#1 Scripture: Numbers 9:14 " 'An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must do so in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for the alien and the native-born.' "
#1 Observation/Application: The Israelites were to have the same rules for non-Jews who wanted to be a part of their community of faith as they had for the Jewish people. I think it is beautiful that God was (and is) so inclusive. The message is that we are to be open-armed in inviting, accepting, and receiving those who are different from us, provided they want to submit themselves to God
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#2 Scripture: Numbers 9:17-2317 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
#2 Observation/Application: I just think it is so cool that the Israelites had this very visible and real way to know when to stay and go. I would like to have something like this!
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#3 Scripture: Acts 28:4-64 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
#3 Observation/Application: It cracks me up! One minute Paul is a murderer and they are watching to see him keel over and die. The next minute they "changed their minds and said he was a god!" People are fickle. You think?
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#4 Scripture: Acts 28:23-2423 ...From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
#4 Observation/Application: The last phrase is telling: "but others would not believe." It's not that Paul's arguments were not compelling, it is that they refused to believe. I believe that many people refuse to believe because of the implications for their own lives. "If I believe, I will have to change. Therefore, I choose not to believe." It is a sad reality.
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#5 Scripture: Acts 28:26-2726 "'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
27 For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
#5 Observation/Application: This is a continuation of point #4. The people hear but don't understand, they see but they don't perceive. Why? Because of calloused hearts: "they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes." You see that this is a voluntary response. It is a choice or the result of many choices. The bottom line is that they have made a decision not to respond to the Lord because of the changes that responding to the Lord would bring into their lives.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be open to everything You want for me. Help me to put to death the resistance to what You say to me and show me. I choose to choose You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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