Numbers 11:1

Numbers 11:1 says, And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.  God had just delivered the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt with great reiches, and they complained.  God has delivered us as followers of Christ from the bonbage and penalty of sin, yet we often complain.  God was angry with them, and consumed some of them with fire in the outer edges of the camp.  God will hear our just complaints as Matthew Henry says, but will be angry at our unjust murmuring.  Verse two adds, And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.  The people then cried out to Moses.  Matthew Henry says that though God knew of the murmuring of the people, Moses evidently wasn't aware of it, but after God began to punish them, they cried out to him.  We often do not cry out to God until He begins to deal with our grumbling from lack of faith.  Moses prayed to God for the people, and the fire was quenched.  If we have done something to anger God, and acting out of a lack of faith is one thing that might do this, we need to come to Him in prayer and repentance.  Verse three continues, And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.  Moses gave the place where this occurred a name, Taberah, because the fire of God had burned against them there.  Verse four states, And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  Even after all that God had done for them and the punishment for murmuring, some of the people began to lust for meat to eat.  We too often lust for more than God has provided for us as Christians, and I believe He is still disappointed when we do.  Verse five adds, We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:  Forgetting that they were slaves, the people simply remembered the good food that they had in Egypt.  We too often look back on the things of they world that we may have had before becoming followers of Christ and feel that we are missing something, but we are missing nothing that we will ever need.  Verse six continues, But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.  They complained that all they had was manna, which they didn't have to work for and God supplied in abundance.  I believe we too often complain about what we don't have as Christians instead of praising God for what He does supply us with.  Verse seven says, And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.  Verse eight adds, And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.  We are told a little more about the manna.  We know that even though God provided it, the people still had to gather and cook it.  I believe that we too often expect God to meet our needs and even go beyond that and fulfill our wants without any effort on our part.  Verse nine continues, And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.  At night, the manna fell like dew from heaven.  We also know that it could not be hoarded, but only what could be used that day was to be gathered. I believe we need to rely on God to meet our needs daily, and not attempt to hoard the things He blesses us with.

Numbers 10:29

Numbers 10:29 aays, And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.  Moses told Hobab, his brother-in-law,  that he was going to the land that the LORD had prepared for the people of Israel.  Moses invited Hobab to come with them, and we should invite others to come with us to the heavenly home that God has prepared for His people.  Of  course, the only way they can do this is by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty adds, And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.  Hobab said he wasn't going, but was returning to his own people instead, just as many people today choose to stay with the people of this world instead of accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-one states, And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.  Moses asked Hobab to stay with them as they were camping in the wilderness, and that God would be with them and insure that they fared well.  Even in the wilderness of the world today, if people refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord the first time we invite them to, we need to continue to invite them to do so.  Verse thirty-two adds, And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.  Moses then told Hobab that if he went with them, God would be with him just as He was with the people of Israel, and that he could be of service to them since he was more familiar with the land.  Though God was leading them, just as He does today, He still expects use to us our God given talents to serve Him.  Once we became a follower of Christ, we are all a part of the same family, no matter where we are from in this world.  Verse thirty-three says, And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.  Moses and the people of Israel then departed from the mount of the LORD and traveled three days with the Ark of the Covenant going before them.  We should invite others to join us as we journey this earth following God's guidance to our heavenly home, but once He tells us to move, we need to go whether they come with us or not.  We are not told if Hobab went with them or not, and we today may not always know if those that we witness to have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord or not.  Verse thirty-four adds, And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.  The cloud of the LORD guided them by day.  Verse thirty-six declares, And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.  When the cloud was moving, Moses asked God to scatter the enemies of Israel,  and He will scatter our enemies today as we are out doing His work.  Verse thirty-six adds, And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.  When the cloud rested, Moses asked God to return to be with His people.   We know that God is always with us today as followers of Christ though the Holy Spirit indwelling us.

Numbers 10:11

Numbers 10:11 says, And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.  In the twentieth day of the second month of the second year since leaving Egypt, the cloud moved.  God had things organized before He led them on.  Verse twelve adds, And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.  God led them to the wilderness of Paran by the movement of the cloud, and the people followed.  However and wherever God leads us today we must follow, and when He tells us to stay, we must stay.  Verse thirteen continues, And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.  Though following the cloud, the people of Israel recognized that they were following Moses who was following God's direction.  As Christians today, if we are following anyone, say a preacher or teacher in the church, we better make sure that they are following God's direction in what they preach and teach.  Of course, in order to do this, we must know what God's word says.  Verse fourteen states, In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.  The tribe of Judah went first.  Verse fifteen adds, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.  Verse sixteen continues, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.  Then the tribe of Issachar and Zebulun went with them.  This was all done under the direction of God, just as we must work together under God's direction today as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen concludes, And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.  The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and Merari carried it.  Verse eighteen says, And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. Verse nineteen adds,, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.  Next, the tribes of Rueben and Simeon moved out, still under God's direction.  We need to have Christians today, wherever we are, to be working under God's directions.  Verse twenty continues, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.  The Kohathites carried the tabernacle and the others set it up when they got to where God led them.  Verse twenty-two states, And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.  Verse twenty-three adds, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.  Verse twenty-four continues, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.  Verse twenty-five says, And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.  Verse twenty-six adds, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.  Then verse twenty-eight concludes, Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.  All the people of Israel set out on their journey in the order that God had told them to do.  We today as followers of Christ must set out on our journey as God leads us, and if we do, we will all work together to accomplish His work.

Numbers 10:1

Verse 10:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse two adds, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.  God instructed Moses to make two trumpets out of silver that he would use to call the assembly and for journeying.  The people of Isreal were spread out over a large area, and Moses needed a way to call them all together and to let them know that it was time to move or stop.  Though Moses may have blown the trumpet, God was in charge of when he blew it.  Verse three continues, And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  When both trumpets were blown, the people were to gather at the door of the tabernacle.  Verse four concludes, And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.  If only one trumpet was blown, then only the princes of the tribes were to gather with Moses.  God does not call us all the same way, but we must still recognize His call when He does call us.  This was how the trumpets were used to call all the people or just the leaders to Moses.  We today have set times to gather together to worship God, and we also have times when just the church leaders gather together. Both should be under God's direction.  Verse five states, When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.  Then, when the alarm was blown, the people on the east side were to start forward.  Verse six adds, When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. When the second alarm was blown, the people on the south side were to start forward,  and blow an alarm for their journeys.  Verse seven continues, But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, But ye shall not sound an alarm.  There was a different sound of the trumpet for when the people were to gather together than there was for when they should move.  I believe that God still lets us know when we need to gather together and when we need to move out into the world.  Verse eight says, And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.  Aaron's sons, the priests, were to actually blow the trumpets, under the ordinance established by God.  Today, we have preachers who call us together to hear God's word, and it must be done under the ordinances of God.  Of course, we are also sent out into the world to witness for Jesus Christ, and this should also be done under the ordinances, or laws, of God.  Verse nine adds, And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.  God said that if the people of Israel went to war that they were to sound the trumpets and they would be remembered before the LORD, and they would be saved from their enemies.   As Christians, we may need to sound the alarm at certain times or in certain situations today, but we are already spiritually saved forever.  Verse ten concludes,  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.  They were also to blow the trumpets during their days which were dedicated to worshipping God.  

Numbers 9:15

Numbers 9:15 says, And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  There was a cloud over the tabernacle during the day when it was set up, and a pillar of fire over it by night.  The cloud before had been over all the people, but now settled over the tabernacle, and since the cloud would have been hard to see at night, it appeared as a fire.  God was letting them know that He was with them, which He does for believers today by the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us.  Verse sixteen adds, So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  There was always evidence of God's presence in the tabernacle.  We don't have such signs today, but we can be certain by faith alone that God is always with us as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.  The cloud led the children of Israel as to when to move and where to set up camp again.  We today should be led by the Holy Spirit.  Verse eighteen states, At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.  The movement of the children of Israel was directed by God through the movement or resting of the cloud, which represented God's presence.  Again, we should move or remain where we are today as Christians by the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen adds, And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.  The people of Israel did not move everyday, but sometimes stayed in the same spot every day.  Verse twenty continues, And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.  Whether the people of Israel remained camped or move was strictly up to God.  I believe that we should seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit today to tell us whether we are to stay whether we are or move on in our service to Him.  Verse twenty-one says, And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.  The movement of the people of Israel could be either by day or night.  We likewise must be ready to serve God by day or by night.  Verse twenty-two adds, Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. The amount of time the cloud remained in place varied, just as the amount of time we stay in one place to serve God today can vary.  We need to go or stay as God directs us to do so.  Verse twenty-three continues, At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.  As the children of Israel did then, we must act under the direction of God. 

Numbers 9:1

Numbers 9:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,  Verse two adds, Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.  The first month of the second year after the people of Israel were freed by God from Egypt, God told Moses to have the people observe the Passover.  Though the Levites replaced the first born, the people were still to remember what God did for them, and we must never forget what God did for us when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place.  Verse three continues, In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.  Moses was then given the day to observe the Passover and all the rites to be observed during the celebration.  Verse four states, And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.  Moses then spoke to the people of Israel and  told them what God said about observing the Passover.  We today as followers of Christ should make sure that what we tell others about God is what His word tells us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse five adds, And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.  The people of Israel did as Moses commanded them, even in the wilderness.  Even if we find ourselves in the wilderness of uncertainty in life today, we must always celebrate what Jesus Christ did for us as His followers.  Verse six says, And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:  Certain men who had been defiled by a dead body came before Moses and Aaron on the day of the Passover.  Verse seven adds, And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?  These men asked Moses if they were prohibited from giving an offering to God during the appointed season.  Too often today, people look for reasons not to give to God, or for how little they can get by with giving.  Verse eight states,  And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.  Moses told them that he would ask God what they should do, and we likewise must ask God what to do if we have questions or doubts today.  Verse nine adds, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse ten continues, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.  God told Moses that if a person were defiled by a dead body or on a long journey, they should observe the Passover between God and them.  We may not be able to get to a worship service today, but that does not releave us of the responsibility of worshipping God wherever we are at.  Verse eleven states, The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herb.  Verse twelve adds, They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover.  Moses was then told what the Passover meal was to consist of and the time of day that it was to be eaten.  This was not a feast of fine foods, but a feast of remembrance of the bad times leading up to their deliverance from Egypt.  We should also take time to remember what our life was like before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and come to God with a broken heart when we celebrate His passing over us and giving us everlasting life.  They were also to leave nothing over until morning.  Verse thirteen continues. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.  Those who were able to attend the Passover and didn't were to be cut off from the people of Israel.  If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,  since He is the only One Who can free us from the death penalty of sin, we will be cut off from God's people.  Verse fourteen concludes, And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land. keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  Strangers who wanted to observe the Passover were welcomed to do so.  Everyone is welcome to come to God's Passover if they come by faith.

Numbers 8:19

Numbers 8:19 says, And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.  God said He had given the tribe of Levi to Aaron and his sons, the priests, to serve in the tabernacle and as an atonement for the people of Israel.  They represented the first born of all the people of Israel, and today, Jesus Christ, the first and only born Son of God represents us when we put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty adds, And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.  Moses and the people of Israel obeyed God, just as we must today.  Verse twenty-two continues, And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.  The Levites were washed along with their clothes and Aaron offered them to God and made a sacrifice of atonement for them.  We as Christians are washed clean by the blood of Christ, and He has made the only atonement possible by His death on the cross for our sins.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.  After they were cleansed and dedicated to God, the Levites went into the tabernacle and began to serve God, just as we must begin to serve God when Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteous once we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three states, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse twenty-four adds, This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:  The Levites who were twenty-five years old and older were to serve in the tabernacle.  As followers of Christ, we have no minimum limit by age or family of birth that keeps us from serving God today.  Verse twenty-five continues, And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:  The Levites were to no longer minister in the tabernacle after they turned fifty.  Verse twenty-six continues, But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.  Though they weren't to serve doing the physical labor in the sanctuary after they turned fifty, they were still to serve in the tabernacle of the congregation.  Just as we have no minimum age limit to start serving God today, we have no maximum age when we must stop serving Him.