A Divine Mulligan

“And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. But if any nation will not listen, thenContinue reading “A Divine Mulligan”

The Children Cry Out – Part 1

“For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sonsContinue reading “The Children Cry Out – Part 1”

Misplaced Trust

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 7:3–4, ESV) In my timeContinue reading “Misplaced Trust”

Never Forget

“Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jeremiah 2:4–5, KJV) Memory loss is aContinue reading “Never Forget”

Promise Keeper

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”” (Jeremiah 1:11–12, ESV) In life, we are disappointed many times by peopleContinue reading “Promise Keeper”

One Perfect Sacrifice

“These you shall offer to the Lord at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” (Numbers 29:39, ESV) In chapters 28 and 29, Moses records the feasts of Israel andContinue reading “One Perfect Sacrifice”

Absolute Unchanging Truth

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19, ESV) This passage, from Balaam’s second oracle, presents some obvious but vital theology. “God isContinue reading “Absolute Unchanging Truth”

Antivenom For Sin

“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (Numbers 21:9, ESV) Once again, the people grumbled against God and Moses stating that they loathed the food, the “manna,” that God had provided. Because of this, theContinue reading “Antivenom For Sin”

Atonement

“And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.” (Numbers 16:48, ESV) After the Lord brought judgment on Korah and those actively engaged in the rebellion, the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying they had “killed the people of the Lord” (v41-42). In making this statement, the people disregardedContinue reading “Atonement”

Our Privileged Position

“These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. . . So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.” (Numbers 3:3–4, ESV) In my lifetime, I have seen many people who have maneuvered to get into the inner circle.Continue reading “Our Privileged Position”