March 9 - Numbers30:1-31:54

Good morning everyone,

As we begin reading today we find Moses reminding the people that God is serious about vows and commitments, that their promises to God and others must be kept. No one was forced to make a vow but once made, vows had to be fulfilled because breaking one’s word meant broken trust and broken relationship. In the Bible, God makes promise after promise to us, it is totally comforting to know how seriously He takes them. Right? To know with no doubt we can count on His promises.

In chapter 31 God comes to Moses and tells him prepare, he has one more battle to fight before he will be gathered with his people in heaven. This battle would be against the Midianites, the same group of people who were previously responsible for enticing Israel into playing with the painted ladies and Baal worship. God commanded Israel to now destroy them but instead of obeying God they proceeded to bring the women and children back to camp. Here is a perfect example of how just a little compromise can flourish into death on down the road. Moses dealt with the sin here right away, however, it is the indifferent attitude they had toward sin, the compromise, the failure to realize God’s plan is perfect and then to act out on their own, that will eventually ruin them. 

The entire nation of Israel was to benefit from the victory of war, the plunder to be divided up amongst them, however the most amazing part was 12,000 Israelites went out to war and 12,000 returned. Not a single soldier was lost. At once, when the officers who were in charge of the armies realized this, they gathered from the plunder armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for themselves before the Lord.

I guess what I take from all of this today is no matter how old we get, there is always  going to be  a battle for us to fight. The constant attack of spiritual warfare that can look like, well, someone cutting us off while driving down the road, what would my or your response be to that? Or maybe it is a physical battle, deteriorating health of yourself or a loved one, how will we carry ourselves through that battle? The situations are as endless as time, but our hope is in the Lord. The battle belongs to the Lord. 

Petra sings a song that goes like: In heavenly armour we'll enter the land, The battle belongs to the Lord. No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand, The battle belongs to the Lord. The power of darkness comes in like a flood, The battle belongs to the Lord. He's raised up a standard, the power of His blood, The battle belongs to the Lord. When your enemy presses in hard do not fear, The battle belongs to the Lord. Take courage my friend, your redemption is near, The battle belongs to the Lord. We sing glory and honor Power and strength to the Lord. 

Our job … to trust Him and to praise Him through it all. Amen?

I pray you have a super good day and to God be the glory.
God bless you all …