As I began to write this blog today, I was reminded of things that are occurring in my life. You are the same way as you have things occurring, and then working to keep it all balanced and focused on the Lord.
In my reading of the Scriptures currently this year, I have worked my way from Genesis to the end of Numbers. When we read Scripture we are able to glean something about those who lived in those days. The challenges they faced and how they might have dealt with them on any particular day.
For example, as you read about the Tabernacle and its construction. Then, the division of the responsibilities of handling it in moving from one place to another there were a lot of moving parts. Specific jobs were given to specfic men from certain families and those of certain ages. When God would determine to move them, they had the responsibility to prepare and then move not only the Tabernacle but their own belongings and families.
I recently read that there were over 8,000 men who were responsible for the Tabernacle alone. There were also 600,000 men of fighting age and of the two groups all were at least 20 years of age. This did not include women and children. It is not uncommon for the number of those who making this journey would have numbered over 2 million people. That would certainly not be out the realm of reality.
In November 2024, there were 3 million federal employees and postal workers in the United States. It is a good thing we don’t have to move that many people around at any given time. With a population of some 350 million, it is easy to see that just as there were those of God’s people who disagreed that the same would true for us as a nation.
As we study Scripture, there seems a good indication that the majority of the people understood their responsibility. Yes, there were a lot of those who took exception. As I read recently in Numbers 16, there is a story concerning Korah and 250 who rose up to challenge Moses and Aaron rights to the priesthood.
Numbers 1:28-35
28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.
29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.
30 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”
31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,
32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”
35 And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
Do you ever wonder or even want to see God act in manners like this today? We might say that it is certainly warranted and might have a profound affect on people. That may well be true, but we don’t and can’t begin to understand God.
In many ways the God of creation and the Old Testament might appear, by a simple glance, to be two different God’s. Yet His Word shows clearly the compassion of God as shown over the years. His desire is to draw us closer to Himself. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to us over time. We read the historical accounts and His relationship with people throughout history might contribute to misconceptions about what God is like in the Old Testament as compared to the New Testament. However, when one reads both the Old and the New Testaments, it becomes clear that God is not different from one testament to another and that God’s wrath and His love are revealed in both.
Remember what God said in Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
In a message I will be sharing soon, I am challenging the people as I challenge you today to know and understand that-
-God expects us to grow just as we expect our children to grow
-Faith brings an attitude of trust and healthy dependence on God
-Love toward others is the basic responsibility of Christians
-God measures Christian growth by clearly defined standards. As we go through each challenge, keep your focus on learning.
God bless and don’t forget to set those clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
