Verse for the Day, 5 March 2015.

Numbers 1:1-4, “The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,  (2)  "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head.  (3)  From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company.  (4)  And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.”

Numbers 1:45-47, “So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— (46)  all those listed were 603,550.  (47)  But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe.”

Numbers opens with the people of Israel still encamped at Mount Sinai, and it starts on a very encouraging note. Moses is instructed by God to take a census of all the men from the age of 20 upwards. The men from every tribe were to be counted, with the exception of the tribe of Levi.

Once the census has been taken we are told that there are 603,550 men. On first appearance this number may not seem significant, but if we were to add the number of women, all those below the age of 20 and the tribe of Levi, we would probably not be far off the 2 million mark!

Israel was a substantial nation of people, in fact such was their number that even the mighty Egyptians felt greatly threatened by them when they dwelt in Egypt.

But there is a greater significance to this chapter, and that is the reminder that God is faithful to His promises. Back in Genesis 12, when God first promises offspring to Abram, if we have told Abram then, that after several generation his offspring would amount to some 2 million people, it is unlikely that he would have believed us. Yet this is exactly what has happened, from one man has come a nation, a nation that is by no means small nor weak. Though its beginning may have been small, its growth has been great. When Israel entered into Egypt in the days of Joseph there was only some 70 people, but in 400 years those 70 have grown to 2 million. This growth is even more remarkable when we consider how the people of Israel were beaten, mistreated, enslaved and force into hard labour, and the order to kill all new born Israelite boys carried out ruthlessly. In spite of all this opposition and persecution, the nation grew in number and strength.

Throughout these years God’s hand had been upon this nation, protecting it, providing for it and prospering it. Though many of the Israelites may have felt abandoned by God, the growth and preservation of their nation was evidence that God was still with and for them. As they saw their nation grow, so they would have been reminded of the sovereignty, power and working of God.

For believers in Jesus Christ there is much encouragement in this passage. Like the people of Israel in Egypt, we can easily and quickly become despondent. There are times when it feels as though God has abandoned us, His promises, power, sovereignty and work appear to have failed, or have disappeared from us. The darkness of that trial hangs over us and we fear that there is no way forward, no way out. This passage encourages us to keep our eyes upon God, trusting Him to work in His way and in His time. We need to trust in God’s sovereign purposes and plans, even when they don’t make sense to us. Furthermore we must not make the mistake of believing that because we cannot feel God’s presence, or see God visibly at work, that He has then abandoned or forsaken us. God is faithful to every promise, even the promise to never leave, to never forsake His people. God is faithful to every promise, even the promise to work out all things for our greatest good and His highest glory. God is faithful and God is at work, in ways, means and places that we cannot see or know about, and at the right time we will see His purposes and works. We are called to trust God, to rest in His sovereignty and power, and to serve Him with joyful obedience.

Our great covenant-keeping, ever-faithful God, we praise and adore You today, for You are a good of truth, a God who fulfils all His promises and who works all things out in accordance to Your will. How we thank You today, that You are the one that holds our lives in the palm of Your hand. Thank You that You are constantly at work in our world and in our lives, working for our good and for Your glory. Help us to remember that You are a God who does not forsake His children, but remains with us in and through all situations, circumstances and trials, bringing us safely through them all. May we always look to You, find our strength in You, rest in Your sovereign power and control, and glorify Your name through our obedience. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 4 March 2015.

Leviticus 27:1-8, “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  (2)  "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the valuation of persons,  (3)  then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.  (4)  If the person is a female, the valuation shall be thirty shekels.  (5)  If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, the valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels.  (6)  If the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver.  (7)  And if the person is sixty years old or over, then the valuation for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.  (8)  And if someone is too poor to pay the valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford.”

The book of Leviticus ends in a rather obscure manner, in this final chapter we see commands given that deal with the redemption of vows, and those things that were promised to God in the taking of that vow.

The most alarming of the verses are the first eight, as it speaks of how people are to be redeemed. What then are we to make of these eight verses and then the chapter as a whole?

When it comes to passages in the Bible that we struggle to understand and interpret, we must allow the Bible to interpret the Bible. In other words we seek to find another portion of Scripture that either speaks to the same issue, or can help us to understand it. In regards to the first eight verses of this chapter, it is helpful for us to read 1 Samuel 1, giving particular attention to verse 11, “And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

Hannah is making the type of vow that is being spoken of in Leviticus 27. She is praying for a son, asking God to heal her barren womb and give to her the blessing of a son. In return for God’s favour and blessing, Hannah vows to then give that son to God, to serve God for the entirety of his life.

However, if after the birth of Samuel, Hannah wished to be set free from this vow, then she would follow the rules and commandments detailed in this chapter. She would have to bring Samuel to the priest, and depending on the age of Samuel, a calculation would be made and that amount would have to be paid into the temple treasury. Once the payment was made, Hannah would be set free from her vow, and Samuel would be able to remain with Hannah.

But there is more to this chapter than just providing commands on how vows can be redeemed. The question we need to ask is why are these commands given, and why are the amounts stated so high (50 shekels was equivalent to nearly five month’s pay in the days of Jesus)?

There are several reasons as to why these commands are given and the redemption amounts so high. Firstly, God does not want the people of Israel to enter into vows rashly and without thought. How often have we promised God that we would give or do something if He undertook in a certain way, yet after God has undertaken we fail to keep our promise? How many people in a state of panic, shock or fear, have pledged their lives to God if He should save and spare their lives, yet later forget this promise?

Secondly, God wants the Israelites to understand that the taking of vows, the making of promises to God is a very serious matter. It should not be entered into rashly or foolishly, nor should they be forsaken hastily. If we expect God to be faithful towards us in regards to all His promises, is it not then hypocritical of us to be unfaithful to God, breaking our vows or promises?

The giving of these commands and the high valuation for redemption are there to prevent foolish and rash vows, to ensure that the people of Israel think about what they are promising to God and why they are making this vow. They are given so that the Israelites might understand that when it comes to making promises and vows to God, it is something which God takes seriously and desires them to be faithful to them. Therefore they should also take it seriously, and enter into it with the express desire to be faithful to that promise and make every effort to remain faithful. God is a God of truth and faithfulness, every word He speaks is wise, true and good, and every promise He makes, He keeps faultlessly. The people of Israel are being called to be like God in this regard.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we can also be guilty of making rash and foolish statements, promises and vows. We fail to consider what we are saying to God, or the promise we are making. At certain times we may also fail to adequately discern our hearts, our attitude and motivation for making such promises. Are we making it in the hope of what we might receive, what we might stand to gain? Are we trying to manipulate God in the same manner that we manipulate each other, by making grand promises in order to get our way? It should always be our desire to be faithful towards God, we should want to serve Him with all of our lives and all that we have, not because of what we might gain in return, but simply as an expression of love, trust and worship.

Lord God, You are a God of truth and faithfulness. All Your words have proved to be trustworthy and true, You are faithful to all Your promises. We thank You today that You are so faithful to such unfaithful people. We pray and ask You to forgive us for the times that we have made rash or foolish promises, promises and vows motivated more by pride, envy, jealousy and greed, than by godliness. Help us to be people who are eager to be faithful to You in all that we do, and to trust You in all things, for all things, at all times. Amen.