One Year Bible, March 3

LEVITICUS 27:14 - 34
Vows and Tithes: Vows are voluntary, tithes are not. If you keep back a tithe, now you owe another 20%.   Another name for "tithes" is "firstfruits".

NUMBERS 1:1-54
The Hebrew title for Numbers is "In the Wilderness", and it picks up right after the book of Exodus. It is called "Numbers" because two generations are numbered: the old generation at the beginning of their journey at Mt. Sinai, and the new generation at Moab the end of 38 years of wandering (chapters 1 and 26). Chapters 1-14 take the old generation to Kadesh-Barnea; chapters 15-20 show the old generation wandering; (38-year break here), chapters 21-36 the new generation is prepared to enter the Land.

This is "The Book of Testing" and chapters 15-36 cover the discipline of the Lord. The old generation was rejected because of unbelief and disobedience. The new generation enters through testing and refining. The Land represents maturity and living in the Truth of God; it is possessed through walking it out (Deut 11:24). We are all called to a Wilderness experience to be proven by God, but NOT called to Wilderness wandering. The Wilderness wanderings are the result of sin and disobedience.

"All that were able to go forth to war" (V.3) every man age 20 years and up. The people were numbered for military purposes, by family pedigree. Only the Levites were exempt from the army because they were in charge of the care and maintenance of the Tabernacle. The total of all the army was 603,550.

RESPONSE:   There had to be over a million people total, plus livestock and supplies. Obviously two years of moving around in the Wilderness was planned, probably preparation for the Land. That other 38 years (Deut 2:14) had to be frustrating for the new generation - and frightening as they saw the old generation die off, with things never getting better. God had to keep their hope of victory alive - especially when you realize that CANAAN IS NOT HEAVEN. It will be interesting to see what character traits God is anxious to remove, and which ones He cultivates during this time. There is more to "freedom" than meets the eye! Got to get the old stuff out of our hearts in order to be truly free. There isn't much difference between serving the devil and serving myself!

MARK 11:1-25
Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem: Luke says He paused and wept over it when He drew near. The City did not know that Jesus was entering as the King on an inspection tour. He went straight to the Temple and saw corruption, exploitation, commercialism, filth, hypocrisy, arrogance. He didn't say a word. The next day He came back and on His way stopped at a fig tree to eat. The tree was in the same condition as the Temple - outward show, but figs! Nothing but leaves. It appeared to have life, but in reality it did not. So it was cursed. Once Jesus rejected them, the life of the Temple, the fig tree, and the Nation all withered and were destroyed.

"Have faith in God."   He is NOT giving us the secret of how to curse fig trees or move mountains. Jesus is giving the secret of how to live so as not to be cursed. These were all cursed because they had lost their faith in God. But sometimes it is difficult to have faith because of a "mountain" that hinders us. This mountain is unforgiveness. It fills up our whole life and it's all we see. It blocks the flow of LIFE to us. When we stand praying, if we will forgive those who have offended us, the mountain will go away, and we will have the fruit of LIFE in us again, instead of death withering us.

RESPONSE:   I need and have a strong desire for "the Life" to flow through me. It is "the Life" that Jesus came to give me and it is characterized by "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom 14:17). It is maintained by staying connected to "the Life Source" - Jesus. The biggest hindrance to maintaining that flow is unforgiveness. I must forgive EVERYBODY. I have found that I can "make a mountain out of a molehill" if I let it sit too long. If I forgive speedily, it won't pick up strength or power. Help me to do that, Lord. In fact, it would be better if I overlooked offenses altogether.

PSALM 46:1-11
The inspiration for Martin Luther's song, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God". The secret to our confidence is being conscious of the Presence of God. He is abundantly available and therefore we will not fear. "Be still" - to let go and relax, to refrain from being disturbed and from working so hard. Leave matters in God's hands without being anxious about it. "He is God" - He is in charge, He is the Source of "the Life". Our enemies rage in vain.

PROVERBS 10:23
A fool thinks sin (or a heinous crime) is entertaining. It comes "naturally" for him; it's easy. Instead of sorrow, he laughs away his conscience. A wise man thinks being wise is easy and simple - that is, it comes "naturally" for him, too.

RESPONSE:   I hope I never find it "natural" to sin. I want to be bothered by it. I would love for wise behavior to be easy for me. It is getting easier. That's progress. Instead of thinking about how to be wise, I concentrate on staying connected to Jesus - on being fully conscious of His Presence in me, on me, beside me, with me. That He is fully aware of me, and I am fully aware of Him. It is a joyful way to live and one without as many mistakes in it.