“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rm.12:2”

# 25 2026 Dev. Numbers.17-18. Putting to Rest Complaining! Read all of chapters seventeen and eighteen 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.17 “The budding of Aaron’s staff.”

Vs.1-5 “The Lord said to Moses,‘Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.”’ The leaders of the tribes were to write their names on their staff. Aaron’s name was written on Levi’s staff.  

Vs.6-13 “Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.” What happened? “The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” God preformed a miracle to show the people that Aaron and Moses were chosen by God to lead His people. God still leads His people, leaders today are chosen by their peers in the power of the Holy Spirit. The people were convinced, “The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!  Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?” No, they were not going to die but they were pointed to the leaders God had chosen, we need to trust God for our leaders as well!

Nu 18 “Duties of Priests and Levites”

Vs. 1-7 “The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.” God established the consequences. Should our leaders and pastors be held to account?  Yes, everyone in leadership positions, fathers, mothers, teachers, pastors and church leaders, community leaders, Mayors, Governors especially House Members and Senators, Vice Presidents and Presidents. 

Vs.8-32 is long list of what the priest and those who help them in the sanctuary will receive from the offerings. They will not share in the land. “They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’” All first born males of people or animals must be redeemed; “But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekelsof silver, according to the sanctuary shekel…” This is a reminder that God saved the first born of Israel by the blood on the doorpost, when He struck down the first born in Egypt. God claims the first-born males for himself. Today, we all have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, if we, like Israel, give up our wayward ways. Thanks be to God!

 _{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 24 2026 Dev. Isa.46,47 God’s Warning, Love and Mercy!  Read all of chapter forty-six and forty- seven 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 46. Starting in Isa. 44, God, through the prophet, is telling them, Israel, that there will be salvation and how He is going to do it.

Vs.1-2 Isaiah denigrates the gods of Babylon. They are immobile they must be carried around, they are unable to do anything for anyone.

Vs.2-4 “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel…” Here God address the Israelis and God makes a promise: “I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” God makes that promise to us as well, He created us, calls us, fills us with His Spirit, saves us and takes us home!

Vs.5-7 God compares Himself, the Living God, to dead idols of gold and silver.

Vs.8-13 “Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.” God addresses His wayward people: “I am God, and there is no other…I make known the end from the beginning… I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please… What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do… Listen to me…  you who are now far from my righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.” This is God’s plan for all of us today, we just need to acknowledge Jesus!

Isa 47 The Fall of Babylon, prophesied 100 years before the event.

Vs.1-4 “Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon…” God will take away their kingdom. “I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” The prophet tells us why and how; “Our Redeemer the Lord Almighty is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.”

Vs.5-15 The prophet representing God, “I was angry with my people and desecrated my inheritance; I gave them into your hand, and you showed them no mercy. Even on the aged you laid a very heavy yoke.” You relied on sorceries, “You have trusted in your wickedness…” They were haughty, “I am, and there is none besides me.” They practiced magic spells and believed the astrologers. “All of them go on in their error; there is not one that can save you.” These warnings that God sends to the Babylonians, God sends to us today, by Creation, by His Word in the flesh and script, by His Spirit and by His Church. Are we listening?

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 23 2026 Dev. Numbers.15-16. Rules and Rebellion! Read all of chapters fifteen and sixteen 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.15 Offerings, Unintentional sins, Sabbath-breakers, Tassels.

Vs.1-21 “The Lord said to Moses,‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a homeand you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord…”’ After the entrance in the land” due to the people’s disobedience, this is forty years in the future. The offerings are as God had directed them all along. It may be God reiterated the offerings when entering the land because of rebellion in the former chapter and the rebellion in the next chapter. God forgave them, when Moses interceded for them. There is grace and forgiveness, certainly today, with Jesus’ intercession for us.

Vs.22-31 “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep… any of the Lord’s commands to you through him…and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering.” This covers the community. “But if just one-person sins unintentionally that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.  The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.” Grace and forgiveness were available at that time. As it is today with a sacrificial heart

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

Vs.32-36 “While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘The man must die.”’ Can we imagine that today? The Sabbath (now Sunday for most Christians) is disregarded in many ways, Jesus has set us free. We worship in Spirit and in truth Jn.4:23-24!

Tassels on Garments

 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord…” Today we have God’s Word, in nature and in the scriptures!

Nu.16 Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Vs.1-50 “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.”

They put themselves at the spiritual level of Moses and Aaron. “When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: ‘in the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him.” Moses said to them, you Levites have been chosen by God to serve him. Now you also want the priesthood? “Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, ‘We will not come!”’  Moses became angry and did not interceded to God for them. Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord.” When they came to the tent of meeting “the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once. But Moses and Aaron fell face down and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one-man sins?” Again, Moses intercedes and God responded with Love, grace, forgiveness and justice, all those who opposed God received punishment. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective…but God is not mocked.”

God said to Moses “move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram” We see what happens, the earth opened and swallowed up these three families along with all their belongings. “And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” The 250 censers used by those opposing God were beaten into sheets, used to cover the alter. What happens next is amazing and confirms the statement; “these people are a stiff-necked people.”

“The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ‘You have killed the Lord’s people,’ they said.”’ God again threatened to destroy the assembly, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces. It wasn’t by words this time but by actions, something we must remember.  Moses sent Aaron with his censer filled with coals from the alter and incense, to go among the assembly to make attornment. God relented and the plague stopped but not before 14,700 people died from the plague.” This chapter is about a prideful, stubborn and uncooperative people whose hearts are not willing to listen to God or to take direction from His Word. Does this sound familiar?

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 22 2026 Dev. Isa.45. Liberation!  Read all of chapter forty-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 45. Starting in Isa. 44 God is planning the return of His people to the land, to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. What is amazing this prophecy is 100 yrs. before the event. And God will use Cyrus the Great to accomplish it. This chapter is about freedom from captivity, freedom from sin and condemnation, restoration to the land, mirroring our restored relationship with Jesus Christ!

Vs.1-4“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut… For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor…” Cyrus was a good leader, he respected people’s culture and did not demand people to change on his account, as long as taxes were paid he let people and nations be.

Vs.5-8 “I am the Lord, and there is no other apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah validates God as the only Lord of the whole earth, there is no other. God controls the light and the darkness. God blesses or withholds His blessings. All people and all of nature is in God’s control. Do we really believe that? It is hard to believe when good people suffer, illness, accidents, war, so many innocent people die? The answer is Yes! God is in control, if only we knew God’s plans! We don’t know God’s plans but faith and trust guide us.

Vs.9-13 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker… “Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’’’ Woe to those who disparages a father or mother. I am the God of creation, is there someone who can question me? “I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free but not for a price or reward says the Lord Almighty.”

Vs.14-25 “This is what the Lord says:” Products of Egypt and people will come to you. “Surely God is with you, and there is no other god…Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save…Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” This chapter is about restoration, forgiveness, salvation, faith and trust, it applies to us today. We do not know God’s plan for all of us, for the church, for our families, for us personally but we know that we can trust our God and Savior Jesus to forgive, to lead and to use us, that is our blessing, to be known by Him as He makes Himself to be known to us!

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 21 2026 Dev. Numbers.13-14. Faith! Read all of chapters thirteen and fourteen 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.13. Exploring Canaan.

Vs.1-25 “The Lord said to Moses, ² “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.” Moses picked one person from each tribe, 12 in all to go and spy out the land. They did as Moses instructed them, they stayed for forty days and brought some of the fruit of the land back to Moses.

Vs.26-33 The Report! They reported that the land was flowing with milk and honey “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large…  Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’”

But ten men of the group went around and stirred up the people against Moses. Caleb and Hoshea (Joshua), only two men out of twelve held onto their faith, they believed that God would do what he had promised! What about us? What about you? We all face difficult times in our lives. Do we believe that God will fulfil His purposes for our lives? 

Nu.14 The People Rebel

Vs.1-4 The people said: “Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Vs.5-9 “Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes” They did everything possible to convince the assembly to trust God! Isn’t that the job of our pastors and church leaders today?

Vs.10-12 God spoke to Moses: “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” Based on all the issues that Moses had deal with the people, what will he chose?

Vs.13-16 Moses, immediately, went into intercessory mode, arguing with God about His promises and about His power and glory. This is an amazing turn of events. As pastors and church leaders do we stand ready to intercede for our people? 

Vs.17-19 This is Moses’ final argument; “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ ¹⁹ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” This is our God, grace, love, forgiveness but also justice.

 Vs.20-25 “The Lord replied, ‘I have forgiven them, as you asked.’” But God sent them back into the desert, God proclaimed not one 20 yr. old person and older will enter the land. God is faithful, true to His promises, but God also calls people to account.

Vs.26-35 “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.” God will not allow the present generation to enter the land. Not Moses or Aaron, only the children and Joshua, and Caleb because they believed God. The “rest will wander in the desert forty years, one year for every day they spent investigating the land.

Vs.36-45 The 10 spies who stirred up the people against Moses all died in a plague. Some of the men who had opposed Moses said they repented; “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!” Moses warned them not to try to take the land, which was against God’s will, but even so they went up and were defeated. Today, seeking and discerning God’s will can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, with humility, repentance and faith!

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 20 2026 Dev. Isa.44. Assurance!  Read all of chapter forty-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 44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:” After the release from captivity, God, through the prophet, encourages the people who have been released. So, also for us, when God sets us free from the captivity of sin, God assures us and strengthens us throughout our lives with His Word and His Church!

Vs.1-6 “Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun,^[a] whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” That promise is still true today!  Do we belong to the Lord?

The Lord Not Idols

Vs.6-20 “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.” Here the prophet takes a lot of space to impress upon the returnees the folly of idolatry. This was the reason why God sent them into captivity for seventy years. Not many of the idolaters returned to the land. This warning was for their offspring. What about us today, do we have idols? Yes, our land is full of idols, sex, drink, drugs, food is a big one, money, personal appearance and prominent positions. Non-of this is wrong in and of itself, but when this takes over our lives, they take the place of God in our lives and it becomes idolatry! What really matters to you?

Remember

Vs.21-23 ““Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.” God will not forget us, He created us, He called us and He saves us. We may fail Him, but He keeps waiting to forgive us and for us to return to Him.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

Vs.24-28 “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things…” Jerusalem was destroyed, it will be rebuilt, along with all the towns of Judah, as well as the Temple. God is a God of restoration, a God of renewal, a God who directs kings and all politics everywhere. God is in control, we may rest assured, praise Him!

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 18 2026 Dev. Isa.43. Our Salvation! Read all of chapter forty-three 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 43 This chapter continues on from the one before, it is about the release from captivity, but moves on to the release from the captivity of sin that only Jesus can bring to them and to us.

Vs.1-7. This is what God says: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine…For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.” God has called us, redeemed us, commissioned us and expects us to serve Him.

Vs.8-13. “Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.” They are not able to proclaim, they do not hear or see. Yet, “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” Look around to God’s creation, hear His word in the Scriptures, He says: “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.” Amen and Amen!

Vs.14-21. God’s Mercy and our Unfaithfulness.

God reassures the Israelites, as he assures us; “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” Babylon will fall and Cyrus of the Medes and the Persians will send them back as God had ordained. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” God is making a way for us; “because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise” With our shortcomings, our doubts and fears, even so, God empowers us serve and to proclaim His praise!

Vs.22-28. Even though we have failed time and time again, God comforts us: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Thanks be to God, let us keep our eyes open and our ears alert, God wants to use us! God wants to use you!

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 17 2026 Dev. Numbers.8-9. Light in the Darkness! Read all of chapters seven and 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.8. Light. And ordination.

Vs. 1-4 “The Lord said to Moses, …see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.” God had told Moses exactly how to make the lamp stand. Why was this so important? The lampstand represented God Himself among them. That started way back in history. Ge. 1:3 “Let there be Light.” That is more than physical light.

Rev 21:23 “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Ge.17:7 God to Abraham: “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

Pr.6:23. Fidelity in marriage: “For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life…”

2 Pe.1:19. “We also have the prophetic message…” God’s Word. “and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Mt.5:15 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Rev.4:5 “In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. That is the sevenfold Spirit.” That is what we have today the Spirit of God with us and in us!

Vs.5-26 The setting Apart of the Levites.

All had to be ceremonially clean, all had to be shaved, all had to bring the required offerings. The Israelites had to lay on hands. “Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.” They all had to serve 25 years. They represent the first born of all of Israel. It is much like that today, for pastors and leaders, we are examined by our peers and the church. Do we have the right attitude, do we have a pastoral heart; humility, compassion, spiritually sensitive, are our credentials in order, are we willing to comply to the church order, and the church’s creeds? When commissioned in a congregation, or for a specific task, we are prayed over including the laying on of hands. Pastors and leaders, in their work, should lay on hands in prayer and always end with, “in the name of Jesus.” All Christians should do that.

Nu.9 The Passover.

 Vs.1-14 “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.”

This was done in the first month of the year. If a person is ceremonially unclean or is traveling, they can still celebrate but in the second month of the year, observing all its rules and regulations.

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, and said “do this in remembrance of Me,” signifying the Blood and the Body of Christ given for us. Some churches practice communion four times a year and some practice it every service. There are rules though, you should be a member in good standing of a church. For us it is a matter of the heart that God judges. There are exceptions, like giving communion to someone on their death bed, if requested, whatever their status, only God knows the heart. Also, if a person is not in good standing of the church, celebrating communion draws people closer to God and may set one on the path of repentance. Thanks be to God!

Vs.15-23 The Cloud.

It covered the Tabernacle, “From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire… Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have directions from God like that? Well, we do, by the light of His Word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Are we reading and listening? We thank God!

_{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}

# 16 2026 Dev. Isa.42.  Here is My Servant! Read all of chapter forty-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 42 “Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.

Vs.1-4. “Here is my servant…”  God upholds him, he is chosen, God delights in him, God puts his Spirit on him, he will bring justice, he will not announce his coming, he will be compassionate, he will practice justice, in his teaching the world will hope. The Prophet is describing Jesus Christ. He is our hope, in our broken world!

Vs.5-9. “This is what God the Lord says-” I have created the heavens and the earth, the people on it and the breath of life. “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;” Here the prophet is referring to the servant, God protects him, he will be a covenant, a light also for the Gentiles, he will open eyes, physically and spiritually, free captives from dungeons and from sin. This continues to this day. We have a covenantal relationship with Him, he has opened our eyes spiritually and He has set us free!  God says to us “ I am the Lord”, I am He and I declare a new  thing to you. Are we listening?

“Song of Praise to the Lord”

Vs.10-17 “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth”. God calls the earth, and all that is in it, to praise. The Lord is in a battle with his enemies, Satan and his fallen angels, but God will triumph. “For a long time, I have kept silent”, yet his prophets have proclaimed, including this prophet, and now God himself proclaims that nature will do his bidding, the blind will see, there will be light. “I will make the rough places smooth, a voice crying in the wilderness,” said John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet. Mk.1:3. But this only applies to those who trust in the Lord. Where are you today? We have plenty of idols, stumbling blocks in our lives. Where is your trust?

“Israel Blind and Deaf”

Vs.18-25. “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!” The prophets here speak of those who have rejected God’s rule, rejected his righteous laws, and his grace. The Israelites are God’s servants from the beginning, “A light to the Gentiles, a blessing to all the families of the earth.” In that sense Israel is God’s servant, a type of Christ. That was God’s plan all along, beginning with the “mother promise” Gen 3:15, to redeem His creation, to take it back, all of it! This is the question for us today: “Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?” Today, are we listening to God’s voice, the voice of nature all around us, the voice of the scriptures, the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and the voice of the church? Blessed are those who see and hear!

 _{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.}