Torah: Numbers 8:1–12:16
PROPHETS: Zechariah 2:10–4:7
APOSTOLIC WRITINGS: Revelation 11:1–19

The devotional below is designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.

SUNDAY

Torah 1 & 2

Torah 1: 
Setting Up Lamps and Setting Apart Levites
Numbers 8:1–14

Torah 2:
God’s Ministering Servants
Numbers 8:15–26

Israel’s army is counted and ready. Israel’s priests (sons of Aaron) have been set apart (Leviticus 8) and have begun ministering (Leviticus 9), and every Israelite tribe has brought offerings to God (Numbers 7). Moses has just gone into God’s Presence and begun speaking with Him (7:89).

8:1–4
In obedience to God’s instructions through Moses (vv. 1–2), Aaron sets up the lamps to light the Holy Place (vv. 3–4; cf. Exodus 25:37 and 27:20–21) and sets apart the Levites to assist in Tabernacle ministry.

8:5–26
Setting apart the Levites includes instructions for the ceremony (vv. 5–14), a theological rationale for it (vv. 15–19; cf. 3:11–13 and Exodus 13:11–16), a description of obedience to it (vv. 20–22), and some final instructions regarding appropriate age of service (vv. 23–26). Only Aaron’s “household” had unveiled access into the inner chambers of God’s house and even that was highly limited.

Application

What does it mean in your life today for God to be “building you into a spiritual house (or“household”) to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5)?

MONDAY

Torah 3 & 4

Torah 3: 
Remember The Liberator! 
Numbers 9:1–14  

Torah 4:
Follow The Leader!
Numbers 9:15–10:10

Now that Israel has covenanted with God, received His instructions, and built a dwelling place in the heart of the community for Him to dwell in, Israel is almost ready to leave Sinai and set out for the Promised Land!  Before leaving, however, Israel will celebrate Pesach and remember their freedom as a gift from God (9:1–14). According to Mark 14:22–25, what is one way to celebrate your freedom in Messiah and remember it as a gift from God?

When God’s holy community travels, He leads them both directly by the cloud (vv. 15–23) and indirectly by the trumpets (i.e. using the people who blow the trumpets, 10:1–10). These silver trumpets were to be used to lead the entire community, or just leaders, to gather for meeting, to lead the community out of the camp or into a battle, and to call the community to remember God whenever they observe their chagim (feasts) and appointed offerings.

application

How do you primarily seek God’s direction—through some kind of direct leading, or perhaps more indirectly through others that He’s put in your life? Is God perhaps speaking to you in places or in ways that you have not been open to? How can you respond in faith to God's direct or indirect promptings?

TUESDAY

torah 5 & 6

Torah 5: 
Leaving Sinai
Numbers 10:11–34

Torah 6: 
Complaining All The Way
Numbers 10:35–11:29

10:11–34
At last, Israel leaves Sinai at God’s leading (vv. 11–13). Their caravan order is given (vv. 14–28). The Tabernacle infrastructure is carried by the Gershonites and Merarites immediately following Judah/Issachar/Zebulun (vv.14-17) and then the Holy Tabernacle furniture is carried by the Kohathites immediately following Reuben/Simeon/Gad (vv.18-21). According to verse 21, what is the rationale given for the Holy Things gong in the middle of the 12 Tribes and being separated from the Tabernacle?

Moses has some interesting dialog with his father-in-law (vv. 29–32; cf. Exodus 18:27 which is probably not chronologically placed) before they part ways and begin the three-day journey to Taberah (vv. 33–34; cf. 11:3). Look at the contrast between Moses’ temptation to rely on his father-in-law for direction (v.31) rather than God (v.33).

10:35–36
Moses cries, “Kuma Adonai!” (“Rise up, O Lord”) when the ark is lifted and “Shuva Adonai” (“Return, O Lord”) when it rests. Despite God’s promises and His leading, the people grumble and complain. (Are we much different?!)

In what ways do you tend to grumble and complain? What would it look like to exercise faith in that area of your life?

11:1–29
Initially, God sends fire to burn the outskirts of the camp (11:1–3) and then He sends His Spirit to temporarily rest upon Israel’s leaders (vv. 4–29). Read carefully Moses’ challenge to Joshua in verse 29. This is discipleship! What is Moses teaching Israel’s future leader, and what can we glean, about God’s desire for all people (cf. Joel 2:28–29 and Acts 2)?