Numbers 30-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Old Testament

1. Laws concerning a husband and wife, and father and daughter. Under what circumstances does a woman's vow "hold water."

2. God commands the people to destroy the Midianites, as revenge.

- After this Moses will die and join his ancestors.

- They choose an army, kill all the males (including Balaam) and take the plundered prize back home.

- Moses is furious. This is not quite what they were told to do. He reminds them of the plague and sends them back. This time they are to leave only the virginal girls alive.

3. Division of the plunder

- First it is divided in half. Half to the army, half to the people.

- The army is to give 1/500th to the Lord.

- The people are to give 1/50th to the Lord.

- The army makes an additional atonement "gift," as they had lost no men during the battles.

New Testament

4. The temptation of Jesus.

5. The first temptation focused on Jesus' physical nature. Christ, after fasting for 40 days, was hungry. In response to the temptaion, Jesus recalled,"People (Men) do not live by bread alone." Christ had been led into the wilderness by the Spirit. He had been led to fast. Now He would not let His physical needs or urges dominate: Jesus would choose instead to continue to do the will of God.

- The physical is one area of temptation for many of us. Some are ruled by gluttony. Others are firmly in the grip of sexual appetites.

- We all have physical needs. And it is right to satisfy them. But we are more than our bodies. We are more than our sensations. Life for us is far more than the satisfaction of bodily urges and needs.

- Jesus' victory offers us hope.

6. The second temptation

- Jesus' response to this second temptation, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him."

-First ,we have to realize that authority over all the kingdoms of this world is Jesus' destiny. But the pathway to the crown led Jesus by way of the Cross.

- Suffering preceeded glory. Knowing this, Jesus turned His back on the "good," and chose to live by God's will.

- We all know that the cross brought a greater good. God had our greater good in mind as He directed Jesus toward the scourgings and the thorny crown; toward the brutal pain of nails driven into yielding flesh.

- Are you confronted by a "good thing" that attracts you? We are to follow Jesus' example. Determine to do the right thing, determining that in every situation you will worship God, and Him only will you serve!

7. The third temptation

- This one is more subtle. What the passage implies is the question, "Why not settle it?" at least it does to me.

- It says...God won't let His Son come to harm. Prove to yourself the relationship You claim, once and for all.

- Relationship with God must always rest on faith, and on confidence in God's trustworthiness.

- Look back at the stories of the Israelites. How many times did they test God's limits?

- How about our own lives? Do we trust God?

8. Jesus is rejected at Nazareth

- Jesus' neighbors are confronted with a decision they did not wish to make, and a claim they did not wish to hear.

- When we see Jesus, when we come to recognize Him as the Son of God, we must reject either ourselves- or Him.

- We may choose ourselves and surrender to every temptation we feel. But if we do we will never experience the new life Jesus came to bring.

- Or, we may choose Jesus. And so choose to respond to temptations the way Jesus did. We must take our stand on the Word of God, determine to practice that Word, and do it in all confidence that Jesus, the Son of God, will bring us the victories for which we yearn.

Psalm

9. "Your unfailing love is better than life itself..."

Proverbs

10. "The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity."

See you next post...

Numbers 24-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14 (New Living Translation)

Old Testament

1. Balaam blesses Israel.

- "Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

- "Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?"

2. Moab seduces Israel

- Some of the Israelite men have sexual relations with Moabite women.

- They also joined in worship to another god, Baal. God commands that these men be killed.

- 24,000 more people are lost in the plague.

- Eleazar makes atonement for the Israelites. This earns him and his descendants permanent priesthood.

- God demands that the Midianites be destroyed. Remember the Midianites from the story of Joseph.

New Testament

3. The census causes Joseph to take his family to Bethlehem.

- Mary gives birth to Jesus.

- The angel of the Lord appears to shepherds.

- At 8 days of age Jesus is circumcised.

4. Jesus is presented at the Temple.

- Simeon blesses them and make a prophecy about Jesus' future.

Psalm

5. "You are my strength"

6. "For you have been my refuge"

Proverbs

7. "Without wise leadership, a nation falls"

See you next post...

Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13 (New Living Translation)

Old Testament

1. Balaam mounts his donkey to meet Balak. An angel stands in their way. The donkey "recognizes" this and avoids the angel. Balaam reacts by beating the donkey.

- Finally the donkey speaks to him to explain. Finally the angel speaks to him. As is a speaking donkey is not enough of a miracle.

2. They set up several altars, but ultimately Balaam blesses Israel, because God has blessed them, and he cannot curse them.

New Testament

3. The birth of John the Baptist.

- Zechariah can now speak, and he prophesies..."And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord."

- John grows up and lives in the wilderness until his public ministry begins.

Psalm

4. "You plot injustice in your hearts"

5. "...surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth."

Proverbs

6. "... a sensible person keeps quiet."

7. "A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence."

See you next post...

Numbers 21-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11 (New Living Translation)

Old Testament

1. Victory over the Canaanite. Remember Canaan, that's where we are going.

- The people mad a vow to God to completely destroy the city if God helped them.

2. Don't worry, it didn't last long. The people are complaining again...no food, no water, Moses, etc.

- God sends poisonous snakes, the people are bitten, and many die. The people, of course turn to Moses to intercede for them. He does. Then God commands him to make a bronze snake to heal the people.

3. The people have several more victories. Balak, who is the son of the Moabite king (Zippor), sends for Balaam to curse the people.

- God visits Balaam and tells him not to curse the people, they are blessed. Balaam sends them home, but they return at a later time to make a second request. This time God says to go with them, "but do only what I tell you to do."

-This can't be good...

New Testament

5. The angel Gabriel returns, and this time foretells the birth of Jesus. this visit of course is to Mary, who is engaged to Joseph.

- He fills her in on Elizabeth's pregnancy and blessing.

- Mary's reply has to be the most perfect answer ever..."I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true."

- I am the Lord's servant. No question, no back-talk, no explanations about why she couldn't do this. Just, "I am the Lord's servant."

6. Mary visits Elizabeth. Elizabeth's baby responds to the sound of Mary's voice. Or is he responding to the presence of the Lord...the One he is to pave the way for?

- Mary's song of praise.

Psalm

7. "My heart is confident in you, O God."

Proverbs

8. "Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart."

See you next post...