One Year Bible, March 17

NUMBERS 26:1-51                                                                                                     

Looking back at chapter 25 at Balaam once more: When he couldn't turn God against Israel to curse them, he turned the people against God! What he couldn't accomplish by cursing and force, he attempted by seduction. Spiritual adultery causes compromise and even apostasy, and the love for God grows lukewarm or even cold, bringing death. Until the fornicator (SELF) is killed, the death continues.

New Numbers: This is the new generation at Moab: 601,730 for war and for purposes of allotting the Land. This is the generation that will inherit the promises of God. They had watched the old generation die off without receiving the Land. Some were killed outright by God, some died of old age, some died of disease. There was no hope of recovery for that generation. Psalm 90 was written by Moses about them - the unbelieving, complaining generation is who gets only 70 years for a lifespan.   If he was 20 when he was numbered in the beginning of Numbers, he died by 60. If he was 30, he died by 70. The short lifespan was the result of sin.   Psalm 91 was written by Moses to encourage the new generation who saw thousands die without hope. NOW YOU KNOW. 

RESPONSE:   In Revelation the Beast rides the Harlot. That is, the enemy (world system, flesh, devil) rides the Harlot (seduction of sin). So, Balaam wasn't trying anything new. If it can't be had by force, then seduce it. We must be on our guard. This was a hard lesson for Israel to learn before they got their inheritance (the Kingdom of God). Spiritual adultery can be defined as "sleeping with the enemy". When we want the privileges of being God's people, without the responsibility. We want to have our cake and eat it too! But, "marriage" is not like that --- in most cases. And God likens our relationship like a marriage (Eph 5). It is exclusive. I think that is what made the difference for me in my walk with God - was when I realized it was exclusive. I couldn't just ease into the relationship. It is "all or nothing".  I was either married or I wasn't.

LUKE 2:36-52                                                                                                               
Simeon: The Old Testament prophet holds the new beginning in his arms.

Anna:   Another Old Testament prophet who waited 84 years for "an instant" to get here. The NIV calls it "that very moment". It was like a window in time - the transition of the old to the new.

Jesus: The transition prophet in that He bridged the old and brought the new. He "held His own" because He was Word-savvy, submitted, wise, and full of grace, already at 12 years old. (ring any bells?)

RESPONSE:   Twelve is the Bible number for dominion and rulership. Note how Jesus GOT there at age 12 - He was Word-savvy, submitted, wise and full of grace. It reads like Anna entered the Temple area already praising God. "Commitment" is the name of the game: she hung in there for 84 years! And what a pay-off!

PSALM 60:1-12                                                                                                            
Codes: "Edomites" = flesh. "Valley of Salt" = Place of the destruction of the flesh (Edomites). "Breaches" = Broken places in the wall of protection; vulnerability to enemies because of Saul's continuing opposition to David.

"O God, thou hast cast us off": When there is in-fighting, we are vulnerable to our enemies because God hates discord and disunity and won't defend it.

PROVERBS 11:15                                                                                                       
Jesus was "surety" for us and died for it because we could never pay the debt. Don't put yourself in that position for a "stranger".

RESPONSE:   Salt preserves from pollution and represents both the preservation and the permanency. To be "preserved blameless" (1 Thess 5:23) the flesh (SELF) must die! Otherwise contamination will take place. Thus, the defeat of Edom in the Valley of Salt takes on significance figuratively for us. We can only defeat the flesh through God, which is pretty much what Psa 60 tells us. Willpower is vain (powerless). In fighting the flesh, (v.3) we see "hard things" - severe and cruel things. God's holiness "speaks" and we listen. This is a lifelong battle, but it gets easier and easier as we agree with what God says.