February 23 - March 1

Heart Prep:As you read and study these first chapters of Numbers (or the Hebrew title of the book bemidbar, “in the desert”) and Psalm 90, consider the heart of Moses and his dedication to continually leading God’s people and advocating for them – even after his initial reluctance to accept that calling. Also, examine the profound relationship between Moses and the Lord.


This Week’s Study:

• Sunday, February 23rd –  Numbers 1-2
• Monday, February 24th – Numbers 3-4
• Tuesday, February 25th – Numbers 5-6
• Wednesday, February 26th – Numbers 7
• Thursday, February 27th – Numbers 8-10
• Friday, February 28th – Numbers 11-13
• Saturday, March 1st – Numbers 14-15, Psalm 90

What to Expect:

• The Census: The Lord commands Moses to take a census of every able-bodied fighting man from each tribe. The staggering total of the number of fighting men – combined with the women, children, older men, any foreigners among them and all of the Levites – puts the population of the children of Israel anywhere between 2 to 2-1/2 million people. Try to envision the fact that the Lord provided both food and water for this vast swath of people, who are taking up a sizable chunk of real estate in these desert(s)! 
• Military organization: God puts the tribes together in a manner of hierarchy and structure that is reminiscent of any great military leader. 
• Rebellion: Despite countless miracles among the people that are witnessed first-hand, and the promises of Father God Himself, the Israelites nevertheless continue to grumble and complain. 430 years of slavery and the lack of desire for a more effective relationship with God throughout that time period have certainly taken their toll. 
• Moses’ advocacy: Expect to see Moses advocating for a people who have considered stoning him to death, and on more than one occasion. I cannot help but think of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as He went to that cross to pay the penalty for the people who were crucifying him. Which, by the way, certainly would have been me among them; a penalty He neither earned nor deserved. Also, look at the mercy of the Lord, who definitively responds to Moses’ pleas. You will see Moses in all of his frustration in these passages and the in the heart of Psalm 90. 

Some Things to Look For:

• “Now the Lord spoke to Moses.” The repetition of “The Lord spoke to Moses” is repeated more than 150 times, and in more than 20 different ways in the Book of Numbers, many of which you may see in chapters 1-15. 
• Consider the arrangement of the camp like a Cross, with the Tabernacle (the dwelling place of God) at the center. The tribes of Israel camped around four banners, which are sometimes considered to bear the images of a lion (Judah), a man (Reuben), a calf (Ephraim), and an eagle (Dan). These would have been the tribes that were camped closest to the tabernacle; fanning out from north, south, east and west. If the standards did bear these images, we find a remarkable correspondence with the four living creatures surrounding the throne of God in Revelation 4:7
  • The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Revelation 4:7 (NIV)
• Silver Trumpets: These trumpets marked the setting out of the Army of God in military order and fashion, and were reputed to be heard for miles! You will see them setting out for the first time in this order, as the Israelites break camp and begin their journey(s) throughout the wasteland for the next 38 years. Also consider that the armies of God will gather and descend at the sound of the call of the trumpet.
  • Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Cor. 15:51-52 NIV)
  • For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thess. 4:16 NIV)
• Grasshoppers: As true as it is today as it were thousands of years ago, God’s own people trusted in the reports of the men who were frightened, instead of the men who were faithful. 

My Personal Insight:
There are times when every one of us has been wandering in the desert, and if not, there will be. How many times do we expend our resources, our prayers, our “survival instincts” trying to find a way out of our circumstances, our “desert,” instead of asking Father God what He would accomplish through us while we are in the midst of that desert wandering? Brothers and sisters, Center Church family, if you are reading this today, be encouraged and be reminded that the desert is not our dwelling place, nor is it our home; but rather, our home is in eternity with our Savior, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Be encouraged as you read through these passages of Scripture!!


Prayer:
Our gracious heavenly Father, thank you that you count each one of us – because each one of us counts, each one of us matters – to You. And Lord, when the giants in our lives appear to be too vast and too overwhelming to us; whether it be the ‘giants’ in our health, the giants in our relationships, the giants in our finances, or our past, whatever it is that they may be, reassure us O Lord of hosts of Your promises, Your faithfulness, Your enduring Word, Your steadfast love and Your amazing grace which transcends all that any of us can feel or even begin to imagine. Yesterday, today and always – you are eternal. We love you Lord, and we thank you so much for all that You are doing, all that You have done, and all that You are going to do. 
In Jesus’ Name, 
Amen. 


This week’s devotion was prepared by Stu Schell, aka Studog. Stu helps coordinate the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, as well as teaches one of the adult Sunday School classes. Stu and his wife Virginia “Ginni” moved to Kansas from Washington state in 2023