners or death. He entered into our brokenness, overcame sin and death, and became the perfect sacrifice that sanctifies all who trust in Him. Through Christ, believers are now called to live consecrated lives. It is no longer by outward rituals, but by inward transformation and wholehearted devotion to God. So what was a Nazarite consecration period? The Hebrew word Nazarite comes from “nazir,” meaning “one who is separated” or “set apart.” A consecration period was a specific amount of time that someone voluntarily devoted themselves completely to God. During that period, they lived under special restrictions as an outward sign of an inward commitment. It was not required for every Israelite. It was a freewill act of worship. During this period a Nazarite had to stay away from anything produced by grapes, not cut their hair, and avoid contact with dead bodies. Staying away from anything produced by grapes symbolized choosing God over earthly pleasures and personal indulgence. Not cutting their hair symbolized submission and humility. Growing their hair showed publicly that they belonged to God. They also had to avoid contact with all dead bodies. If anyone in their family or someone close to them died they still could not touch them. Death represented the effects of sin, while the Nazirite represented life devoted to God. If they accidentally became unclean during their consecration period their consecration was interrupted. At this point they had to shave their head, wait seven days, offer sacrifices, and begin the consecration period all over again. This showed that holiness mattered and that impurity interrupted fellowship with God. When the period was over, the Nazirite brought sacrifices, shaved their hair, burned the hair under the fellowship offering, and then they returned to normal life. The sacrifices reminded Israel that even sincere devotion could not remove sin without atonement. Although Jesus was not technically a Nazarite, the Nazirite vow foreshadowed His perfect devotion to God. The Nazirite was separated for a season. Jesus was consecrated for His entire life. John 17:19 says, “I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” Jesus lived every moment completely devoted to the Father. The Nazirite gave up lawful pleasures. Jesus willingly gave up far more. Phillipians 2:6-8 says, “who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.” His whole life was one long act of consecration. A Nazirite became ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. Jesus touched the dead and made them alive. Examples of this include Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5), the widow’s son (Luke 7), Lazarus (John 11). Instead of death making Jesus unclean, His holiness overcame death. This shows us that He is greater than the symbols of the Old Testament. The Nazirite ended the vow with sacrifices. Jesus became the once and for all sacrifice. Hebrews 10:10 says, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” Because of Christ, we no longer need repeated sacrifices to be accepted by God. A heart surrendered to Christ shows itself through obedience to God’s Word, holiness empowered by the Holy Spirit, and daily devotion to God’s purposes. By dying on the cross Jesus gave all of us the greatest gift by atoning for our sins once and for all. All we have to do is freely accept his forgiveness. We are saved by grace alone and by faith alone. Love y’all! Have a great day!