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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YOU ARE MINE             

Posted on February 3, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Be my Valentine,” “I’m Yours”, “Love you”, “Love me back”!  All these short phrases are stamped on candied hearts.  As kids, we would buy the small boxes with the cellophane window by the dozens to hand out to those in our class at school. To be known as belonging to someone, even in friendship, is a gift among humans.  Psychologists will tell you that beyond the four basic, physical needs of air, water, food, and shelter to survive, is the need to belong.  We don’t really want to be alone.  We want to belong to someone.  When that Someone is God; we are never alone.  We are His and He is ours when we love Him back with all our hearts, minds, and souls.  Jesus made that connection possible. Pause to give Him praise and thanksgiving!

Moses consecrated and anointed the completed place of worship. The people brought gifts and offerings for the tent of meeting.  Now, the emphasis is on the Levites clan that God has chosen to be set apart as His.  “The Levites are mine,” says the Lord.  The Levites are appointed, anointed, dedicated, consecrated, and assigned to all tasks involving the Tent of Meeting.  God has given them the details of how to perform every task along with the assignment of “doing the Lord’s work”.  The Levites are “gifts” to Aaron and his sons to help them do the work of sacrifice that atones the sins of all Israelites—a sojourning group of thousands.  The Levites will as lead the people in worship to their God—our God.  To truly know God, we must worship Him for who He really is, our great, powerful, and awesome God.

Numbers 8

Setting Up the Lamps

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’”

3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

5 The Lord said to Moses: 6 “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean. 7 To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them; then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. And so they will purify themselves. 8 Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. 9 Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting and assemble the whole Israelite community. 10 You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them. 11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

12 “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, using one for a sin offering to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering to the Lord. 14 In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.

15 “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting. 16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. 17 Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel. 19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

20 Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement for them to purify them. 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, 25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

TAKE NOTE:  It is interesting that when the tabernacle was dedicated to the Lord, God’s glory moved in (Ex. 40:34, 35) and God’s fire consumed the sacrifices on the altar (Lev. 9:23, 24). But God didn’t light the seven lamps on the gold lampstand in the Holy Place. Why not, we might ask?  God wants us to join HIM in His work to declare who He is.  Worship of God includes doing the work of the Lord as He commands.  Those who belong to God trust and obey God.  So, this assignment by God became the obligation of Aaron, the high priest, for he and his sons and their descendants would have the solemn responsibility of caring for the lampstand, trimming the wicks, adding the sacred oil, and making sure the light was shining. They “belonged to God.”

FOR CLARITY: “If Aaron and his sons were the “official clergy” in the camp, serving at the altar and in the tabernacle, then the Levites were the “dedicated laity” who assisted the priests in their ministry. They were taken and “set apart from the rest of the people of Israel” as substitutes for the firstborn males who belonged to the Lord. The Levites belonged to the Lord (Numbers 8:14), and He gave them to the priests as His special gift (v. 19). The Levites cared for the tabernacle, took the structure down for each march, carried it during the march, and then erected it again in the new location.”         —Warren Wiersbe Study Bible

EMERGING PRINCIPLES OF SERVICE: 

  1. God who chooses, equips, and consecrates His people for spiritual service, and we must accept His will.
  2. The priests oversaw the tabernacle ministry and the Levites assisted them. Every priest had to come from Aaron’s family, and no Levite was allowed to take the place of a priest.
  3. Levites were not permitted to serve at the altar, wear the priestly garments, or enter the sanctuary.
  4. Those who serve must first serve the Lord and then serve His people. God’s servants must be living sacrifices, an “offering to the Lord,” Romans 12:1-2.
  5. We serve the Lord by serving His people, but our orders must come from God. “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
  6. No matter what task the Lord assigns to us, it is important to His work, and we must do it cheerfully and carefully.  “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:7-8, NLT

PRICIPLES OF GOD-LED LEADERSHIP:

The priests and Levites camped around the tabernacle in designated areas to serve as protectors against those who wanted to invade the holy area and invite the judgment of God.

Today, leaders in local churches must be diligent to protect the flock from “wolves in sheep clothing” who would destroy it. “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,” was Paul’s warnings to the leaders of the Ephesian church (Acts 20:28).  He cautioned them that dangerous enemies would arise from both outside the church and within the congregation (Acts 20:29–31). God’s servants must ever be on the alert and courageous to confront the enemies of God’s truth.

We are not alone, however.  No, Never Alone as the old hymn reminds us.  For we belong to God through Jesus work on the cross for our redemption from the Enemy.  Belonging to God means we are more that conquerors and become overcomers with the chief Overcomer, Jesus!  Yes, we are His and He is ours—what blessed assurance!

Lord,

Thank you for focusing our thoughts on belonging to You this morning. Thank you for your love, care, compassion, faithfulness, mercy, and grace that forgives us of all our sins!  Thank you for keeping watch over your beloved. Thank you for teaching us the truth as our daily manna for today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TWELVE DAYS OF GIVING

Posted on February 1, 2025 by randscallawayffm

What comes to my mind as we read of the offerings given from the Twelve Tribes of Israel in dedication to God is the song many of us playfully and laboriously sing during the Christmas season.  Most Americans know the lyrics to the “12 Days of Christmas” but most are unaware of the Biblical meaning and origin of the beloved carol!  Since God likes the number 12, let’s learn the true meaning behind the song.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol that lists a group of increasingly superb gifts given on each of the 12 days of Christmas (the 12 days that make up the Christmas season, starting with Christmas Day). The song, published in England in 1780 without music as a chant or rhyme, is thought to be French in origin. The standard tune we know was derived from a 1909 arrangement of a traditional folk melody by English composer Frederic Austin, who introduced the familiar prolongation of the verse “five gold rings” (now usually called “five golden rings”).

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” to a little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings. Originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, this song was transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the 12 days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs. By understanding the meaning of why the clerics chose the 12 days as wrapping for their poem, the full impact of the tradition of the 12 days of Christmas can be understood.

Meaning of Each Gift in the “12 Days of Christmas”, in case you didn’t know—

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young.

2. Two Turtledoves: These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments. So, in this gift, the singer finds the complete story of the Christian faith and God’s plan for the world. The doves are the biblical roadmap that is available to everyone.

3. Three French Hens: These birds represent faith, hope, and love. This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the Apostle Paul. It also represents the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

4. Four Calling Birds: One of the easiest facets of the song’s code to figure out these fowl are the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

5. Five Gold Rings: The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch, (which we are now reading): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

6. Six Geese a-Laying: These lyrics can be traced back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation when God “hatched” or formed the world; God created the heavens and the earth, God created the sky and seas, God created the land and plants, God created the sun, moon, and stars, God created fish and birds, God created land animals and man
 

7. Seven Swans a-Swimming: It would take someone quite familiar with the Bible to identify this gift. Hidden in the code are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading, Compassion. As swans are one of the most beautiful and graceful creatures on earth, they would seem to be a perfect symbol for spiritual gifts.

8. Eight Maids-a-Milking: As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was about the worst job one could have in England during this period; this code conveyed that Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The Eight Maids represent the 8 Beatitudes, from Matthew 5:3-10: Blessed are…the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Those who mourn: for they shall be comforted, The meek: for they shall inherit the earth, Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled, The merciful: for they shall obtain mercy, The pure in heart: for they shall see God, The peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God, They which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

9. Nine Ladies Dancing: These nine dancers were really the gifts known as the fruit of the Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit include: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.

10. Ten Lords a-leaping: This is probably the easiest gift to understand. As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the Ten Commandments was fairly straightforward to Christians.  Thou shall have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, Honor thy father and mother, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, Thou shalt not covet.

11. Eleven Pipers Piping: This is almost a trick question, as most think of the disciples in terms of the dozen. But when Judas betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, only eleven men carried out the gospel message. Therefore, the Eleven Pipers Piping signify the 11 Faithful Disciples: Simon (whom He named Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon, who was called the Zealot, Judas, son of James, and Judas Iscariot was later replaced with faithful Matthias.

12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: The final gift is tied directly to the Catholic Church. The drummers are the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. (Protestants leave out number 9.)

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and the life everlasting.

(Sources: The Twelve Days of Christmas – True Meaning Behind the Lyrics | Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, Wikipedia.org.)

Okay, why did we need to know?  This information helps us understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays of tradition that began with God who first loved us and gave His Son to us.  Sometimes we just need to pause life and reflect take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!

AND, since God likes the number twelve as His way of organizing His People; we will come closer to knowing who He is and why He teaches the leaders of the Twelve Tribes to give back a portion of what He has so generously and graciously given to them.  Their offerings will be accepted as ways to atone for their sins and dedicate their lives to God!  Giving is in the DNA of God’s created because we were created in the image of God, the Giver of Life!

Numbers 7

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.

10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering[d]; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The fact that God noted and recorded each name and each gift indicates His love for and interest in the individual believer. He knows us by name! (John 10:3)

We are a people blessed of the Lord, just like the ancients before us!  With these blessings comes the obligation to be a blessing to others. God wants us to be a generous people, supporting the local church and helping the work of the Lord around the world as He directs us.

Lord,

I trust you with my life because YOU are the Giver of Life eternal!  You are Provider, Healer, Sustainer, Protector, Savior, and Lord.  Who would I trust but You?  No one.

I offer my life to you as an offering to you.  Lead me in all I think, say, and do.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE VOW TO COME CLOSER STILL TO GOD

Posted on January 31, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I’ve heard it said many times and now realize in my life that God is a close as our most sincere, fervent prayer.  In truth, God is as close as the mere mention of His name! The Psalmist verifies it;

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18

How comforting it is to know that our God actually saves us by taking our pain and giving us special joy, comfort, healing that can only come from His Holy Spirit who lives in all who believe Him.  Sometimes, in tragedies, we will suddenly feel an extraordinary calm, this is the Spirit of God drawing ever nearer to us. There is power in His Presence as we draw near to Him.  We all face trials and tests that force us to decide daily and sometimes hourly to whom do we truly believe and trust with all our lives?  Do we trust God fully and completely—no matter the current situation or circumstance?

The Nazirites took a vow to be fully dedicated to the Lord and trust in Him completely.  It was God who established the Nazirite vow to form a small group who would serve God. The restrictions (abstain from drinking wine, cutting or shaving hair, and touching a dead body) were intended to keep a Nazirite’s life holy and clean.  They followed special rules to be closer in mind and spirit to God. They provide examples for us of dedication to God. Religious rules should only be followed by people who have a sincere heart.

Numbers 6

The Nazirite

6 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

5 “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

6 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. 8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.

9 “‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing. 10 Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12 They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.

13 “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. 14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.

16 “‘The priest is to present all these before the Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering.

18 “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

19 “‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast. 20 The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”

The Priestly Blessing

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Don’t confuse “Nazirite” with “Nazarene.” Jesus was called a “Nazarene” because He came from Nazareth, a city despised by the people of Judea (John 1:43–46). The word “Nazirite” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to set apart, to dedicate.” Each Nazirite had a different goal in mind, but all of them wanted to glorify the Lord and obey His Word. They didn’t isolate themselves from society but rather were witnesses to others of the importance of total devotion to the Lord. Their vow was for a specified period (Read Acts 21:23–27 for an example) and a specified purpose.  We think of Esther who believed God and “for such a time as this” dedicated herself to God and His people to save them from harm. Enjoy this beautiful story of dedication in the Book of Esther!

We do not need to become Nazirites to serve Christ. As believers, we strive to learn to follow God’s Word and pray for God’s wisdom so you can better serve Him in all places…family, vocation, and even on vacation!  No matter where we are or what we are dealing with at any given moment; prayer takes away fears and anxieties as we place all our trust firmly in our heavenly Father.  I know this because God has done in over and over again in my life.  And just yesterday and today, as we face yet another trial, He’s doing it again!

God’s priests were not only given the privilege of serving at the altar and ministering in the sanctuary, but they were also allowed to bless God’s people in the name of the Lord. We still use this blessing today, for it belongs to us as well as to Israel.

The Apostle Paul reminds God’s church that we have been blessed with “every spiritual blessing” through the Lord Jesus Christ (See Ephesians 1:3), and we can claim this benediction through Him!

We need the blessings that God gave to the priests to deliver to His people.  How sweet it is to know that when we draw near to God; He draws near to us!  God’s blessings are to be cared for by the Lord who watches over us; to have the smile of His face upon us and the riches of His grace given to us; to have Him pay attention to us when we call; and, as the result of these things, to enjoy His peace in our hearts.

And that’s why we trust Him!

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

In Jesus Name, for our good and His glory, Amen!  Yes, and Amen!

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps
So this is my story and this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail…

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

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NEXT TO GODLINESS?

Posted on January 30, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” Grandma Lacquement would often say to guilt me into washing my hands before meals after being outside with farm animals or fishing at the ponds! Grit under my fingernails was not acceptable to Grandma who served delicious meals to us!  Dirt on my overalls needed to be brushed off and muddy shoes left at the door before I could join them at the table.  Since Grandma was an avid Bible reader, and I felt “next to God”, I assumed this phrase was from God!

While the exact phrase “cleanliness is next to Godliness” does not appear in the Bible, the scriptures emphasize the importance of cleanliness. We learned throughout Leviticus God’s directives with details of various purification rituals required to maintain cleanliness. These rituals were not only about physical hygiene but also about spiritual purification.

The saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” suggests that being clean is nearly as important as being morally upright. It also implies the significance of maintaining personal hygiene and a tidy living environment without passing diseases. In Christianity, however, this idea isn’t just about keeping our bodies and homes clean. It also means keeping our hearts and minds clean. This internal cleanliness involves virtues like kindness, honesty, and faith.

As we read Numbers 5 today of the consequences of uncleanliness let us ask the Holy Spirit to examine our own hearts and evaluate our internal cleanliness.  Is our thought life virtuous; thinking, being, and doing what is right and good?  Are our heart’s intentions for our good and for God’s glory?  Cleanliness means being kind to others, telling the truth, and helping those in need. These good actions and attitudes make our hearts pure. When our hearts are pure, we are more like God wants us to be. The Bible teaches that God looks at the heart, not just our outward actions. So, being clean inside is very important to our faith!

Yes, faith is also a big part of internal cleanliness. Having strong faith means trusting in God and believing in His teachings. It means praying to seek God first, reading the Bible for understanding and application, as we strive to live like Jesus taught us. When we have strong faith, we are spiritually clean. This helps us feel closer to God and live in a way that honors Him. So, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” reminds us to keep our hearts and minds clean with good virtues and strong faith.

Numbers 5

The Purity of the Camp

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.” 4 The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Wrongs

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord is guilty 7 and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. 8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer. 9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. 10 Sacred things belong to their owners, but what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.’”

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure— 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw attention to wrongdoing.

16 “‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband”— 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse—“may the Lord cause you to become a curse among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

“‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.”

23 “‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen will swell and her womb will miscarry, and she will become a curse. 28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

29 “‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The concepts of “clean” and “unclean” were vital to sustaining daily life in Israel. Cleanliness involved much more than personal hygiene; it involved being acceptable to God in what they ate, what they wore, and how they conducted themselves at home and in public. The Israelites were in the infancy of their faith, and God used familiar pictures to teach them spiritual truth. He compared sin to disease and defilement and holiness to health and cleanliness (Leviticus 11–15). Unclean people were put out of the camp until they had met the ceremonial requirements for reentry.  This was for the protection of the healthy.

In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts more towards inner purity. Jesus teaches that it is not just the outward cleanliness that matters but the purity of the heart. For example; In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing on outward cleanliness while neglecting the cleanliness of their hearts: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”  The priests had all but forgotten God and had lived their lives without Him, demanding from the people what they did not deserve as compensation.  God’s system for restitution, atonement, and forgiveness had broken down in translation and application.  Jesus, God’s Son, came to set them straight!

Our response as believers in Jesus today is to maintain cleanliness in daily life as an expression of our respect for God’s creation, which includes our bodies. We were “made in the image of God”! The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be treated with respect: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”  This principle extends to our living environments as well. Keeping our homes and surroundings clean reflects our respect for the blessings God has given us to steward or manage. It also creates an environment conducive to worship and fellowship with others! A clean home can be a place where God’s presence is felt while love and hospitality is extended to others.

In addition to physical cleanliness, believers in Jesus are called to pursue spiritual cleanliness. This involves asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in examining our hearts and minds regularly and seeking forgiveness and cleansing from God. Psalm 51:10 is a beautiful prayer that I pray daily and hold dear as I seek God: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This verse highlights the importance of seeking God’s help in maintaining spiritual purity.

Staying clean is a discipline well worth the investment!  May our first thought as we rise each morning be communication with the God who loves us and sent His Son to save us!  Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing,” which implies quick, inner prayers throughout the day. These honest prayers reflect our desire to be led by God in all the details of life and can be as simple as expressing gratitude or seeking guidance in a moment of need.

Daily reading the Bible is essential to staying “attached to the Vine” of our existence in Truth as a believer!  The Bible is daily manna for our souls! 

Sharing the Truth with friends who also believe or are on their way to believing is vital to our growing faith while maintaining spiritual cleanliness and wellness.  We need each other!  Paul speaks of this need often with ways to help each other!  All these disciplines help us to stay connected to God and to live lives that reflect His holiness.

Lord,

Cleanse my heart, remove all that does not belong.  Renew my mind with your Truth.  Transform my behaviors so I will be more like you today than yesterday.  Refresh my soul with your tender mercies of correction for today. Restore the joy of your salvation always at work within me.  Create in me a pure heart, O Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CARRYING COMPANY

Posted on January 28, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Carry your weight!” What does this American idiom really mean? We use it to remind others working with us that each person needs to do their assigned part, filling one’s responsibilities to whatever is being done by a group of people. For example:

“I know I’ve been sick, but I’ll carry my weight on the project, don’t worry.”

“If you don’t carry your weight; our presentation will never be finished on time.” “He needs to start carrying his weight around here, or we’ll have to let him go.

The idiom can also mean that certain people of importance can influence others in decision making.  For example:

“Your argument does not carry a lot of weight with me.” “The senator’s testimony carried a lot of weight with the council.”

But what tops the charts in defining “carrying your weight” is that each person in any group, family, or company must do one’s share to fulfill completion of any project.  For example: “The weight is the burden that is the responsibility of someone.” “Tom, you must be more helpful around the house; we each have to carry our own weight.” 

God commands Moses and Aaron to now count the men from thirty to fifty years of age to carry the weight of the Tent of Meeting.  If they follow God’s guidelines, no man will be overloaded with too much to bear. God is in the details, for sure. What God has declared holy must remain holy unto Him. So, God directs each family group of men with WHAT and HOW to carry the weight of all that is connected to the Tent of Meeting.  All guidelines as directed by the appointed sons of Aaron must be obeyed—it’s a matter of life or death! 

Numbers 4

The Kohathites

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law. 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.

11 “Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.

13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, that is, the tent of meeting, its covering and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count the Merarites by their clans and families. 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580. 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Each group of men carried their share in specific ways.  Poles were put into place by the priests; then and only then, could the men pick up the poles at the priests command and put them on their shoulders for carrying their heavy, assigned part of the Tent of Meeting.

Camping is exhausting unless—

If you have ever been camping with your family we will more readily understand this concept of each person carrying their weight as we “break up camp”.  We must do our part as we take down the tent, fold it carefully so it will fit back into the bag.  We must dig up all the tent stakes so they are not lost. Ashes from the campfire must be dosed with water and sand for safety.  The area around our campsite must be free of debris making it “better than the way we found it.”  We take down the lines for drying clothes, pack the cleaned kitchen utensils and pots, repack any leftover foods, put more ice in the chest for storing cold food for the trip home, and then finally put our duffle bags into the vehicle.  Our family of five each had specific tasks according to their age and strength.  We were a well-oiled machine when each person did their part and didn’t quit until the job was done!  Camping taught our young kids great lessons of responsibility.  As adults, they know how to carry their weight!

As committed believers to Jesus and to the church Jesus built upon the shoulders of his disciples like Peter, John, and later Paul; we can see readily now how all of what we have learn today in Numbers applies to our lives now!  We have learned from past experiences of working together in any group situation how carrying our own assigned weight is important to fulfilling the command Jesus gave to all of us!  (Matthew 28:20) And yes, it IS a matter of life or death for lost souls seeking a Savior!

Jesus gives every believer a part of His work to carry out with a detailed assignment to fulfill within the congregation and beyond the church building for perfectly holy reasons—

“He (Jesus) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16, NLT

Pause to reflect before responding… Am I carrying my weight as God’s Holy Spirit directs? 

Need more help? Read the entire book of Ephesians written for the church that proclaims Jesus as Lord.  Paul, inspired by God, gives us specific ways to carry our weight as we influence others for Jesus!  It is a matter of life or death for lost souls!

Lord,

Thank you for all you teach us with specific ways to carry our weight.  You lead us from our comfort to compelling actions that will lead others to you and your saving grace. Show me my part to carry with your wisdom and strength to fulfill what you say.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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COUNTING THE APPOINTED SERVERS

Posted on January 27, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:

‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.’

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:4-8, 11-13

God appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained Aaron and his family to serve the Israelites as priests who would be the ones who would come before God to atone for their sins.  God then told Moses to reserve the whole tribe of Levites as His servants for the temple to assist the priests.  God gifted the Levite clan with abilities to care for the Tent of Dwelling and Meeting place for God on their journey through the wilderness.  Only those born into the Levite clan were allowed to serve.

The Old Testament agreement (or covenant) between God and his people required special intermediaries—the priests. Now, Christ is the only intermediary needed for forgiveness of sins. We can go straight to him and ask for forgiveness and He delivers us from our sins forever!  Jesus fulfilled The Law as our one and only “High Priest”. Jesus, God’s Son, God in flesh, has authority to gift each believer with abilities to serve Him by helping others find and follow Jesus, too!  God has given us specific ways to serve as the Body of Christ called church for our good and His glory!

Numbers 3

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.

2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, 15 “Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.” 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

20 The Merarite clans:

Mahli and Mushi.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use.

27 To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use. 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. 34 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

39 The total number of Levites counted at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names. 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”

42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the Lord. 46 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. 48 Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”

49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“The work is too much for you,” Moses’ father-in-law told him. “Divide the work into smaller pieces and appoint those gifted to handle their part of work.”  This wise counsel came from God through Jethro to Moses.  And God is doing it again—giving others in the Levite clan specific tasks as ways to help the priests in their work. 

As a congregation of believers, we should seek God first, ask Jesus for specific ways we can help the mission of His church, and wait for His answer. Jesus will answer this sincere prayer with opportunity for sure!  As God/Jesus/Holy Spirit leads us, tell someone in leadership!  God will lead leaders to match the teachable and willing to the right place to serve! 

Know the difference between MEinstry of our own making vs. God-led ministry of serving in His church.  When we self-appoint, we will become frustrated in the work. If it is God-led we will thrive, learn, grow, and be helpful to the mission of the redemption of lost souls seeking a Savior. Disagreements may arise, but solutions come as the Holy Spirit of God molds and shapes each one of us for our good and His glory!

The Honesty Factor:  The difference between MEinstry and ministry can be seen when God calls us to do what we feel we not equipped or qualified to do but we do it anyway knowing God will gift and equip us along the way.  It is in the being and doing that we realize we are fully reliant on God.  Then, no cause to boast, says Paul, when God leads—all glory goes to Him!  Be honest.

The Maturity Factor:  Paul’s expresses the goal of maturity; “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” 

How Is Maturity Is Expressed?  We see evidence of maturity emerging in our lives when:

  • Our concern for others outweighs our concern for ourselves.
  • The presence of evil or danger is detected before it is obvious.
  • We have more than high ideals; we have discipline to carry them out.
  • Emotions are tempered by responsibility and thoroughness.
  • Awareness of needs are matched by compassion and involvement.
  • There is not only an understanding of a task, but also the fortitude to stay at it until it is done.
  • There is a willingness to change are teachable.
  • There is the ability to grow spiritually as we seek wisdom from God.

The entire nation of Israel was to be a “kingdom of priests” before God (Exodus 19:5-6).  God appointed a special priesthood to help His people obey His law and bear witness of His goodness. The Levites were God’s gift to the priests, substitutes for the redeemed firstborn sons of Israel who already belonged to God. The Levites did for the Lord and the priests the service that the firstborn sons would have done, for the Levites ministered in their place.

“All this information about the ministry of the Levites reminds us that our God is concerned with details and wants His work to be done by the people He has chosen and in the way He has appointed. Nothing in the camp of Israel was left to chance or human contrivance. Each Levite and priest knew his responsibilities and was expected to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). Caring for the tabernacle was serious work, a matter of life and death.” Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

We are likened unto the firstborn at our rebirth when we repent of our sins to Jesus, our High Priest, who paid the price with His sacrifice for all the sins of the world.  We who believe belong to God.  We are gifted to serve Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever, Amen!  Yes!

Lord,

Lead me. I’m yours and I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TIME TO LINE UP!

Posted on January 26, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“It’s time to get in line, it’s time; you in front and me behind, it’s time” … These are the opening words I used to sing when lining up my pre first class of boys and girls.  I learned that to sing directions to these little ones got their attention and made them smile. I also learned that order alleviated their fears and promoted good behaviors such as kindness for each other.  I learned that when order in my classroom was created and maintained with guidelines and consistent boundaries; the environment gave my students a sense of peace with less fear. I would see in their eyes and body language.

God is a God of order. Creation would be chaotic without His order and control.  Less learning takes place in chaotic situations.  God knows that about the humans He created in His image.  So, God is now teaching His People how to line up so they can keep moving in an orderly fashion on their journey to the promised land they seek.  God’s way of order will keep the hundreds of thousands of people safe as they pick up their things and leave for the next camp site. 

“Keep all arms and legs inside the ride at all times!  Keep a close watch on your family so they will not be separated and get lost.”  These directions given by most amusement parks are like the reasons that God orgainizes His people—for their own good and safety!  When we do what Organizers say; we will be protected. 

Where God guides; He provides for every part of the journey with all He knows we will need. Trust the Organizer for He knows what comes next on the journey!

Numbers 2

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.

5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.

7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.

9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.

10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 His division numbers 46,500.

12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 His division numbers 59,300.

14 The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.[a] 15 His division numbers 45,650.

16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

17 Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.

18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 His division numbers 40,500.

20 The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His division numbers 32,200.

22 The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 His division numbers 35,400.

24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.

25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 His division numbers 62,700.

27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran. 28 His division numbers 41,500.

29 The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400.

31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.

32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is not the creator of confusion and chaos; He is the God of order.  Look at a leaf closely and see the pattern of veins with a purposeful way to feed the plant. Look at a single snow flake under a microscope and observe the beautiful unique, symmetrical pattern.  There are patterns and order to our numerical system which give us glimpses of all things created by God.  This is called the book of Numbers or more than one reason but the greatest truth to learn is: God likes order for our good and His glory!

When the motions of the pillar of cloud over the tabernacle announced that the camp would move, it would have been difficult if not impossible to break camp and start the march quickly and efficiently without some kind of order in the camp. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) Paul wrote the early churches as an admonition for God’s people in every age, “for God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

The twelve tribes had to be careful not to camp too close to the tabernacle, for that area was reserved for the priests and Levites. To venture too near to the sacred tent could mean death. Also, each tribe was to display its standard and each family its banner.  

Sidebar:  Solomon wrote, “Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.” (Solomon 2:4) Solomon wrote a sonnet of true love between a bride and groom but parallels the relentless love of God that Jesus demonstrated as he gave his life for our sins.  Believers in Jesus have a banner which declares the standard of Christ the waves over the family of God.  This banner of love identifies all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord!  That’s why we sing the song, “His banner over me is love”…

We can’t help but see Israel’s camp as an illustration of what God’s church ought to be in this world: people on a pilgrim people following the Lord, with His glory at the heart of everything and His presence leading the way. Israel was one people, united in the Lord and to each other. Yet each separate company was recognized by God, displayed its own unique banner, occupied its own special place, and marched at the Lord’s command!

Under whose banner do we identify in our world? 

To what drumbeat do we march daily? Is it the heartbeat of God or someone/something else? 

“Choose this day who you will serve,” will be proclaimed by Joshua who will later follow in Moses footsteps as leader. Joshua 24:15) Joshua leads God’s People to a time of decision:  Are you on the Lord’s side or not?  “As for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.”   

Today, we still only have two real choices: God who sent His Son to redeem us and set us free; Or the evil one who distracts, confuses, divides, deceives, deconstructs our faith and unity with the goal of death forever to all who believe in Jesus. 

Our response:  Choose this day whom you will serve.  Our responses to life’s circumstances will reflect who we truly believe and serve.  Having the choice of living in confusion and chaos; I choose the peace of Christ that is above all things and in all things as God’s gift to us.

Lord,

You chose me. I choose you.  I offer my life to you, all of it.  Mold and shape me into all you have created me to be and then do.  I’m yours and I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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COUNTING

Posted on January 24, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Our entire lives involved counting!  We count how many days until a special occasion.  We count how many dollars are needed to reach the end of the month expenses.  We count how much to tithe, put in savings for emergencies, and then budget for food and other needs each month.  We count how many people will come to our home on any given holiday and then budget with enough food to feed them well. 

We count steps we walk to keep our hearts pumping for good health.  We count the “reps” we perform with goals to increase the count as we stretch our limits in exercise of our bodies. We count how many glasses of water we drink each day. We count calories as if our lives depended on it.  We count how many steps need to be added to account for the brownie we just consumed.

We count time spent on tasks and relationships like a stingy store owner who does inventory daily to make sure no one is stealing from his profits!  We count groups.  We count by twos, fives, and ten.  We are always counting something and comparing the count to other counts!

We count the time the preacher takes to deliver a sermon. We listen but our focus drifts to counting while listening when we count the minutes it takes to receive the message.  We count how many minutes the worship team takes.  We count how much time it will take to get our kids from class.  We count how many we brought to church and hope that the count is the same when they all get into the car to go home.  We count how many green lights we get on the way to church.  Then we count how much time it will take to get something to eat after church.  Jesus tells us to “count the cost” of being a true disciple.  How holy is our counting? (Asking for myself.)

The first thing we teach our babies is counting numbers!  “One bite, two bites, three bites,” we say as we feed them.  We count in races to see how fast our toddlers can pick up toys and put them away.  We count runners’ abilities to beat their best time down to a nanosecond. 

The count is important to us but more important to God.  God tells Moses to count the men from each of the Twelve Tribes (Sons of Jacob) who are on the journey to the promise land.  God already knows the count but wants the leaders to know so they can be organized according to their clans. The Levites are exempt because their purpose is to care for The Law and The Tabernacle.  God is building an army among the them in the count.  God knows what lies ahead for His people.  Will they trust and obey God?  Can His people be “counted on” to fulfill His purpose for their good and His glory?  We shall see…

Numbers 1

The Census

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. 3 You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

10 from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud;

from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;

14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

15 from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.

17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, 18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people registered their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, 19 as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:

20 From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

22 From the descendants of Simeon:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

24 From the descendants of Gad:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

26 From the descendants of Judah:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

28 From the descendants of Issachar:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

30 From the descendants of Zebulun:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

32 From the sons of Joseph:

From the descendants of Ephraim:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

34 From the descendants of Manasseh:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

36 From the descendants of Benjamin:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

38 From the descendants of Dan:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

40 From the descendants of Asher:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

42 From the descendants of Naphtali:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.”

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

More than two million Israelites were anticipating entering Canaan, conquering the inhabitants, claiming the land, and enjoying their promised inheritance. But before all of this could happen, Moses had to organize this assembly of former slaves who had been enjoying their freedom for only a year—and it wasn’t an easy task.

God’s preparation for conquest involved four stages: numbering the soldiers (Chapter 1), organizing the tribes (Chapter 2), assigning the priestly duties (Chapters 3-4), and celebrating the Passover (Chapter 9:1–14).

The Book of Numbers opens with a count of all the fighting men over the age of twenty in the camp. They were counted, but they couldn’t be counted on, because all but two of them died during Israel’s march through the wilderness. Then the new generation was counted, and they were people that the Lord could count on. They trusted His Word, entered the Promised Land, and claimed it for their inheritance.  Ah, spoiler alert!  But there is much to learn in the journey!

Studying the Book of Numbers can help us better understand how God directs His people, why being faithful to Him is important, and how we can grow spiritually in the difficulties of life. We don’t have to fail as did that first generation; instead, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).  Cling the message Paul wrote in Romans as we enter the wilderness journey with God’s Chosen.

Maybe you are experiencing difficulties even now on your own life journey.  I pray that in reading Numbers we will see our own story in the story of God in ways that build our faith in God who desires His best for us and will do what He says He will do—Provide where He guides

Lord,

Thank you for Word—all of it—that teaches us more about You with each passage of Truth. Thank you for helping us see the importance of counting for organization to fulfill your purpose in and through us; not just for the sake of counting or merely relying on the count to decide our worth.  May we be “counted on” as you lead us to be with you, hear you, then do what you say.  This is our response—to believe and to follow you.  We know we can count on you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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