As each of the tribes of Israel were receiving their portion of land, the one phrase we read over and over is, “the Levites will not receive any land. Their role as priests of the Lord is their inheritance” (Joshua 18:7). “But Moses gave no land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised to be their inheritance” (13:33,14; Deuteronomy 10:8&9;).
What did that mean? Since the tribe of Levi was dedicated to serving God, they needed more time to do so, than a landowner would have. Owning land would require time to take care of the land, plant and harvest crops, etc. The Levites would need that time to devote themselves to serving the Lord, rather than tending to their own personal and business affairs. Consequently, the Lord made sure their needs were provided for by the offerings given by God’s people (Deuteronomy 18:1-8; Numbers 18; Leviticus 6:16,26).
We see the same principle in the New Testament. When Jesus sent out the seventy-two to perform acts of service in his name, he told them not to worry about where they would stay or what they would eat. “When you enter a town, don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide you. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay” (Luke 10:7; see also Matthew 10:10). Citing the Mosaic Law, the apostle Paul also advocates for the one being served to provide for the needs of the one doing the serving. “Just as farm workers who plow fields and thresh the grain expect a share of the harvest, Christian workers should be paid by those they serve. We have planted good spiritual seed among you. Is it too much to ask, in return, for mere food and clothing?..... ....Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their meals from the food brought to the Temple as offerings? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be support-ed by those who benefit from it” (I Corinthians 9:6-14). “Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them” (Galatians 6:6; I Timothy 5:17&18). Consequently, the tithes and offerings given by God’s people to the Lord today, help support those serving the Lord in the same way they did in the Old Testament. Interestingly enough, the Levites would also be responsible for tithing from the proceeds they had been given because, “no one should appear before the Lord empty-handed” (Exodus 34:20; 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16).
Saturday, March 22, 2014
March 24
Before entering the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh requested that they be allowed to claim their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River. While they wanted to settle their families there, the men pledged to cross over the Jordan River and help their fellow Israelites defeat their enemies in Canaan. Moses granted them their request with this promise, “if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
As they prepared to enter into the Promised Land, Joshua told the people they were to com-pletely destroy Jericho. All the silver, gold, bronze, iron, etc. that they found was to be dedicated to the Lord. They were not to keep any of it for themselves (Joshua 6:17-19). But, a man named Achan disobeyed and hid some of these things under his tent (7:1). So, often people sin and tell themselves and others that their sin didn’t hurt anyone, but themselves. That simply is not true. Sin always has a ripple effect and no matter how secret we may think our sin is, others will be impacted by it. Not only did Achan’s entire family eventually lose their lives because of his sin (7:24-26), but so did at least 36 innocent Israelite soldiers (7:4&5).
The best advice in dealing with sin is to flee from it (James 4:7&8; Genesis 39:6-12). Satan made the fruit in the Garden very appealing to Adam and Eve and he continues to make sin very appealing to us today. But, sin has it’s consequences. Satan focuses our attention only on the pleasurable side of sin, but be sure, sin destroys those who choose to become involved with it (James 1:13-16). Just ask Achan!
As they prepared to enter into the Promised Land, Joshua told the people they were to com-pletely destroy Jericho. All the silver, gold, bronze, iron, etc. that they found was to be dedicated to the Lord. They were not to keep any of it for themselves (Joshua 6:17-19). But, a man named Achan disobeyed and hid some of these things under his tent (7:1). So, often people sin and tell themselves and others that their sin didn’t hurt anyone, but themselves. That simply is not true. Sin always has a ripple effect and no matter how secret we may think our sin is, others will be impacted by it. Not only did Achan’s entire family eventually lose their lives because of his sin (7:24-26), but so did at least 36 innocent Israelite soldiers (7:4&5).
The best advice in dealing with sin is to flee from it (James 4:7&8; Genesis 39:6-12). Satan made the fruit in the Garden very appealing to Adam and Eve and he continues to make sin very appealing to us today. But, sin has it’s consequences. Satan focuses our attention only on the pleasurable side of sin, but be sure, sin destroys those who choose to become involved with it (James 1:13-16). Just ask Achan!
March 21
One would think that receiving God’s blessings would result in a desire to continue being obedient and faithful to Him. One would think that intelligent people would see the correlation between disobedience to God and the curses that follow, and obedience to God and the blessings that follow. One would think that given the choice between receiving God’s blessings or receiving God’s curses, that people would choose God’s blessings. Indeed, God’s blessings are given to those who follow Him as a means of encouraging their continued faithfulness and evoking love for the One who is so good to them (Romans 2:4). And one would think that we would see how this pattern has played out in the past and learn from it (Romans 15:4). But, we don’t! Instead, we make the same foolish decisions as those who have gone before us. Once we’ve received God’s blessings, we tend to forget the hand of the One who has blessed us.
In his Proclamation of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln said of the United States of America, "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were pro-duced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us!"
Moses had earlier warned the Israelites before they entered into the Promised Land, “beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). Israel had a history of turning to God and then turning from God. In a song that Moses sang to the Israelites, he said, “But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation” (Deuteronomy 32:15). “Israel is a nation that lacks sense; the people are foolish, without understanding” (32:28). Unfortunately, what was true of Israel has also been true of the United States. And what was true of these two great nations of people is also true of most of us as individuals. We just don’t seem to learn from the past, and we don’t seem to learn from our own experiences.
The words we receive from scripture are more than just good advice. As Moses said, “These instructions are not mere words - - they are your life!” (32:47). Might we posses the wisdom to obey God’s Word and enjoy the blessings and long life He has repeatedly promised if we do.
In his Proclamation of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln said of the United States of America, "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were pro-duced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us!"
Moses had earlier warned the Israelites before they entered into the Promised Land, “beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). Israel had a history of turning to God and then turning from God. In a song that Moses sang to the Israelites, he said, “But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation” (Deuteronomy 32:15). “Israel is a nation that lacks sense; the people are foolish, without understanding” (32:28). Unfortunately, what was true of Israel has also been true of the United States. And what was true of these two great nations of people is also true of most of us as individuals. We just don’t seem to learn from the past, and we don’t seem to learn from our own experiences.
The words we receive from scripture are more than just good advice. As Moses said, “These instructions are not mere words - - they are your life!” (32:47). Might we posses the wisdom to obey God’s Word and enjoy the blessings and long life He has repeatedly promised if we do.
March 16
Do you remember choosing teams at school for a game outside during recess, or a contest inside during a class, or a pick-up game at the ball field? All of us anxiously waited to hear our name called because it meant that we had been chosen. Someone wanted us. And obviously, the sooner our name was called, the more wanted and valued we assumed we were. But, for those who weren’t chosen until the end, it meant that we didn’t feel wanted or valued. Time after time, the same ones were made to feel valued because they were wanted early in the selection process, while others felt worthless because they knew they really weren’t wanted.
God says to the people of Israel through His servant, Moses, “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and He has chosen you to be His own special treasure from all the nations of the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2; 10:14&15; 7:6). That same theme is repeated in the New Testament. Jesus chose us to come out of the world and be identified with him, long before we ever thought about choosing him (John 15:19; Acts 22:14; I Thessalonians 1:4). God loved us before we loved Him (I John 4:9&10). In fact, God chose to love us and call us out of the world while we were still at odds with Him (Romans 5:8). God sought us before we ever sought Him. God pursued us even when we didn’t care to be pursued.
But, God didn’t choose to bless the Israelites above all the other nations of the earth because the Israelites were any better than the other nations, or more righteous than the other nations, or more numerous than the other nations (Deuteronomy 7:7). God rescued the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt simply because He loved them (7:8). That is called grace. The Israelites had done nothing to deserve God’s grace. They could only receive it and thank God for it.
What was true of them is also true of us. We have done nothing to deserve the salvation we receive, or the blessings that accompany living a godly life. God saves us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8&9), and God blesses us because of His grace. All we can do is acknowledge His grace in our lives and live as though we truly appreciate God for His grace.
God says to the people of Israel through His servant, Moses, “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and He has chosen you to be His own special treasure from all the nations of the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2; 10:14&15; 7:6). That same theme is repeated in the New Testament. Jesus chose us to come out of the world and be identified with him, long before we ever thought about choosing him (John 15:19; Acts 22:14; I Thessalonians 1:4). God loved us before we loved Him (I John 4:9&10). In fact, God chose to love us and call us out of the world while we were still at odds with Him (Romans 5:8). God sought us before we ever sought Him. God pursued us even when we didn’t care to be pursued.
But, God didn’t choose to bless the Israelites above all the other nations of the earth because the Israelites were any better than the other nations, or more righteous than the other nations, or more numerous than the other nations (Deuteronomy 7:7). God rescued the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt simply because He loved them (7:8). That is called grace. The Israelites had done nothing to deserve God’s grace. They could only receive it and thank God for it.
What was true of them is also true of us. We have done nothing to deserve the salvation we receive, or the blessings that accompany living a godly life. God saves us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8&9), and God blesses us because of His grace. All we can do is acknowledge His grace in our lives and live as though we truly appreciate God for His grace.
Monday, March 10, 2014
March 13
As one reads through the first five books of the Bible, we cannot help but be overwhelmed by the number of laws, rules, and regulations God had given the Israelites. There were many for them to remember and while some may seem trivial to us, God had a definite reason and purpose for each and every one of them. Jesus said they could all be summed up in two commands; love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:28-33). He further reduced these two commands into one, “Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). There is a right way to live and a wrong way to live. God wanted His people to compare the way they lived and the consequenc-es when they did so, to the ways the pagan people around them lived and the consequences they had received for doing so. Jesus further said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and it’s gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few find it” (7:13&14). There are not many ways to live life. Neither are there many gods, each with their own correct rules for living. And contrary to what many would have us believe, there are not many ways to the One God (John 14:6).
“What great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him? And what great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws that I am giving you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:7&8) “Today, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you disobey me, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed” (4:26). On the other hand, “If you obey all the laws and commands that I will give you today, all will be well with you and your children. Then you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (4:40). Therefore, they were told, as are we, “stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow” (5:33). But, like the Israelites, we cannot obey that which we don’t know. If we are to obey God’s commands, we must know God’s commands. It is absolutely crucial that all of us, “study to show thyself approved of God; a worker who is not ashamed and correctly explains the Word of God” (II Timothy 2:15). For, ignorance of God’s Word results in our living a life contrary to God’s way, which in turn, leads to death (Hosea 4:6). So, go do the right thing.
“What great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him? And what great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws that I am giving you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:7&8) “Today, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you disobey me, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed” (4:26). On the other hand, “If you obey all the laws and commands that I will give you today, all will be well with you and your children. Then you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (4:40). Therefore, they were told, as are we, “stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow” (5:33). But, like the Israelites, we cannot obey that which we don’t know. If we are to obey God’s commands, we must know God’s commands. It is absolutely crucial that all of us, “study to show thyself approved of God; a worker who is not ashamed and correctly explains the Word of God” (II Timothy 2:15). For, ignorance of God’s Word results in our living a life contrary to God’s way, which in turn, leads to death (Hosea 4:6). So, go do the right thing.
March 11
“Do not pervert justice or show partiality.” Those words appear often in scripture (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:19). Solomon was considered wise by God because when given the opportunity to choose whatever he wanted for his life; Solomon didn’t choose long life, great wealth, or the death of his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked God for the wisdom to rightly administer justice to God’s people (I Kings 3:11-14,28). It was important to God that His people be judged fairly and without partiality.
Capital Punishment for the murder of another human being was commanded by God since the time of the flood (Genesis 9:5-7). “Murderers must always be put to death........for murder pollutes the land” (Numbers 35:31,33). Remember, humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26&27). God was very pleased with how He made us (Genesis 1:31). He breathes a part of Himself into each and every one of us (Genesis 2:7). Only God has the right to decide when and how human life should end. And because that is true, justice demands when we take that responsibility into our own hands by murdering someone, we must pay the penalty for doing so. It is God who has determined the punishment for murder, not man. Man only carries out what God has told us to do (Romans 13:1-5). But, in order to make sure that innocent people were not unjustly accused and sentenced to death for something they didn’t do, or even some-thing they did accidentally, God called upon the Israelites to designate six cities where those who had taken someone else’s life could flee to for refuge and safety. It would be in that city of refuge where a trial would take place and a person’s guilt or innocence determined (Numbers 35:6-34). Murder was such a serious offense and the punishment for murder was so final that God had this special rule, “All murderers must be executed, but only if there is more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness” (35:30). Why is that? Because, there are reasons where people might conceivably lie. And God did not want any innocent person losing their life to capital punishment. God is Just and He will not have anyone perverting His justice by unfairly judging someone created in His image.
Capital Punishment for the murder of another human being was commanded by God since the time of the flood (Genesis 9:5-7). “Murderers must always be put to death........for murder pollutes the land” (Numbers 35:31,33). Remember, humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26&27). God was very pleased with how He made us (Genesis 1:31). He breathes a part of Himself into each and every one of us (Genesis 2:7). Only God has the right to decide when and how human life should end. And because that is true, justice demands when we take that responsibility into our own hands by murdering someone, we must pay the penalty for doing so. It is God who has determined the punishment for murder, not man. Man only carries out what God has told us to do (Romans 13:1-5). But, in order to make sure that innocent people were not unjustly accused and sentenced to death for something they didn’t do, or even some-thing they did accidentally, God called upon the Israelites to designate six cities where those who had taken someone else’s life could flee to for refuge and safety. It would be in that city of refuge where a trial would take place and a person’s guilt or innocence determined (Numbers 35:6-34). Murder was such a serious offense and the punishment for murder was so final that God had this special rule, “All murderers must be executed, but only if there is more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness” (35:30). Why is that? Because, there are reasons where people might conceivably lie. And God did not want any innocent person losing their life to capital punishment. God is Just and He will not have anyone perverting His justice by unfairly judging someone created in His image.
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