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March 7th
Our Bible reading today is in Numbers chapters 28,29,30.
Here God repeats His instructions on the laws of sacrifices and worship.
Now let’s think about this. The “fighting” army of Israel is preparing for war. They are about to experience first hand what their fathers and grandfathers told them about the peoples and armies of Canaan. This will not be a cake walk. Invading the land of God’s promise will be dangerous and costly.
So what does God, through Moses, address first in their preparations for war? “Personal and national worship of and commitment to God Almighty.”
Reminds me of something that Jesus told his “dangerous” disciples...Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God has a new generation of men...young spiritual leaders for the family unit...as well as spiritual leaders for a military unit.
I like Matthew Henry’s comment: “God read the hearts of these men and knew they were concerned about keeping their peace with God when they were at war with their enemies.”
So instead of God teaching them the ordinances of war first...God taught them where to focus spiritually every morning and every night. The priests were commanded to bring a male lamb to offer to the Lord on behalf of the people every morning and every evening of every day of the year.
Every day began and ended with a vivid demonstration and declaration of the Grace of God and the absolute necessity for atonement for sin by blood sacrifice. Every morning, the silver trumpets’ sound would call the congregation to worship....at 9:am...a one-year-old lamb without blemish would be sacrificed on the bronze altar...atoning for the sins of the people that were committed in the night.
Then at 3:pm in the late afternoon, the trumpets would sound again. Another one-year-old lamb without blemish was being sacrificed to God on behalf of the congregation...atoning for the sins of the people committed during the day.
Soldiers that were included in that congregation would hear those trumpets too...They would be reminded of their Holy God and be in awe. They would be reminded
of their Gracious God and be thankful. They would be reminded of their Awesome God and be humbled. They would be reminded of their Faithful Warrior God and be bold in their own faith in His promises...all the way to and through the battle.
God was using Moses to remind the men...” Take your armor and your weapons ready for battle...but don't forget God ...take Him with you into the fray...He goes before us and He is our rear guard...we fight for the people of promise...we fight for the land of promise...we fight for the One to come...who is the Kingdom of God...no greater cause...Jesus.
Have a great day
