Numbers 8:5-10:36
5 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and consecrate them. 7 Thus you shall do to them for their purification: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and a razor shall shave all their body; and they shall wash their clothes; then they shall be clean. 8 After this, they shall take a young bull from the oxen, with its grain offering of fine flour prepared with oil, and you shall take a young bull one year old from the oxen for a sin offering. 9 Then you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of testimony, and gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel. 10 So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites; 11 and Aaron shall set apart the Levites before the Lord as a restitution offering from among the children of Israel, so they may do the works of the Lord. 12 Then the Levites shall put their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a whole burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for them.
13 “Then you shall stand the Levites before the Lord and before Aaron and his sons, and offer them as a restitution offering to the Lord. 14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and they shall be Mine. 15 After that, the Levites shall go in to do the works of the tabernacle of testimony. Thus you shall cleanse them and offer them as a restitution offering before the Lord. 16 For they are Mine as a restitution offering from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn from all the children of Israel. 17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, from man to cattle; on the day I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them to Myself. 18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 19 I have also given the Levites as a restitution offering to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the works of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of testimony, and to make atonement for the children of Israel. Thus there shall be no drawing near of the holy things among the children of Israel.”
20 So Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites; thus the children of Israel did to them. 21 Then the Levites sanctified themselves and washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them before the Lord as a restitution offering; and Aaron made atonement for them to consecrate them. 22 After that, the Levites went in to minister in their liturgical service in the tabernacle of testimony before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
23 Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above they shall enter to work in the tabernacle of testimony; 25 and at the age of fifty years they shall cease doing liturgical service. They shall work no more. 26 His brother shall minister liturgically in the tabernacle of testimony, to do guard duties, but he shall not do the works. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.”
The Second Passover
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the first month of the second year, after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Speak, and let the children of Israel keep Pascha at its appointed time. 3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at eventide, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to its rule and practice you shall keep it.” 4 So Moses told the children of Israel to keep Pascha. 5 Thus they kept Pascha beginning on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the Sinai Desert; as the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.
6 Now there were men who were unclean on account of a dead man, and so were unable to keep Pascha on that day; therefore, they came before Moses and Aaron that day. 7 So those men said to him, “We are unclean on account of a dead man. Why then are we prevented from presenting the Lord’s gift at its appointed time among the children of Israel?” 8 Moses then said to them, “Stand here, and I will hear what the Lord commands concerning you.” 9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone of you becomes unclean on account of a dead man, or is on a distant journey, or is among your families, he shall keep the Lord’s Pascha. 11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at eventide, they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the rule of Pascha, they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not on a distant journey, but fails to keep Pascha, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from among his people, because he did not bring his gift to the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall bear his guilt. 14 But if a resident alien dwells with you in your land, he shall also keep the Lord’s Pascha, according to the rule and regulation of Pascha; you shall have one rule, both for the resident alien and the native of the land.’ ”
The Cloud and Fire
15 Now on the day the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the house of the testimony; from eventide until morning it was on the tabernacle, like the form of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the form of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel broke camp; and in the place where the cloud stood, there the children of Israel made camp. 18 At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would make camp, and at the command of the Lord they would break camp. All the days the cloud overshadowed the tabernacle, the children of Israel would encamp. 19 Even when the cloud would continue many days on the tabernacle, the children of Israel would obey God’s orders, and not break camp. 20 So it would be, whenever the cloud would overshadow the tabernacle a number of days, at the voice of the Lord they would encamp, and at the command of the Lord they would break camp. 21 So it would be, when the cloud would continue from eventide until morning, and the cloud would ascend in the morning, then they would break camp; and if the cloud would continue a day or a night, 22 or a month, or an abundance of days overshadowing it, the children of Israel would encamp and not break camp. 23 At the command of the Lord they would break camp, and at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses they would obey the Lord’s orders.
The Two Silver Trumpets
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them to call the congregation and to break the camps. 3 You shall blow the trumpets among them, and all the congregation shall be gathered at the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 4 But if they blow one trumpet, all the rulers, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5 Then you shall blow the trumpet signal, and the camps camping on the east side shall break camp. 6 Again, you shall blow the trumpet signal a second time, and the camps camping on the south side shall break camp; and you shall blow the trumpet signal a third time, and the camps camping on the west side shall break camp; and you shall blow the trumpet signal a fourth time, and the camps camping on the north side shall break camp. They shall blow the trumpet signal when they break camp. 7 Then when you have gathered the congregation together, you shall blow the trumpet, but not the trumpet signal. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be your custom perpetually throughout your generations. 9 If you should go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, you shall sound the trumpet signal, and you will be remembered before the Lord, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the days of your gladness, and in your feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your whole burnt offerings and the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a remembrance for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Moving On from the Camp
11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud ascended from the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 Then the children of Israel broke camp with their household goods in the Sinai Desert; and the cloud stood in the Desert of Paran. 13 So the first ones broke camp at the Lord’s voice by the hand of Moses. 14 The division of the camp of the children of Judah was the first to break camp with their army; and over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 Then the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari took down the tabernacle and broke camp, carrying the tabernacle. 18 After this, the division of the camp of Reuben broke camp with their army; and over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 Then the sons of Kohath broke camp, carrying the holy things (and they would set up the tabernacle, before their arrival). 22 After this, the division of the camp of the children of Ephraim broke camp with their army; and over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 Then the division of the camp of the children of Dan (the last of all the camps with their army) broke camp; and over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 These were the armies of the children of Israel, and they broke camp with their army.
29 Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are breaking camp for the place the Lord spoke of, saying, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord spoke good things concerning Israel.” 30 However, he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my land and to my relatives.” 31 But he replied, “Do not leave us, because you were with us in the desert, and you would be an elder among us. 32 It would also be, if you should go with us, that the good things whatsoever the Lord will do for us, the same we will do for you.”
33 So they broke camp at the mountain of the Lord for a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 Now it came to pass that when they broke camp with the ark, Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let all who hate You flee.” 35 And when the ark rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the many thousands in Israel!” 36 The cloud also overshadowed them by day when they broke camp.
Psalm 43:10–27
10 But now You rejected and disgraced us,
And You will not go out with our armies;
11 You turned us back from our enemies,
And those who hate us took spoil for themselves.
12 You gave us as sheep to be eaten,
And You scattered us among the nations.
13 You bound Your people without honor,
And there was no abundance given to ransom them.
14 You made us a reproach to our neighbors
And a scorn and derision to those around us;
15 You made us a byword among the nations
And a shaking of the head among the peoples.
16 All day long my disgrace is before me,
And the shame of my face covers me,
17 Because of the voice of him who reviles and chatters,
Because of the face of the enemy and persecutor.
18 All these things came upon us, but we have not forgotten You,
And we did not act unjustly with Your covenant;
19 Our heart did not draw back,
Yet You turned our steps from Your way.
20 You humbled us in a place of affliction,
And the shadow of death covered us.
21 If we forget the name of our God,
And spread out our hands to a foreign god,
22 Would not God search this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.
23 For Your sake we are put to death all day long,
We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
24 Awake; why do You sleep, O Lord?
Arise; and do not reject us to the end.
25 Why do You turn away Your face,
And forget our poverty and our affliction?
26 For our soul was humbled to the dust,
And our belly was joined to the ground.
27 Arise, O Lord; help us,
And redeem us for Your name’s sake.
Proverbs 9:1–6
1 Wisdom built her house,
And she supported it with seven pillars.
2 She offered her sacrifices;
She mixed her wine in a bowl
And prepared her table.
3 She sent her servants,
Inviting people to the bowl with a lofty proclamation, saying,
4 “He who is without discernment,
Let him turn aside to me”;
And to those in need of discernment, she says,
5 “Come, eat my bread
And drink the wine I mixed for you;
6 Forsake lack of discernment, and you shall live;
Seek discernment so you may live,
And keep straight your understanding with knowledge.”
Matthew 28
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
The Women Worship the Risen Lord
9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
The Soldiers Are Bribed
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.
12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’
14 “And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”
15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be in a conversation with someone and in order to get the proper answer you would say, “ Stand here, and I will hear what the Lord commands concerning you.” ? Then go actually speak with God and get the answer! How would that be possible now?
That would be nice, but even here it was really only Moses who got that type of direction. There are some of the saints who seem to be very attuned to the Lord’s leading giving direction to their spiritual children. But even for them, they do not think about how they can get better direction. Rather, they seem to seek a better relationship and the direction follows. As we read in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” As we seek that, to recognize the closeness of the Kingdom in our lives, everything else we need will follow.