Heavenhigh

Complaining Today?

# 19 2026 Dev. Numbers.10-11-12. Complaining Today? Read all of chapters ten, eleven and twelve 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.10 Silver Trumpets, they move on from Sinai

Vs. 1-10 “The Lord said to Moses, “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.”The priests are to blow them, two trumpets to gather everyone, one trumpet to call only the leader. Also, for times of war, and times of celebrations sound the trumpets.

The Israelites Leave Sinai

Vs.11-36. “On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.” They traveled and camped as they were instructed in Ch.2. V.34 “So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.”

Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered may your foes flee before you.’Whenever it came to rest, he said, “Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.” Today, before we travel, we ask God to go with us and to protect us on the way.

Nu.11 Fire and Meat!

Vs.1-3 “The people complained about their hardship in the hearing of the Lord.” Were people thinking about the hardship of travel? Did they speak that God heard them? However, the Lord was angry with them and broke out in fire at the edge of the camp.

Vs.4-9 “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat!” They start to lust after the food of Egypt, and forgot the misery of slavery. The complaining of the people sent Moses into a deep depression and he cried out to the Lord. God said bring me 70 elders, I will give the some of the Spirit I gave you to help lead the people. God said to Moses the people think they had it better in Egypt, I will give them meat for a month, “until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” Moses questioned the Lord about brining that much meat. The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” He put His spirit on 70 of the elders to help Moses. But two men had not gone to the meeting of the 70. And they also prophesied in the camp. Moses was told, “Joshua said to Moses, my lord, stop them!” Moses answered, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” Isn’t that what we would want, those of us pastoring churches, that the power of the Spirit would be upon all the members? God brought a wind that drove in quail and came and piled up to 2 cubits (three feet) around the camp. But God was displeased and struck all who complained with a plague. Before we complain let us count the blessings of our churches, our families, our jobs and our country!

Nu 12, Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Vs.1-16 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.” God called all three to the tent of meeting, God said “Listen to My Words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” God was angry with them but Miriam was punished with leprosy. Why only Mariam? We don’t know maybe she instigated it. Aaron interceded for her to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord and she was healed. Moses was a humble man and God listened to him. Moses was especially chosen to lead God’s people, but also today, Pastors are chosen by God for the congregation and God speaks through him/her, Amen! Be careful, therefore, what you complain about.

Our Salvation!

# 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!

Light in the Darkness!

# 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!

Here is My Servant!

# 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!

The Offering!

# 15 2026 Dev. Numbers 7. The Offering! Read all of chapter 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.

Nu.7 “Offerings at the dedication of the Tabernacle.” this chapter highlights the dedication of the Tabernacle. This event happened around 3500 years ago. The workmanship of the Tabernacle and the accompanying furniture is amazing for that time period. It is true that God granted people working on the Tabernacle His Spirit to be able to accomplish it as God wanted. Ask yourself this question: What does this event, the dedication, and the offerings mean for us today?

Vs. 1-9 “When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings.” Then the Israelites brought; “They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.” Moses assigned these to the Levites to be used to transport the tabernacle. But the Holy things were to be carried by those assigned to do so. The whole event, the moving of the tabernacle, is so regulated, as God had directed to Moses. The Tabernacle represented God with them, living among them! That is happening today in the person of Jesus and the Holy Spirit! When one looks back at how it was then, do we appreciate, Emanuel, God with us today?

Vs.10-83 “When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar.” For the next 12 days each tribe brought an offering, beginning with Judah. The offerings were basically the same for each tribe.

Vs.84-88 This is the total of what was brought: “These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. ⁸⁵Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.⁸⁷The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. ⁸⁸The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.” This was a very large offering to the Lord. We also make offerings to the Lord. Through our churches, or other Christian organizations. What do our offerings go for? Some goes for the maintenance of the building and for the staff. A workman deserves his/her wages! 1 Tim 5:18. What about the poor, the homeless, those disenfranchised, the persecuted, the hostage, those who do not yet know Jesus? We are bombarded every day to give for one cause or another. Are we paying attention to who and to what we give to?

V. 89 Moses entered the tent (tabernacle) and God spoke to him. Does God speak to us today? Yes! He speaks by the work and the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

God Judges and God Helps!

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10.

# 14 2026 Dev. Isa.41. God Judges and God Helps! Read all of chapter forty-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.

Isaiah 41 “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.1-9 God calls people to account. God is in control, he calls those who will judge. “One from the east…and subdues nations…and subdues kings…I, the Lord-with the first them and with the last-I am he.” Idolatry is condemned, “but you Israel, my servant…I have chosen…I took you from the ends of the earth…I have called you.” So also, God calls us from among those who refuse to believe, we are called to be His servants by the power of the Spirit and by God’s Grace! How are you serving today?

Vs.10-20 Here God’s comforts us: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The rest of this section tells us that God is active on our behalf and ends with this: “so that people may see and know, may consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” God is with us, forgiving, protecting, providing, giving us His Grace. Amen!

Vs..21-29 “Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King. “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen.” God challenges all those who reject Him and think they know how life works, how God has ordained everyone’s life. No one knows the future but God knows and he ordains it for the benefit of his people. Without God’s purpose in our lives, life, is meaningless. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Rom 8:28-39. There is no argument against this passage. This is what Easter is all about. “Our resurrected Savior lives, the first born of the dead.” And God’s purpose for us is to follow Jesus into everlasting life. Amen!

The Blessing!

^“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Jn. 1:16

# 13 2026 Dev. Numbers 5-6. The Blessing! Read all of chapter 4,5 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.5 “The Unclean, Wrongs, an Unfaithful Wife.”

Vs.1-4. God ordered Moses to remove those unclean from the camp. This is a time when very little medication was available. We read in the former chapter that if there was healing, the person could be deemed clean by the priest. In those days prayer and dependence on God was in the forefront of healing. This still is important today, even with all the medications we have, God always answers our prayers, we are healed in this life or when God calls us home.

Vs.5-10. “The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way^.and so is unfaithful to the Lord is guilty.” Restitution must be made and a fifth of the value is added on plus a ram sacrificed which is atonement for the wrong. That is how the court system works today, the guilty person must make restitution. But it appears that all wrong, large or small, “in any way,” is an affront to God.

Vs.11-13. The unfaithful wife: if she is suspected of adultery, but there is no witness, the priest must perform the ceremony for wrong doing. She must confess or face the test of drinking water mixed with dust from the temple floor. If not guilty the curse will not harm her. This still goes on in some cultures, I know of it in the African context. The question I have is; what about an unfaithful husband. It seems that since polygamy was allowed, he is never questioned. Thank God we have laws today that treat women and men alike when it comes to unfaithfulness.

Nu.6 “The Nazirite, The Blessing.”

Vs.1-21 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink…”’ Further they may not cut their hair for the duration of their vow and they must keep themselves ceremonially clean.

At the end of their vow they must do the following: “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering,together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.” The person presents himself to the priest, he/she is shaved and the hair is burned in the fire under the alter. The priest makes a sin offering. Do we make vows today? Yes, I think we do, we dedicate ourselves to a ministry or a worthy project or a financial commitment to a worthy cause. And God blesses us accordingly!

Vs.22-27.^“The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Today God puts His Name on us and blesses us” Thanks be to God!

Hezekiah’s Folly and God’s Grace!

# 12 2026 Dev. Isa.39-40. Hezekiah’s Folly and God’s Grace! Read all of chapter thirty-nine and forty 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 39: Envoys from Babylon: “Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.”

Vs.1-2 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. The visit of the Babylonians seems innocent enough, but Hezekiah went out of his way to show them his treasures. Pride goes before a fall. This we must take to heart, Satan knows how to tempt us.

Vs. 3-7 God sent the prophet to ask Hezekiah about the visit of the Babylonians. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”

V.8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Instead of repenting as he did before, he was completely short sighted and thought only for his time, even though his own offspring will suffer.

Isaiah 40: After the prophecy of captivity in Ch 39 this chapter is the precursor of the coming and the work of Jesus. “Comfort for God’s People” freedom from the tyranny of sin.

Vs.1-2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for…”

Vs.3-5 “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” This is a direct reference to John the Baptist, the last Old Testament Prophet.

Vs.6-9 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” The next verses, are a comparison of the human race and the voice of God. “All people are like grass,” temporary, “but the word of the Lord our God endures forever.” Yes, there is no comparison.

Vs.10-11 “He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart…” This is Jesus’ intention for all of us, he wants to gather us into his arms and carry us through this life and carry us to heaven.

Vs.12-14 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?” Who is able to understand the ways of the Lord, His mercy, His grace, His love, and His intention for us?

Vs.15-17 “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” Nations and people are of no account, even so the Lord is our Savior.

Vs.18-20 “With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?” That is the question, what is God compared to, is there anything on this earth or even in our minds? No, there is no comprehension!

Vs.21-24 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?” God is in control, He orchestrates all events on the earth and in our lives. Amen!

Vs.25-31 “To whom will you compare me?” There is no comparison to God. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth.” What does this mean for us, the followers of Jesus? God promises “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Thanks be to God!

The First Born!

# 11 2026 Dev. Numbers 3-4. The First Born! Read all of chapter thee and 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.3. “This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.”

Nu. 4. “In this chapter we have an account of those of the tribe of Levi who were in the prime of their time for service, between thirty and fifty years old.”

Vs.1-13 The tribe of Levi is designated to assist Aron and his sons in the work, the maintenance and the transportation of the sanctuary. The tribe was taken by God to replace the first born of the Israelites. Why? “When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.” Yet, during the time of the Patriarchs, God did not choose the first born, also at the time of King David. Today, we have the freedom to choose what one does for a living and also how we want to serve the Lord. Today, the Holy Spirit guides us, Amen!

Vs.14-39 This is basically the division of labor, who was to do what and where they would be allowed to pitch their tents. The total of the males six months and above was 22,000.

Vs.40-51 Moses was told to count all the first born of all the Israelites, and they counted 22,273. But this exceeded the Levites by 273, so, God wanted to redeem them as well. God told Moses to collect five shekels per person to redeem them as the first born. The redemption of the first-born points us to Jesus; “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15”The creation that God is redeeming is ongoing, but Christians are now redeemed in Jesus Christ!

Chapter 4 The three clans of the Levite’s are assigned their tasks.

Vs.2-20 First, no one could look at the holy things in the tabernacle, only the priests are to take the articles, cover them with a blue cloth and then cover them with leather only then the people designated to carry would be allowed to pick up the article. The Kohathites were assigned this task.

Vs.21-28 The Gershonites were to carry all the curtains that made up the tabernacle.

Vs.29-33 The Merarites were to carry all “the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use.”

Vs.34-49 “The numbering of the Levite clans.” The total number of the clans was 8,580. God assigned everyone their task. This was important, because they ended up wandering in the desert for forty years. God redeemed them all, those who stayed faithful to God and to their task. It is no different today; faithfulness, belief in Jesus, results in integrity to what God has assigned to us, amen!

Does God Change His Mind!

# 10 2026 Dev. Isa.38:1. Does God Change His mind? Read all of chapter thirty-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.

Isaiah 38:2-3 “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’”

Isaiah.38 Stands in juxtaposition to Ch.37; Jerusalem is saved but the King, in the strength of his life, is going to die. Hezekiah’s prayer changes God’s mind. If that wasn’t enough, God sends him an amazing sign. God moves the sun back, or the earth forward 10%, unbelievable! Hezekiah, asks for the sign, but the prophet asks God to do it. (2kings 20:10-11). This chapter continues with Hezekiah’s reaction to the miracle of healing. Note that God uses a natural means to heal Hezekiah.

Vs.1-6 “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.” God sends Isaiah to inform the king, “Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah prayed: “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. ‘And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’” Are there many of us who could pray a prayer like that? God hears his prayer, Isaiah is sent back to Hezekiah to tell him he will live fifteen more years. But Hezekiah asks for a sign, not just any sign; “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back, ten steps.”

Vs.7-8 “‘This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. ‘So, the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.’” There is no archaeological evidence that there was a sun dial or steps that could measure time, nor is there any astrological evidence but by faith we know that this happened.

Vs.9-22 “A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:” Hezekiah, here uses one metaphor after another to describe what he has gone through; “The gates of death… I will not again see the Lord himself in the land of the living… like a shepherd’s tent my house had been pulled down… Like a weaver I have rolled up my life… like a lion he broke all my bones… I moaned like a morning dove…What can I say?… I will walk humbly all my years… Lord, by such things people live… You restored me to health and let me live…in your love you kept me…you have put all my sins behind my back… The living, the living they praise you, as I am doing today… The Lord will save me…” Isaiah tells them to “prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil and he will recover.” This is an amazing event, God changing his plan for Hezekiah. How many times has God changed His mind for us, because of our prayers? I believe many times. Keep on praying!