Seven Days of Devotion
Redemption
From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 3:50-51
In the Book of Numbers, we learn about the God of order and redemption. God saves His people. This is very important. Many times, we say, “Let’s just let things flow and do whatever we feel God may be leading.” No, that is not God’s way. God always has a plan and does things in an orderly way.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, there was order; and in the order, we see God’s plan for man’s redemption.
When they set up camp, the Tabernacle was always set up in the middle, with God ruling over the camp. Then, each tribe was set in a particular spot in front, behind or on either side of the Tabernacle. Every time God moved the camp, it was set up exactly the same way in the next location. Every member of each tribe camped together in their assigned area around the Tabernacle.
If we had been able to fly over the camp, we would have seen the cross—the cross of Jesus Christ. How amazing—2000 years before Christ was born, God already had a plan to saves us from our sins. How He loves us!
God doesn’t want to keep changing your
circumstances; He wants to change you.
-J. Sidlow Baxter-
MONDAY
Sowing & Reaping
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:12
Before we come to the last book of the Pentateuch, a situation arises between Moses and the children of Israel that will have serious consequences for Moses.
They were preparing to cross over from Moab into the Promised Land, and the people began to complain—again. They came because they were thirsty—again. Remember, God provided water for them all through the desert journey, but they forgot and started to murmur and complain.
What did Moses do? Well, God told him to speak to the rock, but he was angry, and he hit the rock instead. Moses was angry with the people when God was not angry with them. He misrepresented God to the people, and there was a price to pay. He was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Moses died in Moab and Joshua led the people in.
Christians who disobey and misrepresent God will not enter the Promised Land. God still could have used Moses in a greater way, but he was cut short.
We must remember, as Christians, who we represent—not ourselves, but Jesus Christ.
Supernatural living through supernatural empowering is at the very heart of
New Testament Christianity.
-J.I. Packer-
TUESDAY
Experience & Obedience
“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.”
Deuteronomy 4:1
The Book of Deuteronomy is a book of experience and obedience. Both of these qualities are necessary for a successful walk with the Lord. One we need to earn, and one we need to learn. The reason I say this is because most of us are undisciplined people.
One of the things I thank God for is my experience in the military. They taught me discipline: with my time, with my money and with everything I have to do. That discipline has followed me throughout my life. It has enhanced and helped me in the study of God’s Word and enabled me to be a pastor, to be an evangelist and to do all the things in my life. Otherwise, I would be in total chaos.
There are many people who have no discipline in their lives, and as a result, they have no direction. Their walk with the Lord is inconsistent because they do not meet with God on a regular basis, through prayer and reading His Word.
Through experience and obedience, we come to know what God desires for our lives, what God desires us to be, and what He expects us to be.
God expects us to be obedient—obedient to His Word.
The alternative to discipline is disaster.
-Vance Havner-
WEDNESDAY
Compromise
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
Psalm103:7
Even though God made His ways known to Moses and the children of Israel, the first time Moses left them under the leadership of Aaron, they fell into idolatry and sin against God. Aaron was manipulated by the people, and he compromised like so many leaders today. Many leaders listen to the people instead of listening to the voice of God, and it affects not only themselves, but the people they are leading.
Aaron compromised and allowed the people to have a feast—a sexual party. They were eating, drinking, fornicating, committing adultery and they were enjoying it. Aaron, knowing God’s Word, took the gold and made a golden calf for the people to worship.
He allowed the people to enter into idolatry. Think of all the golden calves we have in our lives, things that take us away from the real God.
When Moses came down the mountain, it was like walking into a house of prostitution. And there was Aaron, the assistant to Moses, standing back, not stopping the people, but agreeing and giving permission. Imagine that!
Moses drew a line in the sand. Those who wanted to follow God stood on the side with Moses. Those who rebelled stayed on the other side, and the earth opened up and swallowed them. God judged the wicked.
Do not allow anyone or anything to bring you into rebellion against God. Know God’s ways and follow Him, not man.
Anything that takes God’s place is out of place.
-Abe Van der Puy-
THURSDAY
LORD of Lords
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. . . . Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14, 16
Moses was the only person in the whole Bible who talked face to face with God. The children of Israel saw the acts of God, but they did not know Him, personally.
It is like many people today. They read the Bible, they attend church, but, in reality, they do not know God. They call Him God, they call Him Jesus, they call Him Savior, but they do not call Him Lord of lords—Lord of my Life. There is a difference.
It is not enough to go through the motions and play church. If we really and truly want to have Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, Lord of our lives, we must meet Him face to face.
The curtain in the Tabernacle has been torn in two. We can come into the holiest of holies and meet with God. All we have to do is open our Bibles or come before Him in prayer with open hearts.
When He is Lord of my life, it means everything belongs to Him. I follow His plan; I do not give Him mine. I obey Him.
Some read the Bible to learn and some read the Bible to hear from heaven.
-Andrew Murray-
FRIDAY
CHANGE
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:18-19
Deuteronomy is a result of wandering for 40 years in the wilderness. It was supposed to be an 11 day journey to get to the Promised Land.
When I look at the map and I read the stories of the wandering, it reminds me how they left Egypt—with the mixed multitude. Be careful of the mixed multitude. They will take you away from God and lead you to compromise. God had to remove the generation containing the mixed multitude, so He caused them to wander for 40 years.
Throughout history, we have seen generations arise who want to change things. I am not saying change is always bad. Change can be a good thing, but when you start changing to things which lead you to worldliness instead of spirituality, it is not a good change.
There is a change arising today, which is the emerging church. They do not teach the Word, they entertain. They are trying to change the Bible. Matthew tells us they will be counted among the least in the kingdom of heaven, because they are teaching men falsely.
It is important to know God’s Word so we will not be led astray, out of the will of God.
The greatest folly in the universe is to oppose the will of God.
-David Thomas-
SATURDAY
God’s Order
The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said.
Deuteronomy 31:3
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, there were three key people. There was Moses, Aaron his brother and then Joshua. We do not hear much about Joshua when they first depart from Egypt, but God planted him there because He knew Aaron’s heart.
God also knew Joshua’s heart, and He knew when Moses was gone who would best lead His people. God knew Joshua would lead the people and follow in the footsteps of Moses.
Joshua had the same vision and passion as Moses, but in a new way. Joshua was called to go out to battle, to remove the leaven, sin, from the land.
Moses had already written Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Now, in Deuteronomy, he had 32 chapters, but right before he concluded the book, God took Moses and allowed Joshua to finish the book.
This was a sign that He was passing things on to the next generation. It is always God’s plan to pass godly leadership on from generation to generation.
As parents, are you training your children up to be godly leaders in your family? In your work place, are you training up your Joshua to take your place when the Lord moves you on? That is the order of all things. That is God’s plan.
Order is Heaven’s first law.
-Alexander Pope-
THE WEEKLY WORD WITH RAUL RIES
Can be found here:
http://theweeklywordraulries.blogspot.com/
