Archives for May 2024

Caught up in sin | your need for the Red Heifer

Filed Under: Bible Study, Numbers // May 28, 2024

This Bible Study is all about being caught up in sin and the need for our savior.

Get access to the complete Numbers Bible Study and Free Guide Here!

As we keep reading about the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, we continue to see examples of their grumbling and complaining. In these chapters, the sin of pride creeps up and kills many. Yet God does not leave the Israelites to their own devices. He offers hope and mercy for them to draw near to Him. In the examples He sets in the Old Covenant, He foreshadows the lives we may live under the New Covenant.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Read all about being caught up in sin, before reflecting on it below.

Numbers 16-19

Caught up in sin and rising up from pride

At a time when the Israelites needed strong leadership, Korah accused Moses of being too prideful and power-hungry, refusing to let others lead. He publicly stated that all the Lord’s people were holy, trying to gain the favor of the assembly, having them follow him instead of Moses. He gathered a group of 250 Israelite leaders – men who were respected in their community – to oppose Moses. Although Korah and these men were already given responsibility over the Israelites, they felt that they deserved more honor. In their pride, they rejected the leader God had called while trying to elevate their own standing.

Do you let pride get ahold of you, affecting those around you and corrupting your walk with God (Galatians 5:7-9)?

Falling facedown in prayer

When Moses heard the accusations against them, he fell facedown in prayer. Moses’ first response was not to deny what others said about him. He did not give proof that God had called him to leadership. Moses did not slander those who came against him. Rather, he simply went to God in prayer. Moses was a man who asked God for His will and direction, while truly believing that God would answer. He was a man who was humble enough to know he had shortcomings, while also knowing that he was doing the Lord’s will where he had been placed. Moses was a man who cared deeply about God’s people, to the point of praying for those who were actively persecuting him.

Is your first response in adverse situations to go to God, seeking His peace and waiting on Him (Isaiah 40:31)?

Caught up and burning from Sin

In an effort to prove his own holiness, Korah forgot about drawing close and listening to God. Korah disregarded God’s law that only the priests could offer incense to God and that the burning coals have to come from the altar of the Most High God. There were many times during this story when Korah and his followers could have repented of their sinful pride and turned back to God. But they refused. They could not see past their desire to elevate themselves, separating themselves from God. Because they decided to go against the Word of God, they paid the consequences of their sin by immediate death.

Although it can be easy to see a judgmental and harsh God in this story, His mercy is evident. Starting with multiple chances for redemption from the beginning to protecting the Israelite congregation at the end. It was not a harsh God that judged these men, but rather their actions led to the consequences.

Although these men faced an immediate physical death from their rebellion, our rebellion often leads to spiritual death as we choose to separate ourselves from God and His Word. Are you caught up in sin that you need to repent of (Ephesians 2:1-10)?

Numbers 16 Bible journaling — I’ve been using these stencils to keep track of the number of times the Israelites have grumbled and complained against God.

Bearing fruit for all to see

After the spectacle of community leaders rising up to grumble against the Lord’s anointed, God chose to perform a miracle to confirm His choice for the priesthood. He had Moses gather one staff from each of the 12 leaders of the tribes and place them in the Tabernacle. When Moses went to collect the staffs in the morning, Aaron’s had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. Now it was (once again) evident to all that Aaron was God’s appointed for the priesthood. Not only had his staff miraculously sprouted when none of the other had, but it also was in different stages of producing fruit. This spoke to the fact that Aaron was being fruitful in his ministry to God, with many different profitable outcomes for all to see.

Is there evidence of God in your life? Is your walk with Christ bearing fruit (John 15:5)?

We are undone

The Israelites were convinced of their sin after seeing the miracle of Aaron’s budded staff. They once again spoke insincere words, announcing they were completely lost, and mourning their inevitable deaths. Although from the outside it seems as if they are completely repentant, we know from continuing to read about their wilderness wanderings that their hearts were still hard. They will continue to complain and test the Words of God, proving that they still had not put their trust in the One who rescued them from slavery and parted the Red sea.

Does your outward life show yourself faithful while your inward spirit struggles with trusting God (Proverbs 3:5-6)?

Bearing responsibility

Aaron and his sons bore the responsibility for the care of the Tabernacle as well as the spiritual maturity of the people. Their position came with much prestige and respectability and they were given great authority from God. But they also bore the burden when things went astray. They were called to humbly serve wholeheartedly, not neglecting the work that God had called them to for the benefit of all the Israelites. Their service was a gift given by God, and they were to treat it as such.

What responsibility has God placed in your care? Do you treat it as a gift or as a burden? Are you grateful for your individual calling, or do you covet the calling of another (1 Peter 4:8-11)?

The Lord is my inheritance

All of the tribes of Israel would be allotted land and an inheritance when they got to Canaan. But the Levites would not be given any inheritance. They would have no land to pass down to their children. They would be unable to work in the community, securing wealth, position, and prestige for their future generations. Rather they were completely dependent on God and His provision for daily living.

Would you be content to receive no inheritance for the sake of fulfilling God’s calling in your life? Could you truly say that God is your portion and you lack nothing? Or do you get caught up in the sin of desiring the things of this world (Psalm 16:5-9)?

Giving back to God what is God’s

The Israelites were instructed to give a tenth of everything that they had to God, and God would use that to advance His kingdom. The tithe would then be portioned out to the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, and orphans (Deuteronomy 14:29). Therefore, the tithes that went to the Levites came from God. But just because they received their payment from God did not mean they themselves did not have to tithe. In fact, they were instructed to present back to the Lord the best and holiest portion of what they had received from Him.

caught in sin bible verse — What does it mean to give God your best?

Do you present to the Lord the best and holiest of everything you do and have? Or do you give Him your leftover time and money (Proverbs 3:9)?

A different kind of offering

Leviticus 14 had already given the instructions for sacrifice required to cleanse someone from ceremonial impurity. But here, God showed His great mercy for the Israelites by making the cleansing sacrifice more attainable for everyone. Instead of needing to sacrifice an animal every time someone became ceremonially impure, there would be one red heifer that would be slaughtered and burned. The ashes from the animal would then be mixed with water and sprinkled on anyone who was impure.

This is a different sacrifice than the others mentioned in the Old Testament because the blood would not be drained out, instead it was burned with the animal. It was also taken outside the camp to be killed instead of being killed on the altar. This is the only sacrifice in which the animal’s color mattered (it had to be red), and it had to be a young female cow (a heifer has never been pregnant). This was the only sacrifice that could cleanse from the defilement of coming into contact with a corpse, and it was not dependent on the impure individual, but on what the priest had already done.

What is the importance of the red heifer, both for ancient Israel and for us today (Ezekiel 36:25-26)?

The red heifer is Jesus

Death represents sin, and thus, this was a sin offering. But unlike other sin offerings, it was not the unclean person who brought the sacrifice to the priest, but the priest who brought the ashes mixed with living water to be sprinkled on the Israelite. This sacrifice is yet another foreshadowing of the Messiah to come. The red heifer represents the blood of Jesus that was shed so that we could have abundant life. Jesus was without blemish or defect, having known no sin. He was taken outside of the camp to be crucified, and the High Priest (Caiaphis) was present while the Romans carried out the crucifixion.

What does it mean that Jesus is the red heifer (Hebrews 9:13-14)?

Numbers Bible Journaling — Using a pencil is great for figuring out lettering before making it permanent with these fine-tip micron pens.

Reflect on what it mean to be caught up in sin

The Israelites continued to be caught up in sin. Some were prideful, thinking of themselves more highly than they ought, others simply complained about life’s circumstances, ungrateful for what God had already done for them. But even amid Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful. How can you faithfully remain in God today?

This Bible study was all about being caught up in sin and how it affects your daily walk with God.

Faith, Failure, and delaying God’s blessing

Filed Under: Bible Study, Numbers // May 21, 2024

This Bible study is about how the Israelites chose the path of delaying God’s blessing because of unbelief, instead of faithfully living in His promises.

Get access to the complete Numbers Bible Study and Free Guide Here!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

God had repeatedly assured the Israelites that He would give them the land of Canaan, a promise first made to Abraham and reaffirmed throughout their history. Yet, when faced with the opportunity to claim this promised land, the Israelites faltered. Instead of stepping forward in faith, they succumbed to doubt and fear, leading to a series of actions that would delay their inheritance.

Read about how the Israelites began delaying God’s blessing by choosing fear, before reflecting on it below.

Numbers 13-15

Delaying God’s blessing by Exploring unbelief

In earlier Chapters, God had promised the Israelites that He would give them the land of Canaan for their inheritance. In fact, the first mention of this as the promised land was to Abraham in Genesis 12. Even as years continued to pass, God continued to reaffirm this promise to His people. As the Israelites wandered in the desert, God made his promise clear to His people. All of the laws that were given, were given so that they could function as a society in the promised land.

So it seems strange that after assuring the Israelites Canaan would be theirs, God now told Moses to send spies into the land. In fact, Deuteronomy 1:19-25 clarifies this story for us, by telling us that it was the Israelites’ Idea to send the spies. The Israelites were acting from a place of fear und disbelief in God’s ability to give them what He had promised. And Moses, instead of asking God if sending the spies was in His will, agreed to do as the Israelites asked.

How do you talk to God when asking for direction in decisions you make? Do you truly want to know His will (Philippians 4:6-7)?

The spies report that would end up delaying God’s blessing

When the spies came back after 40 days (a number often associated with testing in the Bible), they proceeded to say that everything God had told them about Canaan was true. It was a good and fertile land, just like God had said! Nevertheless, they were convinced that they would never conquer it. In their unbelief, they contradicted God by saying that His promise would not come true. They would find themselves delaying God’s blessing because they imagined the Canaanite cities to be fortified.

The Hebrew word used here (בָּצַר) means “to make inaccessible, enclose, cut off.” This is the same word used in Genesis 11:6 for the Tower of Babel, Leviticus 25:5 and 25:11 for the command to not harvest during the Jubilee year, Job 42:2 for the instruction that nothing could be withheld from God, and Jeremiah 33:3 where God will show great and mighty things with are unknown.

The Israelites chose to focus on fear, believing that it was impossible for God to fulfill His promise. Do you believe that God is capable of fulfilling His promises (2 Peter 1:4)?

Bible journaling Numbers 13 — Sometimes you just gotta add extra notes to your Bible journal. I love this tree paper for added artistic flare!

Rebellious hearts continue delaying God’s Blessing

Although there were two spies who asserted that they could enter the promised land, the Israelites chose to believe the report of disbelief. They raised their voices and wept aloud, grumbling that Moses had brought them to the wilderness to die. They wept because of their lack of faith. Instead of believing the promises of the God who miraculously brought them out of Egypt, they grew angry that conquering Canaan would not be as easy for them as watching the Red Sea be parted. They would have to do battle against the Canaanites to enter the land. They would rather have died in Egypt than risk their lives living in God’s promise and protection.

Do you resent God when His promise requires perseverance from you (Romans 5:3-5)?

Remembering God’s glory

The Israelites continued in their unfaithfulness by grumbling against God and rejecting the authority of Moses. Throughout it all, Moses continues to pray to God, asking for direction. When God threatened to wipe out all of the Israelites, making Moses into a great nation, Moses chose to remember God’s glory and remind God of His own promise. He knows that God is all powerful, but asks that God direct that power to showing mercy instead of justice. Moses repeats back to God what God had said to Him in Exodus 34 when His glory was revealed.

Do you know the characteristics of God enough to pray that God extends them toward His people (Hebrews 4:16)?

Numbers 14:18 — What are some of God’s characteristics you need to hang onto right now?

Bodies falling when delaying God’s blessing

Because of their disobedience and unbelief, the Israelites who saw the miracles of God when He freed them from Egypt would no longer be able to see the promised land. Instead, God promised that their bodies would fall in the wilderness because of their unfaithfulness. The Hebrew word used for “unfaithfulness” (זְנוּת) means “fornication, harlotry, whoredom.” It is because, ultimately, they chose the comforts and pleasures they could see and touch instead of waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled.

Are there idols of comfort and perceived safety that you put before the promises of God (Psalm 115:4-8)?

Doing things in your own strength

Once the Israelites realized that they had made the mistake of not trusting God – resulting in delaying His blessing – they tried to fix it in their own strength. They woke up early the next morning, thinking they could undo the consequences of their faithfulness. In their disregard for God’s holiness, they thought that merely confessing that they had sinned without any true repentance would be enough to regain God’s favor. The insincerity of their confession is seen in Numbers 14:44, where they went up without the presence of God. After all they had seen and been through, they still valued the promises of God more than His presence.

Do you give God the respect He is due? Do you value God’s presence or what he can do for you (Psalm 16:11)?

Remembering offerings after delaying God’s blessing

Although the Israelites chose to prove their unfaithfulness to God throughout the many chances they were given, God chose to continue to prove His faithfulness to the Israelites. Numbers 15 seems out of place in this story. However, it shows the faithfulness of our creator by reinstating His promise to His people. God promised His people that Israel WILL enter the promised land. He also reminds them that they WILL continue to enjoy communion with God through the sacrifices and offerings that they WILL give once they entered the promised land.

How has God reaffirmed His promises to you when you’ve been unfaithful (Lamentations 3:22-23)?

Sins of intentions

Just as in Leviticus 4, God again reminds the Israelites of the process of atoning for unintentional sins. In our human wisdom, we like to think of unintentional sins as simple mistakes. But God reminds us that sin is sin. And when we come to realize our sin, atonement needs to be made. God also reminds the people that anyone who sins defiantly needs to be completely cut off from the Israelites. The type of sin that is an open and unashamed rebellion against God will destroy the entire nation, as we have just seen in the previous chapters. It often takes just a few men to lead masses astray.

Is there sin in your life that you need to repent of (Psalm 139:23-24)?

Numbers 14 — There is so much to learn from the Book of Numbers!

Importance of the Sabbath

Once again, the importance of the Sabbath is made clear to everyone when a man was found gathering wood on the Holy day. This was an example of someone who chose to sin defiantly. There would not have been a single person who did not know God’s law about the Sabbath. It had been stated over and over, and the Israelites had agreed to follow God’s laws at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:8). So perhaps this man thought he was above God’s law, that it did not apply to Him. Or maybe He thought that it would not matter if he broke the law “just this once.” Whatever the reason, he had defiantly broken God’s law and as a result, he was put to death.

Although we may not physically lose our lives when we defiantly go against God, there is a spiritual death we experience. Are you living in God’s presence and light, or in spiritual darkness (Ephesians 5:8-17)?

Tassels of faith

As a visual reminder of the Israelites’ identity, God gave them tassels to wear on their garments. As they went about their days, they would see these tassels and be reminded of God’s commands, keeping them fresh and written on their hearts.

Do you have a constant reminder of God’s word visible in your life (Hebrews 8:10)?

Reflect on whether you are living in, or delaying God’s blessing

The Israelites started their journey in the Wilderness doing everything the Lord commanded. However, when the days became long and monotonous, and when the excitement of their freedom faded, they began to grumble and complain. They traded faith for fear and as a result, they found themselves delaying God’s blessing.

Are you living in faith or fear today? Are you looking forward to the promises of God, or delaying His blessing through unbelief and disobedience?

This Bible study was all about how the Israelites chose fear and delaying God’s blessing instead of living in obedience and faith.

From contentment to complaining: the beginning of the wilderness wanderings

Filed Under: Bible Study, Numbers // May 14, 2024

This Bible study is all about the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites as they go from contentment to complaining.

Get access to the complete Numbers Bible Study and Free Guide Here!

During the first year of being in the wilderness, the Israelites obediently followed God and did everything He commanded. We saw as they received instructions from God at Mount Sinai, and how they followed His direction to move out. Everything they did seemed to be in accordance with the commands of God.

That is why, when they begin complaining, we are taken aback. They moved from obedience to disobedience. From trust to skepticism. And from faith to unbelief. Here we see their poor choices as we prayerfully consider how we can remain faithful to God even in the wilderness.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Read all about how the Israelites begin their wilderness wanderings by choosing discontentment, before reflecting on it below.

Numbers 9-12

Waiting on God

On the first day of the first month of the second year, the Tabernacle was completed. The glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle through His cloud, and during a period of 12 days, each of the tribes offered their gifts. Around this time, the priest were consecrated and made ready for service, and the Israelites were reminded of the importance of keeping the Passover. But there was a hangup. Purity laws had been given, and those who were unclean were not allowed to partake in the Passover. A few of those who found themselves unclean wanted to do what was right so they went to inquire of Moses. And Moses, in his wisdom, simply said: “wait until I find out what the Lord commands of you.”

Moses, in his humility, knew that he did not have an answer. But he knew that he served the God who has all of the answers. Instead of trying to come up with a solution by himself, he went to the Lord first. Do you seek the Lord and wait to see what He says before rushing into an answer (Psalm 63:1)?

Related post: 7 Things to do While Waiting on God

Following God in the wilderness

As soon as the Tabernacle was ready for service, the presence of the Lord settled on it as a cloud by day and fire by night. Numbers 9:15-23 emphasizes the importance that the Israelites never set out without the presence of God going first. Just as they never stayed in the camp if the Cloud departed. In this short section, the idea that “at the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at His command the encamped” is mentioned three times in a poetic manner. This was to be a lesson that the Israelites would learn well: they followed God and did as He commanded.

Do you wait for the Lord’s command before setting out or deciding to stay (Deuteronomy 31:8)?

Stickers Bible Journaling — Isn’t it great when you find the perfect sticker for your notes? These stickers always match my notes so perfectly!

Giving our attention to God

In order for the Israelites to know when to come together and when to set out, God had Moses make two trumpets of hammered silver. (This was different than the shofar made from ram horn for the day of Atonement). These trumpets were used to get the Israelites’ attention so they knew what to do. They desired to obey God, but they needed a tangible way of hearing and discerning His call.

Do you give your attention to God so that you can obey Him? What are some ways you can purposefully give your attention back to God (Romans 8:5)?

Complaining about hardships

The first ten chapters of Numbers depict how the Israelites trusted and obeyed God. We see how they listened when God organized them in their proper place around the Tabernacle. They followed God’s instructions for marching orders. The leaders brought their gifts in a public ceremony. They were the picture of perfect obedient children. So here, in chapter 11, they complain about their hardships in the wilderness and it takes us by surprise. We can clearly see how God brought them out of Egypt and gave them true freedom in His law. It is obvious they have been blessed, protected, and provided for by God. And yet, they still find something to complain about.

After seeing the blessings of God in their lives, we wonder how they could be so quick to complain. But don’t we do the same thing? What have you been complaining about instead of seeing the blessing of God in your life? How can you turn from a spirit of complaining to one of gratitude (Philippians 2:14-15)?

Complaining about manna in the wilderness

After a year of being miraculously provided with mana, some of the Israelites decided that it was no longer enough for them. They craved meat. They started to despise the blessing of God when their desire for meat turned into a lust of covetousness for it. Instead of being grateful for the amazing provision of God and looking to the future, they remembered their past with rose-colored glasses and romanticized their slavery. They wrongly chose selective memory of the past, sinning by their ingratitude, in order to justify their current complaints against God.

Are you stuck in the past, forgetting the hardships and romanticizing the good times, instead of looking forward to the promises of God and the new work He is going to do in your life (Lamentations 3:22-24)?

Numbers 11:29 — Do you speak the truth of God?

All the Lord’s people should prophesy

When Moses gathered 70 elders to God, God placed His spirit in them and they prophesied. But two men from these elders were still within the camp. So when an unnamed man heard them prophesy, he ran to tell Moses. Moses responded that he wished all people would prophesy and be filled with the Spirit. Although we may not prophesy in the same way that the prophets of the Old Testament did, we are still called to live with the Holy Spirit resting in us. Under the New Covenant, in Acts 2, the Holy spirit was poured out on all of us. Indeed, the words of Ezekiel have come true that “God has put His Spirit in us and caused us to walk in His statutes, so that we will keep his judgements and do them” (Paraphrased NKJV, Ezekiel 36:27).

Do you have the Spirit of God resting in you? How is there a noticeable difference in your life (Galatians 5:16-17)?

Talk against Moses

After this outpouring of the Spirit on these seventy elders, Miriam and Aaron come up to Moses to talk against him, under the pretext of his wife. Perhaps Miriam and Aaron were displeased that they were left out of the seventy elders. Or it may be that they wanted more recognition for their leadership among the Israelites. Whatever the case may be, they were speaking out against Moses’ leadership authority, and against the God who had placed him there. Instead of Moses responding to the accusations, God called the three of them to Himself and addressed the heart issue. Moses was called by God and chosen by Him for this position. Miriam and Aaron were called to supporting roles.

Are you content in the position that God has called you to? Or do you envy someone else’s position, whether for more responsibility and recognition or for less (1 Corinthians 7:17)?

Leprosy (12)

Because of Miriam’s complaining against Moses and the position God had called him to, God caused her skin to become leprous, reflecting her heart. Although Moses prayed for God to remove the stain, God responded that she would live with this outward reminder of her arrogant heart for seven days. She was confined outside the camp, humbly living among the other unclean Israelites until God would allow her back into His presence.

Is there arrogance in your heart that you need to repent of (1 Samuel 2:3)?

Are you wandering in the wilderness?

God rescued the Israelites from the bondage of slavery, miraculously delivering them across the red sea and led them through the wilderness providing manna as food. He ordered them, gave each a place within the camp and individual value, and set laws based on mutual respect for everyone.

It was during this time that the Israelites traded their contentment from resting in God’s provision to complaining that it wasn’t enough.

Are you in a season of contentment or complaining? How can you focus on God during this time in your life (Hebrews 12:1-3)?

The recognizable difference of being set apart for God

Filed Under: Bible Study, Numbers // May 7, 2024

This Bible study on Numbers 5-8 is all about the recognizable difference of being set apart for God.

Get access to the complete Numbers Bible Study and Free Guide Here!

Numbers 5-8 if full of the recognizable difference when one is living in the truth of Christ, dedicating their life to to service of God. Although it is easy to get bogged down in the small details and repetition found in these chapters, there is great knowledge and application to be found in studying them.

In these chapters, we are reminded of the importance of purity in the presence of God. We see the necessity of restitution for wrongs committed. And the mercy inherent in God’s commands is demonstrated. We see the dedication exemplified in the Nazirite vow and the blessing God desires to bestow upon His children. Furthermore, the division of resources among the Levites shows God’s care for each individual’s role in His kingdom.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Read all about the recognizable difference of being set apart for God, before reflecting on it below

Numbers 5-8

The recognizable difference of Purity in the presence of a Holy God

The God we serve is a God who dwells among us. He is not a far-off God who doesn’t care what we do. Rather, He takes an active interest in our day-to-day lives. In Numbers 5, He commands that the Israelites send anyone who is unclean to go outside of the camp until they are clean again. Although the qualifications listed here for uncleanliness did not make someone a sinner, they were a picture and reminder of the effects of sin in our lives. The Holy God that we serve does not want even a hint of sin to be found in our lives or in our places of worship.

Is there something in your life that is keeping you from being completely dedicated to God and following in His holiness? Do you have sin in your life that you need to get rid of completely (Hebrews 12:1-3)?

Restitution for wrong

God wants His people to live in harmony with one another. Anytime you get a large group of people together, living in close proximity to one another, issues and conflict arise. God gave the command that if any man or woman wronged someone else, they were unfaithful to God Himself. They needed to confess their sin and make restitution for the wrong they have committed. It is important to note that we cannot hurt God’s people without hurting God Himself. Anytime you sin against someone, you are also sinning against God. It is not enough to just say “oh, I’m sorry.” Restitution needs to be made as well.

Is there someone in your life whom you have wronged and you need to confess to God and them? How can you make restitution to that person today (Romans 13:8-10)?

Numbers 5 Bible journaling — Using neutral-colored pencils for background information is a good way to create an aesthetic Bible journaling layout.

Mercy in the test of an unfaithful wife

Once again, God gives a reminder to keep sin out of the camp by giving a system for dealing with jealousy in marriage. If there is a breakdown in the family structure, there will be a breakdown in the community as a whole. That is why God gives this test for an unfaithful wife. Although this seems rather sexist in our modern view, God actually limited was a husband could legally do to his wife. Other cultures during this time allowed the man to kill his wife or send her away on reason of suspicion without proof. Here, God put the object of proof in His own hands.

God could have just commanded that husbands were not allowed to do anything if they were suspicious of their wives. But could you imagine the disharmony that would cause? It is always better to get any conflict out in the open where it can be resolved; and God should always be at the center for resolving that conflict. Is there conflict in your marriage that needs to be resolved (Ephesians 5:22-27)?

The recognizable difference of the Nazirite vow

The priests and the Levites were set apart by God for God for life. However, anyone could take a vow to dedicate a time in their lives to God. The Nazirite vow gave the regulations for any man or woman to dedicate themselves to God, and the qualifications went above and beyond those for the priests in many ways. Although the Priests were forbidden from drinking alcohol while serving, the Nazirites never could. The priests were allowed to mourn the death of close relatives, but the Nazirites were not. They were to live a life of recognizable difference, set apart for God, while continuing to live in their community among their people.

Is it possible to take a Nazirite vow today, and if so, should we? How can you dedicate your life to God (1 John 2:4)?

The Lord’s Blessing

Just after the vow of the Nazirite comes the famous blessing that God tells the priests to pray over the children of Israel. This is a blessing that will be spoken over the Israelites every day at the close of the mourning service. God wanted His children to know that they did not have to take a special vow to be blessed. He desires to bless everyone. God desires to give His protection, peace, and presence to everyone. This blessing is a reminder that God loves and desires the best for all of His children.

Numbers 6:24-26 — How have you seen the blessing of God in your life?

Do you know that God desires to bless you? Are you open to receiving His blessing (Philippians 4:19)?

Each given what they need

The Levite families were given carts and oxen based on their needs for serving the Tabernacle. The Merites were portioned four carts while the Gershonites were given only 2 and the Kohathites did not receive any. While this may seem unfair at first, it is important to remember that God gave the families exactly what they needed in order to faithfully do the jobs He had given them. The merites needed the most carts because they were responsible for the foundations of the Tabernacle and the Gershonites were responsible for the fabric coverings. The Kohathites – the family who was not portioned a single cart – was responsible for the transport of the Holy things. These were to be transported on their shoulders.

It often feels like some people receive more resources than others for the service of God. Do you feel that God has given you exactly what you need (Hebrews 13:20-21)?

Repetition

Numbers 7 is the third longest chapter in the Bible, characterized by its repetitive nature. Within its verses, the offerings brought by each of the twelve tribes are reiterated a dozen times. This repetition every six verses leaves us wondering about its significance. However, amidst this repetition lies a profound message: the value of the individual to God. Through the meticulous account of each tribe presenting its gift, the text presents God’s attention to detail and care for every aspect of His people’s offerings. The uniformity of the offerings also emphasizes the equality of all tribes in God’s eyes. No single tribe holds superiority over another, as each contributes equally. Lastly, the slow pace at which each tribe presents its gift allows for a collective celebration. Each tribe has the opportunity to honor and rejoice in the offerings brought forth by their fellow tribes.

Do you know your individual significance in God’s kingdom, while also staying humble? How does that knowledge allow you to celebrate in others victory (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)?

Lighting the World

The lamps that were described in Exodus 25 were now to be set up. The seven lamps together were used to illuminate the area in front of the lampstand. As we have seen before, oil is an analogy of the Holy Spirit. And just as the lamps could not shine without oil continuously being added to them, so we also cannot shine our lights for others to see without the Holy Spirit working in us.

Do others see the light of the Holy spirit illuminating your life (Matthew 5:14-16)?

Numbers 8 Bible journaling — Using coloring pages is helpful for making doodles in your journaling Bible.

Levites vs. Priests

Setting apart the priests for service was described in Leviticus 8-9. Now we come to the description of setting apart the Levites. The consecration of the Levites follows that of the priests, with a few differences. While the priests were made holy, the Levites were made clean. While the priests donned new garments, the Levites washed theirs. And while the priests were annointed and washed, the Levites were sprinkled with the water. Although The Levites did not undergo the same consecration as the priests, their work was still valuable for the Tabernacle.

God does not only value spiritual teaching and service, He also values the practical work of ministering to others. How can you (or do you) practically serve those around you (James 2:14-17)?

Reflect on the recognizable difference of being set apart for God

As you have read and studied these chapters, I hope you have seen the profound truth presented in them. There is a recognizable difference of being set apart for God. These chapters are not merely a collection of laws and rituals. They serve as a mirror reflecting our relationship with the Holy One. As you absorb these lessons, do not be merely hearers but doers of the Word.

So now, dear reader, take action.

Reflect on these teachings. Discern where you stand in your relationship with God. And commit to living a life that reflects the recognizable difference of being set apart for Him. Seek reconciliation where needed, dedicate yourself wholly to His service, and rejoice in the significance of your individual role within His kingdom. As you go about your day, shine the light of the Holy Spirit in all you do.

This Bible study on Numbers 5-8 was all about the recognizable difference Christians have when they are set apart for God.