Daily Devotional from Numbers 26—Verse 52The LORD spoke to Moses…In our English bibles, the word “lord” is written in a few different ways. The two common uses are Lord and LORD. When we see LORD in all capital letters, it refers to the Hebrew name YAHWEH, which is God’s personal name. So this verse can also be translated “Yahweh spoke to Moses…”  This is not some far off, unknown, distant God—thi...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 25—Verses 7-8When Phinehas…saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.This story might seem overly severe. However, the Israelites were dying of a plague sent by G...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 24--Verse 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him...It seems like Balaam was a good guy. After all, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he would only bless Israel and not curse them, despite the great riches he was offered.Perhaps the temptation of riches was too great, because later in the Scriptu...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 23–Verse 28Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert.Balaam spoke some of the most eloquent, insightful prophecies found in all of the Old Testament. However, I feel sorry for the guy. He is being strung along by a creep because he had no bone in his back. He was gifted; he was extremely anointed, but he had no sense of danger. And the story did...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 22--Verse 38bThe word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.Nothing could convince Balaam to say other than what God wanted him to say. If you search www.openbible.info for 'what does the Bible say about how we should talk' you will find a LOT! Our words can bring life or death. They can build up and tear down. Just like God didn't want Balaam cursing his peopl...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 21--Verses 8-9So 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.The people complained against not just Moses in this instance, but against God himself. They became discouraged on the journey and “loathed” God’s provision for them. The serpents were sent as judgement and many died from their b...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 20--Verse 8Tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.So, what did Moses do? He struck it. Twice! Why? Because he was angry.Be careful of acting out in anger. Sure, you probably have a reason, quite likely a very good reason for being angry. But before you pop off at the mouth and before you walk off and slam the door, ask yourself a simple question, ‘is it wo...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 19--Verse 9bAnd they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering.Clean, unclean, and water are words we see repeated over and over throughout these passages. God gave direction again and again to the people of Israel on the care they were to undertake in order to be set apart.But, just like us, the Israel...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 18—Verse 7b…I give your priesthood to you as a gift…One of the most honored gifts God gives is to serve the Most High as a Priest. The gift was not to be taken lightly. There were many requirements, and Holiness and reverence through ritual were more important than anything they did. They recognized that God was Holy and must be treated with honor and respect, just as...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 17—Verse 8On 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.Imagine that! A staff of dead wood miraculously coming to life, forming buds, then blossoms, then ripe almonds — the dead brought to life — confirming the priesthood of...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 16--Verses 47-48So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.Many times in the Old Testament you see the wrath of God halted; what stopped His wrath? P...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Numbers 15--Verse 32While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.God takes the Sabbath rest seriously. And while we are not bound by the Law, the Sabbath is something that benefits us greatly. In Hebrews 4:10 it says of the Sabbath, “for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his...  Read More