Devotionary

Latest Episodes:

Ep 743 – Numbers 33-34 Dec 29, 2018

Show notes

The people of Israel are poised on the edge of the promised land. The time has come for them to cross the border and take what was rightfully theirs. It had been given to them by God, but it remained just a promise as long as they stayed on the East side of the Jordan River. They were going to have go cross over and start the formidable task of ridding the land of its inhabitants and all vestiges of their pagan religions and false gods. This wasn't so much about conquering as it was about cleansing. The land had been polluted and poisoned by centuries of occupation by people groups that worshiped everything from the sun, moon and stars to a litany of fabricated deities whose temples, shrines and high places dotted the landscape. In Numbers 33-34, God is going to give the people of Israel one final marching order before they cross over the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the land. And it would not prove to be an easy order to follow. Before they could occupy the land, they were going to have to purify it. And according to God's plan, not their own. There was no room for compromise.

Ep 742 – Numbers 32 Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

Sin, like nuclear fuel, has a half-life. Its impact doesn't really ever go away. Its shelf life is measured in years, not minutes. And while sin's impact may be invisible, it is far from inconsequential. When you least expect it, the ramifications of sin can appear out of nowhere, which has led to the oft-repeated warning: Be sure your sins will find you out. But did you realize that this popular parenting tip is from the Bible? It's found In Numbers 32 and the context for its original implementation might surprise you. As the people of Israel were preparing to enter the promised land, the two tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses with a request that they be allowed to settle outside the borders of the land of Canaan. They had spied some lush pastureland on the eastern side of the border and wanted to settle their families and flocks there. And while Moses eventually agreed to their seemingly innocent request, time would reveal that their motivation was anything but innocent.

Ep 741 – Numbers 30-31 Dec 27, 2018

Show notes

Sometimes, when reading the history of the people of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament, we arrive at a passage like that found in Numbers 30-31, and it makes us uncomfortable. In these two chapters we have God command that the people of Israel completely wipe out the Midianites. In essence, He orders them to commit genocide. And this image of God is not an easy one to reconcile. We see this portrayal of God as unattractive and, therefore, inaccurate. This can't be the same God who sent His own Son to die for sinful man. After all, doesn't the Bible say that God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son as an expression of that love? Yes, it does. But the Bible also tells us that God hates sin and, because of His holiness and righteousness, He must deal with sin. And while we might see God's actions as somehow unfair or unjust, the real issue here is that of trust. Will we listen to what God is saying and do what He is commanding, because He knows best? It's a matter of faith, not fairness. It's a matter of trust, not trying to put God on trial for His actions.

Ep 740 – Numbers 29 Dec 26, 2018

Show notes

The Old Testament sacrificial was costly. Not only did it cost the life of the animal that was used as a substitute or stand-in for the guilty sinner, it cost the one making the sacrifice. As required by God, each Israelite had to offer a sacrifice for their sins, and the sheep, goat or bull they brought would have had great financial value. There was a monetary price to be paid. But it was far less costly than the penalty God had placed on man's sin: The penalty of death. When we read through Numbers 29, we are reminded that the sheer number of Israelites meant that the annual cost to the nation, in terms of livestock, was significant. And these animals were not the lame, the sick and the old. They were the best of the best. They were required to be without flaw and in excellent health. And once they were sacrificed, their value disappeared with their last breath. But what a picture this paints of the costliness of sin. And what a vivid reminder it provides of Christ's priceless death on man's behalf.

Ep 739 – Numbers 27-28 Dec 25, 2018

Show notes

Unlike Phinehas, Moses is a household name. And this Old Testament character, who wrote the book of Numbers under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is someone with whom virtually everyone is familiar. His exploits in Egypt on behalf of the people of Israel are well-known. His four decades of leadership of the people of Israel are well-documented in the Word of God. But one of the less familiar and least understood aspects of his life's story is his barring from entrance into the promised land by God. In Numbers 27-28, we are given a glimpse into this part of Moses' storied life. And what we get to see is a man who was a consummate shepherd – all the way to the end – and in spite of the incredibly disappointing news that he would never step foot into the land he longed to see. This is a difficult story to understand. But the one thing that stands out is the shepherd's heart of Moses. He never let his disappointment keep him from completing his divine assignment. He led well – all the way to the end.

Ep 738 – Numbers 25-26 Dec 24, 2018

Show notes

Phinehas, not exactly a household name. But it's a name that carries a great deal of significance with God. In chapters 24-25 of the book of Numbers, we are introduced to Phinehas and a pinnacle moment in the history of the people of Israel. They have returned to the border of the land of promise after a lengthy hiatus that left them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years – all because they had refused to enter the land the first time they had come to this place. News of giants in the land had caused them to fear and led them to doubt God's promise that He would give them victory over their enemies. Now, four decades later, the people of Israel had another problem. This time, it wasn't larger-than-life enemies, it was apostasy. The men of Israel had chosen to have sexual relations with the women of Moab and to worship their false god: Baal. As a result, God demanded that Moses and the leaders of Israel put to death all those who were guilty of apostasy and immorality. But it will be the actions of Phinehas that will earn the praise of God.

Ep 737 – Numbers 24 Dec 23, 2018

Show notes

Can God be trusted? While we know the answer to this question should be a resounding, "Yes," we must admit that there are times when we find it difficult, if not impossible, to trust God. We can easily find ourselves in situations where He seems unavailable or, at best, disinterested in our condition. But Numbers 24 provides us with a much-needed reminder that our God is always in control and always fully aware of what is going on in and around our lives. Even when we are oblivious to the invisible dangers surrounding us, nothing escapes God's notice. He is faithful to protect us from both seen and unseen dangers. And He is faithful to keep each and every promise He has made to us. God had chosen Israel as His very own possession and, while they had proven themselves incapable of remaining faithful to Him, He would not abandon them. And when the enemies of Israel were busy making plans for their demise, God was actively interceding on their behalf – keeping His commitment to bless them.

Ep 736 – Numbers 22-23 Dec 22, 2018

Show notes

It is Proverbs 14:12 that reads: "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." In other words, each of us has choices we face each and every day of our lives. We can do things our way or submit to God and do it His way. And, in Numbers 22-23, we get introduced to a man named Balaam, who was severely tempted to ignore the will of God and follow his own selfish desire for financial reward. In fact, Balaam became so blinded by his greed, that he couldn't see the danger of his situation. God had clearly warned him, and had told what he could and could not do. But Balaam was strongly influenced by the offer of material gain. And, in one of those strange and quirky scenes found in Scripture, Balaam gets a much-needed lesson from the mouth of a donkey. God miraculously used a dumb animal to speak truth to an ignorant and money-hungry man. The apostle Peter used this story to warn his readers about the "way of Balaam," the temptation to allow our greed to disregard the revealed will of God.

Ep 735 – Numbers 20-21 Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Been there. Done that. Sometimes, the Christian life can feel a bit repetitive, as if you're going through the same lessons over and over again. It can begin to appear as if you're in some kind of remedial school for slow learners, repeating the same lessons, all in hopes that you might one day learn whatever it is that God is trying to teach you. And in Numbers 20-21, the people of Israel were going to revisit a lesson they should have learned years earlier, at a place called Meribah. For the Israelites, their recurring lesson had to do with God's provision and their tendency to complain. In spite of all that God had done for them, they found it easy to fall back into a pattern of ungratefulness and discontentment. And it usually stemmed from their unwillingness to trust God. Even Moses would find himself doubting the word of God and reacting in anger at the circumstances of life. And he would pay dearly for it. When we choose to disbelieve God, we tend to disobey God. And the results can be deadly serious.

Ep 734 – Numbers 19 Dec 20, 2018

Show notes

The book of Numbers is full of references to sin and the need for cleansing. That was what the entire sacrificial system was all about. And in Numbers 19, God outlines a very specific kind of cleansing required for anyone who had become defiled by contact with a dead body. And, as is true of just about every single aspect of the Old Testament sacrificial system, this rite was intended to point toward an even more important cleansing that would become available when God sent His Son to die for the sins of mankind. He gave His life by dying in the place of sinful human beings, providing a cleansing from the contamination of death we inherited from Adam. And, unlike the sacrifices made in the tabernacle in the wilderness, Jesus Christ's sacrifice was offered once and never had to be repeated. His purification of our impurity was permanent, not temporary. His sacrificial death was effective, making it possible for all who place their faith in Him to receive permanent cleansing from sin and release from the penalty of death they deserved.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected