God Speaks
The Duties and Rewards of the Priests and Levites, Moses Strikes the Rock; Both Aaron and Miriam Die
Verse of the Day: [Even godly leaders like Moses sometimes need to be disciplined by God.] “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron [after Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as instructed], ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'” (Numbers 20:12 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Numbers 18-20:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Numbers 18
1. God holds the priests (Aaron and his descendants) and religious workers (the rest of Levi’s descendants) responsible for how the community (the rest of the Israelites) treat the things of God (the Tabernacle and all of its furnishes and regulations).
2. People tend to follow the attitudes and actions of their leaders. Those leaders need to set good examples and receive compensation for their service.
Numbers 19
1. God makes provision for purification after encounters with death so that people can be clean before Him.
2. People frequently encounter death of some kind and need to be cleansed.
Numbers 20
1. God expects His people, especially their leaders (Moses and Aaron), to do as He says.
2. People are tempted to disobey God out of pride, self-focus, or misplaced anger (as Moses did while striking the rock and speaking angrily to the people).
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Numbers 18-20?
Dear LORD God, who is the author of all life, thank You for showing Your people how to treat sacred things and how to be cleansed from the effects of death. Please help me to help people in my sphere of influence to revere You and to receive eternal life. Help me to properly support those You have chosen to lead Your people in righteousness. Help me to be a good example to upcoming generations as to how we are to trust and obey You. Please help me to keep from losing my temper and thus losing out on experiencing the fulfillment of Your promises as Moses and Aaron did. Thank You that the blood Jesus shed on the cross cleanses us from sin and makes eternal life possible. May increasing numbers of people turn to trust and obey You and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Numbers 18-20? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will show respect for God by how I treat the Bible, my spiritual leaders, my church facility, or the people He created and loves.
- I will cleanse my mind of negative thoughts by reading and thinking about beautiful words of scripture like Psalm 23.
- I will visit a playground of happy children after attending a funeral.
- When Christian leaders die (as several have recently), I will celebrate their lives without making idols of them.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.