“Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.” – Numbers 35:31-32

Justice is extremely important to God. God is perfectly just and condemns injustice. These verses are but one of many throughout the Bible addressing matters of justice, both criminal and social. God is perfectly just and the cross of Christ is the ultimate proof of His concern for justice. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, suffered and died to pay the just penalty for our sins.

One aspect of justice that is often emphasized in Scripture is the one addressed in these verses. Rules and laws should always apply equally to those who are wealthy and those who are poor. There can be no option to buy one’s way out of justice. There must not be a different system of rules, practically speaking, for those with money and those without.

And yet, it’s historically been very easy for nations to wind up in that place. It certainly seems that those with money and access to better legal representation can often defer, delay, divert, distract, and obstruct justice indefinitely. This is NOT pleasing to God! The good news, as the Bible also makes clear, is that God’s justice will be done. On everyone. His justice will be perfect, final, and delivered at the due time, even if the world’s system is a mockery of justice. #FollowJesus

“On their gods also the Lord executed judgments.” – Numbers 33:4b

This is often an under-appreciated piece of the Exodus story. Many are familiar with the ten devastating plagues God sent upon Egypt to force them to release the people of Israel from slavery. However, it’s easy to miss how the individual plagues addressed parts of life in Egypt that were supposedly under the authority of some particular Egyptian “god”. The ten plagues weren’t just dramatic displays of God’s power. There were displays of God’s superiority over the various gods of the Egyptian pantheon. The gods that both the people of Egypt AND the people of Israel had been told about for centuries.

The plagues weren’t just the means by which Israel gained freedom. They were how the God of Israel, YHWH, the Living God of the Universe demonstrated His superiority over all supposed rival gods. Each represented a defeat for an Egyptian god. The plagues announced God’s transcendent reality and presence to the people of Egypt (some of whom decided to leave with the Israelites) and began to teach Israel about their God. That He is ever-present. That He is all-powerful. That He has authority over every element, creature, and aspect of life. That He is worthy to be trusted, followed, worshipped, and obeyed.

This is why God was most glorified by Pharaoh’s heart being hardened to continue down the destructive path that wicked king most desired. Through those many plagues, God denounced and demonstrated that the idolatrous worship of many gods was futile and false. He made clear that there is only one King of Kings and Lord of Lords: YHWH, God Most High. This is true yesterday, today, and forever. The Great “I AM” Who sent His Son to lead us out of slavery to sin and death through His own death and resurrection. #FollowJesus

“The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was.” – Numbers 27:12-13

What a bittersweet moment for Moses! After decades of service, leading the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the desert, he would finally get to see the Promised Land. But only from afar. He would catch a glimpse of God’s faithfulness, then pass away. This was because of a moment of pride, anger, and frustration the led him to disobey God’s instructions. A moment in which anger boiled over and rather than quietly speaking and giving all glory to God, he acted dramatically, struck the rock to bring forth water, and let the credit and glory go to himself.

To us, this may seem like a very small thing over which to lose entry into the promised land. However, pride, insecurity, frustration, anger, and the need to look “large and in charge” can easily put us in very bad situations. Attitudinally. Spiritually. Practically. For followers of Jesus, the good news is that our inheritance is secured. Not by our efforts and outcomes but by the person and work of Jesus Christ. That said, our attitude and how we handle frustrations, irritations, fear, and insecurity still matters.

For many Christians, those moments still bring out the worst in them. Challenges reveal that the “old man”, their nature from before they met Jesus, still has a great deal of influence over their mind and heart. That isn’t how it should be. Followers of Jesus are new creations called to crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit instead. The evidence that is happening is that the character of Christ comes out under stress: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. AKA the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Does it for you?

This fruit isn’t manufactured by hard work and self-discipline. It’s produced by the Holy Spirit as we walk closely with Jesus, transformed by the Spirit through the Word (read and meditating), prayer, worship, fellowship with believers, service, and sharing the Gospel. So, what comes out of you in stressful moments? Is it the Spirit or is your same old nature? If the latter, let that be a wake up call to evaluate the health of your spiritual life. Then #FollowJesus

“But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?”” – Numbers 23:26

THAT is a great principle for life!!! Just do what the Lord says. It won’t always be popular. It won’t always be easy. It won’t always be safe. But do it, anyway.

To this point, Balaam was still doing fairly well. He hadn’t yet turned into the notorious person of infamy condemned throughout Scripture. He hadn’t yet found a loophole to disobey God’s clear will while following the letter of God’s commands. If he had continued on this path, he would have lived to go home. But he didn’t.

“All that the Lord says, that I must do.” Grab hold of that principle with all your might and #FollowJesus

“God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.’ So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, ‘Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.’” – Numbers 22:12-13

If Balaam had just held firmly to this, his story would have ended just fine. He might not have made it into the pages of the Bible. His donkey might not have talked to him. But he would have been OK. He’d asked God an honest question, received a clear answer, and obeyed it. All good! Balaam went wrong when he decided he should check to see if God had changed His mind. After all, more money and prestige was on the table for Balaam. Surely the Lord might have changed His mind. NOT! So, one thing led to another and Balaam did the opposite of what God told him to do here. It didn’t go well for anyone involved.

If God has given you a clear answer about something, don’t keep asking the same question. Don’t be a Balaam. Accept God’s answer. Be thankful for the clarity. Live by His answer. Don’t keep going back to God just because you didn’t like His answer. Just because you really, really want a different answer. Eventually you will persuade yourself that it’s a good idea to do whatever you wanted to do in the first place, regardless of what God said. And it won’t go well. It never does.

God isn’t fickle. He doesn’t change His answers on a whim or because YOU got new information or a better offer. He always knew. His answer was right the first time. It was best the first time. And the more often you ask, the more likely you are to confuse your own voice for God’s. The more susceptible you will be to listening to the devil’s voice rather than the Lord’s. Don’t continue asking if God has already answered. Live out His answer, whatever it is, in peace and with trust that God’s answer is best. #FollowJesus