Day 62 – Numbers 18-20

Talking Points

• The priests will be held accountable for their ministries to the Lord. Though they will receive no inheritance of land or portion as do the other tribes, God will graciously compensate them through the system He enacts. Instead, the Lord Himself will be their portion. (18:20)
• The Lord is our portion! This phrase is recited by Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:24, as well as David in the Psalms. It was a truth of unimaginable encouragement — no matter what this life holds, God has given Himself as an inheritance. In Jesus, this is true for every believer.
• God instructs Moses and Aaron in how to secure water for the people in a way that will leave no doubt that God is the Provider. Moses is to speak to the stone. Instead, in anger toward the ever-grumbling people, he strikes the rock twice. God provides the water, but, because of their sin, Moses and Aaron will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.
• Aaron, the first high priest, dies. Praise God that our High Priest Jesus, “because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.” (Hebrews 7:24)

Thoughts

This account really makes me think. Moses is faithful. He serves, showing great honor to God and great love for the people he leads. He is often found caught in the middle of an obstinate people and our holy God — a lonely, isolated, stressful place. Many times, he becomes the object of the people’s anger and rebellion. On this occasion, he is frustrated with the nation’s lack of trust in God’s provision, and he strikes out.

And, the result? He will not enter into the Promised Land. God tells him, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel…” (20:12), he and Aaron will die and not cross over. That hits me. He is God’s leader, chosen of God. He is God’s prophet, speaking for God. His faith was in God, who talked to him as a friend. Later, he met with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. He is with God, even now! Yet, he was not allowed to finish the journey to the land of God’s promise. Wow. Heavy.

I wonder how many times that, while we do not reject our faith, nor lose our relationship with God and are still His sons or daughters, we fail to treat God as holy in the sight of a watching world. I wonder how many times, in pride and arrogance and carelessness, I have treated God as regular or less than who He truly is. And, I wonder how many people saw it.

God, You are holy. May my life increasingly show it.