look behind you

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (8)devotional post # 2255

Numbers 2:29-31

Num 2:29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, the general from the sons of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan,
Num 2:30 his company as mustered being 53,400.
Num 2:31 All those mustered of the camp of Dan were 157,600. They shall set out last, standard by standard.”

look behind you

General Ahira’s father was Enan, whose name has something to do with eyes. It is fitting that this rear-guard army would have such a legacy. The LORD seems to have said to them, “look behind you — keep yourselves safe from the enemy that sneaks up from behind.

As we travel with the Israelites through the desert, on the way to the promised land, we will find that many of their challenges will have been faced by their ancestors. We must watch and see if they have learned the lessons of the past, or if they are condemned to repeat past mistakes.

LORD, give us the wisdom to look behind us, to go forward with the confidence of lessons learned, and the awareness of our tendency to make the same mistake often.

Posted in protection, vision | Tagged | 1 Comment

trouble

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (7)devotional post # 2254

Numbers 2:27-28

Num 2:27 And those to camp next to him will be the tribe of Asher, the general from the people of Asher being Pagiel the son of Ochran,
Num 2:28 his company as mustered being 41,500.

trouble

General Pagiel’s father was named Ochran, which means “trouble,” in the sense of disturbance. This sounds like a good biker name. It is the kind of name that suggests that you do not want to trouble this person, or you can expect trouble back. This reflects the kind of confidence the exodus generation had.

LORD, give us the confidence in you that those who bless us will be blessed by you, and those who disturb us will be judged by you.

Posted in encouragement, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment

my relative is almighty

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (6)devotional post # 2253

Numbers 2:25-26

Num 2:25 “On the north side will be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the general from the sons of Dan being Achiezer the son of Ammishaddai,
Num 2:26 his company as mustered being 62,700.

my relative is almighty

General Achiezer’s father was Ammishaddai, whose name means “my relative is almighty.” That was a hopeful name to give to a slave child. It reflected a faith in a God who raises up strong deliverers from among his people. No matter what dangers his army might face as they travel, Achiezer believed in a God who supplied all their needs — including the need for a helping hand in battle.

What are your needs today? Do you know that God not only has the cattle on a thousand hills, he also has a given you a brother or sister who is strong enough to help you right now. Look for evidence of God’s power among your own brothers and sisters in Christ.

LORD, open our eyes to your power manifested among us.

Posted in church, hope, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment

my lumberjack

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

devotional post # 2252

marmsky January 2018 (5)Numbers 2:22-24

Num 2:22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, the general from the sons of Benjamin being Abidan the son of Gideoni,
Num 2:23 his company as mustered being 35,400.
Num 2:24 All those mustered of the camp of Ephraim, by their companies, were 108,100. They will set out third on the march.

my lumberjack

General Abidan’s father was Gideoni, which in today’s English would translate as “my lumberjack.” It was kind of an odd name to take into the desert, but it probably took on new meaning for the people of the exodus. It spoke of strength to cut down the old traditions and plant new ones. An army of lumberjacks would be ready to replace the standing order with God’s new order. Are we?

LORD, make us a people of strength, ready to replace the old with the new.

Posted in courage, traditions | Tagged | 1 Comment

the rock has redeemed

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (4)devotional post # 2251

Numbers 2:20-21

Num 2:20  And next to him will be the tribe of Manasseh, the general from the sons of Manasseh being Gamaliel the son of Pedahtsur,
Num 2:21  his company as mustered being 32,200.

the rock has redeemed

General Gamaliel’s father was Pedahtsur, whose name means “the rock has redeemed.” This is another amazing name reflecting the faith of the exodus generation. It blends the concept of safe protection from the unmovable rock with mercy and grace from a redeemer. It testifies of a God who is both power and love. This is our God. You can run to him for help when you are overwhelmed, but he has already sacrificed for your redemption by his grace.

LORD, our rock. Thank you for being our refuge in the storm. LORD, our redeemer, thank you for ransoming us by the blood of Christ.

Posted in protection, redemption | Tagged | 1 Comment

my relative is glorious

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (3)devotional post # 2250

Numbers 2:18-19

Num 2:18  “On the west side will be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their companies, the general from the sons of Ephraim being Elishama the son of Ammihud,
Num 2:19  his company as mustered being 40,500.

my relative is glorious

General Elishama’s father’s name is Ammihud, which means “my relative is glorious.” This reflects a belief in the community that goes beyond a mere self-confidence. It reflects the same thing Paul saw in the Colossian church “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). If we are going to be used by God as part of his church, we cannot stop believing in Christ’s glory reflected in it.

LORD, build in us a Christ-within-the church confidence.

Posted in church, glory | Tagged | 1 Comment

knowledge of God

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (2)devotional post # 2249

Numbers 2:14-17

Num 2:14  Then the tribe of Gad, the general from the sons of Gad being Elyasaph the son of Deuel,
Num 2:15  his company as listed being 45,650.
Num 2:16  All those mustered from the camp of Reuben, by their companies, were 151,450. They will set out second.
Num 2:17  “Then the conference tent will set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps; as they camp, so they will set out, each in position, standard by standard.

knowledge of God

I had been looking at the names of the generals in chapter 1, and here in chapter 2 I am concentrating on the names of their fathers. Each name is significant in that it points out a motivating factor in the commitment of the nation to follow God all the way to the promised land. Although the Hebrew in 2:14 lists Elyasaph’s father as Reuel, earlier and later references (1:14; 7:42,47; 10:20) clarify that it was actually Deuel. (The Hebrew letter dalet looks very much like the letter resh).

Deuel means knowledge of God. The reason the Israelites moved out in commitment to God and his plan is that they knew God. He had revealed himself to them, first in the stories passed on to them, then in his miraculous deliverance from Egypt. Since our commitment to God is proportional to what we know about him. we should all be getting deeply into his word!

LORD, immerse us in the knowledge of you, so that we can follow your path, and be like you.

Posted in Bible, commitment, deliverance, knowledge | Tagged | 1 Comment

my almighty rock

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky January 2018 (1)devotional post # 2248

Numbers 2:12-13

Num 2:12  And those to camp next to him will be the tribe of Simeon, the general from the sons of Simeon being Shelumiel the son of Tsurishaddai,
Num 2:13  his company as mustered being 59,300.

my almighty rock

General Shelumiel led the army of the tribe of Simeon. His father’s name was Tsurishaddai, which means “my almighty rock.” The name combines two personal names of God: tsur, meaning rock, and implying refuge and safe retreat, and shaddai, meaning almighty, and implying terrifying, destroying power.

Exposed in the desert, far from any fort or fortress, the people of God depended on his power for safety and deliverance. This year we will be exposed to numerous threats and dangers. We need to seek his protection and deliverance.

LORD, you are our Rock, our refuge of safety. You are our powerful deliverer. We depend on you.

Posted in deliverance, dependence upon God, protection | Tagged | 2 Comments

daybreak

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky December 2017 (31)devotional post # 2247

Numbers 2:10-11

Num 2:10  “On the south side will be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the general from the sons of Reuben being Elitsur the son of Shedeur,
Num 2:11  his company as mustered being 46,500.

daybreak

Delitzsch hypothesized that the name Shedeur is like the Assyrian phrase sad uri, and means daybreak. If that is a correct understanding of the meaning, it is quite significant that General Elitsur’s father would have that name. Daybreak is the dawn of a new day. For the Reubenites, who lost the position of prominence because of their ancestor’s sin, a new day is just what they longed for. When the tribes are first listed in chapter 1, Reuben is listed first because he was the firstborn. But when the armies are mustered in chapter 2, Reuben is placed on the south side, not the most important east side. The entire tribe felt the shame of that demotion. Yet, there was hope. A new day was dawning: a chance to prove their loyalty and devotion to God.

A new year begins tomorrow. A new day was dawning: a chance for us to prove our loyalty and devotion to God.

LORD, thank you for your mercy, in giving us another chance today when we have failed you so many times.

Posted in mercy, obedience | Tagged | 1 Comment

best foot forward

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky December 2017 (30)devotional post # 2246

Numbers 2:7-9

Num 2:7  Tribe of Zebulun: and the general from the sons of Zebulun is Eliab the son of Chelon,
Num 2:8  his company as mustered being 57,400.
Num 2:9  All those mustered of the camp on Judah’s side, by their companies, were 186,400. They will set out first on the march.

best foot forward

General Eliab led the tribe of Zebulun in battle. He was the son of Chelon, whose name means “strength.” His tribe rounded out the triad encamped on the east side, responsible for setting out first on the march. From the meaning of his father’s name, one would get the impression that Eliab is an example of putting one’s best foot forward. Protecting God’s people, his purpose, and his presence demands our best.

LORD, may we never fail to give you our very best effort.

Posted in commitment | Tagged | 1 Comment