Numbers 17 & 18: Will Your Rod Yields Almond?
Verse of the Day: (17:8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

1. Almond (17:1-13)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. (17:10)

Time and again, there shall always be challenges for those who are in leadership or with special appointments. This was the case when the people murmured against Aaron and his descendants as they were appointed as the priests of Israel to serve God at His tabernacle. God then commanded Moses to have every prince of the twelve tribes of Israel to take a rod and laid it at the tabernacle. The next day, only Aaron’s rod miraculously budded, bloomed and yielded almonds, confirming that God had appointed Aaron and his descendants to be His priests. Indeed, Aaron’s rod yielding almonds symbolises resurrection, in other words, when we truly believe in Jesus Christ, we shall never die, but live forever, because He is the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25-26)
 
2. Altar (18:1-7)
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. (18:3)

While the tribe of Levi served at God’s tabernacle, only Aaron and his descendants, God’s priests, had the privilege to minister at God’s altar and vessels. Beside Aaron and his descendants, whoever would come near the altar, God shall judge and destroy them including Aaron and his descendants. Indeed, this is the high calling of the priests, as Jesus Christ, the High Priest, died for the sins of the world, and the third day, He rose again, and is now at the right hand of God’s throne interceding for us. (Hebrews 7:25-28)  
 
3. Aaron (18:8-32)
Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’s heave offering to Aaron the priest. (18:28)

God through Moses commanded Israel to give their tithes or the tenth of all their harvests to the tribe of Levi, including Aaron and his descendants, the priests, because they had no inheritance of land, and were unable to provide for themselves and their families. Let us therefore financially support our full-time preachers and staff as they give their lives to serve God in peaching and ministering to the people in the church. (1 Corinthians 9:9-13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, like the rod that yields almonds, I trust in You and I shall live forever.

Numbers 15 & 16: Are You Going Against The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (16:2) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

1. Forgiven (15:1-41)
And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance: (15:25)

Whatever sins we have committed, whether they are ignorant or wilful, God shall forgive them if we confess and repent them, and believe in and receive Jesus, the Son of God, as our personal Saviour. Throughout the Old Testament, God commanded Israel and even the Gentiles, that by faith, they shall offer the different types of sacrifices for their sins, believing that one day, Jesus, shall be their ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God, who shall die and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
 
2. Famous (16:1-15)
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? (16:3)

In God’s eyes, nothing, not even fame or fortune matters except submission and yielding to Him. Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the two hundred and fifty famous princes challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron that they should also allow them to be God’s leaders. However, Moses explained to them that God only chose and ordained him and Aaron to be His leaders, and that they should submit to them. Indeed, let us obey our leaders as they are ordained by God, and submit to them as they submit to God. (Hebrews 13:17)
 
3. Fire (16:16-50)
And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (16:35)

God commanded Moses and Aaron as well as Korah and his rebels with their families and children to bring their censers with incense in them to offer before Him. The glory of God then appeared before them and He commanded Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from Korah and his rebels. God immediately opened the earth swallowing Korah and his rebels as well as their possessions. God also sent a fire to burn the two hundred and fifty famous princes who rebelled against Him. Though Korah and his rebels offered sacrifices to God, yet their hearts were filled with wickedness and pride. Let us therefore submit and yield to God than offering sacrifices to Him. (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to completely and willingly submit and yield to You.

Numbers 13 & 14: Will You Still The People?
Verse of the Day: (13:30) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

1. Spy (13:1-29)
These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. (13:16)

Today the world’s operation of spying are unlike that of God’s. The world’s motto is, The end justifies the means, which may include wicked deeds, while God’s motto is, Be truthful and honest. Moses sent out twelve spies, who were rulers from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to search out the enemies’ land so that they would plan and execute their attack. After forty days, the spies returned, and ten of them, excluding Joshua and Caleb, reported to Moses that though the land was filled with milk and honey, they were too strong, and their walls too high, and there could never defeat them. Though they were right, they left out God. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb, by faith believed that God was with them, and they could overcome their enemies. Sadly, Israel chose to believe the report of the majority, the ten spies, and refused to launch their attack. (Philippians 4:8-9)   
 
2. Still (13:30-33)
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (13:33)

Joshua and Caleb believed that they were able to overcome their enemies, though they were giants before them. In fact, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah where the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall come forth, stilled the people and assured them that with God’s help, their enemies shall be like grasshoppers, and that they could easily overcome them. Indeed, let us be still, even when we are going through great storm knowing that our God is still on the throne, and He can do anything even raising the dead and promoting our souls to heaven if we truly believe in Him. (Psalms 46:10-11)
 
3. Signs (14:1-45)
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (14:11)

God loves Israel as He showed them all His signs, such as, when He sent the ten plagues to inflict the Egyptians so that Pharaoh freed them from slavery, and He opened the Red sea for them to cross dry so that they could escape from the Egyptians. However, Israel kept refusing to believe in God. As a result, God destroyed Israel who were aged twenty years and above, and only helped Joshua and Caleb and those who were nineteen and below, to overcome their enemies, and possessed the Promised Land. (Hebrews 3:16-19)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be still, and know that I can do all things with You.

Numbers 11 & 12: Is The LORD’s Hand Shortened?
Verse of the Day: (11:23) And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

1. Heavy (11:1-22)
I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. (11:14)

Pray for your leaders as it is not easy to lead a country, community, company, church or family. Moses, the leader of Israel, prayed to God to spare Israel as God sent fire to burn them for their continual rebellion against Him. The people complaint that they would rather be in Egypt enjoying the meat, than to eat manna from God as He led them through the wilderness to inherit the Promised Land. They failed to see God’s manna was the best, and He was bringing them to the Promised Land that shall be filled with milk and honey. Moses cried to God that he could not lead Israel anymore as he was too tired of the people’s rebellion. God answered him by counselling him to gather seventy leaders to help him in his leadership. Indeed, as leader we must mobilise godly leaders to help us in our leadership. Though the world may choose to pursue after material wealth and enjoy the pleasures of sin that eventually lead them to destruction, let us as God’s leaders and people choose to seek after His spiritual blessings and rewards. (Hebrews 11:24-26)   
 
2. Hand (11:23-35)
And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. (11:25)

When the leaders believed God, they shared His Word so that all might believe in their God that He is the true and living God. Indeed, when we believe God, we shall not only have great joy and contentment in receiving His Word and power, but we shall also be His witnesses to share the gospel, that Jesus saves, to all the people around us. (Acts 1:8)
 
3. Heal (12:1-16)
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. (12:13)

Do not be surprised when your loved ones oppose you as you serve God. This was the case with Moses as Miriam and Aaron, his siblings, rebelled against him by accusing him of marrying an Ethiopian wife when he should be marrying his own race. However, God was with Moses, and God disciplined them, and inflicted Miriam with leprosy. Moses then prayed to God to heal Miriam as he loved his siblings and people even though many times they rebelled against his leadership. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the perfect example of loving and forgiving His enemies, as even at the cross, suffering for the sins of the whole world, Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for extending Your hand to help me as I call upon You.

Numbers 9 & 10: Will You Obey God’s Commandment?
Verse of the Day: (9:5) And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

1. Command (9:1-14)
And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. (9:8)

Obedience and gratitude are what God values most, as we come to this world with nothing, and it is God who gives us everything. God commanded Israel to observe the passover to remind them that it was He who freed them from the Egyptian’s bondage. While God excused the uncleaned, who came into contact with a corpse, from observing the passover, yet He punished the cleaned, who disobeyed Him by failing to observe it. Let us obey God, like Jesus who was obedient even to die for mankind. (Philippians 2:8)
 
2. Cloud (9:15-23)
And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. (9:15)

Israel was the most blessed nation of all nations during Moses’ time as God’s holy presence, in the form of the cloud during the day, and the fire during the night, was with them throughout their journey. Though through unbelief, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness instead of eleven days, yet God never forsook them, but was with them throughout their journey. Indeed, let us repent our sins, and obey God. (Deuteronomy 1:2)
 
3. Call (10:1-36)
Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. (10:2)

As the population of Israel grew, Moses could only lead them by using the silver trumpets to effectively communicate with them concerning their movement and readiness for battle. The long blast signalled that all Israel gathered together. If the long blast was from only one trumpet, it meant that the princes of the twelve tribes shall gather together. If it was a short blast, the camps that were on the east parts shall go forward, and if it was another short blast, then the camps on the south side shall go forward. The priests were responsible for the blowing of the trumpets. Indeed, one day, God’s trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we, who believe in Him and are alive, shall be caught up together with them to meet Him in the air, and then shall we all be with Him forever. Let us therefore comfort one another with this promise. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to obey Your commandments as they are best for me.

Numbers 7 & 8: Will You Offer Yourself To God?
Verse of the Day: (7:11) And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. (7:11)

1. Oxen (7:1-9)
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. (7:6)

God commanded all the tribes, excluding the tribe of Levi, but including the two tribes of Joseph, namely, his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which made up the twelve tribes, to offer and dedicate their wagons and oxen before His altar in the tabernacle after it had been fully erected and all the instruments had been anointed and sanctified. The wagons and the oxen were only given to two of the three families of the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon and Merari, to assist them in moving the instruments, while there was none given to the family of Kohath. God had commanded the family of Kohath to only carry His ark and the specified instruments on their shoulders. These instruments, particularly, the ark, represented God’s holy presence, and they must be holy before Him, and personally carry them on their shoulders. God desires us to have a close fellowship with Him by placing Him upon our shoulders, and especially in our hearts. (Numbers 3:27-32)
 
2. Offer (7:10-89)
And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: (7:12)

All the twelve princes of the twelve tribes of Israel gave the same offerings on each consecutive days lasting twelve days. On the first day, Nahshon, the prince of Judah, dedicated his offering to God. Though Judah was not the firstborn of Jacob’s twelve sons, yet God commanded him to offer first, because from his lineage shall come forth Jesus, God’s Son. (Matthew 1:3) God knows our hearts and how much we give to Him. When Jesus was on earth, He praised the poor widow as He saw her giving her two mites or her all to Him. Indeed, let us give our lives to God who owns and saves us. (Luke 21:1-4)
 
3. Old (8:1-26)
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: (8:24)

The Levites were called upon to serve God in the tabernacle only when they reached the age of twenty-five because they must be trained for His service. After they reached the age of fifty, they ceased to serve as they were too old to carry some of the heavy instruments of the tabernacle. However, they still continued to serve God by training and supervising the young Levites. Indeed, it is a great joy to serve God, and even greater joy to pass the baton to the younger ones who shall continue to serve Him. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to offer myself to You as You truly own and save me.

Numbers 5 & 6: Will The LORD Bless And Keep You?
Verse of the Day: (6:24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

1. Without (5:1-10)
And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel. (5:4)

God through Moses commanded Israel to quarantine the lepers and get them out of the camp where Israel stayed so that they would not infect others. Leprosy is the analogy of sins as we must confess and forsake sins otherwise not only we reap the consequences of our sins, even our family members reap the consequences of our sins. As in the case of alcohol addiction, not only the drunkard harms his health, but he becomes violent and abuses his family. God loves sinners but He hates sins, and let us confess and forsake our sins, and believe and trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. (1 John 1:9)
 
2. Water (5:11-31)
And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: (5:18)

Marriage is sacred and it is of and from God. During Moses’ time, when the people of Israel suspected that their wives were unfaithful, they would bring them to the priests, and present to God the offering of jealousy. The priests shall then uncover the woman’s head, put the offering in her hands, charge her with an oath and serve her with the bitter water. God shall then miraculously revealed to them that the belly of the guilty shall swell and her thigh shall rot, while the innocent shall instead conceive her child. Today, we no longer have this practice, nonetheless, it is important for us to keep our marriage honourable, and never be unfaithful, otherwise God shall surely judge us. (Hebrews 13:4)
 
3. Wine (6:1-27)
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. (6:3)

During Moses’ time or the Old Testament era, God commanded Israel that those who desired to dedicate their whole lives to God must vow a vow of a Nazarite, and must observed the three requirements; firstly, he must abstain from wine, vinegar of wine or strong drink, liquor of grapes, moist or dried grapes, secondly, he must not cut his hair, and thirdly, he must not come near or touch a corpse. Today, when we believe and trust in Christ, though we are not subject to the Nazarite vows, but by the mercies of God, we must present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him, by trusting and obeying Him, and He shall surely bless and keep us now and forever. (Romans 12:1)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You richly bless and keep me as I trust and obey You.

Numbers 3 & 4: Are You The Priest Of God?
Verse of the Day: (3:3) These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.

1. Death (3:1-16)
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father. (3:4)

Serving God is the greatest joy of my life as for me to live is Christ and to die is gain, yet it is not easy, as we must be obedient otherwise He shall chastise us. This was the case when God took the lives of Nadab and Abihu, the priests, who offered unauthorised fire to Him. It was a warning to Israel and in particular, to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that God’s service must be rendered in obedience otherwise His judgment shall be upon them. Today, when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we are not only God’s priests, but temples, as His Holy Spirit indwells in our hearts. Let us therefore trust and obey God so that we shall receive His fullness of mercy and blessings. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
 
2. Door (3:17-51)
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, (3:25)

God commanded the priests consisting of the three families, the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath and Merari, of their responsibility at His sanctuary. The family of Gershon was responsible in setting up the tent, covering and the hanging of the door, while the family of Kohath was responsible in setting up the ark, table, candlestick, altars and vessels, and the family of Merari was responsible in setting up the boards, bars, pillars, sockets and vessels. This was God’s leadership before any leader wrote his first leadership book. Leadership is about accountability and every member must have a role so that there is no chaos in running the organisation or family. (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)
 
3. Dishes (4:1-49)
And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: (4:7)

We must do our best in whatever role entrusts to us, even though it may seem insignificant, like the priests putting the dishes at the sanctuary. Indeed, every member of our body, whether our ear or eye, is important, as every member makes up our whole body, so that we can fully function and enjoy life. This is the analogy of Jesus Christ as the Head of His church, and we are members of His church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-18)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your priest and child as I trust and obey You.

Numbers 1 & 2: Does God Knows Your Name?
Verse of the Day: (1:2) Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

1. Names (1:1-16)
And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. (1:5)

God knows all our names but the vital question is whether our names are written in His book of life so that our souls shall eternally be with Him when we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, otherwise our souls shall be eternally condemned in the lake of fire because of our sins. Since the beginning of time, and until today, God loves man and His greatest desire is that man acknowledges Him as his Creator and Saviour, and trust and obey Him. This was why God commanded Israel to record all the names of Israel, because every name, person and soul was precious and important to Him. In fact, the record of all the names of Israel was important, as firstly, Jesus Christ shall come from the tribe of Judah, and secondly, God’s priests must come from the tribe of Levi, and both were from the twelve tribes of Israel. Indeed, let us thank God that when we believe in Jesus Christ, our lineage shall be from Jesus Christ, and we shall be God’s precious children and priests, and our names shall be written in His book of life. (Revelation 20:15)  

2. Number (1:17-54)
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. (1:47)

God commanded Moses to number all Israel, except for the tribe of Levi, before they would go to war and fight against their enemies to claim their Promised Land, because every man must be accounted for, as they were all precious in His sight when they would repent of their sins, and believe Him as their personal Saviour and Lord. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. North (2:1-34)
The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. (2:25)

God commanded the twelve tribes of Israel to camp in specific positions; North, South, East and West, so that there was order in the camp, and they shall always be ready to set off for battle when called upon. God also through Moses appointed captains or leaders for each tribe as He worked through them to lead Israel to fight their enemies and to claim their Promised Land. Though God is our leader, yet we have human leaders and pastors to lead and guide us as He uses them for His glory and honour. Indeed, let us worship and serve God decently and in order, as He is a God of order and peace. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You know my name as I believe and trust in You.

Leviticus 27: Are You Fully Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb?
Verse of the Day: (27:13) But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.

1. Redeem (27:1-15)
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. (27:15)

Man says, Pay me and I shall serve you, while God says, Pay Me to serve Me. Indeed, it is a great privilege to serve God as He is the Giver of lives. God through Moses commanded Israel to keep their vows once they vowed to Him otherwise He shall judge and chastise them. Many of them vowed to serve God, and were willing to give God their money for all that He had blessed them. Unlike the Levites, including the priests, the only tribe out of the twelve tribes of Israel, whom God had commanded them to serve Him in the sanctuary without giving Him money, the rest of the tribes who vowed to serve Him must pay the priests as a form of their service to Him. If they then decided that they could not keep their vows, they must pay a penalty, which was an additional fifth part of the money vowed, to fully redeem their vows. Today, let us keep our vows when we vow to serve God, as He takes them seriously. Indeed, let us fear God, and obey His commandments since we are fully redeemed by His precious blood. (Revelation 5:9-10)  

2. Reckon (27:16-25)
But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. (27:18)

If the people vowed to give their fields to God, then decided that they could not keep them, they must pay a penalty reckoning the remaining years till the year of the jubile, which was the year when every slave shall be freed, and every land shall be returned to the original owner. Indeed, everyone and everything under the sun belongs to God, and there is nothing that man owns. Let us fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man as to why He creates us and He shall receive us when truly believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

3. Rod (27:26-34)
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. (27:32)

God promised Israel that He shall open the windows of heaven and shall pour blessings upon them as they gave their tithe or the tenth of everything they had, such as their herd as they counted each one of them passing through their rod. Today, God commands us to present our lives as living sacrifices, redeemed by His precious blood. (Romans 12:1)
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am fully redeemed from sins by Your precious blood.