"A Spirit of Maturity, Passing the Torch"

Scripture Read:

Numbers 25 -28

Insight Verse(s):

^{Numbers 27: 16} “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, ¹⁷ who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”

¹⁸ And the LORD said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Insight Gained:

Even though Moses has been told he will not lead the people to nor enter the promised land, he still has an attitude of commitment to the people. He knows he can't go, so his first thought is, the people need a leader and prays that the Lord provide for his people a leader of worth and value. As always the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, had already had Joshua working with Moses for years, so upon Moses request the Lord calls Joshua to take that next step in his career.

How true should this be within our churches, and home groups and bible study classes. How often is a leader called away or required to step aside for any reason. How wonderful would it be to know that our leaders, all leaders, had the maturity and commitment to their groups to realize when their time is up and instead of selfishly causing harm, not only step aside but make it their goal and driving ambition to find the best possible leader to take over and pray with and over that person so that their ministry is effective. This leadership is learned from example.

My Prayer to God:

Lord, please help me with any ministry or task that you assign me, help me to lead the way you would want me to and graciously step aside when my time is up and prayerfully pass the ministry to the next person you have called. Amen

"Listening to God"

Scripture Read:
Numbers 21 - 24 Insight Verse(s)

Numbers 22:18-20, 28-35 & 23:12,26 Insight Gained:
In verse 20 the Lord says to Balaam “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” After leaving an angel comes and startles Balaam's donkey three times before God first opens the Donkeys mouth and it speaks to Balaam and then God opens Balaams eyes so that he too can see the angel and Gods words are reinforced, go, but only say what I tell you to say. We are not told if Balaam ever had second thoughts or not, but we do know that God visits Balaam a second time to say, Hey, remember to only say what I tell you to say. Balaam obeys to the great dismay of Balak, but Balaam simply says 23:26 “Did I not tell you, saying, ‘All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?” To often I am realizing that I am not listening close enough to what God is telling me to do or say and through this I am recognizing the lost opportunities that have past me by. My Prayer to God:

Lord, though I have no donkey, I often find things to blame when I end up off the path. Please help me to recognize when you have placed things in my path for my safety or as a reminder or as something you want me to take notice of. Help me to hear your words and obey, regardless of my ignorance as to their purpose. Continue to lead me and guide me always. Amen

"Do What God Tells You to Do!"

Scripture Read:

Numbers 17 - 20

Insight Verse(s):

^{Numbers 20:6} So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

⁷ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁸ “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” ⁹ So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.
¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
¹² Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Insight Gained:

God says in vs 8 "Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water;" In verse 10 Moses says to the people "... “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod;

When did God tell Moses to strike the rock?

All I saw was God telling Moses to speak to the rock.

¹² Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Wow, of all the stupid things you could do... these men have seen God literally destroy armies, part seas, and even kill specific individuals mixed amongst thousands. They have even seen the fire of God come down and engulf 250 people who didn't listen. Why then would Moses make the mistake to portray that it was he, or his staff that had the power, and was owed the glory. God said speak, and they struck... God wants to reenforce that it is he who is looking after the needs of the Israelites and leading them , not Moses or Aaron. Yet Moses chooses to act on his own, even to the point of leading up to it with his comment "Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Does Moses forget that he is only a shepherd that God has entrusted these people to? He is not God, he is one man and God says, Hey you, with the stick, for being an idiot after all this time and after all you have seen, you will never enter the land I promised to my people! That had to hurt, but what could he expect, God is God, and Moses has felt the power of God, he knows the might of God and he has seen the wrath of God when people don't listen and obey. How much more are we disobedient today, we have the stories of the Old Testament, and the lives of Jesus and his disciples and yet we still choose to go our own way, do things our own way, and then when we don't see the gift we felt we were promised... we blame God.

My Prayer to God:

Lord, father in heaven, designer of my world and director of my paths, please forgive me for all of the times I have not searched out your will but followed my own. Guide me with your words to do your actions to bring glory to your name. Amen.

"Do Not Grumble Against God."

Scripture Read:

Numbers 13 - 16

Insight Verse(s):
Korah, Dathan, Abiram (leaders of the Levites) went before Moses and Aaron and claimed that all of them were holy and questioned why it was that Moses and Aaron were held out above all others. Moses, with God's wisdom, challenged the men to show up the following morning and all light their censers and present an offering to the Lord and the Lord would call out the man he wants. The men meet, and God opens up the earth and swallows Korah, Dathan and Abiram and all their families and belongings.

Insight Gained:

Moses was faithful in his actions, he knew what to do. He had everyone go before the Lord and let God sort it out. Moses knew how God was going to respond and how he was going to handle the situation. He knew people would die, and they did. God wiped out the followers and families of the Levite leaders.

I am not God, nor am I a priest or a leader of a community, why then should I beleive that God would only listen to me? God listens to all his people, the whole of the world, the grumblers and complainers as well as the wise, humble and meek.... everyone! The Lord shows that he will punish those who do not listen and continue to bless those who do. But he hears everyone, and sees everything. Why grumble against God, he has everything in his control, your grumbling will get you no where.

My Prayer to God:

Lord, let me let you have the controls in my life, let me speak only truth, and through your power, help me to clean up my life so others will see you in me. Amen.

The Passing of a Wonderful Woman - Karen W Harris

My apologies to those who have followed my blog and have missed seeing it these past couple of months. In August we found out that my mother had cancer, it was a brain tumor that had been misdiagnosed for sometime. Despite best medical attempts, and my mothers strength, our heavenly father called her home on the 18th of Oct. My mother leaves behind a husband of 42 years, my father Marvin Harris, she also leaves behind her 4 children, myself Andrew Harris, my older brother Philip Harris, my sister Rebecca Harris, and my younger brother Matthew Harris. Also her daughters in law Jennifer Harris (my wife) and Marissa Harris (Philips wife), and her 5 grandchildren, (my sons) Robert Harris, Joshua Harris, Charles Harris, as well as (Philips daughters) Julia Harris and Laura Harris.

It has been a tough couple of months, but with the help of our pastoral staff @ Royal Heights Baptist Church, we had an amazing celebration of life service for my mom, with well over 300 people in attendance. Her ashes were spread at hers and my fathers favorite spot to visit just off the pier of Crescent Beach, in White Rock, and a single rose provide by my Uncle and Aunt Trevor and Linda Harris was set adrift.

Though a tough experience, it has drawn our family even closer than before.

My heart goes out to all who have lost a loved one, throughout my life I have only been able to empathize, but now through my own loss, I can truly sympathize with your pain.

Thank you for all who have stood with us over the months. God bless you all.

"Moses Rebellion"

Scripture Read:

Numbers 5 - 12
Insight Verse(s):
Numbers 11:11 So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”

The Seventy Elders

16 So the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. 18 Then you shall say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”’”

Insight Gained:

How often as a christian have I said, "I can't do all of this by myself," "It's too much for me to do alone," and God is there saying, "I know, I never told you to do it on your own, I gave you help and if you ask I will give you more." Moses had Aaron and Miriam and a staff of judges and elders and yet he still felt he was carrying all the load. It was only when he said it was too much and asked for help that God gave him leaders. God showed him and me that we can't do it all ourselves but if we ask for help he will provide. If I lean on God and realize my own shortcomings and do it without complaining at God, he will bless me with wisdom and help.

My Prayer to God:

Lord, help me wait for your word. Let me lean on you and allow you to lead the way and help me to trust you as you lead.

"Levites Exchanged For Isrealites"

Scripture Read:

Numbers 1 - 4

Insight Verse(s):

Numbers 3:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 12 “Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, 13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD.”

Census of the Levites Commanded

14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying: 15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”
16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.

39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.

Levites Dedicated Instead of the Firstborn

40 Then the LORD said to Moses: “Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names. 41 And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
44 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD. 46 And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Insight Gained:

The Lord saves 22,273 Isrealites and takes the service of the Levites in exchange and accepts 5 sheckles in exchange of each of the 273 left over. The Lord has claim to anything he wants and had previously taken the first born for himself as he saved them in Egypt. It is just amaziong to see how God would provide such close numbers to both the Isrealites and the Levites to make the numbers so close.

My Prayer to God:

Lord, thank you for continuilly amazing and impressing me with you complete and supreme control over your world and the wonders you work with and for your people.