RTW March 8
The Passing of the Baton
Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him.
Numbers 27:20
My Takeaways
Something Old
At the end of your tenure:
- Show more concern for your people than yourself. (Numbers 27:15-17)
- Ask God to appoint the right leader. (Numbers 27:16)
- Don’t whine about the change.
- Show your public support for the new leader. (Numbers 27:18-23)
Something New
I love the bravery of the daughters of Zelophehad.
Something to Do
When the time comes, transition from power well…. Finish well.
~I just love Moses’ heart for the peope God had called him to lead. He didn’t want them to be like sheep without a shepherd. I thank God for those spiritual leaders in my life who have this same concern for me.
~It says in Num 27:18 that Joshua had the Spirit in him, yet that now Joshua would use the Urim to determine God’s will. So, he would not be speaking with God face-to-face like Moses did. I thank God that I have direct access to God through Jesus Christ and haepve the Holy Spirit within me to guide me.
Growing up within the context of a stanched Lutheran fellowship, my grandfather being one of them, and an appointed leader, opposed changing the elements from “wine” to grape juice. He believed it watered down the true application of God’s word to appease “man” in their compromising of God’s Word. Jesus drank wine as a Jew, practicing the law, according to the Holy Sxriptures.
“He picked up the cup of wine” fulfilling the drink offering!
It wasn’t till I was old enough to comprehend the true meaning of the elements, I pondered my choice in what the elements meant to me! The drink (liquid) offering, a type and shadow of Jesus. When I was in Israel, taking the cup with various ethnic groups and various nations at the tomb of the skull, it was wine and not grape juice.
“It has been speculated that the offering of an animal, grain, oil, and wine—the smoke making a “soothing aroma to the LORD”—is a metaphor for providing food for God, an important cultural requirement in the Middle East. What we do know is that the pouring out of a drink offering is a metaphor for the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. Jesus spoke to this directly in Luke 22:20 when He instituted the New Covenant. He picked up a cup of wine and said, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled the need of a drink offering, His blood literally pouring out when the soldier pierced His side with a spear (John 19:34).”
My something new today was from Num 28:9-10. This was describing the offering to be given on the sabbath. It was to be made in addition to the regular daily offering. What struck me was that the priests didn’t get a sabbath rest from their work. They actually had to do extra work because of the extra offerings. This made me think how sin never takes a break. However, Jesus’ priestly work was completed on the cross. So grateful the He has victory and He is our rest!
Sacrifice one lamb (the offering of my time to God) in the morning and one in the evening. 28:4
It is a special gift 28:8 pleasing to the Lord.
God wants to be the first thing on my mind when I wake and the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep at night. Even if it’s just a moment that I take to pay attention to His presence in those quiet moments and thank Him for the day ahead or the day that is almost over.
For many years, my phone was the first and last thing I did every morning and every night. God deserves those 2 spaces along with all the space in between. God first before anything else.
“I must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.”
-Lysa TerKeurst
I also prayed this morning for God to show me where I am not in obedience.
Holy assembly of all the people, and you may do no ordinary work on that day. 29:12
This is in addition to the sacrifices and offerings I present in connection with VOWS and other offerings. 29:39 Wow!
It was pretty clear from the verses above that I’m not honoring Sabbath rest. I’m not obeying God in honoring the Sabbath. God just taught me all about Sabbath rest through Pricilla Shiers “Breathe” bible study, but I haven’t put everything I learned into action consistently. God wants me specifically to honor sabbath rest on Sunday, gather in holy assembly and do no ordinary work. It could be different and look different for others.
Father I understand. Help me to obey you.