Daily Bible Devotionals

“When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel.” Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (HCSB)

What kind of parent do you want to be? For many of you, your response to that question is probably, “Dude, I’m just out of high school!”

Perhaps that question means nothing to you, but it should, inasmuch as 7th-grade algebra winds up meaning a whole lot to a rocket scientist. If you never dreamt of being a rocket scientist as a youth, you’ll never be faithful to travel the adult path that leads to NASA.

Likewise, if you want to be considered a patriarch when you’re old and want to see holiness passed down throughout your generations, you have to be diligent to seek the Lord today.

The Lord commanded Israel’s kings to write their own copy of the Torah, by their own hand, under the supervision and scrutiny of the Levites.

Recent scientific studies have discovered people remember roughly 25% of what they hear, 50% of what they see and hear, and 75% of what they interact with. Of course, God has known that all along! That is one of the reasons why the Lord wanted His kings to not simply read the Bible or have it recited (to them) by experts. He wanted them to interact with it unceasingly as if it came from their own hand & heart.

As co-inheritors with Messiah, we must train ourselves, as any royal should. We should take upon ourselves the spiritual posture that understands we might be called to “assume the throne” at any moment. We’ll never solely rule “The Kingdom,” but God will give positions of authority in it for those who prove diligent.

Sadly, most Christians will never read the Bible, much less HANDWRITE their own copy! I hope this passage acts as a challenge for us to go deeper into God’s word.

Let’s encourage one another to know God’s Word and to live up to the character of the Name we have inherited!

“But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.” Deuteronomy 14:24-27 (NKJV)

You may recall the instance where Jesus drove the buyers and sellers from the temple complex. (Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15-16, Luke 19:45) Jesus’ clearing the temple is a stark contrast to the weak, frail “Jesus” the world likes to put forth. Yes, God is love, and Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but The Lord is also known to be jealous and zealous for His people Israel and His bride, the Church.

Why was there a temple marketplace? Some people lived too far from the temple to carry their tithe offerings to the Lord. The Lord allowed them to sell their offerings in their hometowns and carry the money to the temple. Once in Jerusalem, they would re-purchase their offerings and present them to the Lord. While the presence of a marketplace was not a sin, the practices of the marketplace during Jesus’ day were!

At the temple in Jesus’ day, things had gotten way out of hand. The Levites were profiting from unfair money exchange rates and price gouging. They were like the gas stations next to the highway, whose prices are higher than the gas stations a few blocks off the highway. They were profiting from the worshipper’s ignorance and desperation.

But, what of the average Israelite’s involvement in this dilemma? Was the price-gouging solely the fault of the temple sellers? There is an interesting caveat to God’s message: Don’t forget the Levite.

The Levites were sustained by the peoples’ offerings. Today’s passage suggests a strong potential for the Levites to get left out. Could it be that the community of Israel’s slack devotion in giving tithes and offerings led to the Levite’s compulsion to price-gouge? Perhaps, this adds more gravity to Jesus’ statement when clearing the temple: My house is to be a house of prayer, and YOU have made it a den of thieves. I believe “you” refers to both Israel and the Levites. Israel robbed Levi of tithe, and Levi robbed Israel in the exchange. Consider the words of the prophet Malachai:

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” Malachai 3:8 (NKJV)

Let’s ask the Lord to reveal what we might be holding back from Him and the community of believers. Perhaps, revival begins with a change of our hearts and actions.

“You must be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32 (HCSB)

What is “church” to you? When I say “church,” I’m speaking of 2-3 hours once a week, usually Sunday morning, when people congregate in a religious assembly.

For some, church attendance is a religious duty. For others, it may be an intellectual pursuit, an emotional release, a spiritual filling, or a musical connection.

Whatever church is to you, the goal of church leadership should be to convey the Bible in a comprehensive way. Obviously, the best way to convey the facts of the Bible is to simply teach the Bible as it is. You know that is my heart. Other times, the Bible is conveyed through personal counsel, music and arts, community service, etc.

To me, the Bible is conveyed best when all aspects of Christian life are employed in harmony, each in its appropriate time, without humiliating the other.

For instance, you may be familiar with St. Francis’ quote, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”

I have heard this quotation often and almost always supporting someone’s argument against a straightforward proclamation of the Bible. It is generally interpreted as “Live the gospel instead of preaching it.” OK, I get it.

But oftentimes, people miss an important aspect of St. Francis’ statement: There are times when preaching is NECESSARY. Nothing else will suffice. The words of Paul ring true here.

“And how shall they HEAR without a preacher?” Romans 10:14 (NKJV)

There are many reasons why we need to search the Scriptures daily. Today, I want to focus on one of them. We should study the Bible daily because it is essential for us to adhere to how God commands us to live.

The messages of preachers and leaders from among the various church movements may differ greatly. God’s Word is crystal clear. Some leaders are more conservative than God directs. They rob people of the freedom of God’s grace. Others are too liberal and rob people of the stability of God’s accountability. So, how can we distinguish sound doctrine from errant preaching? Read the Bible!

Never cease to learn the Bible and rest in it as it is. Do what the Bible says, and you won’t stray to either extreme, to the right or the left, as it were.

“If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’ do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord, your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (HCSB)

You have probably heard the term “con man.” “Con man” is an abbreviation of “Confidence man.” The best con men invoke confidence in their victims, usually by promising something a little cheaper, faster, or better than otherwise possible, something slightly outside of conventional methods. Bernie Madoff is, perhaps, the most recent successful con man in history, and now he’s just a “con,” as in “convict.” I hope he becomes a “con-vert.”

The person being conned has to simply be convinced to step outside of righteousness for a moment. That’s all a good con man needs to rob you. It’s impossible to con an honest person. In order to con someone, they have to have a spark of “con” inside them already. And we all have that potential. There has to be the willingness to cheat in order for someone to get lured into the con man’s scheme. We’ve got to want something a little faster, cheaper, and bigger than normally obtainable.

Directly following God’s command to stay completely within His Torah (not straying to the “right or left”) are His commands concerning how to handle false prophets: spiritual con men.

Assumed in Deuteronomy 13 is that Israel would stay completely within God’s Torah instruction. That being the case, it would be 1) Completely within their capacity to spot a con man and 2) Impossible for Israel to be conned into following false gods.

The best way to sway a nation’s morality is to sway the morality of leaders. This is accomplished by slowly, subtly, yet deliberately steering those leaders away from God’s Commands. By the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Israel’s complete devotion to Torah had been mainly replaced by devoutness to the teaching of the rabbis, supported by Torah. See the subtle yet definite diversion from complete Torah observance?

With the spiritual “true north” perverted by the vain opinions of men, is it any wonder the religious leaders sought to destroy Jesus? The fact that Jesus performed miracles meant nothing to them. God predicted false prophets would do this to Israel. In the opinion of the religious elite, Messiah Jesus fit all the criteria for a Deuteronomy 13 execution! When our theology is perverted, our zeal is perverted.

Zeal check: Are you searching the Bible in order to honor the Lord by living according to His Word, or has your lack of Biblical knowledge increased the potential to become a victim of the latest religious con?

“But the land you are entering to possess is a land of mountains and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares for. He is always watching over it from the beginning to the end of the year.” Deuteronomy 11:11-12 (HCSB)

When people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, their lives are transformed. They cease to become slaves to sin, and they begin a new life as children of God, co-inheritors with Messiah. We call that transformation, “Salvation” or “Deliverance.”

Israel was delivered from homelessness and saved from slavery and oppression. From out of Egypt, they were led (for the first time) into their own homeland. It was an inheritance secured by God’s promise to their forefathers.

If you asked an Israelite at that time, “Are you saved?” He’d answer, “Yes!” If you asked, “Have you been delivered?” He’d answer, “Absolutely!” And he’d be right in saying so. If you asked if he had seen both great trouble and great victory at the hand of God, the Israelite would also answer in the affirmative, “God was with us in the mountains and the valleys!”

Today’s verse in Deuteronomy 11 is a sober reminder that there will be “Mountains and Valleys.” We will have good times as well as bad ones. I once heard a man say, “We were created to live between Bethel and Ai. That is, we cannot sustain either spiritual “highs or “lows.” God teaches and tests us at both ends of the spiritual spectrum, but men (in this World) are not suited to reside in either.

Today’s verse is a gracious reminder that whether we are high on the mountain or down in the valley, God is there. He cares about us, so He cares for us. He is always here and watches over us. He is all-powerful, so He is mighty to save us. He is all-knowing, so He knows how to care for us. Finally, His character never changes so that we can depend on Him.

Each year may present both great spiritual moments and times we would rather forget. Still, the Lord is ever-present and ever-caring. He is Holy, Merciful, and Gracious. Perhaps, now is a good time to praise Him!

“The Lord said to me at that time, ‘Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and come to Me on the mountain and make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.’” Deuteronomy 10:1-2 (HCSB)

Today’s passage is a wonderful picture of God’s grace. Israel had willingly sinned against the Lord by making a golden image, yet He gave them a second chance.

It has been argued that Israel should not have been held accountable for the calf because the 10 commandments had not been given at that time. Not so.

The “tablets” had not been delivered, but the Lord had already spoken His commandments directly to the hearts of each Israelite. This was prior to Moses’ ascension of the mountain to receive the tablets. Scripture tells us each person had heard the voice of God from the fire on the mountain.

“Then the Lord spoke to you from the fire. You kept hearing the sound of the words but didn’t see a form; there was only a voice. He declared His covenant with you.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Think of the scenario in terms of a standard business contract. A contract is binding when two people agree to the terms, whether written or not. First, the two parties get together and define the terms. Once they agree on the terms, a formal contract may be drawn up, but a verbal contract is still binding as long as there are two witnesses.

When speaking to Israel, the Lord says, “I call heaven and earth as witness against you.” Deuteronomy 4:26 The covenant had mutual terms and sufficient witnesses. Hence, Israel was already “under contract” before the commandments were written on tablets.

Here’s the grace of this passage: After Israel had broken their contract (so soon after entering it), God allowed Moses to go back up with blank tablets. He (the Lord) literally gave them a “blank slate”! From there, God re-wrote the 10 commandments.

The word “Torah” does not mean “Law” (although it has become synonymous with “law”). “Torah” means “Teaching.” God’s purpose for mankind is not just to give us a standard and say, “Live under it or die!” He is also patient and compassionate to TEACH us how and why we should trust Him. His desire is to commune with us, even more than our desire to commune with Him. It has been said that the Bible is the story of 1) God’s desire to redeem men and 2) mankind’s efforts to redeem themselves apart from God.

God is the Holy and Righteous Judge; His Commands are the standard by which all mankind will be weighed. Since our salvation comes exclusively through Messiah Jesus, it further heightens our appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. (Hebrews 2:1-4)

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant He swore to your fathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (HCSB)

I have been in the music business all my adult life. Since 1990, I have been recording music for commercial release, and I suppose I will do it forever. So much of my identity, how people know and value me, is due to my success as an artist.

My most successful season in the music business was with a band called “Big Tent Revival.” Having been the chief songwriter and lead vocalist of that group, it seemed logical to me that when we disbanded for a season (2001-2012), I would have success as a solo artist. Not so.

In 2002, I released a solo project. “SO-LO” is right! It was “so low” on the charts that almost nobody knew I had a CD! I remember thinking, “It’s the same voice and songwriter people were buying last year, so what’s the deal?” While there may have been more strategic marketing things we could have done, the bottom line is that the Lord didn’t prompt favor for my CD in the marketplace. It took a long time for me to accept that.

At the core of God’s lessons for me during that particular “wilderness” period was the reality that my success never had anything to do with my “talent.” Sure, God has gifted me to see things from creative angles, and He has given me the ability to sing, but success (or lack thereof) is completely under God’s sovereign control. Here are a couple of verses to back up that thought:

“It’s not by might or by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

“Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it” Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

Why would God keep me from selling records? I don’t know, but I’ll ask Him when I see Him if I’m not caught up worshipping Him for all eternity! Personally, I believe He “dried up my stream” to teach me some lessons and direct me to where I am now, writing you this devotional. Years ago, I never would have chosen to work for churches, teach coffeehouse Bible studies, or any number of other things I have done recently, simply because I am not consumed with the music business anymore. And He has led me here, sitting at my computer, sharing my wilderness lessons with you.

“The Lord your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be able to destroy them all at once; otherwise, the wild animals will become too numerous for you. The Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into a great confusion until they are completely destroyed.” Deuteronomy 7:22-23 (HCSB)

How do you eat an elephant? One-bite-at-a-time.

Perhaps, someone will approach you today with this challenge: “Let’s eat an elephant.” You’d think they were crazy! But what if they said, “We’re going to eat as much elephant as we can today. Then, we’ll put the rest in the freezer. We’ll keep eating elephant every day, and in a year, we’ll have eaten it all.”

That’s a reasonable plan, primarily because humans don’t have the capacity to hold a whole elephant in their stomachs!

The inhabitants of Canaan were Israel’s “elephant.” They were bigger and stronger than Israel, but that wasn’t why God delayed Israel’s conquering them. God destroyed Egypt in a day, and He could destroy any nation, any day, if He desired. Israel had to learn that God’s promise could be trusted even if gratification was delayed. It was a test of faith, of patiently enduring.

God staggered Israel’s conquests for practical reasons, as well. For instance, millions of rotting corpses would attract wild animals. These beasts would grow and multiply on the flesh of the slain. Having developed a heightened taste for humans, these animals would have become too numerous and voracious for the Israelites. That’s just one example.

Our generation could learn much from this chapter. First off, deliverance (eternal salvation) does not mean your spiritual battles are over. In many ways, they’ve just begun. It’s not like you were resisting the flesh much before you were saved by Jesus!

The “former inhabitants” of our flesh are the carnal, fleshly desires we were once enslaved. Once delivered from their authority, the Lord gives us the command to drive out those old desires, thoughts, and actions.

The new believer is much like Jesus’ friend, Lazarus. Once Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus charged Lazarus’ friends to take off his “grave clothes.” Little by little, layer upon layer, believers must fight (alongside others in a healthy Christian community) to rid ourselves of our “old masters.”

Here’s the encouragement: If you fight the battle as He commands, the Lord ENSURES your victory. It shouldn’t be enough to have your eternity secured by grace through faith. God also wants us to enjoy an abundant life on earth. Sometimes, an abundant life must be seized through a personal spiritual battle. God supplies the victory when we employ faithful perseverance to see the battle won.

“When your sons ask you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances, which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ tell him, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out with a strong hand. Before our eyes the Lord inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh and all his household, but He brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that He swore to our fathers. The Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the Lord our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today. Righteousness will be ours if we are careful to follow every one of these commands before the Lord our God, as He commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (HCSB)

It has been said the most powerful tool of evangelism is the testimony. Skeptics will argue the existence of God, the deity of His Son, the authority of the Bible, etc. The one thing nobody can refute is your experience. Nobody can take away your testimony, combined with the observable change in your life, your “I once was blind, but now I see.”

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 is basically a scripted testimony. It is the predictable conversation between a father and son. This scenario assumes the father is faithfully obeying the Lord, thus prompting the son to ask, “Why?” If you have never had this conversation with your father (or children), I can guarantee there is a breakdown somewhere in Biblical paternal leadership.

I love the innocence of the child’s question. I remember the first time my kids asked why we have a parental block on our TV, and I had to explain that not everyone loves God. My kids have always been in safe, open Christian communities, so we literally have to teach them not to trust everyone.

In today’s passage, the child has known nothing but freedom and God’s blessing. He has to be taught about bondage and slavery. Who better to teach a son than a father? What more believable testimony than from the one who should be most trustworthy?

This testimony is also a reminder that when we share our faith, we should include three elements: Past, Present, and Future.

“I was ONCE in bondage, but God delivered me.” “The Lord commanded us to follow Him for our prosperity and preservation as it is TODAY.” Righteousness WILL BE ours if we follow Messiah (who fulfilled the commandments for us), as we are commanded.”

“Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am proclaiming as you hear them today. Learn and follow them carefully. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face from the fire on the mountain. At that time I was standing between the Lord and you to report the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up to the mountain.” Deuteronomy 5:1-5a (HCSB)

I encourage people to read the Bible a chapter a day because most people who call themselves “believers” don’t even consistently read the Bible. Consequently, they don’t share their faith. As a matter of fact, only 11% of all Christians in America have read the Bible cover to cover, and only 9% have read it more than once! Because of this, a very small percentage of Christians do all the kingdom-building.

Kingdom-building takes a significant amount of faith. The Bible teaches that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” To have the maximum impact on our generation, we must ALL become Biblically literate. This is not just because we need Biblical content to share with others. It is also because the FAITH we need to draw from, which emboldens us to evangelize (and to do so from a proper Biblical contextual understanding and application), comes exclusively from God’s Word.

In today’s passage, Moses instructs Israel concerning God’s commands and exhorts them to listen and learn. His words are similar to our “read the Bible every day” challenge.

With the giving of God’s Commandments, Israel’s covenant with God enters into a new stage. Previously, the covenants between God and the patriarchs had simply been a covenant of “righteousness by faith.” Here, the covenant has become “codified.” There is now a written standard from which “faith” will be measured.

While it is a “new” covenant, it is actually a continuance, a “God v 2.0”, as it were. It’s not that it was new in that it replaced the former covenant. It simply explained, in further detail, what God’s heart and intentions for His people had always been. This new covenant improved general faith in God, but it was never intended to supply salvation. It exposed (to a greater extent) man’s inability to meet God’s standard.

On a soul level, Israel already knew they were inadequate to personally commune with God. They preferred for Moses to “stand in the gap” and mediate between them and God.

The “New Testament” is actually the “New Covenant” (B’rit HaDashah in Hebrew). (Jeremiah 31:31) The New Testament is the narrative and exhortations concerning salvation by grace through faith in Messiah Jesus alone. It expands Abraham’s faith beyond Moses’ Commandments and adds “atonement for sin” through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah.

“Today, recognize and keep in mind that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other. Keep His statutes and commands, which I am giving to you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:39-40 (HCSB)

The 5th commandment is the only commandment with a direct promise: Honor your father and mother, and you will live long in the land the Lord is giving you. It almost stands alone among the other commandments, like a bookend without its mate.

To me, the 5th commandment always seemed void of the responsibility of parents. That is, how can children honor their parents unless the parents train them up rightly? I often wondered why the 5th commandment didn’t say, “Parents, teach your children well, and children, honor your parents by obeying them.”

If the 5th commandment needs another bookend to complete the set, that bookend is found in today’s verse.

God is saying that when parents keep His statutes and commands, their children will follow. He uses the words “so that,” which conveys “cause and effect.”

Notice how God isn’t directing the parents to simply relay His standard by mere words. He wants parents to LIVE His statutes and commands.

Have you ever heard the saying: “Do as I say, not as I do”? Many parents will take their kids to church and tell them to honor God. All the while, those same parents pursue worldly affections. And parents wonder why their kids won’t seek God.

I say it often, but problems in the families of believers are not necessarily ones concerning the lack of Biblical information. The problems involve the lack of VALUE for Biblical information. Few of us really have a hard time understanding what the Bible says. We have a hard time DOING what the Bible says. The parent/hypocrite is the worst enemy of the next generation.

The 5th commandment assumes parents are modeling God’s standard; thus, the responsibility is on the children to follow suit. It also makes a profound statement that even if your parents dishonor you and the Lord by withholding from you the value of following God, it is still incumbent upon you to honor Him, independent of the quality of parenting you received.

In doing so, you honor your parents by “covering” their failings. God honors that kind of humility.

“‘Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west, north, south, and east, and see it with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit this land that you will see." So we stayed in the valley facing Beth-Peor.’” Deuteronomy 3:27-29 (HCSB)

It has been said that success is defined by the successor. That is, it’s not enough to create a big organization. The true test of ministry success is whether you can build something that would thrive in your absence. Every organization that is dependent on a founder/leader’s charisma must cope with the eventual absence/extraction of its charismatic leader.

Healthy organizations are built on principles, products, ideals, and ideas that are bigger than any particular leader.

One scenario that is particularly tense is how a leader copes with their eventual passing. Do they mentor a young leader, pick an older colleague as a successor, or leave the organization unfit for the future? This was Moses’ test. The Lord told him he would die soon, and Joshua would succeed him.

Remember how God told Abraham he would not enter the land, but His offspring would? Abraham trusted the Lord. For him, simply knowing the future was the same as living it. He died in peace.

On the other hand, Saul knew David was anointed as his successor. Saul did not delight in God’s provision for Israel. He wanted his son Jonathan to be king and even rebuked Jonathan for accepting David’s eventual kingship. So, Saul tried to kill David.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Herod tried to prevent Messiah from reigning by murdering the male babies in Bethlehem.

Moses had to decide to either honor the Lord or give himself over to envy. The Lord told Moses that Joshua would accomplish Moses’ dream: Joshua would lead Israel into Canaan. Furthermore, God also commanded Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua.

It is a testimony of Moses’ humility that he obeyed the Lord. Standing on top of Mount Pisgah was enough for Moses to see the future…a prosperous future without Moses. By the way, it is impossible to view the entire Promised Land from where Moses stood. (Believe me, I’ve been there many times.) So, the Lord must have enabled Moses to see (as Abraham was enabled) what is impossible for men.

Christian leaders must set their hearts on the betterment of the community of believers (above personal agendas) to ensure the next generation thrives in the Lord.

“When the Lord heard the sound of your words, He grew angry and swore with an oath: ‘None of these men in this evil generation will see the good land I swore to give your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the Lord completely.’ The Lord was angry with me also because of you and said: ‘You will not enter there either. Joshua son of Nun, who attends you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit it.’” Deuteronomy 1:34-38 (HCSB)

Some say, “I’ll believe in Jesus if I could see Him.” That is, they would believe if they could understand Him. When it comes to following Jesus: Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing. Joshua and Caleb believed God’s promise and saw the victory BEFORE the battle.

I love roller coasters, but I used to be terrified of them. Even as an adult, I would perform concerts at theme parks and watch my bandmates enjoy the rides. They’d say, “Come on!” But I’d always find some excuse not to. All the while, I was paralyzed by the terror of being out of control and something tragic happening. Isn’t that silly?

Here’s how I overcame that phobia. My wife made me! We were given VIP (meaning we didn’t have to wait in line) passes to the Universal theme park, and she made me ride the rides with her! After a few rides, I was having the time of my life. All it took was for me to BELIEVE everything would be OK, then I SAW the fun I had missed out on all those years.

It’s much the same with following Jesus. Many are paralyzed by the fear of what might happen if they left everything familiar in the world and trusted Jesus. Some things cannot be known “this side of the cross.” You simply have to trust the Bible and the testimony of believers around you, matched by their observably changed lives. Then, you must believe and go for it!

Like Caleb and Joshua, believing is seeing. Because they believed God’s Word, despite the overwhelming odds, they saw the victory. God honored their faith, and He punished the faithlessness of those of Israel whose fear overrode their faith.

How small was the remnant of Israel from the generation that Moses led out of Egypt? The remnant consisted of 2 guys: Caleb and Joshua. Many were left out, and very few entered. So, let’s focus on our generation. Will you receive the reward that awaits the faithful, or will you suffer the rebuke of most faithless people in our midst... those who lay aside God’s Word in favor of their own “expert analysis”...those deceived, who claim to have faith in Jesus, yet have practiced only Jesus-themed paganism?

“Many will say to in Me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV)

“Do not defile the land where you are, for bloodshed defiles the land, and there can be no atonement for the land because of the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the person who shed it. Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I reside, for I, the Lord, reside among the Israelites.” Numbers 35:33-34 (HCSB)

Following the institution/instruction concerning cities of refuge, the Lord completed the thought by stating that murder is more than a sin against humanity & Himself. Murder is also a sin against the land itself.

In the book of Genesis, the Lord told Cain He knew about Abel’s murder because his blood cried out from the ground.

“Then He said, ‘What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated, from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.’” Genesis 4:10-12 (HCSB)

Leviticus tells us of a Sabbath rest for the land every 7th year.

“But there will be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land in the seventh year, a Sabbath to the Lord: you are not to sow in your field or prune your vineyard.” Leviticus 25:4 (HCSB)

At the end of the 2 Chronicles, the Lord tells Israel that He has expelled them from the land to give the LAND the “Sabbath rests” that had been denied by Israel.

“This fulfilled the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until 70 years were fulfilled.” 2 Chronicles 26:31 (HCSB)

Why is there such an intimate link between mankind and the land? Perhaps it is because Adam came from the ground (God-breathed dust). Either way, ever since the fall of man, creation has groaned!

Our sin has ripple effects that we may never understand. In many ways, our environment is groaning from the way people who came before us have mismanaged it and how we are mismanaging it ourselves. Inversely, our faithful commitment to Messiah has positive ripple effects. When we follow Jesus as He commands, we may never fully realize our long-term positive Kingdom impact, but we should continue to follow Him faithfully.  

While the world does not revolve around us individually, our personal righteousness (or lack thereof) leaves its mark wherever we go. Your impact on the world can be very profound. Isn’t it interesting how Jesus’ righteous blood fell to the ground, atoning for our sin, including our sins that affect the land? I look forward to that day when this sin-stained earth passes away, and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven! (Revelation 21:1)

“The daughters of Zelophehad did as the Lord commanded Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married cousins on their father’s side. They married men from the clans of the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained within the tribe of their father’s clan. These are the commands and ordinances the Lord commanded the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.” Numbers 36:10-13 (HCSB)

Middle and Far Eastern cultures don’t have the best reputation when it comes to women’s rights. The images of women in the Arab world, broadcast in recent years, have been very demeaning, to say the least.  

Personally, I can understand why men would be interested in Islam. It favors them greatly. But I can’t understand why any woman (who had a choice) would choose the Moslem way if they were aware of the freedom offered to them by Messiah Jesus. Women get nothing out of Islam, even in paradise, their version of heaven.

Similarly, Hindu and Buddhist communities give women a humiliated place in their cultures. In India, baby girls are so devalued that some tribes wrap them in honey-soaked clothing and set them outside to be devoured by insects or wild animals. Abortion of female babies is encouraged in Communist China, where parents of boys receive tax credits unavailable to the families of baby girls.

Of all religions, the Judeo-Christian view of women is the most honoring. Religious rabbis consider the woman sacred partially because they believe every Jewish womb has the potential of birthing the Messiah. Of course, we know Messiah has already come, and His name is Jesus.  

The New Testament also speaks kindly of women. Jesus showed respect, compassion, and friendship to many women. The Scriptures reveal that “many prominent women” followed Him. His apostles, especially Paul, showed a similar consideration to women, which must have been a foreign idea in ancient Middle Eastern culture.

The last thought of the Book of Numbers is the well-being of women. The daughters of Zelophehad came seeking justice, and they received it from the Lord. God is understanding and considerate of even the most remote outcast in society. There is no person, need, or detail too trivial for Him. He is the defender and comforter of the weak, meek & lowly. Rest assured that He is involved in our lives today to ensure the well-being of generations to come, should He tarry. Even so, come quickly, Lord!

“So Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you are to receive by lots as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes. For the tribe of the Reubenites and the tribe of the Gadites have received their inheritance according to their ancestral houses, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.” Numbers 34:13-15

My wife and I used to be members of the Biltmore Society, a group of individuals who share a common concern over the preservation and continuance of Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Built by George Vanderbilt at the turn of the 19th Century, Biltmore Estate is truly America’s castle.

Society members received invitations to exclusive events and activities on the estate grounds. I recall wandering the mansion one evening, gazing into an oil portrait of George Vanderbilt. I wondered what he was like that he would leave such a beautiful architectural legacy.

A friend of mine, close to the Vanderbilt family today, shared some personal insight into the “old family.” He said, “Of all the wealthy industrialist families of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Rockefellers, Fords, Gettys, Guggenheims, Carnegies, and such, the Vanderbilts were the least charitable. Except for a few college endowments and buildings, Vanderbilt money was mostly spent on the Vanderbilts. Their enduring legacies are monuments to themselves; hence, compared to their potential impact, their contribution to society was primarily benign.” It is one thing to inherit great wealth. It is a whole other thing to shrug your shoulders at (or squander) an inheritance, having not realized its purpose and great potential for the community.

My favorite country to visit is Israel. I love taking people there and watching the “lights come on” as they walk and minister in the footsteps of Jesus. Israel is the most disputed plot of real estate in history. Something that never comes up in world politics is disputes over the territories of Reuben, Gad, or Manasseh’s 1/2 tribe. The Lord allowed them to choose to settle before entering the Promised Land, but their choice was not a wise one. Eventually, that poor choice led to confusion and conflict between their Israelite brothers and themselves.  

Within a few generations, because of regional conflict spurred on by their separation from the greater community of Israel, these “settling tribes” were absorbed back into Israel properly, having spoiled their claims to any land inside Israel’s border.  

Just because God allows us to choose our path doesn’t mean it’s the path He’ll bless.

“A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he establishes his way.”  Proverbs 21:29 (NKJV)

“But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. And what I planned to do to them, I will do to you.” Numbers 33:55-56 (HCSB)

The image of the “promised land” can mean many different things to people. I was raised in the South. In many ways, the South always felt like my “promised land.” When I lived in Southern California, my wife and I watched “Gone with the Wind” every New Year’s Day. My wife made fried chicken and biscuits! Grief is good for the soul but bad for the waistline.    

For others, the “promised land” might be a relationship, a job, or anything so elusive that only God could provide it.

Have you ever considered the “promised land” as a metaphor for your own body? Consider that when God created man, he simply took a handful of dust and breathed life into it. We are, in essence, God-breathed land.

All of mankind is born into sin. Because of Adam’s sin, all flesh is corrupted. Before people enter into a saving relationship with Jesus, they are ruled by sinful fleshly desires. For the believer, those desires represent the “former inhabitants” of our “land.”  

Jesus bridged the gap between man’s sinful flesh & God’s holy standard by supplying what we lack in terms of holiness, a difference of 100%. When Jesus suffered on the cross, He paid our sin debt, and His resurrection proved the eternal value of His sacrifice. Furthermore, He is alive today and offers salvation (deliverance) free of charge to all who will turn from their sin and receive salvation.

For a moment, imagine salvation in terms other than “Heaven.”  Imagine deliverance as an opportunity to live life here on earth abundantly. Being “born again” is much the same idea as being delivered back to our “flesh,” but now as new creations. Same old flesh, brand new “you” inhabiting it, along with the Holy Spirit and Jesus as roommates.

Once delivered back into our “land,” it then becomes our job to drive out those “former inhabitants.”  The old sinful attitudes and actions cannot remain. They will torment us unless we destroy them completely.

Notable is how, when Jesus paid our sin penalty, He experienced the crown of thorns in His brow and the spear in His side, images from today’s chapter. Our iniquities were truly laid upon Messiah Jesus! (Isaiah 53)  We have been delivered. Now, fight to drive out those former inhabitants!

“The Gadites and the Reubenites replied, ‘What the Lord has spoken to your servants is what we will do. We will cross over (the Jordan) in battle formation before the Lord into the land of Canaan, but we will keep our hereditary possession across the Jordan.’ So Moses gave them – the Gadites, Reubenites, and half tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph – the kingdoms of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, the land including its cities with the territories surrounding them.”  Numbers 32:31-33 (HCSB)

Ever since Abram left his hometown to follow the Lord to “The place I will show you,” one thought has been at the forefront of the Hebrew mindset. One thought sustained Isaac when he was about to be sacrificed; one thought sustained Jacob through his trouble. One thought gave birth to a nation, and one hope encouraged that nation to endure 400 years of slavery and 40 years in the desert: God’s promise can be trusted.  

God had promised Canaan to Abraham’s descendants.

Israel was standing at the banks of the Jordan, getting ready to receive the fulfillment of God’s promise, when a chunk of their fighting force said, “We’re good. We don’t need to enter in.” Why would they have such a lukewarm reaction to the Promised Land?

In a word, I would say their issue was “value.” They appraised their surroundings, compared Canaan, and then chose to value the land east of the Jordan. Their evaluation seemed to be void of anything spiritual. It simply made better human sense to them.

To understand this passage, we must consider the difference between “information” and “value.” Information is raw data. Value is determined by the degree of consideration (trust) you pay to the source of that data.  

When I was a kid, my dad said, “Rotate your car’s tires every 3000 miles.”  That was good information. Sadly, I didn’t value that information until I had to replace my 1st set of prematurely worn tires!!!

Reuben, Gad, and the warrior clans of Manasseh knew that Canaan was God’s provision. They knew many generations had longed to enter in, suffering to lay the foundation for what was now offered by grace. Yet, the “value” wasn’t transferred. Value is transferred by personal relationships or personal experience. Perhaps the blame goes to their parents.  

We know that sin kept the generation that left Egypt from entering Canaan. I suggest that Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh’s response was telling as to sin’s effects on their elders’ ability to communicate “value” for God’s Word. They knew God’s promise but simply did not esteem it. Perhaps it was because they did not esteem the source of God’s Word: their faithless parents.  

You can attend a church and participate in what worshippers do, leaving you unimpressed. But unless you surrender yourself to experience God in a personal way, you will never develop an enduring value for Him, His promises, or His people. And that is why we spend time with Him daily, reading His Word and getting to know Him (and His values) personally.

“But if her father prohibits her on the day he hears about it, none of her vows and none of the obligations she put herself under are binding. The Lord will absolve her because her father prohibited her.” Numbers 30:5 (HCSB)

“But if her husband prohibits her when he hears about it, he will cancel her vow that is binding or the rash commitment she made, and the Lord will forgive her.” Numbers 30:8 (HCSB)

“Every vow a widow or divorced woman puts herself under is binding on her.” Numbers 30:9 (HCSB)

“These are the statutes that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, or between a father and his daughter in his house during her youth.” Numbers 30:16 (HCSB)

I’m betting that not many “women’s rights” rallies begin with citing these (above) passages…perhaps a closer look is in order. Numbers 30 gives practical direction for the time it was written and provides a greater metaphor of God’s relationship with Israel, extended to Messiah’s relationship with the Church. In short, it speaks to us.

Often in the Bible, Israel is referred to as a “virgin” (Jeremiah 31) or a “wife” (Hosea 2:19-20). The Church is called the “bride of Messiah” (Romans 7:4), and potential followers are depicted in the parable of 10 virgins. (Matthew 25:1-13)  God is known as both “Father” and “Husband.”

I believe Numbers 30 is less a commentary on the impetuous nature of females and more a testimony of the absolution and redemption God directs towards His “beloved.” Whenever a virgin (young girl) or a wife committed herself in a rash and binding manner, her father (or husband) had the option of canceling her vow, as long as he acted the moment he found out about it. This passage is not intended to shame females but to show God’s great grace & mercy. Numbers 30 is a picture of how we, the “virgin daughter” of God, or “bride” of Messiah, impetuously commit ourselves to sin. Yet, when we confess and make that sin known to God, He is willing to forgive us, canceling sin as if it never happened.

“If we confess our sin, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (HCSB)

You’ll never get yourself into some “deal with the devil” that God can’t undo. Who is NOT covered under this arrangement? Widows & divorcees. Keeping with the metaphor, Jesus is alive forever. His bride will never be widowed, but Satan’s will. Jesus promised never to leave or forsake us; hence, His bride will never be divorced. Satan will leave you in a heartbeat. In short, while salvation is offered to all who would receive it, those without a personal saving relationship with the Messiah have no access to absolution/forgiveness. Their vows to Worldliness are legally binding...along with the consequences thereof.

“You are to hold a sacred assembly in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, and you are not to do any daily work. This will be a day of jubilation for you.” Numbers 29:1 (HCSB)

Isn’t it amazing that the Lord has to tell us to rest? Not only does He tell us to rest, but He actually made it a command! It is as if we would not rest unless some penalty were involved.

When I was a kid, I hated school. I did all I could to avoid my schoolwork…right up to testing time. Whenever it came time for testing, my laziness caught up with me. The test was about to expose my lack of initiative.  

School grades are indicators of progress, not intelligence. No matter how smart I may have thought I was, that was not the point. I had not seized the opportunity to improve.

When test time came around, I spent all my energy developing schemes to cheat. Sometimes, I would write notes on my arms. Perhaps I would look at someone else’s paper. Somehow, I would cheat the system because I thought I was smarter than the system.  

Did you know it takes twice as much energy to cheat as it does to study? Plus, you have to carry all that needless anxiety until you get your grade. How smart is that?

Do you know what the kids who studied a little bit every day do the night before the test? They rest. They don’t have to cram. They don’t have to cheat or worry if their schemes will go undetected. They simply recite what they have learned, and they pass the test.

Why do we have to be commanded to rest? Possibly, it’s because we’ve been lazy in our daily devotion to the Lord. Perhaps we have cheated God, and we lack what He provides to the faithful. It could be that we are busy trying to be our own providers instead of trusting God to provide an increase beyond our efforts.

Whatever the excuse, whatever our situation, we are COMMANDED to rest. Jesus said:

“Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

The faithful should celebrate His rest, and the sinner should turn from his ways and enter into His rest.

“When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both you and your brother Aaron rebelled against My command to uphold My holiness in their sight at the waters. Those were the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin. So Moses appealed to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.” Numbers 27:14-17 (HCSB)

Among church congregations, leadership and succession are of high importance. That is, “Who will lead us?” and “Who will replace our leader when he is gone?”

Most churches are governed by boards of elders or deacons. These boards exist because of a high concern that a renegade pastor may amass too much power. Under this system of governance, the preacher works under the authority & advisement of a group. The “group” government only works to the extent that the group seeks the Lord and shares a clear vision of God’s leading.

Other congregations allow the pastor greater authority. This form of government is called the “Moses” model. The “Moses” model only works to the extent that the leader is humble, seeks the Lord’s will above his own will, and receives wise counsel from others.

The purpose of either congregational leadership model is to uphold the Lord’s holiness in the sight of the people. Any leadership model that fails to uphold God’s holiness will ultimately fail in its attempt to lead the congregation to realize all that He desires for them. A flawed component of earthly leaders is that they are human! No human (or group of humans) will ever completely uphold God’s holiness. Still, God chooses to install human leaders. Furthermore, we should submit to leaders because they are God’s provision.  

Let’s consider the kind of leader Moses petitioned the Lord for on behalf of Israel: one who had gone out and come back in. Moses came out of Egypt (exile) and then returned to Egypt to lead Israel out. Sadly, Moses was unable to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Interesting to note is that Moses had never been to Canaan. But Joshua had. Joshua and Caleb had both been there. They were the scouts who gave a faithful report. Their report also earned them the right to re-enter Canaan and lead others there.

Jesus’ name, “Yeshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of the name Joshua, meaning “God saves.” Jesus - the “greater” Joshua - came from Heaven, and by virtue of His resurrection, He has returned there. Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would return to bring us back with Him.  

The first Joshua led God’s people, Israel, to an earthly “promised land.” And Jesus, the greater Joshua, will lead His people, both Jew and Gentile, to the “Promised Land,” the New Jerusalem. (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:1-3)

“The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Command the Israelites and say to them: Be sure to present to Me at its appointed time, My offering and My food as My fire offering, a pleasing aroma to Me.’” Numbers 28:1-2 (HCSB)

I grew up in a church environment where people spoke of “giving to the Lord” in two terms: Tithe and Offering. The tithe was defined as giving 10% of one’s income, which was considered the minimum required to donate. An offering was defined as anything over and above the tithe.  

If you were to add up all the tithes and offerings in the Torah, you would find yourself giving over 60% of your income. Part of the reason for this high number is that Israel was a “theocracy.” The religious leaders ran the government, social relief, courts, the army, etc.

Statistics indicate that most “churchgoers” give less than 10% of their income. As a matter of fact, about 20% of church members foot the bill for 80% of the ministry. This statistic is roughly the same as the percentage of wealthy Americans who pay the most taxes. It may be easy to disdain the rich, but they’re toting the note for the rest of us.

What I find interesting in this chapter is how “offering” begins close to the heart and then radiates outward. The prescribed offerings begin with daily devotion. From there, it grows to weekly, monthly, and annually. I don’t believe the Lord listed these offerings in this order arbitrarily.

People who devote themselves to daily personal worship are likelier to attend weekly church services. In addition, they are more likely to volunteer in the church on a monthly scheduled basis. Of course, they will celebrate the yearly holidays. And it will be more special to them because it is a continuance and culmination of how their lives are consumed with worshipping the Lord throughout the year!

On the other hand, if we don’t offer ourselves daily, we have a decreased chance of being consistent with weekly worship. Our lesser commitment means we probably won’t volunteer and commit to any scheduled service. Sadly, annual holiday attendance winds up being burdensome and often filled with guilt.

Where your investment is, there your heart will be. Every day and everything belongs to Him. So, out of gratitude for all that he has done for you, offer yourself and your possessions freely in response to His Word.

“These are the ones registered by Moses and Elazar the priest when they registered the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across Jericho. But among them there was not one of those who had been registered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”  Numbers 26:63-65 (HCSB)

“Hey Moses, turn the lights out when you leave!”

Have you ever been the last one in line? You know, it’s halftime at the football game, and you wanted to watch the marching band, so now you’re stuck for 30 minutes trying to get a hot dog, only to find out the guy in front of you bought the last hot dog. It’s a bummer to wait for something and then be denied. That was the story of almost all the Israelites who had left Egypt. All but two: Joshua and Caleb.

The generation of Israelites who had been delivered from Egypt had grumbled, complained, and turned from the Lord. They had refused to enter the Promised Land by faith, so the Lord told them they would not enter at all. The whole generation was to die in the desert within 40 years. Only Joshua and Caleb were to enter. They were the only ones who declared, “We can defeat the inhabitants of the land because God is with us!”  

In addition, Moses & Aaron disobeyed the Lord by refusing to “speak” water from a rock, choosing instead to strike it with Moses’ staff. In return for their poor leadership, God barred Moses and Aaron from leading Israel into Canaan.

As Moses got the results of the census, one thing must have been going through his mind:  I’m the last guy. End of an inning,  

Every one of the adults (from the generation who left Egypt) had passed away, just as God had declared. Soon, Moses would be gone, but according to God’s promise, Israel would enter the much-awaited “Promised Land.”

Something I love about Jesus is how He has entered Heaven before us. Not only will He lead us into Heaven, but He has also defeated the enemy! Moreover, He prepares a place for us where we will by no means be cast out.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous among them with My zeal, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My zeal. Therefore, I grant him My covenant of peace. It will be a covenant of perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’” Numbers 25:10-13 (HCSB)

I find it interesting how the enemy of Israel summoned a foreign prophet to curse Israel, but they were unsuccessful because the Lord would not allow Israel to be cursed. The end of chapter 24 has Balaam and Balak going their own ways, frustrated over God’s blessing of Israel despite their attempts.

Of course, all of this plotting was taking place outside of Israel’s awareness. Perhaps more interesting is how (unaware of Balaam & Balak) the men of Israel were doing a fine job of cursing themselves! Their enemies were wondering where Israel’s weakness was, and Israel was engaging in open sexual sin with the women of Moab. In today’s chapter, the Bible exposes that Israel’s sexual sin was itself Baal worship.

Lesson: Israel’s enemy is not from among the Nations. The enemy of God’s children is Satan. This also applies to His children in Messiah, Jesus.

“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 (HCSB)

Make no doubt: Spiritual forces affect human attitudes and actions. But where men will give up the fight, the “enemy” never relents. Balak & Balaam walk away confused and defeated, but Satan entices the men of Israel with the oldest trick in the book.

Were it not for the zealousness of Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, God’s wrath would have destroyed Israel.

Often, we compartmentalize our lives. We have individual compartments for work, family, religion, etc. When we say we give our lives completely to God, we often mean we give Him “all” of that particular compartment, which bears His label.

God is jealous to consume ALL of your life, and we should be zealous to drive sin out of our own lives. Whether our sin is hidden or openly flaunted, we should respond as Phinehas and purge that sin from our midst.