Day 88 Bible Readings – Numbers 27: 12-14 (ESV)

Numbers 26 & 27, Luke 7: 36-50, Psalm 53

Numbers 27: 12-14 (ESV)

“The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)”

When I read verses 12 through 14 from Numbers 27, I felt so sad for Moses. God told Moses to go up a mountain to see the Promised Land, and then said to Moses he would die afterwards. God then reminds Moses that he wouldn’t see the Promised Land because Moses failed to uphold God as Holy in the wilderness of Zin. These verses make me wonder what Moses must have thought when he found out about his fate. Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt and then stayed their leader as they wondered through the desert for forty years. The next few verses show that Moses did not question or complain to God about his fate. He did not try to change God’s mid. Whatever Moses felt, he was obedient to God in all things. But as faithful and obedient as Moses was to God, he was not spared punished for his failures. Moses shows us that we need to be obedient to God as well as faithful to him all things.

Day 87 Bible Readings – Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

Numbers 24 & 25, Luke 7: 11-35, Psalm 52

Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

When I first read verse 17 from Numbers 24, I immediately saw these words as a prophecy of the future King David. But then I thought about the “star” reference, and I saw the “star of Bethlehem” that rose when Christ was born. This prophecy from Balaam, who wasn’t even Jewish and whom God spoke to, was for both King David and Christ. Jesus came from the House of David, so this prophecy is also a reference that a messiah would come from the line of David. When I read through the Bible commentaries on this verse, the authors noted that early Christian and Jewish writers understood that verse 17 was a reference to the coming Messiah. I love how God talked and used a pagan seer to speak prophecy about his plans. God uses believers and non-believers as part of his plan. I think as people of faith we tend to think that God has no use for non-believers, but that’s not true. God created everyone, so why wouldn’t he use all of us to fulfill his plan on earth? What this verse tells us is we must never think we are not part of God’s plan. If God can use the pagan prophet Balaam to further his plan, he will surely be able to use someone who has faith in him.

Day 86 Bible Readings – Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

Numbers 22: 21-41, Numbers 23, Luke 6: 37-49, Luke 7: 1-10, Psalm 51: 10-19

Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

When I read verses 10 through 12 from Psalm 51, tears came to my eyes. This Psalm was written by David after Nathan the prophet confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba. David begs God for mercy and in verse 10, he asks God in create a clean heart in him and to not cast him away or take his Holy Spirit from him. David also asks God to restore to him the joy of God’s salvation and to uphold him with a willing spirit. I could feel David’s sincerity when he asked God for forgiveness in these verses. I can see myself reciting these verses and meditating on them when I feel like I have sinned against God. This Psalm has given me a new appreciation for deep David was in his relationship with God, and how even after he committed a sin, he did not feel himself separated from God. When I feel guilty after committing a sin, I am like Adam and Eve and I want to hide from God. I would love to have a deep relationship with God just like David.

Day 85 Bible Readings – Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

Numbers 21, Numbers 22: 1-20, Luke 6: 12-36, Psalm 51: 1-9

Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

I’ve heard and read the Beatitude given by Christ over the years, but after reading a few Bible commentaries on these verses in Luke 6 I’ve gain a new appreciation for them. In verse 21 from Luke 6, Jesus blessed those who are hungry now and said that they shall be satisfied. Previously I thought that this blessing was solely about food, but one Biblical scholar noted that the hunger referred to people who are hungry for God. Jesus is blessing people who hunger for God like they hunger for food and spend all their time seeking him to satisfy their hunger. Jesus tells them that if they have faith in him, their hunger for God will be satisfied. I love this image of seeking God like a starving seek would seek food. I don’t think I’ve ever searched for God like a starving man searches for food, and I want to experience this kind of hunger for God at least once in my life.

Then Jesus blessed those who weep now since they will one day laugh. I always thought this blessing was for people who are depressed and felt sadness in their life, and when they go to heaven they will laugh with joy. Another Biblical scholar said the weeping is not for sadness, but for people who weep because of the sins they committed in their life. Through their faith in Jesus Christ, the people who weep will laugh with joy when they find out that God has made everything right in their life. This image of laughing with joy when you find that God had made everything right in your life resonated with me, because I have laughed with joy when I realized that God answered one of my prayers.