“The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” -Numbers 17:5 Let’s face it: It’s easy to envy those in leadership. We want to be as good as or better than the guy with the bigger business, larger church, or more fans. The same was true in the time of Moses and Aaron. Some of the other leaders were ready to take over and prove... Read more

“The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy.” -Numbers 16:7 You can achieve what the mind can conceive. The power is in you. You can be anything you want to be. Set big goals and accomplish them. Plan your attack and attack your plan. Go for it. Seize the day. We hear these kinds of motivational phrases all the time. We are told we can be anything and do anything we set our mind to. But... Read more

37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then... Read more

But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. -Numbers 14:24 In the midst of tragedy, Caleb stood out as a hero. Why? He had what the Bible calls “a different spirit” or attitude. He followed God wholeheartedly. What does it mean to follow God wholeheartedly? It’s clear to follow the Lord wholeheartedly included two key component: Caleb trusted God... Read more

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” -Numbers 13:30 Twelve spies entered the land of Canaan and reported back to Moses. Their thoughts? Ten men reported, “It’s a great place, but we could never take the area. The people are too strong.” Two men, Joshua and Caleb, remembered God’s promise rather than their fears. Yet even among these men, only one was... Read more

So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” -Numbers 12:13 Of all the people who can hurt us, family members tend to hurt the most. When a spouse, brother, sister, or parent speak against us, the pain is much greater than when we receive spiteful words from others. So when Miriam, the sister of Moses, spoke against him, I’m sure it stung a bit more than the complaints of the other Israelites in the wilderness. In fact,... Read more

33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food. -Numbers 11:33-34 God had provided for every need of his people in the wilderness, yet they continued to complain against him. Despite manna showing up six days a... Read more

29 Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” 30 He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people. ” 31 But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You... Read more

“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.” -Numbers 9:22-23 For almost forty years in the desert, God appeared in the form of a cloud over the... Read more