Category: Twice Blessed

The tribe of Levi did not have a designated region as an inheritance, but the Lord gave them cities throughout the other tribes,

And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying: “Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities…” (Numbers 35.1–5).

Christians are priests and the Lord has done the same thing for us. No place on Earth exists that the Lord says belongs exclusively to Christians, but we dwell among all the inhabitants of the Earth. We own property, as the Levites did.

We serve God in our respective locations, but we serve God for the sake of the people living around us, otherwise, they would have no one interceding for them.

The Pharisees asked Jesus whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife, and the Lord explained that from the beginning, He did not intend for divorce to be an option, although it was under the Law of Moses.

The disciples had the same question, and they asked Jesus about it, even after He had already explained it,

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10.10–12).

Jesus implanted in our thinking that divorce should not be an easy option to us. When you get married, He intends for it to be for life, that is how He created it.

Two and a half of the tribes of Israel decided that they wanted to stay on the East side of the Jordan, and Moses rebuked them for it, thinking that they were not going to help conquer the land on the West side. However, they said to him,

Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan” (Numbers 32.16–19).

The two and a half tribes had a plan; they would stay in the East and make preparations there, but they would lead the rest of Israel into the Land of Canaan. They kept their promise, and so they were able to keep their plan.

Make plans, and keep promises, and the Lord shall enable you to carry out your plans.

The disciples argued about their greatness, but then Jesus made a connection with someone humble, and it silenced the arguing men,

Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me” (Mark 9.36–37).

Receive a child, and it is as though you are receiving the Son of God, and if you receive the Son of God, it is as though you are receiving the Father Himself.

Do you need to adjust your attitude toward children.

The first two-thirds of the life of Moses, the Lord prepared Moses for the last third of his life. Then it came down to the end, and the Lord let the man of God know that one more thing needed to be done, and then Moses could be gathered to his people,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people” (Numbers 31.1–2).

The Midianites had caused Israel to sin, thus bringing on a curse from God. Therefore, the Lord wanted Israel to take care of this matter under the leadership of Moses, and then he could finally join his people.

Moses had a frustrating life in many ways, yet, the Lord used him and when the Lord was done with Moses, the Lord brought the leader of Israel home.

Perhaps the Lord does that with all of us. Therefore, we need to make sure that we have submitted ourselves to Him that we might fulfill His will in our lives.

Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. They saw His appearance change into something glorious, and they also saw Moses and Elijah, and the three disciples heard the voice of God announce the divine Sonship of Jesus. How hard would it have been to keep silent about such an event? Yet, Jesus told them to keep silent until after His resurrection,

Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant (Mark 9.9–10).

They had to keep such a magnificent event in confidence, but with self-discipline anyone can accomplish such a feat. However, they did note that Jesus indicated the time would happen when they could announce it; when He rose from the dead. They did not know what that meant, assuming, I suppose, that it must have been some kind of hidden message. Yet, they found out later that Jesus had spoken plainly and when He did rise from the dead, they announced what they had witnessed, and that is why we have it in our Bibles.

After Jesus had done many miracles and taught amazing things, He knew that people started forming opinions of His identity,

Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8.27–29).

If we asked that same question today, what answers would we get? I am sure that the answers would be varied, as they were when Jesus asked, but we now have a growing number who claim He never existed!

The evidence for His identity to be exactly whom Peter said Jesus was, the Christ, is overwhelming. Why would anyone deny the existence of Jesus of Nazareth? Do those same people deny the existence of other historical figures?

Balaam kept seeking the Lord, hoping that He would change His mind and curse Israel for the King of Moab, who had hired Balaam to curse Israel. However, the prophet eventually came to the realization that the Lord would not change, and had determined to bless Israel. The Bible says,

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him (Numbers 24.1–2).

Balaam did just as he promised the king of Moab that he would do, speak the word of the Lord. Then when Balaam would not go to the Lord anymore, the prophet looked upon Israel and by the Spirit of God blessed Israel.

However, later Balaam showed the king of Moab how he could get the Lord to curse Israel. Too bad, because the prophet had spoken the truth, although he was greedy, and he could have been a righteous man.

An Israelite named Zelophehad had five daughters and no sons, but the Law said nothing of an inheritance going to daughters. They believed that their father’s name should not perish in Israel simply because he had no sons. Therefore, they approached Moses about the matter, and he did not know what to do, and brought the matter to the Lord,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them” (Numbers 27.6–7).

While the Lord had not addressed the issue until this time that Moses brought it up, the daughters of Zelophehad knew the thinking of the Lord. They knew what He wanted and did not want. Therefore, by proper reasoning, they were able to figure out His mind on this issue, and He let them know that they were right.

Many people want signs from heaven before they will believe. People in churches who already believe there is a God in heaven, and people from the secular community who do not believe there is a God in heaven, both of them want to see something that proves God exists or something of that sort. Jesus dealt with the problem,

Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation” (Mark 8.11–12).

Here is the thing. For the secularists, would they truly believe, if the God of heaven suddenly showed a sign, proving once and forever, that He exists? No, I do not believe that they would, because the ultimate sign has already been done, and they still do not believe. It is not enough for them.

The ultimate sign from heaven was God coming down in human flesh to live among us, but people hated Him so much they demanded His crucifixion.