The Family Bible Journey Podcast

The faithful generosity of YHWH's Old Testament people challenges us today. We will reflect on current declines in giving to religious charities and consider how we can grow in supporting the Lord's work on earth.

Here we see the basic misconception of Jesus's opponents about the source of sin. We sin because we are sinners. Not, we are sinners because we sin. It isn't until we recognize our place under God's law that we begin to appreciate the depth of His love for us.

Many of YHWH's people still today receive the blessing of Aaron in worship. YHWH told Aaron to put His NAME on His people with this special blessing. We consider how blessed, and affirmed we are in the faith as we hear these words spoken over us still today.

The priests and Levites were given strict instructions including their place in the camp, and how they were to care for the tabernacle, her furnishings, and tools as they marched. We see a few poignant "types" of Christ in their orders. We also learn how practical details show the wisdom of God revealed in seemingly mundane ways.

While Jesus is getting rejected by the people of Nazareth, the demoniac He healed chapters earlier was busy telling everyone what the love of God had done for Him. Even the disciples forgot the power of God's love in a moment of panic. But when they felt rejected, and were themselves guilty of unbelief, they crossed the sea to see God's love was still at work in the most unlikely places.

"Numbers" might better be called "Marches," because it recounts the journey of God's people from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land. We will consider the tender relationship between the Hebrew God YHWH and his people. He prepared them spiritually and militarily, for what would be a blessed, yet burdensome march to their promised home.

Leviticus ends by God reminding His people of what was His and what was theirs. We see a Biblical basis for generosity in this passage and have opportunity to reflect on our personal generosity.

Jesus was rejected by those who knew Him best in Nazareth. John the Baptist was beheaded for faithfulness. We can take heart when others reject us even though we try our hardest for God and the gospel. If God Himself can't please His people, we shouldn't be shocked when we disappoint them.

There are great blessings for obedience. When we fail to follow the Lord's will, we get in His way and suffer the consequences. When we live according to His will, faith becomes more than what we do. It becomes more and more, who we are.

How would life be better if we saved in six years enough to take every seventh year off? What would you do with that year off? How would it effect your family? We consider these things as we consider the blessings of the Sabbath year.

A demon-possessed man, woman with and incurable disease, and Jairus who lost his daughter. Each it seems, represent people whose prayers God was slow to answer. We are often waiting on the Lord. How do we process feelings of impatience or disappointment with Him? In this chapter, we learn that when God delays, He often has far more in store for us than we dared hope was possible.

Moses continues to intertwine the ceremonial and civil law of God's Old Testament people because they complement, not contradict, each other. When many are confused and lost in a society that is losing valuable institutions, we can find our place with the help of institutions that God has given to bless us along life's way.

The liturgical calendar of God's Old Testament people complemented their agricultural lifestyle. As we review the annual calendar of worship, we discover a few types of Christ. We grow in our appreciation of the God Who blesses us in earthly and eternal ways.

Jesus continues teaching about the blessings of His Word sown into our lives. What are you going to do with it? How are you going to share it? What can God do through you when you share His love with others? The only way you will find out is by joining Him in His work of generously sharing His Word.

Covenant capital crimes included the sacrifice of children and certain forms of sexual immorality. God makes very clear his distaste for those who practice such sin. How are we to live as His people in a culture that opposes God's clearly expressed will in these areas of life? There is much room for prayer and mercy as we wrestle with this moral quandry.

Jesus, now accused of blasphemy and being a pawn of satan, teaches about the power of God's Word. There are those who will never hear, and those who miss out on much of the benefit of God's Holy Spirit working in their lives. But it is not because the Word is ineffective. When God has His way in our lives, we produce good fruit in abundance.

The virtues of honor, respect and justice, hold society together. What may seem a random assemblage of God's ceremonial and civil laws in Leviticus 19, show us how faith forms character. We learn the real blessings of God's character underpinning our lives and society.

Living in a confused, sex-crazed world, God laid out very clear boundaries for His people's sexual conduct towards each other. If we are led by our feelings, it is easy for us to go astray. When we listen and follow the Lord's design in faith, there may be confusion and suffering. However, the consequences suffered for faith are much better than those suffered by those who are misled by their feelings.