Found Wanting Deuteronomy 5:1–22 You shall learn [the statutes and the rules] and be careful to do them. Deuteronomy 5:1 As we look at the Ten Commandments, we find ourselves wanting. We have not worshiped God as we ought. We have worshiped idols, albeit of our own making. We have not fully honored his name….

The Real Battle Numbers 33:1–4 On their gods also the Lord executed judgments. Numbers 33:4 A historian might look at the story of the exodus from Egypt and say, “Moses must have been a great leader, and the victory there was his victory. He succeeded in rallying the people to the point at which they…

Look to Jesus Numbers 21:4–9 If a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9 For the Israelites to be saved from their snakebites, the only thing required was that they believe God’s word about the bronze snake and look to it as he commanded them. So also are…

Eyes on God Numbers 13:26–33 Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30 Twelve spies were sent into the Promised Land. As far as the land itself was concerned, the reports of the twelve spies agreed: it was a land flowing with milk and…

The Humble Spirit Numbers 11:24–30 Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them! Numbers 11:29 For some reason, two of the elders of Israel were not present when the Spirit of God came upon the others. They had remained in the camp. But when the Holy…

Jubilee Leviticus 25:8–13 In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. Leviticus 25:13 Jubilee was the year, occurring every fifty years, in which all land holdings in Israel were to revert to their original family owners. Nothing in our experience exactly parallels this year of Jubilee. But the intent of…

A Time for Giving Thanks Leviticus 23:33–44 Celebrate the feast of the Lord. Leviticus 23:39 Our lives are filled with many responsibilities. Our days are usually taken up with useful activities. Much of our time is spent working. We have five days a week for that, and for many of us the other days are…

The Gospel in the Law Leviticus 16:15–22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities. Leviticus 16:22 The meaning of Christ’s sacrifice was made particularly clear in the instructions for the two sacrifices to be performed in Israel on the Day of Atonement. In the first sacrifice a goat was driven away into the wilderness to…

Pointing to Christ Exodus 40:17–35 And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:35 If we are to approach God “in truth” (John 4:24), we must approach God Christocentrically. This means “in Christ,” for this is God’s way of approach to him. Jesus himself signified this when he said to his disciples, “I…

The Merciful God Exodus 34:1–8 The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious. Exodus 34:6 After Moses had interceded for the people of Israel so that God would not destroy them because of their having made the golden calf, Moses made three great prayers. His first request was that he might know God (33:13)….