Verse for the Day, 30 June 2016.

Numbers 19:11-20, “Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days.  (12)  He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean.  (13)  Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him.  (14)  "This is the law when someone dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.  (15)  And every open vessel that has no cover fastened on it is unclean.  (16)  Whoever in the open field touches someone who was killed with a sword or who died naturally, or touches a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.  (17)  For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.  (18)  Then a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the persons who were there and on whoever touched the bone, or the slain or the dead or the grave.  (19)  And the clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean.  (20)  "If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. Because the water for impurity has not been thrown on him, he is unclean.”

This is not the first time that we have come across instructions for cleansing the unclean. Leviticus spends much time dealing with such issues, what it is that makes a person unclean and how it is that they can be made clean. The fact that the process of cleansing comes up so many times, highlights its importance. To us it may seem to be a rather mundane, superfluous detail and practice. But to assume this is to miss the whole point and purpose of the cleansings of the unclean.

The first purpose is practical, the second is spiritual.

Firstly, at this point in time, the people of Israel were living in close proximity to each other and did not have all the conveniences of a fixed house made of stone. This made sanitation, hygiene and the spread of diseases critical issues. The potential for a huge outbreak of a virus, plague or disease was very high, and therefore every step had to be taken in order to prevent this.

One of the quickest means of contracting and spreading a disease is by coming into contact with a dead human body. Therefore, these laws are given so that the family and the whole community is protected. These cleansings were for the good of the whole nation.

The second purpose is spiritual. It is not that these physical cleansing brought inward cleansing, in fact it demonstrated the opposite. Throughout Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers it has been made abundantly clear to the people of Israel, that only those who are clean and pure can approach God in worship. Anyone, or anything unclean is not permitted to come before God, and should they try to, God will respond in wrath. As a result of this truth, the people of Israel were constantly having to cleanse themselves prior to coming to God in worship.

This constant cleansing taught them that a deeper cleansing was needed. Water washes off the dirt, but only for so long, as after a short while they were dirty again and had to wash once more. This serves as a symbol, a picture of their hearts, they could try to live in obedience, ask for God’s forgiveness, offer up a sacrifice, and receive forgiveness from God, but that state of forgiveness and standing before God was not permanent. In fact, by the time they had walked out of the temple courts, sin had already risen again in their hearts and once more they became spiritually unclean and in need of God’s forgiveness. It was a vicious cycle, and one which never held out hope of coming to an end or being finally satisfied, irrespective of how many sacrifices were offered up.

Something more than water, more than the blood of an animal was need to cleanse them completely. Here is where we see the ultimate purpose in all of these cleansings, they point to the great cleansing work of Christ in our lives from the inside out. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and removes every stain and spot of sin. He takes out our sinful, dead hearts and gives us new, pure and living hearts. He takes off our filthy rags and dresses us in His robes of righteousness. We are made clean inwardly and one day we will be completely pure. From the moment of our salvation, we are made clean and we remain clean, for Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to cleanse us for all eternity.

Numbers 19 should serve to encourage us, as we are reminded that we no longer need to constantly wash and cleanse ourselves with water and then offer up a sacrifice over and over again. Christ has cleansed us once and for all through His perfect and sufficient sacrifice for our sin. We don’t have to be made clean again as what Christ has cleansed, can never become unclean. We have been washed in the blood of lamb and He has taken all our sins away. Christ now presents us as holy and blameless before the sight of God the Father and we find acceptance and eternal salvation.

Father of purity, light and holiness, how we thank You today for Christ who has cleansed us from all our unrighteousness, who has washed us white by His blood and clothed us with His righteousness. We praise You for the new, living and pure hearts You have given to us, hearts with Your love and laws written upon them. We thank You that You have filled us with the Spirit of life and light, the one who leads us into paths of righteousness. May we seek to live in keeping with our hearts, with the new life we have received, and with the robes that we now wear. May the beautiful, perfection and holiness of Christ radiate out from our lives, to the praise of Your glory. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 23 June 2016.

Numbers 18:1-7, “So the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.  (2)  And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.  (3)  They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die.  (4)  They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you.  (5)  And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel.  (6)  And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the LORD, to do the service of the tent of meeting.  (7)  And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death."”

After God has so clearly demonstrated that Aaron is his appointed man, the remainder of the men are overcome with fear. They fear that God might strike them down if they should ever seek to draw near to the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a symbol of God’s presence among the people, and it should have been a constant encouragement, comfort and source of joy for the people of Israel. But now they are overcome with fear, for if God has dealt so severely with Korah and those who followed with him, and if God has made is clear that Aaron is His appointed man, then what might happen to them if they were to ever approach God!

In order to calm their fears God speaks to Aaron giving him a series of commands. Aaron is told that he along with the priests will bear the iniquities and therefore the consequences of any sin that takes place with regards to the tabernacle and their role as priests. If an unclean person enters into the tabernacle, if the duties of the priests are not performed correctly, or if a priest behaves in an ungodly manner, then they will bear it, and not the entire congregation.

Furthermore, Aaron is instructed to set the Levites in place so as to ensure the tabernacle remains a holy place, that the priests are able to do their duties and that the purity of the tabernacle is maintained. Those Levities who were not members of Aaron’s line and therefore not priests were given other responsibilities, ranging from serving the priests, guarding the tabernacle, to ensuring that only the right people were permitted into the tabernacle.

Through these means God was protecting the rest of the nation from judgement and punishment concerning the tabernacle. However, they were to follow the priests’ instructions as it was ultimately the priests who bore the responsibility.

With the tribe of Levi being assigned to these tasks, it meant that they would not be able to give themselves to other work so as to gain an income. Nor would they be able to cultivate and tend to large farms. Their time was taken up with serving at the tabernacle. In order to care and provide for the tribe of Levi, the remainder of the chapter details for us some of the means that God gave to the Levites. They were to receive a portion of that which was given to and offered up at the tabernacle, from meat, to grain, to bread, amongst other things. When the other 11 tribes brought in their annual tithes from the harvest fields, these crops would be stored and be used to provide for the tribe of Levi.

Numbers 18 demonstrates to us that God is not distant and unconcerned with our fears. He is the God who hears our prayers and pleas, He doesn’t ignore that which we fear or causes us distress. When we bring those fears and distresses, those desperate prayers and pleas to God, He faithfully listens to them and answers so as to bring us comfort and help. There are times when that comfort and help comes through practical means, as is the case in Numbers 18, and times when God works within us bring comfort and rest to our hearts and minds.

The fear in Numbers 18, is that of seeking to be in the presence of, or to approach a God who is holy, awesome, powerful and who deals with the sinner accordingly. For those who oppose Him, His servants and His commands, those who approach Him in the incorrect manner, will be struck down by God’s fearsome wrath. However, God makes a way, He makes it possible for people to approach Him so as to worship Him. God places the priests between Himself and the people, to function as their mediator. The role of the priest is to offer up the sacrifices, worship and prayers of the people to God, and to then minister God grace, love and mercy to the people. We know that this ultimately point us to Christ, the true mediator, who has done what no other priest could do and that is to once and for all open the way to God and bring us into the very presence of God, without fear of judgement and punishment, but instead to find favour and eternal life.

These two truths, that God hears our fears and answers us when we cry out to Him, and that Christ is our true and eternal mediator should greatly comfort us. Because of Christ we can come to God at any time, with anything. We can pour out our hearts, express all our fears, concerns, anxieties and distresses. We can do so with confidence for He will hear, He will answer and He will draw us nearer to Himself. This passage reminds us of the wonderful truths stated in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Our Father, You know that we are surrounded by many fears and distresses, at times they can completely overwhelm us. We thank You that when we find ourselves in such dismay we can call out to You in and through the name of Jesus Christ and plead for help. Thank You that You answer us when we call, and we receive mercy, grace and help from You. How we rejoice in this relationship that we enjoy with You, all because Christ has brought us near to You through His work as our priest. Thank you that we can have the wonderful assurance that the comfort, mercy and grace we receive from You is not temporary, but eternal, for Christ is our eternal priest, and brings us near to You every day. May we draw our hope and confidence from this today. Amen

Verse for the Day, 20 June 2016.

Numbers 17:1-10, “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  (2)  "Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff,  (3)  and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house.  (4)  Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.  (5)  And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you."  (6)  Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.  (7)  And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.  (8)  On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.  (9)  Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff.  (10)  And the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.”

In the past few chapters we have seen the leadership of Moses and Aaron questioned several times. Their positions have been questioned beyond the point of general criticism, to threatening their very lives. The latest of these was Korah’s rebellion, which resulted in the severe punishment of God.

Here in Numbers 17, God once more confirms Aaron’s role and position and does it in such a manner that it puts it beyond doubt. The twelve staffs would have been dry and well-worn sticks. The possibility of these staffs growing once more, sprouting, budding and producing fruit was next to none. In the minds of all the men it would be beyond impossible! But as we constantly learn in the Scriptures, with God the impossible is entirely possible. God works the impossible so as to make is abundantly clear, beyond all doubt that Aaron is His appointed man for the office, position and work that he has been set aside for.

The manner which God confirms that Aaron is the appointed man makes it clear, leaving no room for chance, luck or mere coincidence. Aaron’s staff doesn’t just have a few shoots or sprouts on it. We are told that is sprouted, blossomed and produced fruit all within the space of one night. This staff had not been planted in the ground for weeks on end and specially cultivated, nor had it been swapped out for another one. Each man carved his own name into his staff and then Moses put them in the tabernacle, in the holy place. No one was permitted to enter into the holy place, therefore they could not be tampered with. When Aaron’s staff was brought out along with the rest, there could be no doubt or debate that this was God’s doing.

After all the grumbling, criticisms and threats, the matter is finally settled, Aaron is the man appointed by God. Aaron’s staff is then placed alongside the Ark of the Covenant, to be a permanent reminder to the people of Israel, not to question God’s appointments.

How does this passage apply to us, what can we learn? We no longer have a priesthood, nor do we use staffs, so how does this chapter speak to us?

Numbers 17 challenges us to accept and trust in God’s will and purposes. All too often we question God’s will, wisdom and purposes, we presume that we know better than God. We may even grumble and complain against God. One of the areas in which we may struggle with this most, is how God chooses to use, or not use us, the work that God calls on us to do, or does not call us to. Just because we desire after something, want to do a particular thing, or think we are well suited for a task or position, doesn’t mean that it is God’s will for us to do it.

Permit me to give an example from my own life.

As my high school years drew to an end, I had to decide what career I wanted to pursue. For me it was an easy, straight-forward decision. I wanted to be an emergency doctor, it had been my desire to go into trauma medicine for years. It excited me, I believed I could do it and do it well, and I believed it was the right thing for me to do. Yet I am now a pastor, I never went to medical school, instead I ended up at Bible college! How did that happen?

I took a gap year after I finished school and it was during the course of this year that God sought to show me what His desire was for my life, and it was not what I desired. God was calling me into full-time ministry, to serve Him in His Church. For months I argued with God, I complained, grumbled and questioned God’s wisdom. I reluctantly went to Bible College, I didn’t want to be there, I was miserable. I kept asking God, why He was taking what I wanted to do most away from me. It seemed cruel and unfair. Over time I came to learn that this clearly was God’s will for my life, and the only reason as to why I was feeling so miserable and discontent was because I did not want to submit to God’s will. I wanted to do what I wanted, I presumed I knew what was best for my life. God had to deal with my proud, stubborn and hard-heart, which He did. It was painful, it was difficult, but eventually I submitted, and God’s grace continued to abound to me.

It has been over 17 years since God began to call me to a path, different to the one I wanted to walk. I have come to understand and even rejoice in the fact that whilst God may not have given me what I wanted, what I thought I could and should do and be, what I thought I would be suited to do and was best for my life, He has given me something far, far greater. God’s will and way has proved itself to be wise, good and best for my life.

We need to learn to submit to God’s will, even when it is contrary to what we want. We need to accept that fact that there will be times when God will not give us what we want or desire, as He has something better for us in store, that which will be for our good. The men in Numbers 16 and 17 wanted an office and position they thought they were entitled to, possibly even suited for, more suited for it that Aaron was. They questioned God’s wisdom and will, instead of submitting to God’s plans and purposes. God had to confront them on their pride, arrogance and self-righteousness, God had to humble them until they submitted.

Let us not have to learn these lessons the hard way, instead we need to be quick to heed, submit to and faithfully follow after God’s will, purposes and plans, for they are given to us in the highest wisdom and for our greatest good.

All wise God, our Sovereign Ruler, the Leader and Guide of our live, the One who has all of our days planned out. We thank You that You lead, guide and plan our lives with that which is wise and good. Thank You that You don’t simply give us what we want, but at times withhold them or give us something else. Help us to submit to Your will and plan, instead of grumbling, questioning or complaining. May we understand that our lives are not about what we want, but about doing that which You would have us do. Keep us humble and in submission to Your will, for there we will find peace, joy, hope and eternal blessing. Amen.