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Today is Friday February 12, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Numbers, chapters 1 & 2. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-12

Title: Bible Study: Dwelling With God
The Book of Numbers is the forth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-six chapters. The author of the book is Moses and it was originally written to the Israelite's. The purpose of the book was to record the Israelite's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness as a result of their disobedience to God. What we are to learn from the book is that God is not pleased with anything less than a total commitment to Him. The Book of Numbers is literally a book of numbers, first it begins with the numbering of the people, except for the Levite's. This numbering became what is known as what we call today a census. “And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.........But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” - Numbers 1-4,47-51. The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in the Abrahamic covenant of increasing the seed of Jacob. They were about to be trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan so every male of 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob) twenty years and older was counted. The Levites were not included in this number because they were chosen by God to serve Him. They were in charge of keeping up the Tabernacle, when the camp was moving they had to disassemble everything and reassemble it in their new location. It was for the honor of the holy things that none should see them, or touch them, but only those who were called of God to do the service. Today, when we call on Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, as our Savior we by His grace become the spiritual seed of God, making us Levites and priests to our Lord. Since we are children of God and called to represent Him, we are to be holy and set apart from the rest of the world, including those who say they know Jesus, but do not believe in the Gospel. It is the greatest honor we will ever receive, we have been chosen by God Himself to serve, guide and teach others the truth that He is a loving and graceful God who only wants the best for His people. Why would He send His only Son to die for us so we can have life if He did not love us?

God also told the Israelite's where they were to dwell among the Tabernacle, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.” - Numbers 2:1,2. Each tribe was to encamp within close proximity to the Tabernacle, but not too close. The Tabernacle was a token of God's gracious presence that was always around them, but they were not to get so close that it would endanger them. Remember, anyone who came in contact with any part of the Tabernacle other than a Levite would instantly die.
So, the children of Israel were given allotted space according to the tribe and number of people in their tribe. They went peacefully to their allotted space without any murmuring or disputing, . “These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.” - Numbers 2:32-34. It is observable, those tribes who were placed together, were nearest of kin to each other. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were the three youngest sons of Leah, so Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, their elder brother. Reuben and Simeon would not be content with their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, is chief of the next squadron. Simeon doubtless is willing to be under him. And Gad, the son of Leah's handmaid, is fitly added to him, in Levi's room. Ephraim/Manasseh (Joseph's sons), and Benjamin are all the posterity of Rachel. Dan the eldest son of Bilhah leads the rest, to them are added the two younger sons of the handmaids. It was in their best interest as well as safety to dwell amongst the area God had chosen for them. Had they chose to go where they wanted there would have been more strife between the Israelite's then there were against the others who were present in the land.

What all this comes down to is God's will and whether or not we are willing to follow Him and do what He asks from us, this includes going to the right church and seeking the right religion. I was out soul winning Thursday night and a man answered the door, his response was, I do not do religion. Well, my response was neither do we. God is not religion, God is choosing to live by His standards, which are in His book, not ones made up by man, which is what religion is. Even basketball can be a religion if one sets his life around the game. Think about it. Are you willing to travel miles away from comfort to do the unknown for God? I live in America and my life is here, I serve at my church, and do so much for God as it is. Yet, I may have the opportunity in a couple of years to go to New Zealand. If it is God's will to send me thousands of miles away from the comfort of home here than I will do it. We are to serve God for the purpose that He has called us, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ........ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” - Ephesians 4:4-7,11-15. We as Christian's are called to continue the work of Christ, He does not expect us to do everything, but He gives us all certain gifts that allow us to serve Him to the fullest and the truth is the more we use our gifts for His glory, the more He blesses us. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend. God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

P.S. I apologize for this being posted a day late, weekends are such a challenge for me, but I am working on getting everything in order. Thank you for your patience and God bless you for your faithfulness.

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