THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

I've been sipping my second cup of coffee and I've just read 20 more chapters in the book of Numbers.  Perhaps if you were reading this book through your first or second time, you might think that it and some of the other books of the Bible are not that interesting, but if you are reading it through several times, then you will notice a wealth of things that jump out at you.  In chapter 6, God tells Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites saying:  "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."  What a nice thing for God to have the priest say to God's people!  Almost every chapter concerns another subject in Numbers so I cannot speak of each one, but let me share just a few insights:  In chapter 11, the people complained before the LORD saying: "we remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:..."  This I call:  Sinful Remembrances.  They didn't eat anything "freely" in Egypt, they were slaves.  It is amazing how Satan gets us to remember sinful times as "fun", "exciting", "rewarding", and yet all of the "sorrow", "sadness", and "regret" are removed from our minds.  Satan does a good job, but we must forget those things which are behind us and reach forth to Jesus Christ and his mission for our lives.  The Manna is what they ate freely!  In chapters 22-24, we have Balak hiring Balaam a priest to curse the nation of Israel... but each time, he blesses them.  Balaam tried, but each time, he spoke only what God told him to say and it was to bless His people.  In 23:21, he says that "the shout of a king is among them."  This is referring to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  Jesus would come to the world through these people, the Israelites.  In 24:17, he sees "a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel".  This is the verse that no doubt the wise men from the east used to find the young child Jesus in Bethlehem.  The Star told them what to follow, and the Sceptre told them who they were looking for:  a King.  Jesus is the King of Kings.  Isn't the Bible amazing!!  I hope to join you tomorrow and hope you are reading your Bibles.  If you have any questions, then write me at:  pastor@grandviewcares.com  and I will do my best to answer your questions.  Hope you have a blessed day!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler

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