Bible Mountain

Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 31:1-24

Roger Dombach — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:00:31 GMT

In the dusty hills of a war-torn valley, Captain Kane led a platoon of seasoned soldiers deep into enemy territory. The orders from command were brutally clear. The village ahead was a known insurgent stronghold. The soldiers were ordered to kill and burn everything, women and children included, because they were shielding insurgents.

The men had seen many comrades die after being ambushed by insurgents who were hiding behind civilian skirts and using children as human shields. Anger and grief ran hot. But when the platoon crested the ridge at dawn and looked down on the village, something shifted. They saw women carrying water jugs on their heads, children chasing chickens in the dirt, and elderly men praying outside mud-brick homes. The supposed “stronghold” looked like any poor farming village.

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Warfare in Western civilization is based on the premise that we don’t kill women, children, or other non-combatants. However, what do you do when the line between combatants and non-combatants is not clear?

Today’s passage tells about a time when Israel initially spared non-combatants in battle, but the non-combatants were not actually innocent. The greatest sin of the non-combatants was causing Israel to worship a false god. The instruction to kill some of the non-combatants illustrates the severity of the sin of enticing people to worship a false god.

After Sarah died, Abraham took another wife named Keturah. She bore several sons to Abraham, including a son named Midian (see Genesis 25). Over the following 500 years, the descendants of Abraham multiplied into the nation of Israel and the descendants of Midian multiplied into the nation of Midian.

Moses, who lived about 500 years after Abraham, grew up in Egypt, but also lived in Midian for many years and married a Midianite woman (see Exodus 2). After Yahweh afflicted Egypt with ten plagues, Moses led Israel out of slavery in Egypt toward the Promised Land. They spent several decades wandering in the wilderness, during which time Yahweh gave them great military victories.

When Balak, king of Moab, saw the military successes of Israel, he sent emissaries to Midian, and together they hired Balaam to curse Israel (see Numbers 22). Yahweh did not allow Balaam to curse Israel. However, Balaam wanted to help Moab and Midian, so he advised them how to put stumbling blocks before Israel (see Revelation 2:14). Balaam suggested the women should entice the men of Israel to worship Baal instead of Yahweh (see Numbers 25).

Later, after an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman into his tent, Yahweh commanded Moses to be hostile to the Midianites and strike them (see Numbers 25:17).

Num. 31:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 31:2 “Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people.”

Notice the word “vengeance”. This battle was about punishing Midian for enticing Israel away from Yahweh.

Num. 31:3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute Yahweh’s vengeance on Midian.
Num. 31:4 One thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”
Num. 31:5 So there were furnished from the thousands of Israel, one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
Num. 31:6 And Moses sent them, one thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war with them, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
Num. 31:7 So they made war against Midian, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.

Take note that they killed every male. This implies they did not kill the females.

Num. 31:8 They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

Don’t miss the significance of the reference to Balaam. Balaam was originally from the Mesopotamian Valley. He was not a Midianite. However, at some point Balaam moved to Midian.

Balaam was a true prophet of Yahweh. However, greed corrupted him. When Moab and Midian offered Balaam a lot of money to curse Israel, he wanted to do so, but Yahweh would not allow him to curse Israel (see Deuteronomy 23:5). Instead, Balaam showed Moab and Midian how to make Israel stumble. During that process, Balaam apparently moved to Midian.

Num. 31:9 And the sons of Israel captured the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle and all their flocks and all their goods they plundered.

Notice the word “captured”. Israel did not kill the women or little ones. They captured them instead.

Num. 31:10 Then they burned all their cities where they lived and all their camps with fire.
Num. 31:11 And they took all the spoil and all the loot, both of man and of beast.
Num. 31:12 And they brought the captives and the loot and the spoil to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the congregation of the sons of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Num. 31:13 ¶ And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Num. 31:14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.

Look at the word “angry”. The soldiers defeated Midian, which was their mission, but Moses was not happy.

Num. 31:15 So Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?

Ponder this question. We live in a society that has a strong tradition of defending women and children. We are greatly influenced by the philosophy “Don’t hit a girl”. When we go to war, we put forth effort to avoid killing innocent women and children. That is how the Israelite soldiers behaved, but Moses was not happy about it.

Num. 31:16 Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the word of Balaam, to act unfaithfully against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.

In the case of Midian, the women were not innocent. It was the Midianite women who enticed the men of Israel to worship false gods. Now, the soldiers had brought those very women into the camp of Israel.

Num. 31:17 So now, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately.

The reason for killing the male children was so that they would not grow up to be young men with enough strength to avenge the deaths of their fathers. It was not wise to have potential traitors inside the Israelite camp.

The reason for killing the women was that they were the ones who caused Israel to sin.

To modern Western ears, the command in verse 17 seems cruel and unjustifiable. We do not kill women and children. We do not kill non-combatants. However, God’s order shows the seriousness of causing others to worship false gods. Just as the Mosaic Law included commands to put adulteresses to death, so too women who enticed people away from Yahweh were to be killed.

Num. 31:18 But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves.
Num. 31:19 And you, camp outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves, you and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.
Num. 31:20 And you shall purify for yourselves every garment and every article of leather and all the work of goats’ hair and all articles of wood.”
Num. 31:21 ¶ Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, “This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded Moses:
Num. 31:22 only the gold and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin and the lead,
Num. 31:23 everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean, but it shall be purified with water for impurity. But whatever cannot stand the fire you shall pass through the water.
Num. 31:24 And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may enter the camp.”

The Israelite soldiers spared the lives of the women and children because they did not want to kill non-combatants. However, the women were not innocent. They had enticed Israel to worship false gods. Leading people away from Yahweh is so grievous, it deserves death, which is what happened to the women of Midian.

This is a warning to us that we should only worship Yahweh, also known as Jesus, the one and only true God, the God of the Bible, the Creator of the universe.

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”

Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 30:1-16

Roger Dombach — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:01:03 GMT

One Thursday evening, Sarah sat at the kitchen table, laptop open, eyes bright with excitement. “David, I’ve decided to join the women’s mission team to Guatemala in October. It’s only ten days. Pastor Mark’s wife is leading it, and they need someone with my teaching background for the children’s program.”

David paused and set down his coffee. “Sarah, we’ve talked about this. The kids are still young. Ethan’s only seven. I’m swamped at work with the new project. Ten days is a long time. This is not a good idea.”

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Sarah’s smile tightened, but she kept her voice calm and biblical. “I’ve prayed about this for weeks. I feel the Lord calling me.”

“I’m not saying never,” David replied carefully. “But as your husband, I think you should wait at least a year.”

Sarah closed the laptop with a soft click. “David, I love you, and I want to honor you. But you don’t have the right to veto this.”

David blinked. “What?”

“The Bible tells me to submit to you,” she said, folding her hands neatly, “but it doesn’t give you unlimited veto power over my life. My gifts are from God. My calling is from God. You’re not my Lord—Jesus is. If I feel clear direction from the Holy Spirit, I have to obey Him first. Submission doesn’t mean I become your puppet.”

David stared at her. “So… you’re submitting to me except when you don’t want to?”

“That’s not fair,” Sarah said, her tone patient and slightly pitying, the same tone she used with their children when they misunderstood a Bible story. “You’re supposed to lead spiritually, yes, but not control me. I’ve studied this. Many godly women throughout history followed God’s call even when their husbands hesitated.”

Later that week, the mission trip deposit cleared from their joint account. Sarah had already paid it. When David asked why she went ahead, she smiled the same gentle smile. “Because the Bible doesn’t actually give you veto power, sweetheart. It gives you leadership. I’m trusting you to lead by supporting what God has called me to do.” She kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the room.

David watched her go, wondering when “submission” had quietly become “I’ll do what I want and call it God’s will.”

Feminism has made it taboo for wives to submit to their husbands. Many Christian women believe it is outrageous to suggest that their husbands can tell them what to do and prohibit them from doing something they want to do.

Today’s passage tells us that Yahweh gave Israelite men veto power over vows their wives made to Yahweh. While this passage sounds very archaic to modern ears, it is not much different than the New Testament teaching that the husband is head of the wife and wives must submit to their husbands.

Num. 30:1 ¶ Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which Yahweh has commanded.
Num. 30:2 If a man makes a vow to Yahweh or swears an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Num. 30:3 ¶ “Also if a woman makes a vow to Yahweh and binds herself by an obligation in her father’s house in her youth,
Num. 30:4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand.
Num. 30:5 But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand; and Yahweh will pardon her because her father had forbidden her.

Notice that unmarried women were subject to their fathers. A father could veto any vow an unmarried woman made.

Num. 30:6 ¶ “However, if she should marry while under her vows or the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself,
Num. 30:7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand, and her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand.
Num. 30:8 But if, on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself; and Yahweh will pardon her.

A husband had complete authority to veto his wife’s vow.

Num. 30:9 ¶ “But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, everything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.

Women who were no longer married were bound by anything they vowed.

Num. 30:10 However, if she vowed in her husband’s house or bound herself by an obligation with an oath,
Num. 30:11 and her husband heard it but said nothing to her and did not forbid her, then all her vows shall stand, and every obligation by which she bound herself shall stand.
Num. 30:12 But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and Yahweh will pardon her.
Num. 30:13 ¶ “Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may cause it to stand, or her husband may annul it.

This verse makes it clear that a woman’s vow was subject to her husband’s approval.

Notice what is not in this passage. There is nothing about husbands needing their wives approval. When a man made a vow, he was obligated.

Num. 30:14 But if her husband indeed says nothing to her from day to day, then he causes all her vows or all her obligations which are on her to stand; he has caused them to stand because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them.
Num. 30:15 But if he indeed annuls them after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt.”
Num. 30:16 ¶ These are the statutes which Yahweh commanded Moses, as between a man and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter, while she is in her youth in her father’s house.

This passage seems very archaic to modern ears. Feminism has made this taboo. However, the New Testament teaches something similar. Ephesians 5:23 tells us the husband is the head of the wife. Just as vows by Israelite women were subject to the approval or disapproval of their husbands, but not vice versa, so too in the church age, wives are under their husbands’ authority. Men do have authority to tell their wives what they can and cannot do.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 29:17-40

Roger Dombach — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:02:14 GMT

The 28th chapter of Numbers lists the sacrifices that were required on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Two male lambs were offered each and every day. Then each Sabbath, an additional two male lambs were offered. On the first day of each month, they sacrificed an additional two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs, and one male goat.

The 28th and 29th chapters combine to list the sacrifices that were required on an annual basis. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were required to bring two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs, and one male goat. That is a total of eleven animals. The requirement during the Feast of Weeks was the same, a total of eleven animals. On Rosh Hashanah the requirement was only one bull, along with one ram, seven male lambs, and one male goat, a total of ten animals. Then on the Day of Atonement they also brought 10 animals.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month they began a feast where the required offerings were much more numerous. On the first day alone, they had to bring thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs, and one goat. That was a total of 30 animals just on the first day, almost triple the number of animals that were needed for the other feasts.

Num. 29:17 ¶ ‘Then on the second day: twelve bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;

Look at the number “twelve”. They had to bring thirteen bulls on the first day, but only twelve on the second day. Other than that, the requirements on the second day were the same as the first day.

Num. 29:18 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:19 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and their drink offerings.

Don’t miss the word “sin”. Part of this massive offering was an animal that was specifically a sin offering to atone for their sins.

Num. 29:20 ¶ ‘Then on the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;

Notice the number “eleven”. The number of bulls that were needed went down one more on the third day, while the number of rams and lambs stayed the same.

Num. 29:21 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:22 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

Once again, we see that a goat offering was required as a sin offering.

This pattern will continue through the rest of the passage. Each day the number of required bulls went down by one, but a goat was also required as a sin offering.

Num. 29:23 ¶ ‘Then on the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;
Num. 29:24 their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:25 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.
Num. 29:26 ¶ ‘Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;
Num. 29:27 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:28 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.
Num. 29:29 ¶ ‘Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;
Num. 29:30 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:31 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offerings.
Num. 29:32 ¶ ‘Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;
Num. 29:33 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:34 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.

On the first day they brought 30 animals. On the second they brought 29. On the third they brought 28. The number kept decreasing by one each day. Over seven days of this feast, the Israelites offered 189 animals. This was a massive number compared to all the other feasts.

The Bible does not specify why the offerings at this feast were so numerous compared to other feasts. This feast took place at the end of the harvest year, so perhaps it was a way to express thanks for the abundance they had recently finished harvesting.

Num. 29:35 ¶ ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious work.
Num. 29:36 But you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish;
Num. 29:37 their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram and for the lambs, by their number according to the legal judgment;
Num. 29:38 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

On the eighth day they only needed to offer ten animals. That made a total of 199 animals over the eight days of this feast.

Num. 29:39 ¶ ‘You shall offer these to Yahweh at your appointed times, besides your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for your grain offerings and for your drink offerings and for your peace offerings.’”

Don’t miss the word “besides”. The 199 animals were in addition to everything else that was required on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. They were also in addition to any sacrifices the Israelites voluntarily offered throughout the year.

Num. 29:40 And Moses spoke to the sons of Israel according to all that Yahweh had commanded Moses.

The magnitude of the sacrifices that were offered in the last festival of the year mirrors the magnitude of the sacrifice of Christ. All through the Old Testament time period, the Israelites offered animal after animal as atonement for sins. However, those sacrifices were not able to perfect those who offered them (see Hebrews 10).

In contrast, Jesus was the greatest and ultimate sacrifice. His sacrifice was greater than all the animal sacrifices combined. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was so great, it atoned for the sins of the whole world.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 28:26 - 29:16

Roger Dombach — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:02:11 GMT

Every Sunday morning, Jim put on the same navy blazer. He drove the family to Grace Community Church, parked in the same spot near the back, and walked in after the service started. He was late enough to avoid the greeters, but early enough to still count as “showing up.” He sat in the last row on the right, next to the aisle.

During the singing, he mouthed the words to the songs without singing. During the sermon he kept his Bible closed on his lap. Sometimes he unlocked his phone and scrolled through headlines or fantasy football scores while the pastor talked about surrender and holiness. The words floated past him like background noise from a television left on in another room.

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After the service, he smiled at people in the lobby, shook a couple of hands, and said the same three things on rotation: “Good message,” “We’re doing fine, thanks,” and “Yeah, we should get the kids together sometime.” Then he drove home, changed into sweats, and spent the rest of the day doing whatever he felt like.

He didn’t pray unless something was already going wrong. He didn’t open his Bible except on rare occasions. He didn’t serve anywhere because he believed “someone else will do it.”

Like Jim, there are many so-called Christians who make no attempt to please God. They attend church sometimes. They live a mostly moral life. However, deep inside, pleasing God is not something they attempt to do.

That is contrary to the example laid out for us in the Bible. After Noah and his family came off the ark, Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings. Genesis 8:21 tells us when Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma, He promised to never again destroy the earth with a flood. This tells us Noah did something that pleased God.

The 28th and 29th chapters of Numbers list the various sacrifices that were required to be offered to Yahweh. Yesterday, we read about the daily, weekly, and monthly sacrifices. Then we started reading about the offerings that were required during their annual festivals. In the first month of the year, Israel celebrated Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Today, as we read about the rest of their festivals, we will focus on the word “soothing”. The Israelites were required to offer soothing aromas to Yahweh. In other words, they were required to please Yahweh. After today’s reading from Numbers, we will look at a couple New Testament verses that explain how we can please God with a soothing aroma.

Num. 28:26 ¶ ‘Also on the day of the first fruits, when you bring near a new grain offering to Yahweh in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
Num. 28:27 And you shall bring near a burnt offering for a soothing aroma to Yahweh: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs one year old;

Notice the word “soothing”. On the first day of the Feast of Weeks, the Israelites were required to offer two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs as a soothing aroma to Yahweh.

Num. 28:28 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
Num. 28:29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs;
Num. 28:30 also one male goat to make atonement for you.
Num. 28:31 Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall offer them with their drink offerings. They shall be without blemish.
Num. 29:1 ¶ ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.
Num. 29:2 And you shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to Yahweh: one bull from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without blemish;

On the first day of the seventh month, they were required to offer a soothing aroma to Yahweh. This is known today as Rosh Hashannah, the New Year.

Num. 29:3 also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,
Num. 29:4 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs.
Num. 29:5 And offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you,
Num. 29:6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their legal judgment, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh.

This is the third time we see the word “soothing”.

Num. 29:7 ¶ ‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall humble yourselves; you shall not do any work.
Num. 29:8 And you shall bring near a burnt offering to Yahweh as a soothing aroma: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs one year old, having them without blemish;

The soothing aroma on the tenth day of the seventh month was one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs. This day is known today as Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

Num. 29:9 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
Num. 29:10 a tenth for each of the seven lambs;
Num. 29:11 one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and their drink offerings.
Num. 29:12 ¶ ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall celebrate a feast to Yahweh for seven days.

Verse 12 starts a long section on another seven day feast which started on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.

Num. 29:13 And you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma to Yahweh: thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old, which are without blemish;

The soothing aroma on the first day of this feast required thirteen bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs.

Num. 29:14 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,
Num. 29:15 and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;
Num. 29:16 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

Many times in the Old Testament, there are references to the sacrifices being pleasing aromas to Yahweh. Likewise, in the New Testament, Paul wrote that when Jesus Christ gave Himself up for us, it was a fragrant aroma to God (see Ephesians 5:2). Then when writing to the Philippians, Paul acknowledged a gift he received from the Philippians and called the gift a fragrant offering which is pleasing to God (see Philippians 4:18). When we serve Jesus, it is a pleasing aroma which is pleasing to Him. Pleasing Jesus is something we should desire to do (see 2 Corinthians 5:9).

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 28:1-25

Roger Dombach — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:02:52 GMT

Mark had been a Christian for eight years, and he was quite sure he had figured it out. “Jesus already made the ultimate sacrifice,” he liked to say. “The veil was torn. The debt is paid. We don’t have to do any of that Old Testament stuff anymore.”

To Mark, this meant the Christian life is largely cost-free. He tithed the minimum required to keep his conscience quiet. He served at church when it was convenient and didn’t interfere with his weekends. When his wife asked if they could take in her struggling younger brother for a few months, Mark gently explained that they needed their space and their peace. “God doesn’t expect us to make big sacrifices anymore,” he told her. “That was the old covenant.”

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He was especially fond of quoting Hebrews: “There is no longer any offering for sin.” To him, that settled it. No more animal sacrifices meant no more personal sacrifices either.

Then his friend David called. David had been diagnosed with aggressive cancer. The treatments were brutal, and his wife was struggling to keep up with their three young children and the medical bills. Mark was quick to volunteer his thoughts but not much else. “I’ll pray,” he said. “That’s the most important thing anyway.”

A few weeks later, David’s wife reached out to Mark directly. “Could you maybe take the kids for a couple of hours so I can take David to his appointment? We don’t have anyone else.”

Mark felt the familiar resistance rise in his chest. He had already given money to the church that month. He had already prayed. “I wish I could,” he said, “but we’ve got a lot going on right now. I’m sure someone else can help.”

It is true that Christians in the church age are not required to offer animal sacrifices. However, that does not mean the Christian life is cost-free. Today’s passage in the 28th chapter of Numbers lists multiple animal sacrifices that were required to be offered on a regular basis. These sacrifices are an illustration which helps us understand how to think about living the Christian life.

Num. 28:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 28:2 “Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to bring near My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time.’
Num. 28:3 And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering by fire which you shall bring near to Yahweh: two male lambs one year old without blemish as a continual burnt offering every day.

Look at the words “every day”. The Israelites were required to make daily sacrifices.

Num. 28:4 You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight,
Num. 28:5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil.

Flour and oil had to be included with the animals.

Num. 28:6 It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained in Mount Sinai as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh.
Num. 28:7 Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh.

A drink offering was also brought with the animal.

Num. 28:8 And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Yahweh.
Num. 28:9 ¶ ‘Then on the sabbath day two male lambs one year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its drink offering:

Notice the word “sabbath day”. This verse lists the required sacrifices each sabbath.

Num. 28:10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

Take note of the words “in addition”. The sabbath sacrifice was in addition to the daily sacrifice.

Num. 28:11 ¶ ‘Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall bring near a burnt offering to Yahweh: two bulls from the herd and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish;

This verse lists the animals that were brought monthly.

Num. 28:12 and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram;
Num. 28:13 and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh.
Num. 28:14 And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year.

Notice the phrase “each month throughout the months of the year”. This emphasizes the requirement to do this every month, month after month.

Num. 28:15 And one male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.

Once again we see the words “in addition”. The monthly offerings did not replace anything. They were in addition to everything else.

Num. 28:16 ¶ ‘Then on the fourteenth day of the first month shall be the Passover of Yahweh.
Num. 28:17 And on the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.
Num. 28:18 On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
Num. 28:19 And you shall bring near an offering by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh: two bulls from the herd and one ram and seven male lambs one year old; they shall be for you without blemish.
Num. 28:20 Now as for their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for a bull and two-tenths for the ram.
Num. 28:21 A tenth of an ephah you shall offer for each of the seven lambs;
Num. 28:22 and one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you.
Num. 28:23 You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
Num. 28:24 After this manner you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to Yahweh; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.
Num. 28:25 Now on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.

Christians in the church age are not required to bring all these daily, weekly, and monthly animal sacrifices. However, that does not mean Christians do not have to make any sacrifices. The New Testament also teaches the concept of making sacrifices.

Paul wrote that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices. This means we are not to be conformed to the world (see Romans 12:1-2). It takes a lot of sacrifice for Christians to live differently from the world.

Paul pictured himself as being a drink offering which was poured out on the faith of the Philippians (see Philippians 2:17). The Philippians had sent money to support Paul more than once, and Paul called that an acceptable sacrifice which was pleasing to God (see Philippians 4:18).

Peter wrote that believers are a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices (see 1 Peter 2:5). He went on to write that we should proclaim the excellencies of God (1 Peter 2:9), abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), silence foolish men by doing good (1 Peter 2:15), use our freedom to act as slaves of God (1 Peter 2:16), love the brethren and fear God (1 Peter 2:17), submit to crooked masters (1 Peter 2:18), and endure the suffering that comes after doing good (1 Peter 2:20).

Christians are slaves of Christ. Being a slave involves making sacrifices. We live for Him, not ourselves.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 27:6-23

Roger Dombach — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:02:31 GMT

After Pastor Daniel retired, the elders at Grace Fellowship voted to abolish the pastor position. They wanted a “simple church” where leadership was shared and everyone had a voice.

At first it felt freeing. Different members preached. Conversations ran long after services. Attendance rose.

Then things began to unravel. No one repaired the sound system or replenished children’s supplies because no one was in charge of those things. A debate over baptism turned into weeks of angry group chats. The benevolence fund was emptied by conflicting claims, and there was no procedure to refill it.

The breaking point came when a teenage girl confided that an older man in the church had been sending her inappropriate messages. Two women tried to handle it separately. The man denied everything. There were no leaders who could take action. The girl’s family left, followed by others.

Sunday services grew thin and awkward. Messages wandered. The building fell into neglect.

On a quiet Tuesday night, the last small group gathered in the empty fellowship hall. Ruth, who had rarely spoken before, stood up. “I voted for this,” she said. “I thought we’d be more biblical. But we failed that girl. My husband stopped coming. My grandson doesn’t understand why we even meet. Maybe a body needs someone whose only job is to notice when everything is falling apart.”

No one argued. The room stayed silent as rain tapped against the leaking roof outside.

Some people believe churches should not have leaders. However, when there is no shepherd, the sheep scatter. Moses understood this. When he was about to die, his last act was to replace himself so that Israel would have a shepherd to guide them.

The 26th chapter of Numbers records a census that was taken after the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for many years. The census was preparation for entering the promised land and possessing it. The land would be divided amongst the tribes, according to the size of each tribe as determined by the census. The daughters of Zelophehad asked for a possession because their father had no sons. They did not want their father’s name to disappear.

Num. 27:6 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 27:7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall surely give them a possession for an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and you shall have the inheritance of their father pass on to them.
Num. 27:8 Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall have his inheritance pass on to his daughter.
Num. 27:9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
Num. 27:10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
Num. 27:11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his blood relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be a statutory judgment to the sons of Israel, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.’”
Num. 27:12 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel.

Look at the word “see”. Yahweh was giving Moses an opportunity to see the promised land.

Num. 27:13 So when you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was,

Moses would see the land, but he would not enter it. He was about to die.

Num. 27:14 for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

This incident is recorded in Numbers 20. Yahweh told Moses to speak to the rock and bring forth water for the congregation. Instead, Moses struck the rock. Water came out, but Yahweh was displeased with the attitude of Moses and Aaron. As punishment, they were told they would not enter the promised land.

Num. 27:15 ¶ Then Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,
Num. 27:16 “May Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
Num. 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of Yahweh will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”

Notice the reference to sheep. Sheep do not have natural instincts that enable them to return home. When they wander off, they get lost. Furthermore, sheep are defenseless. They cannot protect themselves from wild animals. When sheep wander off, they are vulnerable to being killed by predators. Sheep need shepherds because shepherds protect sheep and keep them from getting lost.

When Moses understood he was about to die, he asked Yahweh to appoint a leader to replace him, because Moses understood that a group of people needs a leader. Without a leader, they are like sheep without a shepherd.

Num. 27:18 So Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
Num. 27:19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.
Num. 27:20 And you shall put some of your splendor on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.
Num. 27:21 Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his command they shall go out, and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
Num. 27:22 So Moses did just as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
Num. 27:23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Moses.

There are some people who believe churches should not have leaders. They think a group of Christians should simply get together and do church. However, people without a leader are like sheep without a shepherd. Without leaders, people wander. The New Testament is clear that each church should have a plurality of elders (see Titus 1:5). The elders are commanded to shepherd the congregation (see 1 Peter 5:1-2).

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 26:52 - 27:5

Roger Dombach — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:02:54 GMT

David woke up angry every morning. It was waiting for him before he even opened his eyes, sitting heavy on his chest. He drank his coffee black while standing at the counter, staring at the bare wall where his ex-wife’s calendar used to hang. Seven years had passed since she left, and the anger had only grown quieter and more constant.

At work, he drove a delivery truck and spoke as little as possible. The younger guys in the warehouse had learned to leave him alone. Once, when one of them made a joke about his mood, David had simply stared at him until the laughter died. After that, they kept their distance.

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David hadn’t called his daughter in over a year. His son had texted him on his birthday back in March. David had read the message three times before deleting it. He told himself it was better this way. The truth was that talking to them only made the anger louder.

One afternoon, he was backing into a tight alley when a car pulled in behind him and stopped. The driver, a man in his early twenties, got out and started talking on his phone, completely blocking the truck. David honked once. The kid didn’t even turn around. He honked again, longer this time. The young man finally looked over, pulled out one earbud, and shrugged like it wasn’t his problem.

David put the truck in park and got out. He walked straight up to the kid and hit him. The punch landed hard. The boy stumbled backward and fell, blood already running from his split lip. For a few seconds, the rage inside David felt clean and satisfying.

David stood over him, breathing hard, and felt something shift. The anger didn’t disappear. It simply settled deeper, colder, and heavier than before.

Anger is very powerful. It can cause us to do very bad things. The 26th chapter of Numbers contains the results of a census which illustrates the long-term consequences of giving in to anger.

Right before Jacob died, he summoned his sons and told them what would befall them in the days to come (see Genesis 49). Regarding Simeon and Levi, he condemned the anger and wrath they exhibited against the men of Shechem (see Genesis 34 and 49:5-7). In fact, he cursed their anger. The consequence of their anger was that they would be scattered in Israel.

The 26th chapter of Numbers contains a census that was conducted right before Israel entered the Promised Land to possess it. The results of the census show us that the first step of scattering Levi and Simeon was to make them less numerous than all the other tribes.

Simeon numbered 22,200 men, which was the smallest of all the tribes. Every other tribe had at least 32,000 men. Some had twice as many men as Simeon. Some tribes had three times as many men as Simeon.

Num. 26:52 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 26:53 “Among these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
Num. 26:54 To the larger group you shall increase their inheritance, and to the smaller group you shall diminish their inheritance; each shall be given their inheritance according to those who were numbered of them.

The land was divided according to population. Since Simeon was less numerous, they would receive much less land, making it easier to eventually scatter them in Israel.

Num. 26:55 But the land shall be divided by lot. They shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
Num. 26:56 According to the selection by lot, their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller groups.”
Num. 26:57 ¶ And these are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families:
of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites;
of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites;
of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
Num. 26:58 These are the families of Levi:
the family of the Libnites,
the family of the Hebronites,
the family of the Mahlites,
the family of the Mushites,
the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.
Num. 26:59 And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.
Num. 26:60 And to Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Num. 26:61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.
Num. 26:62 And those who were numbered of them were 23,000, every male from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the sons of Israel since no inheritance was given to them among the sons of Israel.

Notice the number of Levites. There were only 23,000 of them. Other than Simeon, every other tribe had at least 32,000 men.

Notice the phrase “every male from a month old and upward”. The census of all the other tribes only included males age twenty and up. Even when counting all males a month old or older, Levi was still very small compared to the other tribes.

Num. 26:63 ¶ These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
Num. 26:64 But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
Num. 26:65 For Yahweh had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” And not a man was left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
Num. 27:1 ¶ Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah.
Num. 27:2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying,
Num. 27:3 “Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the congregation of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the congregation of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.
Num. 27:4 Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”
Num. 27:5 So Moses brought their case near before Yahweh.

Just as Simeon and Levi gave in to their anger and suffered long-term consequences, so too we may suffer consequences for giving in to anger. Paul commanded us to put away all anger (see Ephesians 4:31). James wrote that anger does not achieve the righteousness of God (see James 1:20).

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 26:23-51

Roger Dombach — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:01:06 GMT

Elias was sitting in his recliner with the Bible open on his lap, the same worn NIV he had carried since seminary. He had turned to 2 Peter 3 again—the passage the pastor always read when someone asked about the delay. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Elias had quoted that verse hundreds of times. Tonight the words felt like they were written for someone else. He closed the Bible and looked out the window at the dark street. It had been two thousand years since Christ walked the earth. That was longer than the entire history of the United States, longer than the Roman Empire had lasted after Christ, and longer than most civilizations on earth. Jesus had ascended into heaven while the disciples were still watching, and the world had simply kept going. Wars, plagues, and genocides continued century after century.

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He whispered into the empty living room, “Lord, if You’re really coming back, why does it feel like You left and never looked back? I don’t know if I still believe You’re coming. I want to. I’ve told other people to keep waiting, but I’m tired, Lord. Two thousand years is a long time to keep promising something and never showing up. Maybe we got it wrong. Maybe the early church got excited and it turned into a fable we’ve been telling ourselves ever since.”

After Jesus went back to heaven, He promised that He would return soon (see Revelation 22:7,12). Two thousand years later, He has still not returned. This is causing some people to doubt that He will come back.

God looks at time very differently than we do. Since human life expectancy is less than 100 years, we think 100 years is forever. God lives forever, so 100 years is nothing in His mind. The 26th chapter of Numbers contains the results of a census. This is boring reading, but it is evidence that God takes action over the course of centuries, not decades.

Right before Jacob died, he summoned his sons and prophesied about their futures (see Genesis 49). He predicted that Joseph would be very fruitful (see Genesis 49:22).

After that prediction, Israel lived in Egypt for 400 years. Then Moses led them out of slavery. After receiving the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai, Moses conducted a census of Israel and then led Israel as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Near the end of their wanderings, Moses took another census, which shows that God had fulfilled His promise to make Joseph fruitful. The promise had not been fulfilled immediately; it had been fulfilled over decades and centuries.

The first 22 verses of the 26th chapter of Numbers list the populations of Reuben (43,730 men), Simeon (22,200 men), Gad (40,500 men), and Judah (76,500 men).

Num. 26:23 ¶ The sons of Issachar according to their families:
of Tola, the family of the Tolaites;
of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
Num. 26:24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites;
of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
Num. 26:25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300.

At the first census, Issachar numbered 54,400 men (see Numbers 1:29). They had gained almost 10,000 men.

Num. 26:26 ¶ The sons of Zebulun according to their families:
of Sered, the family of the Seredites;
of Elon, the family of the Elonites;
of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
Num. 26:27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, 60,500.

At the first census, Zebulun numbered 57,400 men (see Numbers 1:31). They had gained over 3,000 men.

Num. 26:28 ¶ The sons of Joseph according to their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
Num. 26:29 The sons of Manasseh:
of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead:
of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
Num. 26:30 These are the sons of Gilead:
of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites;
of Helek, the family of the Helekites;
Num. 26:31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites;
and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;
Num. 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites;
and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Num. 26:33 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters;
and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.
Num. 26:34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were 52,700.

At the first census, Manasseh numbered 32,200 men (see Numbers 1:35). They had gained over 20,000 men.

Num. 26:35 ¶ These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families:
of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites;
of Becher, the family of the Becherites;
of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
Num. 26:36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah:
of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
Num. 26:37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, 32,500.

These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.

At the first census, Ephraim numbered 40,500 men (see Numbers 1:33). They had lost 8,000 men.

After the first census, the descendants of Joseph, which were the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, numbered 72,700 men, but Judah numbered 74,600 men, meaning Judah had the most descendants. After the second census, Joseph had a total of 85,200 descendants, which was more than any other tribe; thus, fulfilling the promise that Joseph would be fruitful, as prophesied by Jacob over 400 years earlier. God did not fulfill the prophecy immediately. He did it centuries later.

Num. 26:38 ¶ The sons of Benjamin according to their families:
of Bela, the family of the Belaites;
of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites;
of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;
Num. 26:39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites;
of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
Num. 26:40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman:
of Ard, the family of the Ardites;
of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
Num. 26:41 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were 45,600.

At the first census, Benjamin numbered 35,400 men (see Numbers 1:37). They had gained over 10,000 men.

Num. 26:42 ¶ These are the sons of Dan according to their families:
of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites.
These are the families of Dan according to their families.
Num. 26:43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were 64,400.

At the first census, Dan numbered 62,700 men (see Numbers 1:39). They had gained almost 2,000 men.

Num. 26:44 ¶ The sons of Asher according to their families:
of Imnah, the family of the Imnites;
of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites;
of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
Num. 26:45 Of the sons of Beriah:
of Heber, the family of the Heberites;
of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Num. 26:46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
Num. 26:47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, 53,400.

At the first census, Asher numbered 41,500 men (see Numbers 1:41). They had gained almost 12,000 men.

Num. 26:48 ¶ The sons of Naphtali according to their families:
of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites;
of Guni, the family of the Gunites;
Num. 26:49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites;
of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
Num. 26:50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were 45,400.

At the first census, Naphtali numbered 53,400 men (see Numbers 1:43). They had lost 8,000 men.

Num. 26:51 These are those who were numbered of the sons of Israel, 601,730.

At the first census, the total population was 603,550 men (see Numbers 1:46). Overall, Israel had lost almost 2,000 men.

After 2,000 years, it is tempting to start thinking that Jesus will never return. However, just as Yahweh waited several centuries to fulfill a promise to make Joseph fruitful, so too He is waiting many centuries to fulfill His promise to return.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 25:10 - 26:22

Roger Dombach — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:01:04 GMT

Paul started noticing the Langfords’ house the way some men notice a rival. Every morning he stood at his kitchen window and watched his neighbor back the silver Tesla out of the three-car garage. The Langfords’ roof was new. Their lawn stayed green even in August. On weekends their windows glowed with parties while Paul’s own house sat quiet, the shingles curling at the edges like they were tired of holding on.

At first he told himself it was just irritation. Then he started keeping score. He noticed the landscaping truck that arrived every spring. The Langfords got a new SUV. Their kids came home from private school in uniforms while his daughter rode the bus. One evening he searched their names online and found photos from a trip to Italy. They looked tanned and relaxed in every picture.

Paul began working late. He took on freelance projects he didn’t need and used the extra money to spruce up his own house. He told his wife the house needed it. She didn’t argue, but she stopped asking him about his day.

The comparisons followed him into bed. He lay awake calculating what the Langfords must earn. He imagined their conversations—easy, unhurried, never about bills or braces or whether the roof could last another winter. The more he thought about their life, the less his own felt like enough.

We usually think of jealousy as a bad thing, and rightly so. Jealousy can be very destructive. Jealousy of Isaac caused the Philistines to be hostile to Isaac (see Genesis 26). Rachel’s jealousy of her sister caused discord between her and her husband (see Genesis 30). Jealousy caused Joseph’s brothers to sell Joseph into slavery (see Genesis 37:11).

On the other hand, sometimes jealousy is good, or at least permissible. Numbers 5 uses the term “jealous” to describe men whose wives were being unfaithful.

The 25th chapter of Numbers tells us when Israel was at Shittim, they started bowing down to Baal of Peor. Then an Israelite brought a Midianite woman into the camp. Both of these acts were prohibited by the Mosaic Law. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, went after the man and pierced the man and the woman with a spear. After Phinehas took action, the plague that had killed 24,000 Israelites came to an end. In today’s passage we will see that Phinehas was praised for his jealousy, meaning he is an excellent example of when jealousy is a good thing.

Num. 25:10 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Notice that Yahweh was speaking.

Num. 25:11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

Look at the word “wrath”. A plague had been afflicting Israel, but the plague stopped when Phinehas took action (see Numbers 25:8).

We see the phrase “he was jealous” telling us Phinehas was jealous. We also see the term “My jealousy”. The pronoun “My” refers to Yahweh. Yahweh was jealous because the Israelites were worshipping false gods and disobeying Yahweh’s commandments. Their worship and obedience belonged to Yahweh, not Baal.

Phinehas understood that the Israelites were not giving Yahweh the loyalty He deserved, so Phinehas was jealous on behalf of Yahweh. Phinehas’ jealousy was a good thing. This means it is possible for us to be jealous in a good way.

Num. 25:12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace;
Num. 25:13 and it shall be for him and his seed after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”

Phinehas was rewarded for his jealousy with a covenant that guaranteed his seed would have a perpetual priesthood.

Num. 25:14 ¶ Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites.

Look at the word “leader”. It was a leader from the tribe of Simeon who transgressed against Yahweh by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. This is a warning to us that sometimes it is the leaders who initiate sin. We need to be aware that sometimes our religious leaders may lead us astray.

Num. 25:15 And the name of the Midianite woman, who was struck down, was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was head of the people of a father’s household in Midian.
Num. 25:16 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 25:17 “Be hostile to the Midianites and strike them,
Num. 25:18 for they have been hostile to you with their deceptive tricks, with which they have deceived you in the affair of Peor and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor.”

Yahweh commanded Moses to be hostile to the Midianites. The 31st chapter of Numbers records the action Moses took against Midian.

Num. 26:1 ¶ Then it happened after the plague, that Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
Num. 26:2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ households, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel.”

The very first chapter of Numbers tells us about a census that was conducted at Mount Sinai, one year after Israel came out of Egypt. The census recorded in chapter 26 was many years later, after Israel had wandered in the wilderness for several decades.

Num. 26:3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Notice the word “in”. Israel was in the plains of Moab. Notice the word “by”. The plain was beside the Jordan River. Notice the word “at”. The plain was at Jericho.

The colors on this map represent elevation. The dark greens are lower elevations. Browns are the higher elevations. East of Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan River, is a large plain. That is where the Israelites were camped.

Num. 26:4 “Take a census of the people from twenty years old and upward, as Yahweh has commanded Moses.” ¶ Now the sons of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt were:
Num. 26:5 Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, the sons of Reuben:
of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites;
of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
Num. 26:6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites;
of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
Num. 26:7 These are the families of the Reubenites, and those who were numbered of them were 43,730.

At the first census, the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500 men (see Numbers 1:21). They were down almost 3,000 men.

Num. 26:8 And the son of Pallu: Eliab.
Num. 26:9 And the sons of Eliab:
Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called upon by the congregation, who contended against Moses and against Aaron in the congregation of Korah, when they contended against Yahweh,
Num. 26:10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that congregation died, when the fire consumed 250 men, so that they became a warning.
Num. 26:11 The sons of Korah, however, did not die.
Num. 26:12 ¶ The sons of Simeon according to their families:
of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites;
of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites;
of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;
Num. 26:13 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites;
of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
Num. 26:14 These are the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.

At the first census, Simeon numbered 59,300 men (see Numbers 1:23). They had lost almost two thirds of their men.

Num. 26:15 ¶ The sons of Gad according to their families:
of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites;
of Haggi, the family of the Haggites;
of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;
Num. 26:16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites;
of Eri, the family of the Erites;
Num. 26:17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites;
of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
Num. 26:18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, 40,500.

At the first census, Gad numbered 45,650 men (see Numbers 1:25). They had lost almost 5,000 men.

Num. 26:19 ¶ The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Num. 26:20 And the sons of Judah according to their families were:
of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites;
of Perez, the family of the Perezites;
of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
Num. 26:21 And the sons of Perez were:
of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites;
of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
Num. 26:22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, 76,500.

At the first census Judah had numbered 74,600 men (see Numbers 1:27). Judah had gained almost 2,000 men.

We typically think of jealousy as being a bad thing, and sometimes it is. The book of Proverbs warns us of the corrosive effect of jealousy (see Proverbs 14:30). On the other hand, multiple passages in the Old Testament mention the jealousy that Yahweh felt when false gods were worshipped and received the allegiance that belonged to Him (see Psalm 78:58, Ezekiel 16:42, and Zephaniah 1:18).

We see both sides of jealousy in the New Testament. Paul wrote that love is not jealous (see 1 Corinthians 13:4), meaning jealousy can be bad. On the other hand, Paul also wrote about “godly jealousy” (see 2 Corinthians 11:2), meaning there are times that being jealous is good. Paul had godly jealousy because he had betrothed the Corinthians to Christ, but just as the serpent deceived Eve, Paul feared that the Corinthians were being deceived away from pure devotion to Christ.

It is permissible, proper, and required for us to be jealous when God does not receive the loyalty, allegiance, and obedience that He deserves.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 24:10 - 25:9

Roger Dombach — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:02:09 GMT

Marcus knew it was wrong. He sat in his truck outside the diner, engine idling, staring at the glowing sign of Harlan Construction across the street. The company had underbid him on three jobs in the last year. Marcus’s own crew was down to four men. He wanted Harlan Construction out of business.

He knew that actively destroying another man’s livelihood is wrong. Sabotage, lies, and anonymous complaints are in the same category as stealing or bearing false witness. Marcus had never been a churchgoer, but he had a clear enough sense of right and wrong that he could feel the line he was standing on. He decided he would not cross it. Instead, he would stand just behind it and let someone else step over.

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That evening he met with an old subcontractor named Ray, a man who had worked for both Marcus and Harlan over the years and had a well-known habit of talking too much after a couple of beers. Marcus also knew Ray had a beef with Harlan. They met at a bar Marcus rarely visited. Marcus bought the first round and let the conversation drift naturally to work. After the second round, he mentioned, almost casually, that he’d heard Harlan was using cheaper rebar on the new municipal building. He didn’t say he had proof. He didn’t say he wanted anything done. He simply said it like a man venting about the industry.

Ray nodded, drank, and changed the subject. Two days later Marcus heard through the grapevine that someone had called the city inspector’s office with “concerns” that Harlan was cutting corners on the project. The call wasn’t traced to Marcus. It wasn’t even traced to Ray.

A few days later, more rumors were flying around the industry that Harlan was cheating. Harlan’s bonding company got nervous. When the big hospital renovation contract came up for bid, Harlan was suddenly viewed as risky. Marcus’s bid came in second on price but first on “reliability.” Marcus got the job.

Humans are creative people. Sometimes we use our creativity to do something wrong, but we do it in a way so as to pretend we did not do anything wrong.

We will learn today that this is what Balaam did. Yahweh did not allow Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam figured out a way to harm Israel without cursing them. The New Testament statements about Balaam warn us that we should not imitate Balaam’s duplicity.

Balak was the king of Moab. He was afraid of Israel and summoned Balaam to curse Israel. However, the word Yahweh gave to Balaam about Israel was a blessing, not a curse.

Num. 24:10 ¶ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times!
Num. 24:11 So now, flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.”
Num. 24:12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,
Num. 24:13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything to trespass the command of Yahweh, either good or bad, of my own accord. What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’?

At this point it sounds like Balaam was a faithful follower of Yahweh, willing to obey Yahweh in everything. Even though Balak had offered Balaam a lot of money to curse Israel, Balaam refused to disobey Yahweh.

Num. 24:14 So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”
Num. 24:15 ¶ Then he took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered,
Num. 24:16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
And knows the knowledge of the Most High,
Who beholds the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened.

Balaam claimed to be a prophet of Yahweh. That was a true claim.

Num. 24:17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

The word “scepter” indicates a ruler. Balaam foretold that a king would arise from Jacob. This may refer to David. 2 Samuel 8:2 tells us David defeated the Moabites.

The name “Sheth” is the same Hebrew name as Adam’s son Seth. Noah was a descendant of Seth. Therefore, every human who has ever been born after the flood is a descendant of Seth. The fact that the star from Jacob will tear down all humans indicates the star from Jacob is Jesus.

Num. 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession,
While Israel performs valiantly.
Num. 24:19 And one from Jacob shall have dominion,
And will make the survivor perish from the city.”
Num. 24:20 ¶ Then he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
But his end shall be destruction.”
Num. 24:21 ¶ Then he looked at the Kenite and took up his discourse and said,
“Your habitation is enduring,
And your nest is set in the cliff.

Moses’ father-in-law was a Kenite (see Judges 1:16). Perhaps Balaam was referring to the relatives of Moses who were traveling with the Israelites (see Numbers 10:29-32).

Num. 24:22 Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;
How long will Asshur keep you captive?”

Asshur was a city in the Mesopotamian Valley, a city which eventually became the Assyrian Empire.

Num. 24:23 ¶ Then he took up his discourse and said,
“Woe, who can live except when God has ordained it?
Num. 24:24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim,
And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;
So they also will come to destruction.”
Num. 24:25 ¶ Then Balaam arose and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.

This appears to be the end of Balaam’s story.

Num. 25:1 ¶ And Israel remained at Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
Num. 25:2 Indeed they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
Num. 25:3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel.

Notice the name “Peor”. Later, we will read in the book of Numbers that Balaam is the one who suggested that the way to defeat Israel was to get them to play the harlot with Baal (see Numbers 31:16).

Num. 25:4 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Take all who are the heads of the people and execute them in broad daylight before Yahweh, so that the burning anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.”
Num. 25:5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.”
Num. 25:6 ¶ Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought near to his brothers a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
Num. 25:7 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, so he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand,
Num. 25:8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. Then the plague on the sons of Israel was checked.
Num. 25:9 So those who died by the plague were 24,000.

Balaam wanted the money that Balak was offering, but Balaam knew he could not curse Israel if Yahweh did not allow him to do so. Instead, Balaam figured out a way to harm Israel without actually cursing them. The Bible doesn’t tell us if Balak paid Balaam for this advice, but it is quite possible he did so.

The New Testament does not speak highly of Balaam. Peter criticized him for loving the wages of unrighteousness (see 2 Peter 2:15). The book of Revelation uses the term “teaching of Balaam” as a criticism. This is a warning to us that we should not use other people to accomplish something we know is wrong so that we can pretend we are not disobeying God.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 23:18 - 24:9

Roger Dombach — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:01:04 GMT

Thomas had been a Christian for most of his adult life. People knew him as steady, careful with Scripture, and slow to argue. One Tuesday evening in his study, Thomas sat with his worn Bible open to Genesis 12. He had read the chapter dozens of times before, but tonight the words landed differently. “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse,” he read aloud. Then he stopped.

For years he had heard pastors and friends apply this promise directly to the Jewish people and to the modern State of Israel. “Bless Israel and God will bless you.” The logic had always felt simple and comforting. But as Thomas read the surrounding verses again, something shifted.

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Thomas decided God was speaking directly to Abraham, not to his future children, not to a nation, and not to a political state that would exist thousands of years later. The promise was personal, spoken to one man in response to his obedience in leaving his homeland.

Thomas closed his eyes and prayed. Over the next several weeks he read the passage in multiple translations, compared it with the rest of Genesis, and studied how the New Testament spoke about Abraham’s promises. He came to a quiet but firm conclusion: the specific blessing-and-cursing promise belonged to Abraham alone. It was not automatically transferred to his physical descendants or to any future government.

Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving the nation of Israel, many Christians are starting to question the concept that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. While there is truth to the claim that Genesis 12 uses a singular pronoun, which indicates the promise only applied to Abraham, that is not the only passage which contains this concept. It is also found in Numbers 24, a passage which makes it clear that the blessing and cursing declaration applies to the entire Jewish people, not just Abraham.

When Israel arrived on the boundary of the Promised Land, Balak, king of Moab, called Balaam to come and curse Israel because Balak was afraid of Israel’s strength. Balaam came to Balak, but insisted he could only speak what Yahweh told him to speak. After offering a bull and a ram on each of seven altars, Yahweh gave Balaam a word, which was a blessing upon Israel and not a curse.

Balak took Balaam to a different spot, where Balaam once again offered a bull and a ram on each of seven altars. Once again, Yahweh put a word in the mouth of Balaam. The pronoun “he” in verse 18 refers to Balaam.

Num. 23:18 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“Arise, O Balak, and hear;
Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!
Num. 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not establish it?

Balaam highlighted the differences between God and man. Men can lie and equivocate because they are not all-powerful. God does not have that limitation. He can do anything He wants to do.

Num. 23:20 Behold, I have received a command to bless;
When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.

Balaam correctly understood that he could not speak contrary to God’s instruction.

Num. 23:21 He has not observed misfortune in Jacob;
Nor has He seen trouble in Israel;
Yahweh his God is with him,
And the shout of a king is among them.

Notice the word “king”. At this point, Israel did not have a king, nor would they have one for another 500 years. However, Balaam correctly predicted that one day Israel would have a king, indicating Israel would continue to exist and prosper.

Num. 23:22 God brings them out of Egypt,
He is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
Num. 23:23 For there is no omen against Jacob,
Nor is there any divination against Israel;
At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob
And to Israel, what God has done!
Num. 23:24 Behold, a people rises like a lioness,
And as a lion it lifts itself;
It will not lie down until it devours the prey,
And drinks the blood of the slain.”
Num. 23:25 ¶ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
Num. 23:26 But Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not tell you, saying, ‘Whatever Yahweh speaks, that I must do’?”

Notice the name “Yahweh”. Yahweh is the personal name that refers to the One and Only true God, the Creator of the universe. Balaam did not merely say he had to speak whatever any god said to him. Balaam clearly claimed to be following Yahweh, the God of the Bible.

Num. 23:27 ¶ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be right in the eyes of God that you curse them for me from there.”

It is curious that Balak kept trying. If Balak truly believed Balaam had the ability to utter a curse that would help Balak, then it seems

Balak would have also believed that a blessing from Balaam would help Israel and was an unconquerable obstacle. Balaam had clearly blessed Israel; therefore, Balak should have understood that he was not going to defeat Israel.

Num. 23:28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor which overlooks the wasteland.
Num. 23:29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Num. 23:30 And Balak did just as Balaam had said and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num. 24:1 ¶ And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to encounter omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Num. 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Notice the phrase “the Spirit of God came upon him”. The author of Numbers made it clear that the following oracle uttered by Balaam was from God.

Num. 24:3 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;
Num. 24:4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
Who beholds the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,
Num. 24:5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
Num. 24:6 Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like aloes planted by Yahweh,
Like cedars beside the waters.
Num. 24:7 Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag,
And his kingdom shall be exalted.
Num. 24:8 God brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will gnaw their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his arrows.
Num. 24:9 He crouches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

Notice the last two lines of Balaam’s oracle. Balaam, speaking under the direction of the Holy Spirit, clearly said everyone who blesses the people of Israel is blessed and everyone who curses the people of Israel is cursed.

Many people today dispute the notion that God blesses those who bless Israel. It is true that this promise applies to the people of Israel, not the modern nation of Israel. However, the modern nation of Israel is a subset of the people of Israel. Therefore, blessing or cursing the modern nation of Israel is blessing or cursing a subset of the people of Israel.

This passage does not mean we should blindly approve anything the nation of Israel does. They make mistakes and deserve to be criticized from time to time. On the other hand, the nation of Israel exists specifically to defend the people of Israel, which means we should do things that help the nation of Israel, and not do things that hurt the nation of Israel.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 22:41 - 23:17

Roger Dombach — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:01:31 GMT

Daniel had been a Christian since he was seventeen. He knew the Bible. He knew what obedience looked like. He just didn’t want to do it anymore.

At forty-one, he had a decent job, a wife who still loved him, and two teenage sons who mostly stayed out of trouble. On Sundays he still showed up at church, sang the songs, and even led the men’s small group on Tuesday nights. People thought he was solid.

Then, he met a woman at the gym named Brooke. She was divorced, confident, and made him feel like the man he used to think he was. They started texting, and then began meeting for coffee.

Daniel knew exactly what he was doing. He also knew what the Bible says about it. He just didn’t care enough to stop. One night, alone in his truck after meeting Brooke, he finally spoke to God out loud. “I know this is wrong,” he said, “but I’m doing it anyway.” He waited, almost daring God to do something dramatic. Nothing happened. There was no voice and no lightning, just the quiet hum of the engine and the weight of his own choice.

He kept going. The affair lasted eight months. When Lisa found out, the explosion was worse than he expected. His sons wouldn’t look at him.

Daniel moved into an apartment. He kept seeing Brooke for a while, but the excitement faded fast. She didn’t respect him the way he thought she would.

Some nights he would sit in the dark and remember the way his boys used to run to him when he came home. He still believed in God. That was the strange part. He never stopped believing. He just stopped caring what God wanted.

The book of Numbers tells us about a man named Balaam. Balaam is not a great example for us to emulate because he often did not care what God wanted. However, there were times Balaam did the right thing and illustrated the proper submissive attitude to God. Today’s passage is one of those occasions.

Balak, the king of Moab, was afraid of Israel’s power and asked Balaam to come and curse Israel for him. Yahweh gave Balaam permission to go, but warned Balaam to only speak what Yahweh told him to speak. When Balaam arrived, Balak met him and promised to reward him for his services.

Num. 22:41 ¶ Then it happened in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there the end of the camp of the people.
Num. 23:1 ¶ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Num. 23:2 So Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num. 23:3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a bare hill.
Num. 23:4 ¶ Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.”
Num. 23:5 Then Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”
Num. 23:6 So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.
Num. 23:7 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“From Aram Balak has brought me,
Moab’s king from the mountains of the East,
‘Come curse Jacob for me,
And come, denounce Israel!’

Aram was in the mountains of the East.

Num. 23:8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
And how can I denounce whom Yahweh has not denounced?

These were rhetorical questions. The answer was he couldn’t. At this moment, Balaam articulated the proper submissive attitude to God. Balaam knew he could not curse someone whom God had not cursed.

Num. 23:9 For I see him from the top of the rocks,
And I look at him from the hills;
Behold, a people who dwells alone,
And will not be reckoned among the nations.

The words “him” and “people” refer to Israel.

Num. 23:10 Who can number the dust of Jacob,
Or count the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
And let my end be like his!”

The question in this verse is also rhetorical. Balaam knew Israel would be so numerous over the centuries that it would be impossible to count even a fourth of them.

Since Balaam knew Israel would prosper, he wanted to be like them.

Num. 23:11 ¶ Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly!”
Num. 23:12 And he replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what Yahweh puts in my mouth?”

Once again Balaam articulated the proper submission to Yahweh. Balaam was only able to speak what Yahweh told him to speak.

Num. 23:13 ¶ Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place from where you may see them, but you will only see the end of them and will not see all of them; and curse them for me from there.”
Num. 23:14 So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num. 23:15 And he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet Yahweh over there.”
Num. 23:16 Then Yahweh met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
Num. 23:17 So he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has Yahweh spoken?”

Tomorrow we will read about Balaam’s second oracle regarding Israel.

The natural tendency of humans is to do what we want regardless of what God wants. Our instinct is to disobey God and satisfy our own desires.

Balak offered Balaam a lot of money to curse Israel. Balaam wanted to do so; however, he also knew he could not curse someone whom Yahweh did not curse.

This is the attitude we should have. We should care what God wants. We should work to have a desire to obey all the commands in the Bible, even when we don’t want to do so.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 22:21-40

Roger Dombach — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:01:48 GMT

Michael had been divorced for six years. For the first few years he told himself he was fine alone. Then one Wednesday night at church, he noticed Rachel, the new woman who had started coming to the singles Bible study. She was thirty-nine, had never been married, and carried herself with a quiet steadiness that drew him.

They began talking after class. Then they began going out for coffee after church. It wasn’t long before Michael started thinking about marrying Rachel. He wanted to give her his name and his life and to build something new with her. However, he knew that Matthew 19 says marrying another woman after divorce is adultery. Michael had a strong desire to start a new life with Rachel, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still bound to his ex-wife.

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Michael began praying. Day after day he asked God to release him from his first marriage vows. At first, he didn’t feel anything change. However, over time his guilt about getting remarried lessened. One day he woke up and felt free. He concluded God had released him from his first wife, meaning he was free to marry Rachel.

Many years ago I met a Christian lady who did this very thing. She was divorced, but wanted to remarry, so she asked God to release her from her first marriage. Eventually, she felt God had released her, so she accepted a marriage proposal.

There are a couple of ways to look at this. On the one hand, you could argue that God did not release her; instead, her feelings deceived her. On the other hand, on the basis of today’s passage, you could argue that maybe God did actually give in to her request. However, that does not mean God was happy about it.

The 21st chapter of Numbers tells us that Israel defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Then we read in the 22nd chapter that Moab was afraid of Israel because of their military success. Balak, king of Moab, sent a message to Balaam asking him to come to Moab and curse Israel. When Balaam asked Yahweh what to do, Yahweh told Balaam not to go because Israel is blessed. When Balak sent messengers a second time, Balaam once again asked Yahweh what to do. This time, Yahweh said Balaam could go.

Num. 22:21 ¶ So Balaam arose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.
Num. 22:22 ¶ But God was angry because he was going, so the angel of Yahweh took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.

Notice the phrase “God was angry” and the word “adversary”. Verse 20 clearly says God told Balaam he could go with the Moabites. Since that was the case, why was God angry? We will get an answer in verse 32.

Num. 22:23 Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; so Balaam struck the donkey to turn it back into the way.
Num. 22:24 Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
Num. 22:25 And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and it pressed itself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck it again.
Num. 22:26 And the angel of Yahweh passed on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.
Num. 22:27 Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.
Num. 22:28 And Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
Num. 22:29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.”

Don’t miss the astounding fact that Balaam was having a conversation with a donkey.

Num. 22:30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”
Num. 22:31 ¶ Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head down and prostrated himself to the ground.

Look at the words “opened the eyes”. This passage teaches us that spiritual beings can be all around us but we cannot see them.

Num. 22:32 And the angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary because your way was contrary to me.

Ponder the phrase “your way was contrary to me”. This explains why Yahweh was angry with Balaam and an adversary to him even though God had told Balaam he could go to Moab.

We know from verse 12 that Yahweh told Balaam Israel was blessed. Therefore, Balaam knew he could never curse Israel. Since that was the case, Balaam should not have desired to go to Moab.

Instead, Balaam wanted to do what Moab wanted. Joshua 24:10 indicates Balaam really wanted to curse Israel. 2 Peter 2:15 says that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14 reveal that Balaam taught Balak how to get Israel to stumble.

Balaam’s way was contrary to Yahweh because deep inside, Balaam was hoping to somehow get all the money Balak was offering him. Balaam wanted to go to Moab in the hope that Yahweh would change His mind and give Balaam permission to do something to get all that money.

Num. 22:33 And the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If it had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let it live.”
Num. 22:34 And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”
Num. 22:35 But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.
Num. 22:36 ¶ Then Balak heard that Balaam was coming and went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the end of the border.
Num. 22:37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I indeed unable to honor you?”
Num. 22:38 So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”
Num. 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
Num. 22:40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

Balaam’s central problem was that he did not really want to obey Yahweh. He wanted all the money that Balak was offering him.

This passage is a warning to us that if we ask God for permission to do something the Bible says is wrong, He may give us permission. That does not mean He is happy about it. If a Christian asks God to remove the guilt he feels about getting remarried after divorce, God may ease his conscience. That does not mean God approves.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 22:2-20

Roger Dombach — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:02:23 GMT

At 42, Ethan was a deacon at Grace Community Church, a husband to his wife Rachel, and father to three children. He worked as the finance director for a small Christian nonprofit that drilled clean-water wells in rural Africa. The salary wasn’t much, but the work felt like worship.

Lately, though, worship had been harder to feel. Tuition for the Christian school, a leaking roof, and Rachel’s medical bills had stacked up like unpaid invoices. Every month Ethan prayed the same prayer: “Lord, provide.” Every month the answer seemed to be “Wait.” Then Richard Kane called.

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Richard was a major donor to the nonprofit—a sharp, silver-haired businessman who had made millions in commercial real estate. Over lunch at an expensive steakhouse, he leaned across the table.

“Ethan, I need someone I trust to handle the books on a new acquisition. My company is buying a smaller competitor. The numbers need to look… cleaner for the investors. We need a few small adjustments here and there. Do this quietly for me, and I’ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash. No one will ever know.”

Ethan’s fork froze halfway to his mouth. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars would pay off their debt plus leave enough to finally breathe. He could pay the school in full, buy Rachel the treatment her insurance wouldn’t cover, and give more to the very missions he loved.

Richard smiled like a man who already knew the answer.

“Think about your family, Ethan. God gave you a brain for a reason. This is just smart business.”

Money can be a huge temptation. Money can very easily trick us into doing something wrong. The 22nd chapter of Numbers illustrates the correct attitude we should have when money tempts us to disobey God. It also illustrates half-hearted obedience.

The 21st chapter of Numbers records Israel’s travels and conquests on the east side of the Jordan River. After traveling past Edom and Moab on the east, Israel conquered the Amorites and Og of Bashan, taking control of a long swath of land on the east bank of the Jordan River.

Num. 22:2 ¶ And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Num. 22:3 So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.

Num. 22:4 Then Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this assembly will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

Moab reached out to Midian. Midian was roughly 150 miles / 250 km south of Moab. That would have been around a one-week journey.

Num. 22:5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are settled opposite me.

The pronoun “he” refers to Balak, king of Moab.

The term “the River” refers to the Euphrates River.

It was around 375 miles / 600 km from Moab to the Euphrates River. That journey would have taken 3-4 weeks.

Num. 22:6 So now, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Num. 22:7 ¶ So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went away with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and spoke Balak’s words to him.

Don’t miss the phrase “fees for divination in their hand”. The elders took money to pay Balaam for his services.

Num. 22:8 And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as Yahweh may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Num. 22:9 Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

Num. 22:10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

Num. 22:11 ‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Num. 22:12 And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Notice God’s command to Balaam. God told Balaam not to go. Furthermore, God told Balaam that the Israelites were blessed.

Num. 22:13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land, for Yahweh has refused to allow me to go with you.”

Num. 22:14 And the leaders of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to go with us.”

Num. 22:15 ¶ Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more honorable than the former.

Take note of the phrase “more numerous and more honorable”. Balak was trying to appeal to Balaam’s vanity to get him to do what he wanted.

Num. 22:16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, withhold you from coming to me;

Num. 22:17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’”

Look at the words “honor you richly”. Balak offered Balaam a lot of money.

Num. 22:18 And Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, to trespass the command of Yahweh my God.

Ponder Balaam’s response. Balak offered Balaam a lot of money, but Balaam correctly responded that no amount of money could get him to disobey Yahweh.

There are times in life when we are tempted to disobey God for financial gain. However, we should have Balaam’s attitude that no amount of money can get us to disobey God.

Num. 22:19 So now, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will know what else Yahweh will speak to me.”

While we can commend Balaam’s determination to choose obedience over financial gain, Balaam’s response was also somewhat half-hearted because he did not immediately tell Balak’s messengers to go home. Balaam knew Israel was blessed and that he could never do what Balak wanted. Therefore, we can argue that Balaam should not have even asked God for further instructions.

Num. 22:20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.”

While it appears Yahweh was willing to send Balaam to Balak, tomorrow we will see that Yahweh was not happy with Balaam.

Money is a huge temptation. Whenever financial gain tempts us to do something wrong, we should have Balaam’s attitude that no amount of money in the world can get us to go against God’s commands.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 21:16 - 22:1

Roger Dombach — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 10:01:16 GMT

Thomas sat on a cracked concrete step behind an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. Beside him, his seven-year-old daughter slept fitfully, her small chest rising and falling with the ragged sound of asthma that had no medicine left to calm it.

Three years earlier he had buried his wife after a long illness that swallowed every dollar they owned. Two years ago the garage where he worked as a mechanic closed when the owner died. Last year the apartment was lost. Last month the shelters turned them away because they were full. Yesterday the last of the food stamps had run out.

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Now the sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping fast. Emma’s breathing had grown worse. She needed the inhaler she hadn’t had in two days. Thomas had exactly twelve cents in his pocket and no one left to call.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we have no idea how God will fulfill His promise to supply all our needs. However, God can do the impossible. The 21st chapter of Numbers illustrates the confidence we should have when God makes a promise.

The first part of chapter 21 tells us Israel conquered Arad, which was on the southern edge of the promised land. However, instead of going north into Canaan, Israel went south toward the Red Sea, then east, and then turned north on a highway that ran east of Edom and Moab.

Num. 21:16 ¶ And from there they continued to Beer, that is the well where Yahweh said to Moses, “Assemble the people, that I may give them water.”

The Hebrew word “Beer” is the word for well. In other words, this verse could read, “they continued to Well, that is the well where Yahweh said …”

Num. 21:17 ¶ Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well! Sing to it!

Num. 21:18 The well, which the leaders dug,

Which the nobles of the people carved out,

With the scepter and with their staffs.”

Apparently, Yahweh supplied water this time by having the leaders dig a well.

And from the wilderness they continued to Mattanah,

Num. 21:19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,

Num. 21:20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the land of Moab, at the top of Pisgah which overlooks the wasteland.

There are many cities listed in the Old Testament whose location is unknown to us today. Also, while we have a general sense where Edom, Moab, and Ammon were located, their borders shifted over time during the Old Testament time period, just as borders of countries shift over time today.

Num. 21:21 ¶ Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,

The Amorites were a subset of the Canaanites (see Genesis 10:16). While we think of the Canaanites living west of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, this verse indicates some of them, the Amorites, also lived east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea. They may have been living between Ammon and Canaan.

Num. 21:22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have passed through your border.”

Israel asked for permission to travel through the Amorites in order to get to Canaan.

Num. 21:23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out to meet Israel in the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.

Num. 21:24 Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

The borders of the Amorites were the Jabbok River on the north, the Arnon River on the south, and Ammon on the east.

Num. 21:25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all her towns.

Num. 21:26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites. Now it was he who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.

Look at the phrase “it was he who had”. Before Sihon’s confrontation with Israel, he had fought Moab and taken land away from Moab.

Num. 21:27 Therefore those who use proverbs say,

“Come to Heshbon! Let it be built!

So let the city of Sihon be established.

Heshbon is the city of Sihon (see verse 26). Hebrew poetry is very repetitive. The art of Hebrew poetry is to say the same thing in multiple ways. Both lines in verse 27 say the same thing.

Num. 21:28 For a fire went forth from Heshbon,

A flame from the town of Sihon;

It devoured Ar of Moab,

The dominant heights of the Arnon.

The first two lines of verse 28 say the same thing because Heshbon is the town of Sihon.

The last two lines of verse 28 also say the same thing because Ar was a city in Moab which dominated the heights of the Arnon River. In other words, Sihon went forth from Heshbon and conquered Ar of Moab.

Num. 21:29 Woe to you, O Moab!

You perish, O people of Chemosh!

He has given his sons as fugitives,

And his daughters into captivity,

To an Amorite king, Sihon.

Chemosh was the god of Moab. Thus, the Moabites were the people of Chemosh.

The pronoun “he” in the third line of verse 29 refers to Chemosh.

Since Moab lost the battle against Sihon the Amorite, verse 29 says Chemosh gave up his sons and daughters (the Moabites) to the Amorites.

Num. 21:30 But we have cast them down,

Heshbon perishes as far as Dibon,

And we have made desolate even to Nophah,

Which reaches to Medeba.”

The pronoun “we” refers to Israel. The Amorites had defeated Moab, but Israel defeated the Amorites.

Before the fight with Israel, Heshbon, the capital of the Amorites, controlled Dibon and Medeba. After the battle with Israel, the Amorites did not control those cities because Israel had conquered them.

Num. 21:31 ¶ Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.

Num. 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its towns and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.

Num. 21:33 ¶ Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og the king of Bashan went out to meet them, he and all his people for battle at Edrei.

The term “way of Bashan” refers to a highway that went to Bashan.

Num. 21:34 But Yahweh said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”

Take note of Yahweh’s promise to give Og into the hand of Israel.

Notice the word “fear”. I assume Og had a bigger army than Israel, and that is why Moses may have been afraid.

Num. 21:35 So they struck down him and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor remaining for him; and they possessed his land.

On this occasion, Israel believed Yahweh. They went out and conquered Og.

Num. 22:1 ¶ Then the sons of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.

The phrase “beyond the Jordan” is stated from the perspective of the promised land. Thus, “beyond the Jordan” is the area east of the Jordan River.

At this point in time, Israel had conquered a huge swath of territory on the east side of the Jordan River, and they camped in the plain that was directly east of Jericho on the east side of the Jordan River. The promised land was the land west of the Jordan River.

Many times in life we are faced with a situation where it seems impossible for God to fulfill His promise. However, just as Yahweh was able to easily give Og into the hand of Israel, so too God can easily fulfill every promise He has made to us.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 20:23 - 21:15

Roger Dombach — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:00:48 GMT

There are many people who believe they will go to heaven because they are good people. Since they don’t murder, rape, lie, or steal, they think God will not turn them away after they die. There are other people who don’t believe in life after death. They believe that when we die here on earth, we simply cease to exist.

The Bible makes it clear there is life after death, and that everyone will either spend eternity in heaven or hell. The 20th chapter of Numbers records an incident that illustrates the way to get to heaven.

At the beginning of the book of Numbers, the Israelites were at Mount Sinai and it was one year after they had come out of Egypt. After a census and some instructions about how to travel and how to arrange their camp, they set out for the promised land. The exit from Sinai is recorded in the 10th chapter of Numbers, which tells us the exit occurred one year and one month after they left Egypt.

The 13th chapter of Numbers tells the story of the 12 spies who went to spy out the land. Then we read in the 14th chapter that, because Israel doubted God’s ability to deliver the land to them, they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. The 15th through 19th chapters tell about some challenges to the leadership of Moses.

When we get to the 20th chapter, the text subtly shifts and gives the sense that many decades have passed and the forty years of wandering was coming to an end. Moses asked Edom for permission to travel through Edom, but permission was denied.

Num. 20:23 ¶ And Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

Num. 20:24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

This incident is recorded in the first half of chapter 20. Even though Aaron’s death is recorded in the same chapter as the incident at Meribah, it is possible that many years elapsed between Meribah and Mount Hor.

Num. 20:25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up to Mount Hor;

Num. 20:26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”

Num. 20:27 So Moses did just as Yahweh had commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

Num. 20:28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Num. 20:29 So all the congregation saw that Aaron breathed his last, and all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

Num. 21:1 ¶ Then the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, and he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

Mount Hor was south of the land of Canaan. Arad and the Negev were on the southern end of Canaan.

Num. 21:2 So Israel made a vow to Yahweh and said, “If You will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”

Num. 21:3 Then Yahweh heard the voice of Israel and gave the Canaanites over; so they devoted them and their cities to destruction. Thus the name of the place was called Hormah.

Num. 21:4 ¶ Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient on the way.

The red lines on this map represent ancient highways. Since Edom had refused Moses’ request to travel through Edom, Israel went south from Mount Hor on the road that went around the south side of Edom.

Num. 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.”

In fairness to the Israelites, this episode of complaining probably took place decades after Yahweh performed all the miracles that brought Israel out of Egypt. Many of these Israelites would not have been born when Israel left Egypt. Having said that, there was still no excuse for them to speak against God and Moses.

Num. 21:6 ¶ So Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people so that many people of Israel died.

Num. 21:7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you; pray to Yahweh, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people.

Num. 21:8 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; and it will be that everyone who is bitten and looks at it, will live.”

Num. 21:9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it happened, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

Don’t miss the significance of this incident. Israelites were dying from serpent bites. The only way to be saved from a serpent bite was for them to look on the bronze serpent which Moses had erected.

Jesus used this to teach about Himself. When Nicodemus asked how to be born again, Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) Just as the Israelites had to look upon the bronze serpent in order to be saved from serpent bites, so too all people today need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved from eternal punishment in hell.

Num. 21:10 ¶ Then the sons of Israel set out and camped in Oboth.

Num. 21:11 They then set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness which is opposite Moab, east toward the sunrise.

Notice the phrase “east toward the sunrise”. The traditional belief about the Israelites’ route to Canaan is that the Israelites traveled up the Jordan River valley, along the shores of the Dead Sea. However, the phrase “east toward the sunrise” tells us they traveled on the east side of Edom and Moab, not the west side.

The red lines on the map indicate ancient highways.

Num. 21:12 From there they set out and camped in Wadi Zered.

Num. 21:13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

Num. 21:14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of Yahweh,

“Waheb in Suphah,

And the wadis of the Arnon,

Num. 21:15 And the slope of the wadis

That extends to the site of Ar,

And leans to the border of Moab.”

Many people believe a good God will not send people to hell; therefore, they believe that they will go to heaven simply because they are good people. However, Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) Just as the Israelites had to look upon the bronze serpent in order to be saved from serpent bites, so too all people today need to believe in Jesus in order to spend eternity in heaven instead of enduring eternal punishment in hell.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 20:2-22

Roger Dombach — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:02:57 GMT

Marcus had been walking with God for seventeen years. He wasn’t flashy about his faith; he was steady. Every morning before work, he read his Bible and prayed. Every night, he and his wife, Rachel, prayed together before bed. He led his family in devotions on Sunday evenings and served as a deacon at their church. People respected him. Even his coworkers knew he was different — not because he preached at them, but because he was consistent, patient, and honest.

His dad, Walter, had never understood Marcus’s faith. For years he made cutting remarks about it — calling it a crutch, mocking Marcus for “wasting” his Sundays, and occasionally saying cruel things about Christians in general. Marcus had learned to stay quiet. He had decided long ago that honoring his father meant biting his tongue, no matter how much it hurt. He kept praying for him. He kept showing up. He kept loving him the best he could.

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One Sunday afternoon, the family gathered at Walter’s house for his birthday. Things were tense from the start. Walter had been drinking, and as the afternoon went on, his comments grew sharper. He made a joke about Marcus “brainwashing” his grandchildren with religion. Then he turned directly to Marcus and said something he had never said before:

“You know, your mother would be ashamed of what you’ve become. All this religious nonsense. She raised you better than this.”

Something inside Marcus broke. Years of swallowed words, years of choosing silence, years of praying while being mocked — it all rose up at once. His face flushed. His hands started shaking. Before he could stop himself, he stood up and let the words pour out.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Marcus said, his voice low but shaking with anger. “You spent your whole life tearing people down, and now you want to talk about what Mom would think? She would be ashamed of you. You’ve done nothing but criticize and belittle everyone around you for years. I’ve tried to honor you. I’ve tried to love you. But I’m done pretending you’re not a bitter, miserable old man.” The room went completely silent.

Marcus spent years tolerating insults from his father. Unfortunately, on one occasion he allowed his emotions to take over. Something similar happened to Moses. The whole time he led Israel through the wilderness, he endured grumbling and complaining. On one occasion he snapped and handled it badly. The consequences he suffered are a warning to us about allowing our emotions to take control of us.

Num. 20:2 ¶ Now there was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron.

Num. 20:3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had breathed our last when our brothers breathed their last before Yahweh!

Num. 20:4 Why then have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?

Num. 20:5 And why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.”

Look at this from Moses’ perspective. He was doing what Yahweh told him to do. Yahweh had provided for Israel over and over again in the wilderness. The Israelites knew they were still wandering in the wilderness because they had failed to believe in Yahweh’s power when the twelve spies reported on the strength of the Canaanites. Moses was once again enduring accusations that the sufferings in the wilderness were his fault.

Num. 20:6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of Yahweh appeared to them;

Num. 20:7 and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num. 20:8 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.”

In this case, Yahweh did not react with anger. Instead, He simply told Moses to speak to the rock and bring forth water.

Take note of the word “speak”. Moses was to speak to the rock.

Num. 20:9 ¶ So Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, just as He had commanded him;

Num. 20:10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”

Look at the word “rebels”. Moses was not happy and called the congregation a bunch of rebels. That was true. They were rebels.

Notice the pronoun “we”. Instead of giving Yahweh credit for providing water, Moses was claiming credit for himself.

Num. 20:11 Then Moses raised high his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.

Take note of the word “struck”. Moses had been told to speak to the rock, but he struck it instead.

Num. 20:12 But Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

It is often said that Moses’ mistake was striking the rock instead of speaking to it. That is true. However, when Yahweh confronted Moses and Aaron, He focused on belief and holiness. Moses and Aaron failed to believe Yahweh and to treat Yahweh as holy. Striking the rock was a result of the condition of their heart.

Num. 20:13 Those were the waters of Meribah because the sons of Israel contended with Yahweh, and He proved Himself holy among them.

Num. 20:14 ¶ From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

Num. 20:15 that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.

Num. 20:16 So we cried out to Yahweh, and He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.

Num. 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we pass through your territory.’”

Num. 20:18 ¶ Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, lest I come out to meet you with the sword.”

Num. 20:19 Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing else.”

Num. 20:20 But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out to meet him with a heavy force and with a strong hand.

Num. 20:21 Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.

Num. 20:22 ¶ Then they set out from Kadesh, and the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

Moses endured much abuse over the years he led Israel. He certainly deserved to enter the promised land. However, this one act of foolishness cost him the honor of entering the land.

This is a warning to us that, no matter how many good things we do, allowing our emotions to take control can lead to bitter consequences.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 19:1 - 20:1

Roger Dombach — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:01:07 GMT

Ethan had been a Christian for fifteen years. He served as a deacon at Covenant Church, coached his son’s soccer team, and led a small group for young couples. Most people saw him as steady and spiritually mature.

What few people knew was that Ethan had been carrying quiet resentment for nearly a year. His father-in-law, a retired pastor, had made several critical comments about how Ethan was raising his children. Ethan told himself he had forgiven the man, but the truth was he still replayed the conversations in his head, growing more defensive each time. He had never actually talked to his father-in-law about it. He had simply buried it.

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On a rainy Sunday in March, Ethan arrived at church already irritated. His youngest daughter had thrown a tantrum in the car, and he had raised his voice at her. Sarah, his wife, had given him a disappointed look. By the time he sat down in the sanctuary, his mind was racing through everything he needed to do that week.

The worship songs felt long. When the pastor stood to lead communion, Ethan checked his watch. He had a lunch meeting with a client afterward and didn’t want to be late.

The pastor read the familiar passage: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

Ethan shifted in his seat. He knew the verse. He had heard it dozens of times. For a brief second he considered what the pastor was saying, but then his mind tuned it out. He didn’t pause. He didn’t pray. He didn’t ask God to search his heart. He simply took the small piece of bread when it reached him and ate it. When the cup came, he drank it quickly, already thinking about the route he would take to the restaurant to avoid traffic.

The command to examine ourselves before eating the Lord’s Supper is similar to requirements in the Mosaic Law to maintain ritual cleanliness. The 19th chapter of Numbers is one of the passages that explains those requirements. This chapter spells out the consequences of failing to be ritually pure, which reminds us to heed the warnings in 1 Corinthians 11 about how to prepare for the Lord’s Supper.

Num. 19:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

Num. 19:2 “This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they take to you a red heifer without blemish, in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

Note the requirements for this heifer. It had to be red, without blemish, and never yoked.

Num. 19:3 And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence.

Eleazar was the son of the high priest. This particular step of the ritual was not carried out by the high priest. Instead, one of his sons performed it.

Num. 19:4 Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.

Num. 19:5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned.

Look at the words “burned in his sight”. Eleazar did not actually do the killing and the burning. He merely supervised the action.

Num. 19:6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.

Num. 19:7 The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening.

The supervising priest was one of several men involved in this ritual. He was unclean after the ritual.

Num. 19:8 The one who burns it shall also wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening.

The second man in the ritual was the man who burned the heifer. He was also unclean after the ritual.

Num. 19:9 Now a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity; it is purification from sin.

There was a third man who gathered the ashes.

Notice the word “water”. The ashes were put into water which was used to remove impurity.

Num. 19:10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; and it shall be a perpetual statute to the sons of Israel and to the sojourner who sojourns among them.

The third man was also unclean after the ritual.

Num. 19:11 ¶ ‘The one who touches the corpse of any person shall be unclean for seven days.

Num. 19:12 That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

There were multiple incidents which caused the Israelites to be unclean. One of them was touching a corpse. The water with the ashes of the red heifer was used to purify people who were unclean.

Num. 19:13 Anyone who touches a corpse, the body of a man who has died, and does not purify himself, makes the tabernacle of Yahweh unclean; and that person shall be cut off from Israel. Because the water for impurity was not splashed on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him.

Take note of the words “cut off”. If a man did not follow the rules of ritual purity, he was to be cut off because by being unclean, he made the tabernacle of Yahweh unclean.

Num. 19:14 ¶ ‘This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean for seven days.

Num. 19:15 And every open vessel, which has no covering tied down on it, shall be unclean.

Num. 19:16 Also, anyone who in the open field touches one who has been slain with a sword or who has died naturally, or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

Num. 19:17 Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt purification from sin and flowing water shall be added to them in a vessel.

The word “ashes” refers to the ashes from the red heifer as explained in verses 2-9.

Num. 19:18 And a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the persons who were there and on the one who touched the bone or the one slain or the one dying naturally or the grave.

Num. 19:19 Then the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify him from uncleanness, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and shall be clean by evening.

Num. 19:20 ¶ ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly because he has made the sanctuary of Yahweh unclean; the water for impurity has not been splashed on him; he is unclean.

Once again we see the words “cut off”. This chapter explains specific scenarios in which Israelites were ritually unclean, as well as what they needed to do to cleanse themselves. Failure to follow the rules had consequences.

We see something similar in the New Testament regarding the Lord’s Supper. The bread and wine of communion symbolize the body and blood of Christ. Even though communion is symbolic, there are still rules to follow. Christians must examine themselves before partaking of the symbols. Failure to do so can have consequences (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Num. 19:21 So it shall be a perpetual statute for them. And he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.

Num. 19:22 Furthermore, anything that the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the person who touches it shall be unclean until evening.’”

Num. 20:1 ¶ Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper many times over the course of their life. It is easy to become so comfortable with the ritual that we start to treat it casually. Furthermore, we live busy lives and sometimes it is hard to stop thinking about everything in life long enough to focus solely on the task at hand when we are partaking of the bread and wine.

However, just as the Israelites had to maintain ritual purity, and there were consequences for failing to do so, so too Christians must be diligent about how we partake in the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11 clearly tells us to examine ourselves before eating the bread and drinking the cup. If we can’t focus enough to do that, then we are better off not partaking of the Lord’s Supper.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 18:25-32

Roger Dombach — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:02:26 GMT

Pastor Ethan sat at his kitchen table on a Tuesday evening, the envelope from the church office still unopened in front of him. The monthly paycheck had arrived that afternoon, and for the first time in his twelve years of ministry, he didn’t feel the usual quiet gratitude. He felt something closer to guilt.

Sarah, his wife, was loading the dishwasher. She glanced over. “You’ve been staring at that envelope for twenty minutes. Is everything okay?”

Ethan rubbed his forehead. “I’m trying to decide whether I should tithe from it.”

Sarah paused, a plate in her hand. “Tithe from your own salary?”

He nodded slowly. “The church pays me $4,200 a month after taxes. If I tithe ten percent, that’s $420 going right back into the offering. It feels like giving them their own money.”

The next morning Ethan met with two of the elders for their usual monthly breakfast. He didn’t plan to bring it up, but halfway through his eggs, the words came out anyway.

“Gentlemen, I’ve been wrestling with something. Should I be tithing from my salary back to the church?”

Elder Ron, a retired accountant, set down his coffee. “Ethan, the church gives you that money so you can focus on ministry. If you tithe from it, you’re really just reducing your own take-home pay. That doesn’t seem right.”

Elder Mark, younger and more direct, shook his head. “I disagree. Tithing isn’t about where the money came from. It’s about honoring God with the first portion of whatever He’s entrusted to you.”

Ethan looked between them. “What if I give the money quietly to missions or to families in need? Would that be the same thing?”

Mark shrugged. “That’s generous, but it’s not tithing to the local church. People look to you as the example.”

The New Testament does not answer this question. However, Numbers 18 makes it clear that the Levites were to tithe a portion of their tithe. While this doesn’t give us direction for the church age, it does establish that it is not inappropriate for a paid pastor to give a portion of his pay back to the church.

The first half of Numbers 18 listed the portion of the offerings that were to go to the priests and Levites and serve as their income for their tabernacle service.

Num. 18:25 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num. 18:26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall raise up a contribution offering from it to Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe.

Notice the phrase “a tithe of the tithe”. The Levites received a portion of the sacrifices as their pay. However, they were to take a portion of their pay and give it back to Yahweh.

Num. 18:27 And your contribution offering shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor or the full produce from the wine vat.

Num. 18:28 So you shall also raise up a contribution offering to Yahweh from all your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel; and from it you shall give the contribution offering of Yahweh to Aaron the priest.

Aaron already received a portion from the sacrifices, but the Levites were directed to give Aaron a portion of their pay as well.

Num. 18:29 Out of all your gifts you shall raise up every contribution offering due to Yahweh, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them.’

Take note of the word “best”. The Levites were to give the best back to Yahweh.

Num. 18:30 And you shall say to them, ‘When you have raised up from it the best of it, then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor and as the product of the wine vat.

Once again we see the word “best”. Out of all the grain, wine, and oil the Levites received, they had to give the best back to Yahweh.

Num. 18:31 And you may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the tent of meeting.

Num. 18:32 And you will bear no sin by reason of it when you have raised up the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, so that you will not die.’”

The New Testament does not tell us whether or not paid Christian workers should donate part of their income back to the church. However, since the Levites were required to tithe a portion of the tithe that was given to them, it is not wrong for people who are employed by their church to give a portion of their pay back to the church.

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Daily Scripture Reading Numbers 18:8-24

Roger Dombach — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:01:13 GMT

David closed his eyes for a moment. He could still remember the Sunday, three years earlier, when the conviction had settled in his chest like a stone that wouldn’t move. The big church downtown had just announced another building campaign. The senior pastor’s salary was already public knowledge. It was more than most families in the congregation earned. When David quietly asked one of the elders why the church needed a full-time paid preacher, the elder had smiled politely and said, “We can’t expect a man to shepherd a church of four hundred people and still clock in at a factory every morning.”

David had nodded, but something inside him had shifted. He began reading the New Testament with new eyes. He noticed how the early churches had elders—plural—in every city. Believers met in homes. Ministry was described as something every member did, not something one professional performed while everyone else watched. He saw warnings against leaders who served for “shameful gain.” He kept coming back to Paul’s choice to refuse support so the gospel would not be hindered. The New Testament doesn’t illustrate a professional clergy class that lives off the church. Instead, it shows elders who shepherd because they love the sheep, not because it’s their job.

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When he finally told Sarah he could no longer sit under a paid pastorate without feeling uneasy, they left quietly. There was no dramatic exit, just a simple letter to the elders thanking them for their care and explaining they felt called to a simpler expression of church life.

David has some valid beliefs. There should be a plurality of elders. All church members should do ministry. However, the Bible does record a long tradition of having paid religious leaders. Numbers 18 makes it clear that in ancient Israel the Levites were paid for their work in the tabernacle. Likewise, there are passages in the New Testament that call for gospel workers to earn their living from the gospel.

After the Israelites began wandering through the wilderness, Korah, a Levite, launched a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Yahweh intervened and made it clear He had chosen Aaron and his descendants to be the priests.

Num. 18:8 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I Myself have given you the responsibility of My contributions, even all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual statute.

Notice the name “Aaron”. Most passages in Numbers tell us Yahweh spoke to Moses. This passage says Yahweh spoke to Aaron.

Num. 18:9 This shall be yours from the most holy gifts reserved from the fire; every offering of theirs, even every grain offering and every sin offering and every guilt offering, which they shall render to Me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.

This verse lists the offerings that belonged to Aaron and his sons.

Num. 18:10 As the most holy gifts you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.

Notice the word “male”. Only the males could serve as priests; thus, the offerings listed in verse 9 that belonged to the priests could only be eaten by the males.

Num. 18:11 This also is yours, the contribution from their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel; I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual statute. Everyone of your household who is clean may eat it.

Look at the phrases “sons and daughters” and “everyone of your household”. The items listed in verse 11 also belonged to Aaron and his sons, and the females were permitted to eat these.

Don’t miss the word “clean”. Since these were items that were brought to Yahweh, everyone who ate them had to be clean.

Num. 18:12 All the best of the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to Yahweh, I give them to you.

Num. 18:13 The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours; everyone of your household who is clean may eat it.

Once again we see the phrase “everyone of your household”. The Old Testament sacrificial system was set up so that Aaron and his descendants earned their living through serving in the tabernacle.

Num. 18:14 Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.

Num. 18:15 Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they bring near to Yahweh, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Num. 18:16 Now as to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Num. 18:17 But the firstborn of an ox or the firstborn of a sheep or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall splash their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a soothing aroma to Yahweh.

Num. 18:18 And their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

Num. 18:19 All the contributions of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel raise up to Yahweh, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual statute. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before Yahweh to you and your seed with you.”

In this verse we see the phrase “your sons and your daughters”. These were more items that supported the families of the priests.

Num. 18:20 Then Yahweh said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.

The final destination of the Israelites was the promised land. They were destined to conquer and inhabit the land of Canaan. However, Yahweh warned Aaron that he and his descendants would not receive an inheritance, meaning they would not inherit land in which to earn a living. Instead, their inheritance was to serve as priests and earn a living in the tabernacle.

Num. 18:21 ¶ “Now to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.

Look at the phrase “sons of Levi”. The descendants of Aaron who served as priests were a subset of the sons of Levi. The Levites who were not priests also had duties related to the tabernacle and also received their income from the tabernacle.

Num. 18:22 And the sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, or they will bear sin and die.

Num. 18:23 Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Num. 18:24 For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they raise up as a contribution offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’”

Verse 24 repeats the rule in verse 21. The tithe of the sons of Israel went to the sons of Levi to serve as their income.

The Mosaic Law was clear that the Levites were to be paid for their tabernacle service. There was a clear distinction between the tribe of Levi which served as the religious workers and all the other tribes who fought the wars, worked the land, and paid the Levites for serving as the religious workers.

We see something similar and yet different in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul wrote that those who proclaim the gospel should earn their living through the gospel (see 1 Corinthians 9:14). He also wrote that elders who rule well are worthy of double honor (see 1 Timothy 5:17). The word “honor” is a reference to money. Thus, there is justification and direction to pay gospel workers.

On the other hand, the New Testament does not require paid clergy. 1 Corinthians 9:14 may refer to missionaries, not pastors. 1 Timothy says it is okay to pay elders, but that is not required.

When reading through the New Testament, the overall sense is that it does not establish a class of paid clergy who should serve as pastors. Instead, the shepherding and leading of the church is to be distributed among a group of men, who may or may not be paid.

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