# 42 2026 Dev. Isa. 56. Salvation! Read all of chapter fifty-six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 56. Salvation for others, Salvation offered to those who “maintain justice, and do what is right.”

Vs.1-2 “Blessed is the one who does this- the person who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing evil.” Salvation is available to every person who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior!

Vs.3-8 “Let no person say they are not accepted. Those who keep the Sabbath, and hold fast to my covenant, “I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.” For God’s “house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” God’s intention from the beginning was that Abraham would be a blessing to all peoples of the world. How is that blessing given today to the people around us? Are we concerned for those who do not yet know Jesus? Also see Acts 4:11 and Ps.118

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

Vs.9-12 “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.” Those who should be guarding, watching, but they are sleeping. Is this where we are today? Are we watching, do our churches understand that we must reach-out to those who are not close to God? Do we understand that outreach defines our church as the church of Christ? We trust God that the Spirit of Christ will wake us up!

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“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written ‘it is mine to avenge; I will repay, ‘says the Lord.” Rm.12:19

# 41 2026 Dev. Numbers 31. The Lord’s Vengeance!  Read all of chapter thirty-one first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu. 31 The Midianites.

Vs.1-6. “The Lord said to Moses, take vengeance on the Midianites.” This punishment has to do with Baal Peor when the Israelite men went with the Moabites and the Midianite women to worship and adulterated themselves at Baal worship. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham by Keturah, Moses’ father in law, was from that tribe.  God punished the Israelites’ with a plague, 24,000 died, I assume men but women may have been involved as well. The plague was only stopped by the priest, Phinehas, by striking an offending couple by running them through with a spear. Now God was about to punish the Midianites for following the advice of Balaam.  This will be Moses’ last assignment. 10,000 men were conscripted from each tribe. “Moses sent them into battle…” This was a draft, not a personal choice. The draft happened to me, some people resisted, moved to Canada, but based on Rm.13, I served and survived, I thank God.

Vs.7-12 “…as the Lord commanded Moses, they killed every man…and the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam, son of Beor, with the sword…they captured all the women and children… herds and flocks…and burned all the cities and camps.”

Vs.13-24 When they returned. “Moses was angry with the officers of the army…Have you allowed all the women to live?” They were the ones who led the men of Israel astray. “Now kill all the boys. And kill all the women who have slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has not slept with a man.” Eleazar the priest laid down the law of cleansing, for those who killed and those touching a dead body as well as every captured item that could withstand fire must be purified, everything else with cleansing water. It was a brutal world in those days, but it highlights the seriousness of that situation. Balaam was not allowed to curse the Israelites as Balak wanted but he got around it by giving Satanic advice. Taking that advice cost everyone opposing God’s people, complete destruction.   

Dividing the Spoils

Vs.25-47 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured.  Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.’” The priest was to get part of the soldier’s share, one out of five hundred, of people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. From the rest of the people one out of fifty for the Levites, for the tabernacle. God wanted His people to be treated equitably, so, also, we should treat people around us.

Vs. 48-54 “Then the officers who were over the units of the army- the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds- went to Moses and said to him… we counted all our men and not one is lost.” There were no fatalities among the Israelites. This prompted the commanders to give an offering to the Lord. Moses and Eleazer accepted all the gold and crafted articles. They received about 420 pounds of gold, in today’s value that is around $ 29,785,320, an amazing offering. If all of us would give the church what we could really afford, our mission organizations would have all the money needed for a serious effort to reach people here and overseas. Where there is a will there is a way, I am afraid not enough of us will. We continue to trust God!

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“In same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Rm.8:26

# 40 2026 Dev. Isa.55. Renewal! Read all of chapter fifty-five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 55 The invitation. “Come, all you who are thirsty…” Who does not thirst? No one! this is an invitation for everyone to be renewed, to be revived, to be made alive in Jesus’ name.

Vs.1-5 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money come buy and eat come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost… Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good… Listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you…” This invitation is for all of us, for every nation, for the whole world to return the goodness, the righteousness, to the purity when God first created mankind

Vs.6-7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” God is near to everyone by the Holy Spirit, he is urging us to repent and to turn to Him. “God will freely pardon.” But if you push the Spirit away long enough and grieve the Spirit of God, coming back will be difficult because only God’s Spirit can bring you back. Be proactive, “seek the Lord”!

Vs.8-13 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” God’s thoughts and ways are not comprehendible by human kind, but God makes himself and his ways known to us by His Word, the Bible, that is our source. God will accomplish what He ordains. “As the rain and snow waters the earth so also, my Word will accomplish what I desire.” Renewal is not only for human kind but for Creation as well. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills burst into song before you, and the all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Rm. 8:18-28 gives us some insight to the renewal purposes of God. What we are looking forward to, longing for, is the New Heaven and the New Earth, come quickly Lord Jesus!

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Rm.12:1

# 39 2026 Dev. Numbers 29-30. Returning to The Lord!  Read all of chapter twenty-nine and thirty first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu. 29 Major Festivals

Vs.1-6 Trumpets. “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.” They were to sacrifice, a bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, without blemish, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Here, trumpets direct people

back to God as well as a preparation for the day of attornment. Trumpets announce future advents, we will hear them for the future event of the judgment of God and the coming of Jesus. What do you have in your religious life that draws you closer to God?

The Day of Attornment.

Vs.7-11 “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.” The same sacrifices were required except they must also offer a male goat as a sin offering. Leviticus 16 lays out the ceremonies and sacrifices, including a second goat as the scape goat, to carry all the sins of the people committed over the year, these sacrifices point to Jesus Christ.  Today, Jesus is our scape goat carrying all the sins of the whole world to the cross, He is the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all. Praise and thanks be to God the Father!

The Festival of Tabernacles

Vs.12-38 All this was to be done in the seventh month after the new year. This is a festival commemorating the time they spent wandering in the desert and it lasted for eight days. The first day 13 bulls are sacrificed and 14 male lambs and one male goat as a sin offering. Every day the same offering but the bull number was reduced by one, the other offerings stayed the same. On the last and eighth day only one bull, one ram,7 lambs, and also a sin offering. Along with all these offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings were included.

They were to remember the years in the desert, the manna, how God took care of them. As they were ready to go into the promised land, obviously, they had food to spare. Today we make living sacrifices.

Nu 30. Vows.  

Vs.1-2 “This is what the Lord commands: ² When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”

Vs.3-8 Women, single or married who make a vow will stand only if the father or the husband do not prevent them.

V.9 Widows and divorced women’s vows stand.

Vs.10-15 It appears that a vow made by a wife may put a family in jeopardy if family goods are involved. If the husband says nothing he is responsible. The husband is given certain rights, he has the responsibility for the family but if he reneges on his right to lead, his wife can take over. Today, “don’t swear by heaven or earth, let your answer be a simple yes or no” so Jesus tells us.

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# 38 2026 Dev. Isa.54. “Lengthen Your Cords”! Read all of chapter fifty-four first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 54 “The future glory of Zion.” After Jesus and His suffering is introduced in Ch. 53 the prophet in Ch. 54 talks of the glory of the church, the expansion of the church, “because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord.”

Vs.1-5 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”  The church is to expand by evangelism and outreach to our neighbors; the church is to expand expediently, “For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” If expanding the church is not the goal, is it a church?

Vs.6-10 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” God was with the Old Testament church, even as He disciplined them. God is with the church today but there may be discipline for this church as well. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” God is absolutely in support of the church today. Are we relying on Him, do we hear the Holy Spirit’s whispers, and guidance, not only as pastors or elders, what about you sitting in the pew?

Vs.11-17 This is the promise of our God: “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” This is still a promise from our God, even today; “…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Today we are in a dilemma; there is great response from young people to the gospel of Christ but traditional churches are not growing, when will we wake up?

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# 37 2026 Dev. Numbers 27-28 Justice and Worship Read all of chapter twenty-seven and twenty-eight first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu. 27 Justice

Zelophehad’s Daughters

Vs.1-11 The daughters were not counted in the censes taken to distribute the land, as their father had died in the wilderness and did not have a son to be counted. He did not die by rebellion or any conflict known to Moses. The daughters acknowledged he died over a personal sin. The unmarried daughters approached Moses, the High Priest and the elders with this question; “Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” Moses asked God, and God answered: “…The Lord said to him, ‘What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them’” A new law was established in Israel. “If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter.  If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.  If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.  If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it.” Here God shows us that justice is equal for both men and women. Thank God!

Joshua to Succeed Moses

Vs.12-23 “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was…” Moses asked God to appoint someone in his place. “So, the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.’” We still ordain people in this way, particularly pastors, church leaders, and missionaries. This sets leaders apart in the power of the Holy Spirit.   

Nu.28 Worship.

Vs.1-31 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’” The daily offerings, Sabbath offerings, monthly offerings, the Passover, the Festival of Weeks, was a reminder of what God expected from His people. For a complete list of God’s expectations, see Lev.1-27 after the Tabernacle was set up. Worship, is glorifying God, is repetitive and is habitual. Worship means showing profound reverence, honor, love and devotion to God, the Creator of the universe. Worship is, communal, and individualistic, everyday day is worship and how we live our lives must be an act of worship!  May His Spirit empower us.

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# 36 2026 Dev. Isa.53. Our Salvation! Read all of Chapter fifty-three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word to think on and to interact with. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 53 moves to the heart of the matter, the Lord’s servant, his suffering he bore for us, for our atonement and God honors him. He was rejected, dispissed, and killed but God raised Him from the dead. By His Spirit, Jesus is still with us, today!

Vs.1-3 “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Jesus quoted this in Jn.12:38-41 “This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? ‘For this reason, they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them. Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”‘ There is this hardness of hearts today as well since the Holy Spirit is rejected.

Vs.4-9: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” It was for our atonement. He took all our iniquities upon himself, releasing us from our transgressions and assuring us salvation by faith in Him.  

Vs.10-12 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin…” The result of Christ’s sacrifice is for us who trust Him and gives us freedom. He, Jesus, “will see the light of life”. He always has lived and is the one who gives us life, today and forever. Thanks be to God!

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# 35 2026 Dev. Numbers 25-26 Consequences and Faithfulness! Read all of chapter twenty-five and twenty-six first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu. 25 Moab Seduces Israel.

Vs.1-5 “While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods.”

Apparently, this was the result of Balaam’s advice to Balak after God prevented him from cursing the Israelites. Rev. 2 :14 Moses ordered the leaders to kill all those who participated in sexual sins and in spiritual adultery. This is still a temptation today to many people and to some of the people of God.  

Vs.6-9 “Then an Israelite man brought to the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” This was not just any woman, she was a Midianite chief’s daughter and the man was “Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.” Two people who should have stood for justice and righteousness. “When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.” When leaders defy the Word of God the country and the church is in trouble. But the faithful will stand!

Vs.10-15 “The Lord said to Moses, ’Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was zealous for my honor among them…”’ God makes a covenant of peace with him and a lasting priesthood. Faithfulness, a fruit of the Spirit.

Vs.16-18 God brings punishment on the Midianite’s as well. God is not mocked.

Nu 26 The Second Census

Vs.1-51 “These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt … Reuben: 43,730. Simeon: 22,200. Gad: 40,500. Judah: 76,500.Issachar: 64,300. Zebulun: 60,500. Manasseh: 52,700. Ephraim: 32,500. Benjamin: 45,600. Dan: 64,000. Asher: 53,000. Nephtali: 45,400. Total: men of Israel, 601,730.

Vs. 52-56 This was how the land would be allotted to them, by the number count of each tribe, larger tribe a larger allotment but it all must be done by lot. By lot, that is how God will designate where each tribe will live in the land.

Vs. 57-65 The Levites were counted separately, they did not get an allotment of land. “All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000… Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshua, son of Nun.” As faithful as Moses was he would not enter the land, but God’s grace was sufficient for him.

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# 34 2026 Dev. Isa.52:13-15 Suffering and Glory!  Read all of chapter fifty-two first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 52 continues from Ch.51, the release of Israel from Babylon. It is the release from slavery in Egypt and now the release from Babylon, foreshadowing the salvation we now have in Christ Jesus.

Vs.1-6 “Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength!” God is calling His people, captive, in a foreign land, look up, look to the Lord and be free “…from the chains on your neck.” So, also, God calls us today, He wants to set us free from all that entangles us today!  “You were sold for nothing and without money you will be redeemed. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says ‘At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. And now what do I have here? declares the Lord. And all day long my name constantly blasphemed. Therefore, my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.” Apply this to today and draw your own conclusion.

Vs.7-12 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!”’ As we have already mentioned the release of the people and the announcement of that is equated as “Good News” by the preaching of the Word; “…And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”’Rm. 10:15. Paul was called to present God’s salvation to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. The whole point of church is to not only to encourage the attenders but to actively reach out to those who are not yet saved. People question outreach, “if God wants to save someone He does not need us or the church to do it.” Yes, but God wants to empower us by the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purpose of evangelizing the world. Working to that end, and experiencing people who find Jesus is the greatest privilege one can have in this this life.  “But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” This applies to those leaving Babylon and all those coming out of a life without Christ. Praise the Lord!

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

Vs.13-15 “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.” Jesus Christ, is exalted before time. “Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being…”Christ is exceedingly exalted after suffering on the cross to redeem mankind. Thanks be to God!

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# 33 2026 Dev. Numbers 24. Blessings and Curses. Read all of chapter twenty-four first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu. 24 Balaam continues his Prophesies.

Vs.1-12 “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.” When he saw the camp of the Israelites stretched out before him the Holy Spirit came upon Balaam. At that point Balaam gives up divination. The next two prophecies include an introduction, by Balaam, an introduction that gives him the credit for this prophecy, instead of humility, the donkey experience gave him pride and arrogance. Yet, in the power of the Spirit, God used him to bless the Israelites. The leader, Joshua, is like a lion. “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” This was a promise to Abraham as well. Balak, realizing he was not going to get a curse from Balaam, sent him packing. But Balaam was not finished prophesying.

Vs.15-19 “Balaam’s fourth message” Same arrogant introduction but he speaks an undeniable truth. “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.” Is he speaking of David? He goes on, “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Is he speaking of Jesus? He is speaking of David and Jesus. We are in a battle in Jesus’ name, by our faith in Him the enemy will be destroyed, Satan will not prevail against our God’s love, praise Him!

Vs.20-25 Balaam’s fifth, sixth and seventh message. This covers a lot of history, Amalek, the grandson of Esau, attacked the Israelites at a time when they were weak. God wanted them eliminated. Saul, the first king of Israel, failed to do that. The sixth message involves the Kenites. Moses stayed with Jethro, a priest in Median, a Kenite, who became his father in law. Yet, by Ashur, the Assyrians would destroy them. The seventh message, “Alas! Who can live when God does this.” Yes, God does this, He is control of history, also, today. Here Balaam moves ahead about 1500 yrs. The Greeks, Alexander the Great, puts an end to the Medes and the Persian kingdom. What do we take away from “Blessings and Curses” Does God bless? Yes, but blessings do not always mean physical healing, or prosperity but it always means spiritual healing. Curses are reserved for those who reject God, those who will not recognize Jesus as the Savior and do not listen to the Holy Spirit.

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