TITHING—ON PURPOSE FOR PURPOSE

Posted on February 13, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I grew up in the mid “1900’s”!  Yes, seems ancient when we say it, right?  I was in upper elementary school when our church dedicated themselves to a building project that would be beyond their means as a congregation.  But they felt God’s leading and timing to move our growing congregation from their current rented space to building their own space. This congregation tithed faithfully on purpose for God’s purpose and plan.

Our church people didn’t know all the details, as it was obvious by all the discussions that they did know God was leading and trusted in His plan to move forward.  But the tithes and offerings beyond their tithes just wouldn’t be enough to buy the land and begin to build—at least “on paper”.  Other forms of revenue were sought and miraculous plans of finance began to happen as they trusted in God.  As a fifth grader, I was impressed by their faith—all the kids were!  I saw my faith and resolve to be a part of this grow within me as a young believer!

One Sunday, our passionate pastor gave ALL ages in the congregation a new challenge.  “I’m going to give each of you one dollar to invest in your own project and ask that you trust God with the results.  Bring what you make as an offering to the Lord to help build His new sanctuary where He will be praised and the lost will find salvation.”  I was ALL in!  Most were all in!  We lined up to receive our dollar then we prayed at the altar asking God to lead each one.  Later mom and dad talked about what they would do.  As I stared at the dollar bill in my hand; my mom suggested that she could teach me how to make fudge to sell.  Perfect!  We went to the store, bought all the ingredients needed, to make our first batch.  (In the 1900’s a dollar went a long way!) 

I remember this as if it were yesterday.  When the first batch of fudge cooled, I individually wrap the cut squares and put them in my lunch box.  I took the pieces to school and opened my “fudge store” before school began for the day.  I sold out in just minutes.  Two days later, I invested in more ingredients, made, and wrapped the fudge and sold it all the next day.  Who can resist fresh fudge? Apparently, nobody!  My dollar turned into one hundred dollars for the building fund offering.  That might not sound like much today; but back then is was significant and  began a journey of building my rock solid faith in God who provides and loves a cheerful giver who is grateful for all He has provided.

In our passage today, Aaron’s job description is made clear by our God!  God spoke expressly to Aaron making it clear that it was the responsibility of the priests to minister in the tabernacle and protect it from defilement, and it was the responsibility of the Levites to assist the priests in their tabernacle ministry.  God described Aaron’s work as a gift from Him!  Camp on that idea for a moment.  

The Body of Christ who had the faith of mustard seeds; praised God a few years later in a new building dedicated to God and His holy work of reconciling people to Him. Tithing on purpose for God’s purpose was embedded in the DNA of this growing congregation.  The care and management of the building was taken care of by our tithing and offerings.  The pastor’s salary was enough for him to be full time in service. Needs of the people within and those from the streets were helped along with offerings for others in the service of the Lord.  Our pastor also tithed from his salary as an example to the people in his care.  Our church was not perfect, no church of imperfect people is, but they were faith-filled witnesses to what God can do when we trust and obey His leading and affected all other areas of our lives!

God’s people would tithe the “first fruits” of their possessions. The Levites would tithe from what was given to them an offering to God for the work of the tabernacle. This is God’s plan of tithing on purpose for purpose. 

Numbers 18 

Duties of Priests and Levites

The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. 2 Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the tent of the covenant law. 3 They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die. 4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.

5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting. 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

Offerings for Priests and Levites

8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share. 9 You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. 10 Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy.

11 “This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

12 “I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. 13 All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

14 “Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. 15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. 16 When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

17 “But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Splash their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 18 Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. 19 Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. 22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. 27 Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. 28 In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. 29 You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

30 “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. 31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting. 32 By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Where we worship God must be consider holy and acceptable to God and must be cared for with respect to God.  Jesus, His Son, is now the Head of the Body of Christ called church.  We tithe and give offerings beyond our tithes on purpose for God’s purpose so others will know, believe and be saved for eternity.  “Who we really are, what is most important to us, with who we believe in faith are most often revealed in our check ledgers.”  (Said a pastor once who got my attention!) 

God’s plan of tithing takes care of the all needs of His people who He has appointed, anointed, dedicated, and consecrated for His work of rescue of those lost in the darkness of sin.  God held Aaron and his sons responsible for offenses committed against the sanctuary and the priesthood.  God’s “gift” to Aaron was to be the leader of priests and came with great responsibilities.   Everything rises or falls with leadership, and Aaron was the leader of the priestly family. He was accountable to God for what happened at the sanctuary.  Food offerings fed the priests family.  However, whoever in the priestly family ate of the sacrifices given to God had to be ceremonially clean and treat the food with reverence, because it had been sanctified by being presented to God.

The Levites were given the tithes which the people brought to God’s sanctuary, for 10 percent of the produce belonged to the Lord. The Levites in turn were to take a tithe of what they received, offer it to the Lord, and give it to the high priest.  The principle of tithing on purpose for God’s purpose here is clear and is emphasized often in Scripture: Those who serve the Lord and His people should be supported from the material blessings God gives His people. “The laborer is worthy of his wages,” said Jesus. See Luke 10:7; Matthew 10:10). Paul taught the new churches; “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel”, 1 Cor. 9:14. Paul further explained this principle in Galatians 6:6–10; Philippians 4:10–19; and 1 Timothy 5:17-18.  God expected the Levites to tithe what they received and share it with the high priest.  Some paid workers today feel that this is not necessary that they tithe; “for all I have belongs to the Lord and all I do is for Him.” But their thinking doesn’t make sense. The Levites were serving God fulltime, yet they tithed what they received. Malachi, the prophet of God, will later tell God’s people of the consequences of “robbing God” in their lack of obedience to give!  (Malachi 3)

“Tithing isn’t necessarily a legalistic practice, for Abraham and Jacob tithed centuries before the law was given (Gen. 14:20; 28:22). If the Israelites under the old covenant could give 10 percent of their income (produce) to the Lord, can Christians under the new covenant do less? For us, tithing is just the beginning! If we grasp the meaning of 2 Corinthians 8–9, we’ll practice “grace giving” and go far beyond the tithe.”—Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

Making fudge, and later Christmas wreathes to sell in the neighborhood, taught me valuable life lessons about “giving unto the Lord.”  ALL the profits of this Dollar Bill project were given and laid on the altar by each participant.  There were so many God’s blessings poured out over His church; that there is not enough time to tell of them all!  But know this:  God loves to give and loves a cheerful giver by His example!

Lord,

Thank you for my parents, grandparents, mentors, and other leaders who loved and followed you in front of me!  I am blessed to have see your glory at work then and even more blessed to see your glory at work in your church now!  To you be the glory! 

In Jesus Name, Amen

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
All your money, talents, time, and love;
Consecrate them all upon the altar,
While your Savior from above speaks sweetly,

Trust Me, try Me, prove Me, saith the Lord of hosts, and see
If a blessing, unmeasured blessing,
I will not pour out on thee.

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GOD’S NOT BLUFFING!

Posted on February 12, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Let’s pause to recap.  As we “march” through the wilderness with the Israelites we wonder; When will the they get it?!  When will they believe that God will always do what He says He will do?  Come on people, when will they stop grumbling about who is in charge with what they must do to get where God is leading them?  When will they believe in God’s care and protection?  When they were hungry God delivered food from the heavens quicker than Door Dash!  When they complained about what was on the table to eat, God graciously delivered quail to spice up the menu. When they were thirsty, God led Moses to fresh water.  God was with them day and night, guiding them like a loving father would over rough terrain and level ground on the journey.

But they didn’t like being told what to do.  Like a loving, watchful Father; God disciplined His children, teaching them His ways in all areas of their lives, “so all would go well with them.”  God gave them His Law of Commands to protect them from their own selfish ways that would lead them to trouble. God was teaching them through the Law how much He loved them and wanted to guide them faithfully.   God warned, Don’t fall for idols and do not make them.  Idols do not speak and have no value—Worship Me who speaks wisdom to you because of My love for you!  Have respect for all things I have made holy for you says the God of details for He knows what lies ahead of them.  If you do not, God tells them, you will be punished to remind you not to rebel against Me.  Sin has consequences.  I want you to learn and grow in my love!

God promised a land “flowing with milk and honey” that would produce crops beyond their dreams.  Then God led them there.  However, there were, (and will always be with any group of people) those I call the “yeah, but” people.  Ten out of the Twelve who scouted out the land said, no way, baby, it’s too dangerous. We will die!

From experience as a leader, trying faithfully to lead people, yeah-buts are exhausting.  But Moses being “the most humble man on earth” (Numbers 15) was patient and even stood in the gap for them before God as the yeah-buts attacked his leadership as well as Aaron’s, with also calling God’s bluff on many occasions. Yikes!  Don’t mess with God!

We must pause in our wonderings to ask better questions; When will we truly trust God in all circumstances—without first complaining?  When will we truly believe, without saying, “yeah, but,” to what God says He will do?

Numbers 17

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God chosen leaders deserve our respect and support, even during trying times. We must not take part in a rebellion or gossip against a leader—EVER!  Throughout God’s Word, God tells us to avoid grumbling and complaining.  But many of us do not.  We blame leaders for not enough people coming to church on any given Sunday and then when hundreds do come, we complain about the too crowded parking lot!  We complain if the worship team is too soft or too loud.  We complain that the sermon is too long and made us feel guilty.  Or we complain that the sermon just “didn’t feed” us.  God sees our hearts and hears our “yeah-buts” and oh frineds, how it must break his heart.  God is everywhere and goes everywhere with us.  If we do not walk into the worship center seeking God, with our focus on God; it is less likely we will see His glory at work or hear is Word of Truth and apply to our lives.

Consider this:  Are we a staff of God that blossoms with the fruits of His Holy Spirit—or just a stick in the mud?  Prayerfully ponder.  If we seek God; we will find Him, as He promised. But if you look hard enough and long enough, with eyes of discontent; we’ll find something to complain about easily, it’s in our sin nature.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Max Lucado writes;

“This is more than a silver-lining attitude, more than seeing the cup as half full rather than half empty. This is an admission that unseen favorable forces populate and direct the affairs of humanity. When we see as God wants us to see, we see heaven’s hand in the midst of sickness, Jesus working on a troubled youth, the Holy Spirit comforting a broken heart. We see, not what is seen, but what is unseen. We see with faith and not flesh, and since faith begets hope, we of all people are hope filled. For we know there is more to life than what meets the eye.”—Lucado Encouraging Word Study Bible

Trust God, He’s not bluffing.  Believe and Follow what He says.  Believe in His Son, Jesus who became The Way to reconnect (reconcile) to God, our Father who so loved the world.  Believe in Jesus who was, is and always will be the Truth among the “yeah, buts” who opposed Him.  Believe in Life—the eternal life—that was provided all because of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Continue to trust God when the way is rough and the future less bright than you want. Rely on God’s Holy Spirit—promised and delivered to us upon our believing in Jesus.  Allow Him to guide us and help us see and know Truth.

Stay loyal to our great Leader, who surely knows the way home.

Lord,

Help us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
‘Til ev’ry dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

Your Name is power, Your Name is healing
Your Name is life
Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

Shout Jesus from the mountains, and Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family, I speak the holy Name of Jesus…

(“I Speak Jesus,” Vineyard Worship)

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OPPOSITION AND CONTEMPT

Posted on February 11, 2025 by randscallawayffm

The sons of Korah were Levites of the Koathite clan. If we go back to Numbers 4, we remember that the three branches of the Levites– Koathites, Merarites, and Gershonites, were put in charge of breaking down and setting up the Tabernacle whenever the Israelites moved from place to place during their wilderness wanderings. Of those three branches, it was the Koathites who had the most sacred duties. They were to carry the ark of the covenant itself, along with plates and bowls and lamps and incense burners, and all the other most holy things. It was serious business, so much so that God gave Moses a special warning about the Koathites:

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.” (Numbers 4:17-20)

It was privileged, holy work. But it was also hard work, for unlike the poles and the curtains of the Tabernacle, which could all be loaded up on ox carts, the most holy things all had to be carried by hand. Add to that the emotional burden and stress of knowing you could be struck dead on the spot if you did it the wrong way. And then, multiply that by forty years of being in the desert. Being a Koathite was hard work.

At one point, the Koathites apparently cracked under the strain. In Numbers 16, we read that a Koathite named Korah, along with his friends Dathan and Abiram, rose up against Moses and Aaron.  Notice the reaction from Moses (and Aaron) to this angry opposition.

Numbers 16

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers 7 and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves? No, we will not come!”

15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” 18 So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”

23 Then the Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers.

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God appointed and anointed these men with specific, holy work that was sacred to God.  The work came with a warning label with the instructions: “follow the instructions; lest you die.” As a Koahite, Korah was closer to the holy things than anyone else. Korah’s clan cared for the Ark and the altar and all the Tabernacle furnishings. And maybe that was part of the problem. Familiarity breeds contempt, and proximity to sacred things breeds pride and, God help us, indifference.

We read how Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and all the others who joined in the rebellion were destroyed for their disobedience and disrespect for Moses and Aaron along with their contempt for God and the work given to them! The ground literally opened up and swallowed them. It’s fitting that Korah was swallowed by the earth. Envy, pride, entitlement—those are all things of the world. And like Korah, the world can swallow us alive, too! 

Korah wanted to feel more important and sought to be who Moses was called of God to do.  Many leaders fall for this because of the constant tempting by God’s fallen angel, Satan, who was kicked out of heaven because he wanted to be God.  Since Adam and Eve, our real Enemy floats these thoughts of pride, envy and arrogance with contempt for God over our heads in subtle to not so subtle ways.  And most often, these traits appear in God’s church built on the blood of Jesus Christ.  We seen it or be have been the one who opposed the holy!  God help us!

Whenever we hear complaining and rebelling among God’s people, there’s usually a “stated reason” and a “hidden reason.” Korah’s public complaint was that Moses and Aaron were “running things” and not giving the people opportunity for input. He wanted more democracy in the camp. The hidden reason was that Korah wanted the Levites to have the same privileges as Aaron and his sons. Korah wasn’t satisfied to be assisting the priests; he wanted to be a priest. 

God knew. Moses is told how God will handle the opposition.

Notice Moses and Aaron’s first response to the cruel, arrogant words of opposition from Korah; “The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”  Nothing stings worse than when a brother attacks your very soul given to God.

Godly leaders fall facedown, humbled before God, seeking God’s help.  Be wary of those who do not.

The selfish desire for greatness and authority is a common theme in Scripture, yet the most important place in the Christ believer’s life is the place of God’s choice, the place He’s prepared for us and prepared us to fill. The important thing isn’t status but faithfulness, doing the work God wants us to do.  Sweet peace envelopes all who are doing what God wants us to be and do.

Moses intercedes for the rebellious!   Moses and Aaron, being true leaders, immediately fell on their faces before the Lord and interceded for the nation—just like Jesus interceded for us today!  It is just like Jesus, who died and rose again for our sins, to continue to seek and to save the lost through His committed followers!  It is God’s two part assigned work, authorized from God, first be reconciled to God by repenting our sins to Jesus, His Son!  The second part of our assignment is to help others be reconciled to God through Jesus, too!  Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21;

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”—Paul to the church

THE REST OF THE STORY…

God Word reveals a subtle redemption story. The sons of Korah found their way back into humble service of God. A close look at 1 Chronicles 6 reveals that Samuel, the prophet who anointed Saul and David, was a Koathite (1 Chronicles 6:31-38).  And a few generations later, when the tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, the Korathites became its doorkeepers (1 Chronicles 9:19-21). Finally, they could lay down the burden of caring for the most holy things. Once the ark had a place to rest, so did the sons of Korah. Read Psalm 84 to get a glimpse of contentment and rest in the house of the Lord: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!”  It took some time, but the Korahites apparently learned to praise God for the role they were given. God gave them rest from carrying their burdens.  When they laid down their resentments, they took up their instruments and praised God! 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts. Remove all that is not of you.  Renew our minds, transform our thinking to be more like you. Refresh our souls with your new mercies. Restore the joy of your salvation at work with us that also give us peace as we trust and obey you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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NEW LAND—SAME COMMANDS

Posted on February 10, 2025 by randscallawayffm

So, we traditionally watched the Super Bowl last night. I am always amazed at all the “pregame” stuff that happens before playing this anticipated game of the year that decides the champion team in the football world.  There were so many interviews presented to let us know the importance of the game ahead with and what it means to those interviewed.  We can predict what they will say because the questions are the same with every game; but we watch anyway.  Media digs into every part of the players and coaches lives as they pursue “good stories” that will keep watchers attentive.  Media works hard to present each player as deserving to win to prize! 

The “pregame” also present all reminders of past Super Bowl games with their heroes, and their outcomes. Past football players, now “expert” announcers, presented more than necessary information (maybe that’s just me) with their “talk” of all the previous stats of previous players of this popular game.  There were many pregame shows, pregame commentaries, pregame food prep, pregame gambling, along with pregame celebrations—all before entering the field of play! 

But the most important pregame activity of all would be the pregame passionate talk from the Head Coach to his players as they gathered around him in the locker room.  The Head Coach, alongside the Quarterback, focuses his team to put their full attention on the game they are about to play.  He reminds them of all they have learned to this point and of all the experiences they have had that has led them to this one moment in time—to play in the Super Bowl!

In today’s passage, the Lord is now “coaching” His people, through his quarterback, Moses.  God reminds them of all He previously commanded them to be and do concerning offerings of atonement for their sins—in a new land.  When they enter the promised land, sins will follow; for they are human.  God had provided ways to be forgiven.  “Remember how to atone for your sins as an offering pleasing to the Lord”, the Head Coach commands.  Focus on Me.  I am the Lord, your God.  I will still lead you. Trust Me. Obey Me.  Stick to the basics. 

Numbers 15

Supplementary Offerings

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 3 and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— 4 then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. 5 With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

6 “‘With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin of olive oil, 7 and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

8 “‘When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the Lord, 9 bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil, 10 and also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering. This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 11 Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. 12 Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.

13 “‘Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 14 For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you 19 and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the Lord. 20 Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. 21 Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

22 “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses— 23 any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24 and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering. 25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering. 26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.

27 “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering. 28 The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven. 29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and must be cut off from the people of Israel. 31 Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Tassels on Garments

37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Trust the One who is faithful to us and delivered us from the bondage of our sins.  Obey the One who forgave us of all our repented sins and put our feet on solid ground.  Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

Listen the Jesus, our coach, who has walked where we walk now and has experienced all the hurt, betrayal, and torture that we might face along with the compassionate love of friends and family.  He is the true expert of how to live this life on His playing field of love, mercy, and grace!  He gave His very life for us and then rose from death to defeat it once and for all!  He is our hope, our reason for living, and our Way into the promised land of heaven!  He knows us by name and gives us power to overcome all the temporary things of this earth.  Because of Jesus we are heaven bound and no longer bonded to earth.  This world is not our home, it is only the pregame activities with God helping us until we fall into the arms of Jesus, our Savior and Lord!

Consider this final thought…On their wilderness journey, God still pointed his people toward the promised land, even after their rebellion in the desert. (See yesterday’s offering devotion, Numbers 14) God did not give up on His people. God has a purpose, and He will fulfill it. God has a plan for each life He has created.  Follow Him without grumbling; it will make the ride a lot more enjoyable!

If you don’t think Jesus doesn’t know how you “feel” in those dark moments as you sit in your desert wilderness of wondering what to do next; think again.  Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness, fasting and praying, while evil attacked him with temptations meant to distract Jesus’ focus and dishonor His Father.  The Son of God overcame these temptations with the Word of God.  We can do the same as our Coach taught us to be and do!  God never fails. God’s Word is Truth.  Jesus was the Word who came down and moved into the neighborhood of humanity to verify Truth.  Jesus was, is and always will be the Way to Truth that leads to eternal Life.  Jesus is Truth.  Trust Truth.

Oh Lord,

Thank you for coaching us in our lives today with constant reminders of Your glorious ways! Thank you, dear Jesus, for saving our souls. Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding us to all that is true!  Thank you, ThreeInOne for always being with us.  I am yours and You are mine.  May the Lord be continually praised!

In Jesus Name, Amen!  Yes!

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WHY, LORD?  IT’S JUST TOO HARD!

Posted on February 9, 2025 by randscallawayffm

As humans when faced with an expected, overwhelming roadblock on the journey of life; we most often respond first with what is happening and why is this happening.  We want life explained in full!  If we there isn’t an explanation; we invent one!  We humans are analyzers and fixers and we want our troubles fixed as soon as possible!  But when we become “stuck between a rock and hard place,” with seemingly no place to go without causing more trouble; we freeze.  We stop dead in our tracks when trials challenge our very existence.

We suddenly don’t know where to turn, left or right, back or forward. The options are slim. It’s like walking a tight rope at times. You must tediously move forward, trying to maintain your balance, because looking back with an effort to turn around will be worse and you will most likely fall to your death! 

It’s especially hard when you have been assigned to be the leader of the group.  You can be the most Godly, smart, wise, methodical, practical, loving, selfless, Spirit-led person among the group; but when those you are leading are gripped with fear of unknown outcomes of known challenges; fear drives a rebellion that immediately seeps in and trust is gone.

WHY? Why do we have to go through?  Why must we live like this?  Why doesn’t the Lord fix this?  Why, why, why?  Upon the report of those sent out to “scout” the land and hearing there would be battles to overtake the land of “milk and honey” promised by God to them; the Israelites rebelled.  Moses and Aaron succumb to the pressure of the thousands now turning against them—and God!  Ooh, let’s see what happens next…

Numbers 14

The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”

13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.”

26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”

36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”

41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”

44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Rebellion against Moses and Aaron, their leaders was rebellion against God.  Rebellion against God comes in many forms but begins with grumbling and complaining with an entitled attitude.  People say things like; “God, you owe this to us.” “Why are having trouble?” “Did God promise this land only to lead us to death?” “If our leaders don’t do what we want, we’ll just get new leaders.” “We were better off in Egypt as slaves to our oppressors!” “I rather die in Egypt than in this wilderness—in fact, kill me now in this desert!”

YIKES, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR! 

All the complaints of God’s rebellious people became what God used to seal their fate. “All the Israelites grumbled…” Their whining and grumbling against God, wailing in fear and dismay, demanding their own way, while putting undue pressure on God’s leaders, Moses and Aaron, all weirdly became “prayers” that God indeed answered! 

“I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home… As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected…”  The final blow… “For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.”   

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little ears what you hear,

Oh be careful little mouth what you say, For the Father up above is looking down in love…

So, be careful little eyes what you see, little ears what you hear, little tongues what you say, little hands what you do, little feet where you go, little hearts who you trust, and be careful little minds what you think…(the rest of verses in this Sunday School song.)

THE BRIGHT SPOTS IN THE REBELLION—CALEB AND JOSHUA!

Even though it was ten against two; Caleb and Joshua stood their ground.  They became the “rocks” in these hard discussions that moved the heart of God!  God knew their hearts. God knows all our hearts!  God is always on the lookout, searching for hearts who are fully committed to Him.  Both young men are being “groomed” by God as future leaders.  “Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.”  God will equip Joshua and Caleb to lead His people into the Promised Land!

PEOPLE MOURNED GOD’S JUDGEMENT; BUT STILL REBELLED!

When Moses told the people what God said, they “mourned over their sins.”  But they continued to rebel!  They decided to carry on business as usual and go into the land without God’s leading, protection or provision despite Moses’ warning!  What were they thinking, we ask?  Let’s ask ourselves.  We sometime do the same in our daily walk.  Ok, Lord, I shouldn’t have said or done that and I’m sorry—that I got caught.  And because you love me, surely you won’t discipline me is most often our presumption.  So, more likely, through lack of remorse, we do it again.  So, “don’t judge lest you be judged,” Jesus tells us.  (Matthew 7:1) 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul preaches. (Romans 3:23) But please read what comes next: “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26 

The only Way to remove sin is confession to Jesus. We cannot merely decide to “be better” or “be good.”  Only God is good. Only Jesus can save us from our sins and our rebellious ways.  God gave us help!  It is God’s Holy Spirit who then comes to reside with power within our being, and helps us transform into all God created us to be then do for our good and His glory!  We cannot do this alone apart from God! We need His help.

When we humbly admit we need God; God gives us all we need.  When we fully and committedly believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose to give us the hope of eternal life a transformation of God in us occurs.  Our hearts are cleansed; our minds renewed with less presumptions and assumptions of our own small thinking; our spirits refreshed by His new mercies; and the joy of His salvation flourishes as we yield to Him daily as an offering of worship.  Only then we will bear the fruits of His Holy Spirit…see Galatians 5 for the list of new behaviors that will begin to happen on our journey.  We will also begin to see ourselves asking God what HE wants; more than demanding God to do what we want.

Our response trust and obey God.  Our obedience to God demonstrates our real love for God.  Real faith stops asking why.

Lord,

When I am perplexed, you are my Rock!  Thank you for reminding us of our own dangerous rebellion against You. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and make life hard for us.  Lead us away from all temptations, especially thinking we are entitled or better than others.  Deliver us from evil, the real enemy of our hearts.  May Your will be done in all the details of today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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PERSPECTIVE

Posted on February 8, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I was a science teacher for a time in the last season of my public teaching career.  God led me to this fascinating work then equipped my own feelings of inadequacies with gifts of encouragement and the joy of learning new things!  Hired by the Department of Defense, it allowed opportunities to teach in ways that suited my style of helping kids learn—more doing and less lecture!  The curriculum was designed carefully and specifically by other teachers for the sole purpose of taking the fear of learning science, technology, engineering, and math from fifth graders. 

Many kids (and teachers) think that this area of learning is beyond their abilities to learn and just could not see themselves doing the work of scientists and engineers.  So, our work was to change their minds so that more students would be drawn to STEM instead being driven away from it—all because of their own fears.  The reasons this program was created by the military leaders and supported by the Department of Defense was for their own workforce.  The military needed more people to fill the now and future vacancies in science, tech, engineering, and math so they readily supported STARBASE—a program meant to encourage students to pursue more education related to STEM so they could be contributors in our world!

This program was freely offered to all schools in the area.  We were located on an Air Guard base, located by the airport, that gave us a building of operation where students and their teachers.  Some teacher in the beginning were skeptical at first but after the first few minutes of seeing their students readily engage and observing the fun they were having in DOING STEM activities; they were sold!  Another benefit of the program was to see students tagged as trouble makers be so drawn in that they forgot to cause trouble, which amazed their teachers!

Our goals were met and exceeded as a team.  We replaced the fear with fun, innovative hands-on experiences that totally changed their perspective.  Using less lecture and more “now, you do it” activities; we introduced them to all they could do and accomplish now and later!  They soon discovered that what they first thought about world of STEM as being unreachable and unconquerable was now in their grasp!  Perspectives can be changed by trusting the Teacher who cares for them and wants the best for them.

Twelve men went to spy out Canaan,
(Ten were bad, two were good)
What do you think they saw in Canaan?
(Ten were bad, two were good)
Some saw giants, big and tall!
Some saw grapes in clusters fall,
Some saw God was in it all.
(Ten were bad, two were good).

If you are a “lifer,” one who grew up in church, you will remember this Sunday School song.  You also probably sang the song instead of reading it…And now this chorus is probably stuck in your head!  But it summarizes the story we are about to read. One man from each of the twelve tribes was sent out by Moses to check out their new home—the land God promised to them over the generations since Abraham—“a land flowing with milk and honey”!  They were sent and they went. They came back with two perspectives of thinking:  We can’t.  We can.  Read on…see what happens in the next couple of chapters on the journey!

Numbers 13

Exploring Canaan

13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

3 So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4 These are their names:

from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur; 5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori; 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph; 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; 9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu; 10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi; 11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi; 12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli; 13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael; 14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi; 15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Our human evaluation of any situation or circumstance is skewed until we seek the viewpoint and perspective of God.  If God is our Master Teacher; we trust our Teacher as the One who can do anything that is needed on earth to fulfill His plan and purpose.  If we trust only in our own abilities and what we have on hand at any given moment; our perspective is small and our purpose for living life weakened.  If we trust only what we see, we will “play it safe” avoiding the learning adventures God has planned for each one of us.  It’s all in our view of things—our perspective.  Twelve went out to check out the Promised Land.  Only two came back thrilled and ready to move in!  Trust has everything to do with our perspective.

Jesus came to change the view of the religious, the skeptics, and even the oppressive government leaders who forgot God and opposed Jesus as the Son of God.  Jesus came down from His throne in heaven and walked the earth, seeking to save the lost without God. Jesus was a “breath of fresh air” with new ways to think about real life to the oppressed, sick, crippled, blind, deaf, and lost.  Jesus changed the perspective of God in everyone He met. (See Matthew 5-7 for more!)

And we are so glad He did!  What a magnificent Plan of God to send His Son to help us see life in view of how God sees life and all He has created with purpose.  Jesus changed everything when He came and at the same time fulfilled the Law that God gave the Israelites centuries earlier.  Our God was, is and always will be—amazing, generous, and forever faithful in His love and care of us.  Believe in His Son, Jesus and we begin to understand more of His Higher thinking Perspective with Purpose, designed by God for us.  Jesus died to save us and lives to receive us into His Kingdom!  It’s freely offered and within our grasp!

Our response?  It’s all up to us!  If only we could see life from His point of view and trust what He says.  If only we could immediately obey when He speaks to us through His Word and Holy Spirit who lives in us.  If only we could drive out all our human fears with His relentless love.  If only we could truly think, say, and behave in ways that reflect who we say we really believe.  Pause to pray.  Be still and know God more.  Let go of what we want and take hold of all God wants to give to us and do through us.  Live with expectant hope now for Jesus is coming back soon—He promised!  God delivers on His promises.

Lord,

Wow, the memories that you place in our hearts that connect the dots of our learning, growing, and transforming in ways that change our perspective of thinking even today are always amazing! Thank you for daily reminders of how rescue me, cleanse and renew my mind. Thank you for allowing me to understand from your viewpoint with a longing to know more! You are God. I trust you, dear Jesus.  I give you my life because you are Life to me!  Thank you for your gifts of joy and peace when I change my mind!

In Jesus Name, Amen   

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GOD GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLED

Posted on February 7, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.”  Proverbs 3:34(The wisdom book of Proverbs is full of warnings against pride and arrogance.)

“Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…” 1 Peter 5:5-6

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:1-10

The root cause of every war, internal and external, is rebellion against God. The sin of pride, thinking we know what is best, begins the rebellion. Pride spreads throughout our being like cancer.  Pride breeds more sins such as jealousy, greed, and arrogance—all unholy behaviors and not of God.  Our relationship with God and others is hindered.  God seems to be at a distance from us.  Why? God and sin do not occupy the same space.  We must confess our sins with a humbled, sincere heart. 

When we confess; God will draw near, cleanse us, and forgive us; and the wars will cease! We will not be at war with God, so we will not be at war with ourselves. This means we will not be at war with others.                   

Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.

3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words:

“When there is a prophet among you,
    I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
    I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
    he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
    clearly and not in riddles;
    he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
    to speak against my servant Moses?”

9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.

10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.”

13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!”

14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.

16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Moses was the most humble man on the planet!  By his response to the attack on his leadership by his brother Aaron and his sister, Mirium we learn to respond in ways God would be pleased!

  1. Moses was the victim of needless gossip within his own family.  “You hurt the ones you love most” is true. When gossip and sarcastic criticism by family members that you trust “throw shade on you,” (as they say these days), in betrayal; it is excruciatingly painful. We don’t expect it, so we are shocked.  Being a humble man, Moses sought the Lord often.  The Lord heard the gossip and was angered.  Moses didn’t respond to his accusers; but allowed God to take care of it.
  2. Jealousy caused Aaron and Miriam to speak out against Moses. God told them, however, that he spoke directly and openly with Moses. As a result, Aaron and Miriam received God’s judgment.  A lack of contentment often leads to the problem of jealousy.  Even though their words were against Moses, their words were in rebellion to God.  Moses response?  Moses stood with them and became their advocate before God.
  3. Moses forgave his brother and sister and did not hold their sin against them.

WHO did for us what Moses did for his siblings? Jesus, of course! Moses’ example of humility and forgiveness became the precursor for what Jesus will do centuries later for all of us.  The most powerful words delivered by Jesus who humbly hung on a cross publicly to pay for our sins were; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are do.” Luke 23:34  Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and made whole.

Pause to pray, reflect, evaluate, and respond humbly to God.  Are you jealous of someone’s name, position, authority, or possessions? Are you envious of others’ families? Do you gossip to make yourself feel better about yourself?  Are you being betrayed by gossip?  Whatever the circumstance or wherever you are in your faith journey; Ask God to show you how you can be content with the things that really matter—Jesus’ love and forgiveness as Savior and Lord.  Ask God to end the war within you. (See Romans 10—Moses is mentioned by Paul!)  And I will do the same.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Paul, Romans 10-9-10

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts completely.  Remove all that does not belong there.  Renew our minds, change our thinking from satisfying self to seeking Your holy ways. Refresh our souls with your new, tender mercies for today.  As we humbly seek you with listening ears and opened eyes; restore the joy of you in us and us in you.  I’m yours.  You are indeed everything we need! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING

Posted on February 6, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Wasn’t that the best burger in the world that we had back at the Egyptian Burger Palace?!” “AND, we have never had fish that tasted so good since leaving that part of the country!”  “The home we lived in twenty years ago was by far the best place to live—better than this tent!” “Why can’t we have what we had?” “We are not a maximum comfort.” “This desert is too hot and dusty.” “I didn’t sign up for this trip!” “And, just how many times can we eat this manna from heaven that takes no effort on our part to collect each day?!”  “Waah…”  “I want to go back to where the fish was free—slavery, torture, and bondage wasn’t so bad…”

Wait, what now?  What did you just say to Me?  God is not pleased with grumbling and complaining. In fact, complaining on the journey will delay the trip and cause irreparable damages in some instances to the Chosen. God who is longsuffering in his compassion for His people, sends a warning fire outside the camp, but will then provide some meat for the journey to go with their manna. Our God is relentlessly faithful—even when we are not.

Grumbling to and about the God who created us, wants the best for us, provides all we need and more and who protects and rescues us from our enemies is dishonored with every word of complaint, worry, overthinking, grumbling, and distain from us over temporary circumstances.  We either trust God or we don’t.  What we truly believe about God is reflected in what we think, say, and do in challenging circumsstances. There’s no way around it—we just can’t hide it—God knows our hearts!

Numbers 11

Fire From the Lord

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them, his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.

Quail From the Lord

4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

7 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. 8 The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. 9 When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”

21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

31 Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth and stayed there.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Moses was the first to hear the whiny wailings of God’s People. “Can’t you do something, Moses?”  “Where’s the beef?” “We want meat!”  “Go tell God what we want!”

Moses response?  “Just kill me now, God!”

The Middle Man Moses heard it all.  Having been a pastor’s wife and a leader in ministry myself, I easily and readily feel the pain of Moses who is grieved over the grumblings of the people in his care.  Moses is frustrated, so painfully frustrated in fact, that he does indeed go to God, like the people said to do; but Moses has very different questions for God. God had holy, profound answers that helped Moses beyond his humanness.  “Gather 70 elders who will stand with you.”  “I will speak and pour out the power of my spirit over them.”   Wow!  Let that sink in…

“I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered,
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered,
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered,
That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him…”

Can you hear “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship playing in the background of this story of God in our lives?

I ponder this often.  Many of us in the God’s church jump to conclusions and ask the wrong questions of leaders and of God.  We approach problems with human first attempts of blame, explain, and reframe.  We want to first place blame it on someone—even God, Himself!  We want circumstances, pain, troubles and even death explained so we surmise, assume, and presume answers with our limited human brains.  When all else fails; we reframe the situation so that it fits into our own understanding of what life should be in our estimation and evaluation.  Yikes.  And then we grumble when these tactics don’t satisfy our need to know.  Ugh.  Humbled again.

How about humbly asking God what HE wants?  (Pause, reflect, repent, ask, be still and listen.)  How about asking God what He wants us to learn, know, and apply to our lives as we trust and obey Him?  How about trusting God no matter what is happening around us?  Moses is the leader of hundreds of thousands of people who goes immediately to God for answers.  God heard and He answered—in power!  That’s how God works on our behalf!

Do not read into what I am about to say with political fervor.  It is not my intent to make a political statement but to express a mournful, spiritual concern over our behaviors as believers that grieved my heart in this decade.  Our worldwide Covid Calamity tested our faith, resolve, trust, and most of all, our witness to a world in need of a Savior.  I was disappointed and heartbroken observing and hearing distasteful, unbiblical comments from believers of Jesus—attenders, part of the Body of Christ, called church.  Instead of showing compassion for all people, obeying those in authority; we grumbled and whined over the situation of restrictions placed upon us for our own protection!  We took sides and fought with each other rudely over how to minister to people in ways to keep covid from spreading in efforts to keep people safe.  As church leaders, we heard it all, along with “if you just had enough faith…you would let us do what we want to do.”  And like Moses, we might have mumbled, “just kill me, now, Lord.”

Through it all, many of us missed great opportunities to show the love of God through Jesus’ example to a dying world—both physically and spiritually.  But many of us, instead, proved to the world that church is not for them.  Where is the love?  People are still seeking.

The people who complain the most about God and their spiritual leaders end up coming to those leaders for help! How gracious Moses was to intercede on their behalf, and how like our Lord Jesus Christ, when from the cross He prayed; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). More than once when Israel sinned, it was the intercession of Moses that stayed God’s hand of judgment. On one occasion, Moses even offered to die so that Israel might be spared (Exodus 32:30–35).  Isn’t this what Jesus did for us?  Die in our place?  (The answer is yes.)

How tragic it is when professed believers in churches crave substitutes from the world instead of desiring the heavenly manna of the Word of God (Matthew 4:4; John 6:66–69). It isn’t always enemies outside the local church who do the damage but counterfeiters who get inside the church fellowship (Acts 20:28–30; 3 John 9–11). These intruders might march with the church crowd and act like they are God’s people, but they don’t have an appetite for spiritual things, and eventually their true allegiance is revealed (1 John 2:18, 19).  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” in living our lives.  So, be careful in judging and especially in critcizing.  Jesus taught, “we must take the log from our own eye before taking the splinter from another’s eye” in criticism and sarcastic judgement.  This deed blocks our view of God.

So, we learn that it is a serious mistake to complain against the Lord, attack His servants, and ask for “religious substitutes” that satisfy our fleshly desires. These murmurers in Israel were eventually judged by God and used by Paul as a warning to the churches today (1 Corinthians 10:10). “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14). An unthankful heart makes it easier for people to commit all kinds of sins (Romans 1:21).  Gratitude deflects our grumpy attitude.

Few experiences discourage God’s servants more than people criticizing them unjustly and complaining about the blessings the Lord has given. I’ve heard it said by an elder; “Want a better pastor? Pray for him/her.”

“The Lord had warned Israel that the way they treated the daily manna would be a test of their obedience to His Word. In rejecting the manna, Israel really rejected the Lord, and it was this rebellious attitude that invited the judgment of God. This reminds us that the way we treat God’s Word is the way we treat the Lord Himself. To ignore the Word, treat it carelessly, or willfully disobey it is to ask for the discipline of God (Hebrews 12:5–11). Instead of feeding on the things of the world that bring death, let’s cultivate an appetite for the holy Word of God (Job 23:12; Psalm 1:1; Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4; Luke 10:38–42; 1 Peter 2:1–3).”—Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

Lord, God of Heaven and Earth,

Help us.  Lead us.  Bless us and keep us; may your face shine on us and be gracious to us; and may the Lord turn your face toward us and give us peace.  Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your Glory, Amen

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THE TRUMPETS CALL!

Posted on February 5, 2025 by randscallawayffm

These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored

… And though these days of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

… Behold He comes, riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call
So, lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, And out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes,

There are two songs playing in the background of my mind this morning as we read God’s Way to signal His people to get up, tear down camp, and move forward at His command—in an orderly fashion!  “The Days of Elijah” is the first song that comes to mind.  Trumpets have often been the calling card of God through the ages.  The Lord directs Moses to make two trumpets for use in calling the thousands encamped to attention.  Trumpets blasts are signals for the people to move out on God’s command!  Trumpets are also used to lead them in battles against their enemies. We see trumpets used as signals through the Word of God!  I’ll share the second song later…right now let’s get into the Word of what the Lord said to Moses.

Numbers 10

The Silver Trumpets

The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. 3 When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 4 If only one is sounded, the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. 5 When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. 6 At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out. 7 To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the signal for setting out.

8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. 9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies. 10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

The Israelites Leave Sinai

11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. 12 Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. 13 They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.

14 The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, 16 and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.

18 The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.

22 The divisions of the camp of Ephraim went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

25 Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. 26 Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, 27 and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. 28 This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

29 Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

30 He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

31 But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”

33 So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. 34 The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up, Lord!
    May your enemies be scattered;
    may your foes flee before you.”

36 Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return, Lord,
    to the countless thousands of Israel.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

I love this chorus!  The second song coming to mind is “The Trumpet of Jesus!” which was sung many years ago by the Imperials.  This song impacted my life as a young adult growing in my faith and is a reminder of all the times Jesus continued to give His gift of peace and wisdom through all the storms of my life.  And He’s doing it again! Jesus teaches trust for all of Life.  Jesus was, is, and always will be the Trumpet Call to bring us to a right relationship with God, our Father, we must trust completely!

When we listen for the “trumpet’s call” to repent in Jesus Name, love God back with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and then follow God’s guidance that His Holy Spirit living within us provides; we please him. Although God’s plan may not always be clear to us, we must follow.  Even when it seems we are being led in circles in the desert of our wilderness thinking—trust God!  Here’s the second verse—

One sweet sound makes
A whole world of difference
When the world seems indifferent to you
His melody of love calls you to be great
When marking time was all you thought you could do
So if you’ve been playing all your days by ear
Never knowing what your song was to be
Then pull up a chair, let down your hair
And take a few lessons from me…

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

In our troubles, loss of control we think we have, and in those unexpected twists and turns of life that make us fearful, we can shout, “ugh, this so unfair”!  We can shake our fists in the air in defeat or stamp our feet like a toddler who isn’t getting his way. OR we can make the decision that is not like the rest of an indifferent world and declare: 

“Yet will I trust Him, I know God knows what is best.”

(See the story of God through Job—God gave Job space in His Word to show us how to trust God through tremendous trials! See the Book of Job.)

Pause to reflect: 

  • How easily do I change direction?
  • Am I willing to adapt to God’s will?
  • Do I ask God to clarify His Plan and Purpose clear to me as I move toward His will for the future?
  • Am I listening for the Trumpet of Jesus each day with each step I take or am I listening to just a lot of noises and voices of the world around me?

A spiritual fanfare has a sound all its own
At the birth of a lasting song
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus was born
And still the celebration goes on
If you feel the need to get your life in tune
‘Cause you’re tired of the dirge every day
Then turn yourself around
Put your feet on the ground
And just hear what I have to say

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

Listen to the trumpet of Jesus…!

Max Lucado writes;

“Approximately two years had passed since the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. During this time at Mount Sinai, God gave them the tent of meeting, ceremonial and ritual laws, and travel instructions. Then they traveled from Mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran enroute to the promised land. When they faced many hardships, they forgot about God’s provision and protection and began to curse and complain. God punished them for their lack of faith.

We show the same lack of faith when we think we can do as much (or more) than Almighty God. Such a lack of faith shows that we really don’t know how to trust God.

If you look long enough and hard enough, you’ll find something to bellyache about. So quit looking! Lift your eyes off the weeds. Major in the grace of God.  Gratitude is a wonderful option!

Collect your blessings. Catalog his kindnesses. Assemble your reasons for gratitude and recite them. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thessalonians 5:16–18).”—Max Lucado’s Encouraging Word Study Bible

Lord,

Thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do in my life with You.  You are Life! Lead me, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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REMEMBERING THE RESCUE; OBEYING THE RESCUER

Posted on February 4, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I used to play softball as a middle to high school student.  I loved the sport.  I wanted to be good at this sport I loved.  I listened to the coach’s direction to be better.  I practiced hitting, catching, and pitching.  I was shorter than most, but fast enough to get to the bases to stay in the game.  But I was also easily distracted by others playing the game and by those shouting commands from the bleachers.  “Keep your eye on the ball” was the phrase most used in this sport.  But, it is so easy to take our eyes off the ball and our focus from the coach, when other voices become louder and distract us from the game.  When this would happen, the coach would say, “remember what I taught you.”

God rescued his people from the slavery and bondage of the Egyptians.  He coached them with specific, detailed directives to perform the night before departure.  God told them exactly what to do, what to eat, and how to prepare so that when the angel of death swept through Egypt, His people would be spared.  The Israelites were directed to spread the blood of a lamb over the doorposts of their homes.  This lamb was then prepared as their last meal in Egypt.  In this way the angle of death would “pass over” their homes.  The blood was their identity.  The blood indicated to Whom they belonged.  The Blood rescued them from death.  God’s Rescued were to remember this moment and celebrate it “at the appointed time” given to them by God.  “Remember…”, says God, and celebrate the Rescue as I have taught you.

TAKE NOTE:  A problem arises within the camp that needs clarity in celebrating the Passover. They go to Moses who tells them, “Wait and see what God says.”  This is the most profound act of wisdom that Moses, their leader provides.  Moses knows that this issue is above his “pay grade” (as most issues are) and goes to the Lord for resolution. 

Numbers 9

The Passover

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, 2 “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. 3 Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.”

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. 13 But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

14 “‘A foreigner residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God guided the Israelites in the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The cloud and fire moved according to God’s will. When they moved, the people moved; where they stopped, the people stopped.  When we follow God’s guidance, we please him. We identify with Him who leads us.  Our trust in an unfailing God builds within us to bolster our resolve to follow Him.  Although God’s plan may not always be clear to us, we must follow in response to our Coach’s direction who knows our present circumstances that we can only see from a limited view. Remember that our Coach also sees all future outcomes that we cannot see from our vantage point.

God rescued us from our sins that held us as hostages to the evil one intent on destroying us.  God so loved us He personally sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, to be the Sacrifice to not only cover over our sins but to pay our debt of sin in full.  Jesus is the reason we can now have a personal relationship with Almighty God!  Our identity is Jesus.  We are God’s children, joint heirs with Christ who reconciled (reconnected) us to God. 

Jesus, Lamb of God, who was God in flesh come down to earth and moved into the neighborhood of humanity to personally be with us, teach us, and redeem us once and for all.  Pause, take time to remember who God is, what Jesus did to save us, with all Jesus taught us as he fulfilled the Law and explained the full intention of God for the Law. 

Because of Jesus, believing followers can now live our lives with daily expectant hope for life eternal with Him because He has promised a prepared a place for us!  How do we respond? Each day we wake up, thank God for life and opportunities to tell His story.  Daily offer ourselves to God as worship to God.  (Romans 12:1-2) Love God back with all that is in us.  Talk to God throughout the day.  Listen for God voice.  Be attentive to how God works in the smallest details and overcomes the obstacles that discourage us.  Observe His glory at work and immediately give Him praise.  Love others like God loves us—without manipulating conditions.  And finally, celebrate the love of God who lives in us and never leaves us.  Lean into His wisdom, insight, and understanding as our guide in all the details of this life.  Follow the Coach as He disciplines us in the practice of His ways.

BE READY TO MOVE ON GOD’S COMMAND

When other voices shout directions from the bleachers; listen instead for the voice of God’s Holy Spirit who resides in all of us, ready to lead us to all that is true, right, and holy.  Be still, let go of what we think and hang onto, to know God more.  Know that God has our best interest at heart.  Know that God never fails, never gives up, and never leaves us in the dust.  Know that God steps in, dusts us off, and puts our feet on solid ground.  Know God’s forgiveness.  Our part is to be ready, teachable and flexible to the will of His Holy Spirit.  Move or stay—all at His command.

One of my favorite portions of scripture that helps me remember my Rescuer and celebrate my Coach is found in Psalm 143:8-12.  May this be our prayer today:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;
    in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
    destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.”

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your Glory, Amen!

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