Feb. 19, 2021
The Lord continues speaking to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai to prepare Israel for their march to the Promised Land. The camp must be purged of all uncleanness so that the tabernacle remains pure and the Lord’s presence can dwell with his people.
The Lord instructs Moses how to rectify this issue from mild uncleanness such as a discharge to severe uncleanness due to adultery. In any case, the Lord gives Israel a path to confess and make restitution for their sins that break faith with the Lord.
The Nazarite vow was a vow that any person could take to dedicate themselves to God. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were lifelong Nazirites, but most people took a vow for a certain amount of time. It was important for Nazirites to let their hair grow long because that reminded people of their separation and dedication to the Lord.
The Lord commands Aaron to speak a blessing over the people of Israel. This is known as the Aaronic Blessing, a powerful blessing of the Lord’s grace and presence with his people.
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” - Numbers 6:24-26
Jesus returns to his home in Capernaum after preaching in the surrounding areas of Galilee. As he continues to prove his authority as the Son of God, he causes controversy among the scribes and the Pharisees.
Jesus’ teaching and actions issue a direct challenge to the established religious hierarchy of his day. He challenges areas of life that were tied to how people related to God: forgiveness, eating with sinners, fasting, and the Sabbath.
With these issues, Jesus shows that God is not as interested in religious performance as he is the heart of the person behind the performance. He does not totally discard traditions from the Mosaic law like fasting and the Sabbath. Rather, he explains that these were ways for the Lord to dwell with His people, the exact thing that Jesus himself came to do.
“Those who are well are in no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Mark 2:17
Make It Personal
- How has God forgiven you? Think about the times you’ve done wrong and how God has restored you. Thank Him in prayer today.
- When is the last time you spent time with someone who is different than you? What can you do to be intentional with others in sharing your time, love, and service?
- How does God’s presence in your life affect your day to day schedule? Think about ways that time with God fills you up and gives you rest throughout your day.
Learn More
Jesus said in Mark 2:20 that the day would come when his disciples would fast. Read this article about fasting to learn more about what it is why it matters.