Numbers – Page 4 – Be Still…

Numbers 10:1-10 – Blow the Trumpets

Read Numbers 10:1-10

If you ever wondered how Moses managed to get everyone’s attention when he had a word from the LORD, now we know. Trumpets. The priests were to blow the trumpets in some fashion, depending on the message. I have to admit visions of Captain Van Trapp and his whistle in the opening scenes of “The Sound of Music” come to mind in terms of the effectiveness of that type of signal communication.

Priests had been trusted with many things in the law. Here we have yet another task to manage—the trumpet blowing. God was serious about this task because he made it permanent. I wonder if the people ever imagined the trumpets as the voice of God. Certainly, when they sounded it meant something was happening, and it was time to respond to God’s message. Continue reading “Numbers 10:1-10 – Blow the Trumpets”

Numbers 9:15-23 – The Fiery Cloud

Read Numbers 9:15-23

I wonder how many times the people of Israel broke camp and moved on. We’re told their stay could simply be an overnight or up to a year. In our previous readings, we learned how God instructed the people to be orderly in the process. I’m sure after a few moves it became easier and easier to get into the “habit” of moving.

Do you think the people felt comforted knowing God’s presence was there in the cloud? Perhaps over time they began to take for granted this visible sense of God’s presence in their midst. What I liked about this reading was how the people obeyed. Their every move was in response to a command from God. Continue reading “Numbers 9:15-23 – The Fiery Cloud”

Numbers 9:1-14 – Remember the Passover

Read Numbers 9:1-14

This is a great reading giving us all sorts of insight to a ritual that has become a staple for Jewish believers today all the way from this second Passover being celebrated. God never wants us to forget how he moved so obviously and intentionally among his people.

Can you imagine having witnessed the end of the plagues in Egypt with the angel of death passing through town taking each first born, even among the livestock. But the LORD passed over his precious children who painted their doorways with blood and nobody died, they all escaped into safety. Continue reading “Numbers 9:1-14 – Remember the Passover”

Numbers 8:1-26 – Make Ready for Service

Read Numbers 8:1-26

The attention to detail is commendable. It would seem setting the lampstands appropriately was the final preparatory task before the ceremony installing and blessing the Levites, preparing them for service. You may recall how God directed Moses to install the priests back in Leviticus 8. For the Levites, it less intense, but there was still ritual involved.

In this ceremony, the Levites were recognized for the job that they would carry out for the Israelites. God had chosen the Levites for these special duties, and the rest of the tribes were in attendance to witness this time of installation. Continue reading “Numbers 8:1-26 – Make Ready for Service”

Numbers 7:1-89 – Dedication Gifts

Read Numbers 7:1-89

While there is a lot of repetition here, all these gifts dedicating the Tabernacle bring honor to God. The tribes weren’t trying to outdo each other by bringing a grander sacrifice, and they brought their dedication offering in an orderly fashion. The focus was where it should be–on dedicating the LORD’s presence among them.

What did you notice in this reading? Did you get lost in the accounting for the gifts, trying to imagine where all these animals came from? Suffice it to say that at this point in history living in the wilderness, even the carts presented would have been a great luxury. The tribes acknowledged God as worthy of their sacrifices. Continue reading “Numbers 7:1-89 – Dedication Gifts”