Luke 5

11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

An appropriate response.

Numbers 28-30

2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Do what is on your heart. Don't hesitate when the command is clear. Say yes and just do it. Trust and obey. Let yes mean yes.

Luke 4

all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

All, any, various........everyone of them healed by the laying on of His hands. Jesus is willing: do we believe and do we lay on His hands?

Numbers 25-27

12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;

Blessed are the peacemakers that make war against sin!

14 For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes.”

Moses' sin lay in part in his failure to reveal the goodness of God. His anger consumed his faith.

Luke 3

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Repentance demonstrated.

Numbers 22-24

20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel 22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him.

God doesn't change his mind, but he does give us over to the willful deceptions of our heart if we resist his counsel.

Leviticus 21-27

Chapter 22 - "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God". Even the tiny details are important.

The sacrifice needed to be unblemished - only a sinless person could die for sinful people. The clean is distinguished from the unclean. Today, the divide still exists - only those made 'clean' can enter the presence of the Lord.

23 - Celebrations for past and present blessings (v43) 'that your generations may know...'

25 - The people's attitudes and actions revolve around their relationship with the Lord - they dwell in His land as His servants. The people are not to be hypocrites, expecting the Lord (as their master and landlord) to treat them kindly while they treat others harshly.

26 - This sets up the type of relationship Israel will have with God, and it's important to put future O.T. events in this context. Obedience brings blessing. Disobedience brings chastening. Repentance brings back blessing. The fruit of the land and success in battle both reveal the people's walk with the Lord.

Luke 2

“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

There is work to be done.

Numbers 19-21

12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Moses did not believe. Moses who had seen a fair bit by this point. Faith is not necessarily built on experience. Trust the word.

Luke 1

20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

How sad that people suffer simply for refusing to receive. Silence at least gives the opportunity for faith to speak.

Numbers 16-18

41 On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.”

Identification with the Lord means we may me held responsible for His actions.

Mark 16

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Do we believe?

Numbers 13-15

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

33 There we saw the giants[d] (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Choose your perspective.

Mark 15

38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Unlimited internet access, unlimited texts, unlimited landline calls and 1000 mobile to mobile calls on my new phone contract: I intend to make full use of this facility. How much more the unlimited access to Jesus?

Numbers 10-12

2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.

Clear communication is not an option for good leadership.

8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

Moses was not "successful" in many respects, and yet he was right, and vindicated by God.

Mark 14

36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Faith filled. Faithful.

Numbers 7-9

whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

How willing are we to abandon our traditions and follow His presence? How willing are we to remain in the same pattern until He permits change?

Mark 13

13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Endure. Never never never give up.

Numbers 4-6

20 But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.”

Reverence and rejoicing must be held in tension in the worship of our Lord and King.

Mark 12

33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul,[h] and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Is there genuine passion in our acts of devotion?

Numbers 1-3

by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:

The church is numbered by its active warriors, not by those asleep in the pews.

Leviticus 16-20

In chapter 16, we see Aaron must have a sacrifice for his own sins, then a sacrifice for the people's sins, then a sacrifice that bears the sins of the people and takes them away. Three sacrifices. Only Christ could 'die once for all' in place of the three sacrifices.

The beginning of Leviticus describes on what basis the people can approach God. The next part (from chapter 17) describes how the people remain in fellowship with God. (20v22) 'You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.'

Mark 11

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Choose to believe. Believe you can choose.

Leviticus 25-27

23 ‘The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.

6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid;I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.

Leviticus 4-15

The sin offering reminds the people that sin stops them directly approaching the Lord. Instead, they come to the priest, who makes a sacrifice on their behalf to atone for their sin. The priest must also make sacrifice for his own sins. Christ becomes the great priest who sacrifices himself.

The Lord makes it clear that He defines how He is to be approached and worshipped. When Nadab and Abihu offer 'strange fire' they are consumed and die. Of course, our worship is only made perfect by the sacrifice of Jesus, but, because we desire to be conformed to the image of Christ, so we will desire to worship wholly in spirit and in truth.

Another chunk of this passage covers uncleanness. Just as the sacrifices must be 'without blemish', so the worshippers are to be 'clean'. Sacrifices do not remove accountability from those who come to worship.

Mark 10

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Pursue passion, not concession.

Leviticus 22-24

2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the LORD.

It aint about things.

Mark 9

4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Its hard to comprehend these guys showing up after their time. What is time?

Leviticus 19-21

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

We cannot be independantly holy: we can only be holy because He is holy. He is the source of holiness.


17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

In love, we must correct.

Mark 8

24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

Persistence.

Leviticus 16-18

2 and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

What a privileged access we have today.

Leviticus 1-3

The sacrifices are to be 'without blemish' and 'unleavened'. Only pure, unadulterated sacrifices are accepted. The 'salt of the covenant' must be added to all grain offerings. Acceptable sacrifices produce a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The sacrifices could only be offered by a chosen priest.
We see the necessity of purity, and a link to the covenant promises of God. Yet no animal sacrifice could take away sin. Only Christ is able to perfectly fulfil every part of the sacrifices, with whom God is 'well-pleased'.

Mark 7

36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Humble yourself, and you can be trusted with the hights? To sing one's own glory is not glory.

Leviticus 13-15

59 “This is the law of the leprous plague in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or woof, or in anything made of leather, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.”

Let us put off the old garments of unrighteousness, the filthy rags of our proud good deeds, and put on the righteousness of Christ!

Mark 6

8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

Is it a receive and you'll be received strategy?

Leviticus 9-12

1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’”

Do we worship mighty God, or matey God? Are we casual and "creative" rather than reverent?

mark 5

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

Does power go out from us?

lev5-8

restitution introduced

Mark 4

26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Evangelism is a mystery to me: I don't understand how people get saved, and when I imagine going out and sharing the gospel, I don't visualise people responding....but if we sow the seed, there will be a harvest. What kind of farmer fails to sow seed just because he doesn't understand the science of germination?

Leviticus 1-4

What an affect it must have had on the sinner to observe the animal separated from its fat, its bloodput on the altar and poured on the ground, and its carcass cooked. I am certain that watchig all of that must have produced a measure of confidence that God was covering the sin. How much more so may we look upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and have confidence that are sins are completely forgiven and obliterated by His sacrifice. It is indeed a "sweet aroma before the Lord".

Exodus 33-40

A beautiful ending to the book. Moses intercedes for the people (33) and finds favour with God. This favour is described in terms of a relationship - "I know you by name". In chapter 34, the Lord, "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love", renews the covenant with His people. There is a visible effect upon Moses when he has been in the Lord's presence.

Chapter 35 is great - "and they came, everyone whose heart stirred him". Among the Israelites there were doubters who questioned God's faithfulness and wisdom, but there were also those who followed Him with the heart. God then provides those who have the necessary skills to do the work He has commanded. The specific instructions for the craftsmen are a little overwhelming to read, but are just a reminder of the vast power and intelligence of God, who has made all things.

The final chapter shows us the problem of sin, and how God is able to have a relationship with sinners. The ark is kept within the tent, separate from the people. A priest must intercede on behalf of the people. The relationship is maintained by this mediator. God's chosen man, Moses, does all that God commands (a phrase repeated eight times) and thus "finishes the work", so that the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. The cloud and the flame are signs that the Lord is with His people, and that they are to stay where they are.

Mark 3

11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”

Unclean spirits speak through people, and sometimes say good things too. The test is do they attest to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The unclean spirit that spoke through Peter was directly opposed to Jesus offering His life.

Exodus 40

12 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. 13 You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. 14 And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. 15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

We cannot wash, anoint, dress or consecrate ourselves into serving God: it must be done for us by our great high priest, Jesus.

Mark 2

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Resurrection is not a process. It is immediate. God can and does do "immediate" miracles.

Exodus 37-39

Delegate but supervise.

Exodus 19-32

The law is given to the people of God, the message mediated by a man of God. The law is God's word (31v18). The law helps us understand two things:
1. Freedom - (20v2) God makes clear the law is to be understood in the context of freedom from slavery. The law is not presented as another form of slavery.
2. Love - Paul tells us in Romans 13 that love fulfils the law. In other words, the law begins to give us a picture of what it means to love your neighbour - note, for example, 23v4, 5.
However, Moses leaves the people for a short time, only to find when he returns (ch.32) that they have made an idol (representing the 'gods who brought us out of Egypt') to worship. The Lord is angered, and Moses responds by appealing to the God of covenant (32v13). Salvation is not based on works, but on the grace-filled promises of God.
Ultimately, we see that even at this early time after freedom from Egypt, the people could not satisfy the law of God. Moses is a saviour figure, bringing God's message of freedom, and leading the people to the land of promise. Of course, true freedom would be found in perfect obedience to the law, which is found in the promised place of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.