This week we cover Numbers 6-10. We will read about the Nazarite vow, the completion of the
tabernacle, the 12 dedication celebration, the institution of the Levitical priesthood, celebration
of the Passover, and the organizing of the congregation of Israel to move on. The life of the
nation of Israel foreshadows much of the life of the Christian. I pray that our devotionals will
help you see these connections and that they in turn will encourage your faith and edify your life.
Remember the specials we are offering this month (Already Gone and Already Compromised).
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you will be helping this ministry as well with your purchase. Additionally, as with each and
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May God continue to bless and guide you and your family,
David Barrett, Director
Biblical Worldview Learning Center
david@biblicalview.com
208-377-2367
Date: July 18
Reading: Numbers 6:1-27
The Nazarite vow was a special vow that an Old Testament Israelite could enter into if he or she
felt called to enter into a special time of devotion to the Lord. There was no set duration of the
vow; it was a personal commitment for each individual who entered into it. During the time of
the vow, the person was required to abstain from certain things. In particular, he or she had to
abstain from anything that was from the vine. That would include dried or fresh grapes or the
wine made from the grapes. They would also stay away from any strong drink. Additionally, he
was not to cut his hair and could not participate in the burial of a person (even a relative) or be in
the presence of a dead person.
A Nazarite was probably pretty easy to spot with his long hair and special eating prohibitions.
Other Israelites would easily recognize a Nazarite and know that here was a person that was
taking very serious his relationship with the Lord.
We can learn some lessons from the Nazarite. First, we can see that there could be, and probably
should be, times in our lives when we pull back from the "normal routine" of life and concentrate
on our relationship with God. We can grow in our spiritual life and strength by having times
when we overtly focus our attention on God, Who He is, and our relationship with Him.
Secondly, we should realize that as Christians we, in a sense, always have an identification
with the Nazarite of old. You see, we are marked in a special way by Christ, and identified with Christ. Thus, we, too, need to draw back from some of the things that the world would
consider "normal." Things that would confuse our living testimony to the world of our love
for, and commitment to, Jesus Christ should be eliminated from our lives. Our focus, like the
Nazarite’s focus, should be to please God in every way.
This leads to a third and final connection between us, as believers, and the Old Testament
Nazarite. Again, you could spot a Nazarite. You knew by his looks and his life, that he was a
Nazarite. We, as Christians, should be so marked that others can identify us as different from the
world and committed to a God pleasing life. One of the greatest witnesses to our life testimony
you and I can receive is when someone who does not know the Lord in a loving and saving way,
looks at us and says, "You're different than everyone else, why is that?" With that question, the
Holy Spirit just may open the door for you to give a clear testimony to your life in Christ and
receive a new brother or sister in Christ.
Date: July 19
Reading: Numbers 7:1-29
Verse 1 tells us that the time of these events we are reading about in Numbers 7 occurred on the
day the tabernacle was finished and the immediate days following. You may remember that
when you read the Book of Exodus, it ended with the completion of the tabernacle. Exodus
chapter 40 tells of Moses setting up the tabernacle, putting all the furnishings inside and
anointing each part. Verse 33 of that chapter in Exodus ends with these words, "So Moses
finished the work." The final 5 verses of Exodus 40, which end that book, tells us nothing more
of that day's events. We find those events in this chapter of the Book of Numbers that we are
reading today.
The Book of Numbers tells us that the princes of Israel brought offerings for the tabernacle
that were given to the Levites for their service. They also had a 12-day long dedication service
for the altar of the tabernacle. The Israelites were very excited about what they had just
accomplished for the service of God. Because of that excitement, they were very willing to give
of themselves. What is important in any work of God and in any thing we do, is our long-term
commitment, and not just the excitement for the moment. As we read through the story of Israel,
we will want to see what their long-term dedication is.
It is exciting whenever anything new gets started. It is easy to be committed to new and exciting
ideas or activities. But, it is the long-term that really demonstrates our character and true
commitment. Ask God for endurance to stay committed to the things that are honoring to Him
and purposeful for your life.
Date: July 20
Reading: Numbers 7:30-59
The daily dedication continues as each prince of each tribe of Israel brings his offering for the
dedication of the altar. The altar represents the place of sacrifice for sin. It is the place where the appeal to God goes up for acceptance before Him. Now that Jesus has come and is our
eternal sacrifice before God for sin, we are to bring the sacrifice of praise and prayer. Bring
your "sacrifice" to God in prayer and thank God today for His forgiveness of your sins and
praise Him for His love and care over your life.
Date: July 21
Reading: Numbers 7:60-89
The twelve days of dedication for the altar come to a completion at the end of chapter 7. Day
after day, each prince of the tribes of Israel, brought his offering for the dedication service. Each
brought silver and golden utensils and bowls. Each brought a meat offering, incense, a bull,
ram and lamb for a burnt offering. Each brought a goat for a sin offering. And, each brought
two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs for a peace offering. What a tremendous
amount of items and number of animals that were brought. The total amount is given for us in
verses 84 – 88. The amount is almost overwhelming.
God is not interested in those kinds of sacrifices and offerings from us today. He wants the
sacrifices of praise and the offering of a pure and willing heart. Seek God and ask Him for the
kind of heart He desires you to have. Give God the praise He deserves.
Date: July 22
Reading: Numbers 8:1-26
All having been dedicated over the past 12 days, it was now time to institute the Levitical priests
for service in the sanctuary of the tabernacle. In this chapter, the instruction for that cleansing
service was given, and the service was done. The Levites, a people set aside within Israel by
God, were now ready to carry out their duties within the tabernacle.
All must be clean and holy to come before God. That is why the special cleansing and sacrifices
had to be done for the Levites so that they could participate in any such activities for the people.
We know, however, that there is nothing we can do by ourselves to actually make us clean
enough before God. We are all affected and made unclean by sin. Only through Jesus Christ can
we be found acceptable before God.
The cleansing of these Levites was for a time of service. The cleansing we can receive in Jesus
Christ is for all eternity.
Date: July 23
Reading: Numbers 9:1-23
On the first day of the first month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt,
the tabernacle was finished and all set up. In the 7th chapter of this book, we read how they had
a 12 day dedication period for the tabernacle and especially for the altar. Now, the 14th day of the first month is approaching and that is the anniversary of the night that all the first born of
Egypt were killed and when Pharaoh told the Israelites to leave his land. This is the anniversary
of the Great Exodus, when God brought Israel out of Egypt.
You probably remember that Israel had a special feast that night in Egypt. They were told to kill
a lamb and spread its blood on their doorposts and on the overhead part of the door. That blood
protected their household from being struck by God and the killing of their firstborn children and
animals. That was the Passover event and the meal they ate that night was the Passover meal.
Now, a year later, they are being reminded to eat this Passover meal as the Lord instructed them
to do.
The Passover Meal is not a command that we, as Christians, are instructed to follow. But, there
are other commands that God has given to us to follow that remind us of the perfect Passover
Lamb, Jesus Christ. In particular, we have the Lord's Supper that we are to partake in on a
regular basis. You read about the last Passover supper that Jesus had with His disciples before
His death when you read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Lord's Supper of the
New Testament Church is rooted in the Passover and based on this last meal Jesus had with His
disciples.
The Passover Meal of the Old Testament reminded the Israelites of their great deliverance
from bondage in Egypt. The Lord's Supper of the New Testament reminds us of our great
deliverance, through Jesus Christ, from the bondage of sin.
Date: July 24
Reading: Numbers 10:1-36
With such a large crowd of people there needed to be a communication device to alert the people
to many different things. They needed to be brought together as an assembly at times and they
needed to be alerted to war at times. Thus, God instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets
that would be blown and give the different signals for the people.
After having camped for many months and building the tabernacle, it is finally time to move on
in their journey toward the land of Canaan. Thus, Moses had the trumpets blown and the signal
given to assemble and prepare to leave. What we read about in several of the previous chapters
begins to take place as the different groups responsible for breaking down and carrying the
tabernacle begin to work. This, again, would be an exciting time for Israel as they finally get to
move on in their journey.
Our spiritual lives can be like this as well. We can feel like we are settled in and doing the same
type of thing over and over again. Maybe this is all that God has planned for us. Then, the
time comes when God tells us to move on to another project or place. We need to be ready
to hear God’s voice as He directs us in our Spiritual "journey" in Him. His primary way of
communicating with us will always be through the reading of His Word.
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