NUMBERS

Today is Thursday.  I am reading chapters 4 through 13 in Numbers.  Leviticus is all about the details of the law.  Numbers is about the details of the journey.  Numbers is full of spiritual truth and has so much to learn and absorb and share.  I marked up about seven items to share in these ten chapters, but I cannot get to them all.  Here are a few thoughts, some simple, some complex: 1) 25 YEARS-That is the length of service the male Levite gave to the LORD.  The Levites belonged to God.  (Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel:  and the Levites shall be mine."  Numbers 8:18 "And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.")  Now these Levites served from age 25 till age 50.  (Numbers 8:25 "And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:"  Now, because they could life a long life, that was quite a long retirement, but... keep in mind that serving the LORD means carrying the weight of the burdens of many people.  That can weigh heavy on a man of God and take it's toll is health, wealth, and life expectancy.  Pray for your Pastor and make his load lighter.  2) A RAIN CHECK- In Numbers 9, we have God's instruction to have a passover.  The children of Israel were to have the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (vs. 4,5); But, when God's people were defiled by a dead body, they asked Moses if they should skip the passover.  Moses asked the LORD, and the Lord said that if anyone was unclean at the time of the passover, or anyone was on a journey (out of town) then they could take a rain check.  Well, that was what it amounted to, because vs. 11 says:  'The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs."  So they kept the passover, exactly one month later.  It was so important, that God didn't want anyone to miss out.  I think God feels that way about the Church as well, it is so important, God doesn't want us to miss out.  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." 3) WE WILL DO THEE GOOD- I love what Moses said to His father-in-law in Numbers 10:29  "And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you:  come thou with us, and we will do thee good:  for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel."  That has always been my prayer that when people come to our church, we would do them good.  I believe that with all my heart, and it should also be that way for all of the people who are around us.  We should do them good!  They should be blessed by being around someone who is blessed of God.  Manifest Blessing... at least, that is what I call it.  4) RISE AND RETURN- Another verse I love is Numbers 10:35&36- In the morning, Moses said:  "Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee."  Then every evening, Moses would say:  "Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel."  Rise up, and Return.  Oh that each day we would say to the LORD, Rise up and guide me O thou great Jehovah!  Go with me and let me walk in Your ways.  Then each evening say:  Return O LORD, come and watch over me as I rest.  Protect me with Thyself, nourish me with Thy presence, fill me with Thy Spirit.  Return Oh LORD, for I need Thee, oh I need Thee!  Well, time has come and well past gone.  But I love these verses, these truths, and more.  They minister to me.  I hope they do to you too.  May God bless your day. Pastor Mike Mutchler