Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers Chapter 12.

“1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman);  2 and they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?  Has He not spoken through us as well?”  And the Lord heard it.  3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)  4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.”  So the three of them came out.  5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam.  When they had both come forward, 6 He said,

“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
7 “Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?”

9 So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed.  10 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow.  As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous.  11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned.  12 Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!”  13 Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “O God, heal her, I pray!”  14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?  Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.”  15 So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.

16 Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.”  Numbers Chapter 12.

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We see the contrast between the jealousy and dissension shown by Miriam and Aaron and the humility and intervention shown by Moses.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  … jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, …, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.

It is better that Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days than shut out of the kingdom of God.

As we learned in the last daily devotion:  “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.   No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:11-13.

And, there is more hope!

We saw a glimpse of that hope earlier in the last chapter when we read about the LORD putting His Spirit on some of the elders and then Moses desiring in Numbers 11:29:  “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:22-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 11:31-35.

“Now there went forth a wind from the Lord and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground.  The people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.  While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague.  So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.  From Kibroth-hattaavah the people set out for Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.”  Numbers 11:31-35.

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We have seen the greed and grumbling earlier in the chapter.  “The rabble who were among them had greedy desires;  and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?  We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone.  There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”  Numbers 11:4-6.

Israel was warned.  “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord;  and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”  Numbers 11:1.

But, the greed and grumbling still continued.  And this time, as we read in today’s Scripture:  “the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague.  So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.”

So, let us not be greedy:  “Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man;  and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:10-13.

And, there is more hope!

We saw a glimpse of that hope earlier in the chapter when we read about the LORD putting His Spirit on some of the elders and then Moses desiring in Numbers 11:29:  “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16-24.

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;  in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:11-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 11:24-30.

“24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord.  Also, he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and stationed them around the tent.  25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him;  and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders.  And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.

26 But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad.  And the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied in the camp.  27 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”  28 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.”  29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake?  Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”  30 Then Moses returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.”  Numbers 11:24-30.

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Moses’ desire was granted.  The LORD did not only put His Spirit upon His people, the Jews;  He “poured” forth of His Spirit “on all mankind“, Jews and also Gentiles.

“14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.  15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”  Acts 2:14-21.

And, the LORD’s Spirit did more than just cause people to prophesy and make wise decisions for the people.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 11:18-23.

“18 Say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat;  for you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, “Oh that someone would give us meat to eat!  For we were well-off in Egypt.”  Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat.  19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you;  because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”  21 But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot;  yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.’  22 Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them?  Or should all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?”  23 The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited?  Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.”  Numbers 11:18-23.

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9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

“3  “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.”  Isaiah 46:3-4.

“12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
13 “I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.”  Isaiah 46:12-13.

So, whether it be meat or care in old age or salvation, God will provide.

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”? 

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body:  and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes form Numbers 11:10-17.

“10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.  11 So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant?  And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?  12 Was it I who conceived all this people?  Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’?  13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people?  For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat!’  14 I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me.  15 So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”

16 The Lord therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.  17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them;  and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”  Numbers 11:10-17.

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People have needs.  People complain.  People have burdens.  It is too much for one minister to handle alone.

But, there is hope!

God provided elders and deacons.  Today, we focus on elders.

We noticed from today’s Scripture the importance of the Spirit (“Him” – verse 17) to be upon the elder.

In addition, we assume from what today’s Scripture states about them from their existing, maybe informal, positions as elders that they were perceived by the people to be wise and already accepted by the people as leaders.

We read the qualifications of an elder in Titus 1:6-9:  “namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.  For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:6-9.

We also read the qualifications of an elder in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  “It is a trustworthy statement:  if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.  An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.  He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.  And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”  1 Timothy 3:1-7.

We also read the following from the Belgic Confession in the following Articles 30 and 31.

Article 30:  Concerning the Government of, and Offices in the Church.

We believe, that this true Church must be governed by that spiritual policy which our Lord hath taught us in his Word;  namely, that there must be ministers or pastors to preach the Word of God, and to administer the sacraments;  also elders and deacons, who, together with the pastors, form the council of the Church:  that by these means true religion may be preserved, and the true doctrine everywhere propagated, likewise transgressors punished and restrained by spiritual means:  also that the poor and distressed may be relieved and comforted, according to their necessities.  By these means everything will be carried on in the Church with good order and decency, when faithful men are chosen, according to the rule prescribed by St. Paul in his Epistle to Timothy.

As today’s Scripture recognized the use of elders to relieve the distress and comfort the people, so does Article 30 recognize that use.

Article 31:  Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons.

We believe, that the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders and deacons, ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the Church, with calling upon the name of the Lord, and in that order which the Word of God teacheth.   Therefore every one must take heed, not to intrude himself by indecent means, but is bound to wait till it shall please God to call him; that he may have testimony of his calling, and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord.   As for the ministers of God’s Word, they have equally the same power and authority wheresoever they are, as they are all ministers of Christ, the only universal Bishop, and the only Head of the Church. Moreover, that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or slighted, we say that every one ought to esteem the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders of the Church, very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife or contention, as much as possible.

The fact that elders “ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the Church” (as stated above in Article 31) is consistent with what we read in today’s Scripture by which we assumed that from their existing, maybe informal, positions as elders that they were perceived by the people to be wise and already accepted by the people as leaders.

Because elders are elected, that fact would also help the people “esteem the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders of the Church, very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife or contention, as much as possible.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 11:1-9.  Next devotion, God willing, will be come on Monday, June 30, 2014.  I plan to be in Gainesville, Georgia for the next few days.

“Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.  The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord and the fire died out.  So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

The rabble who were among them had greedy desires;  and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?  We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone.  There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”

Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.  The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it;  and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil.  When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.”  Numbers 11:1-9.  

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When we are faced with adversity, do we complain or are we composed?  Do we panic or are we patient?  

We read in today’s Scripture that Israel complained, and the LORD’s anger was kindled and burned.  The LORD’s anger burned some of the outskirts of the camp.  

Psalm 78 contains a panoramic summary of the history of God’s care for Israel in the wilderness and how Israel reacted to God.  I quote just the following verses.

“¹⁴ Then He led them with the cloud by day
And all the night with a light of fire.
¹⁵ He split the rocks in the wilderness
And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.
¹⁶ He brought forth streams also from the rock
And caused waters to run down like rivers.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 10:11-36.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+10&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you’;  come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord has promised good concerning Israel.”  But he said to him, “I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives.”  Then he said, “Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will be as eyes for us.  So it will be, if you go with us, that whatever good the Lord does for us, we will do for you.”  Numbers 10:29-32.

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Hobab was not a stranger to Moses, being Moses’ father-in-law, but he was an alien.  He had his own land and his own relatives.

We will use today’s Scripture to consider how to treat, in the language of Scripture, those aliens sojourning in the land with us, those strangers.

How do we treat strangers? 

“‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.   The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt;  I am the Lord your God.”  Leviticus 19:33-34.

“9 The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 146:9-10.

And, there is much more.

“25 As He says also in Hosea,

“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’
And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”
26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”  Romans 9:25-26.

And so, as Israel itself was aliens in the land of Egypt, we should also consider that as Gentiles, we were aliens, strangers;  “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”  Ephesians 2:12.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Ephesians 2:13.  “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22.

“Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”  Acts 10:34-35.

There is certainly other Scripture to consider such as Proverbs 13:20:  “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14.

But, we should not shut out strangers, just because they are strangers.  We should not wrong strangers, just because they are strangers.  We should not be aloof to strangers, just because they are strangers.

In conclusion, we will consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46.

“31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  Matthew 25:31-46.

Generally, let us welcome and do good to strangers.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 10:1-10.

“1 The Lord spoke further to Moses, saying, 2 “Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them;  and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out.  3 When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting.  4 Yet if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you.  5 But when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out.  6 When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out;  an alarm is to be blown for them to set out.  7 When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm.  8 The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets;  and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations.  9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and be saved from your enemies.  10 Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings;  and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God.  I am the Lord your God.”  Numbers 10:1-10.

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In today’s Scripture, there were various uses for blowing the silver trumpets for alerts and alarms, but we will focus on the last two uses which I put in bold italic font above, namely for summoning God to help in time of trouble (war) and for praising God in time of prosperity (gladness and feasts).

In trying to apply today’s Scripture, I thought:  “What are our silver trumpets?  How do we summon God and praise?”

Certainly, we can cite the means of praying, reading the Bible, singing songs, and attending church.  We can use our two lips.

But, so to speak, we can use our “TULIP”s as well.

We use our “TULIP”s to speak the truth of what God has done for us:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints” in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Thus, when we face trouble, we sound the alarm with our “TULIP”s, summoning God in faith, reminding God of all that He has done for us, and fitting our specific prayer request within His overall faithful “TULIP” care of us.

And, when we face prosperity, we praise God in faith with our “TULIP”s, remembering that God is our Faithful Father Who causes all things to work together for our good including, most importantly, our salvation through “TULIP”.

Consistent with our use of “TULIP”s, we read the following from the Heidelberg Catechism. 

Question 28.  What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things? 

Answer.  That we may be patient in adversity;  thankful in prosperity;  and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love;  since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.

In final nutshell summary, through our use of “TULIP”s, we pray and praise remembering and reminding God of His gracious providence toward us.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 9:15-23.

“15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning.  16 So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  17 Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out;  and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp.  18 At the command of the Lord the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped.  19 Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the sons of Israel would keep the Lord’s charge and not set out.  20 If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the Lord they remained camped.  Then according to the command of the Lord they set out.  21 If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out;  but when it was lifted, they did set out.  23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out;  they kept the Lord’s charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses.”  Numbers 9:15-23.

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In today’s Scripture, we read about the heavenly cloud of the presence of God which led Israel.  How glorious to be in the presence of God!  How glorious to be led by the presence of God!

“You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  Psalm 16:11.

“1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
Our fathers have told us
The work that You did in their days,
In the days of old.
2 You with Your own hand drove out the nations;
Then You planted them;
You afflicted the peoples,
Then You spread them abroad.
3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land,
And their own arm did not save them,
But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence,
For You favored them.”  Psalm 44:1-3.

“7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.”  Psalm 139:7-12.

And, as glorious as it was, we have more than a heavenly cloud of presence of God outside of us to lead us. 

We have the indwelling of the Spirit of God to lead us. 

This indwelling of the Spirit of God first of all removes our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh so that instead of being stubborn and rebellious, we are cooperative and followers of God.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.

This indwelling of the Spirit of God bears the fruit of the Spirit within us and creates Godly desires which further prompt us to follow God.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  Romans 8:14.

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 9:1-14.

“1 Thus the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Now, let the sons of Israel observe the Passover at its appointed time.  3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall observe it at its appointed time;  you shall observe it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances.”  4 So Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover.  5 They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai;  according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did.  6 But there were some men who were unclean because of the dead person, so that they could not observe Passover on that day;  so they came before Moses and Aaron on that day.  7 Those men said to him, “Though we are unclean because of the dead person, why are we restrained from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?”  8 Moses therefore said to them, “Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.”

9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead person, or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to the Lord.  11 In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it;  they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 1 2 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it;  according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it.  13 But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet neglects to observe the Passover, that person shall then be cut off from his people, for he did not present the offering of the Lord at its appointed time.  That man will bear his sin.  14 If an alien sojourns among you and observes the Passover to the Lord, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance, so he shall do;  you shall have one statute, both for the alien and for the native of the land.’”  Numbers 9:1-14.

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The LORD made a temporary provision.  The LORD allowed those who were unable to take Passover on time, because they were temporarily unclean or on a trip, to take the Passover a month later.

But, the LORD did not excuse those who were able to take the Passover on time exactly as required, but who neglected to take it on time as exactly required for possible various reasons.  It may not have been convenient for them (possible reason for their neglect – verse 13) ) or customary to them (such as if they were an alien sojourning in the land, they would still be subject to the same law – verse 14).

How does this Scripture apply to us? 

There are many who think the lesson is simply that we cannot be excused from the requirements of the Law because it is inconvenient to us or strange to us.  They think that all we need is more time:  a second chance or even a repeated series of forgivenesses and retrys until we get it right.

But, are we truly able to obey the requirements of the Law?

No!  We can be given a second chance and all the rest of chances, and we will still be unable to obey the requirements of the Law.  Although “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12), the problem is sin within us.

“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.”   Romans 7:5.  “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind …”  Romans 7:8 “and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:10-11.

Are we, nevertheless, even though we will never get it right, forced to go through life continually in bondage to the Law?

Is there only a temporary provision for us? 

Or, does today’s Scripture give us hope that God may have made a permanent provision for us?

Praise God!  God did indeed make a permanent provision for us!

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4.

“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.