Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of June 5, 2022

Weekly Reading: Numbers 1, 9, 11, 13, 22; Psalm 121-122
Passages REFERENCED: Numbers 1, 9, 11, 13, 22; Psalm 121

“The difference (for Christians) is that each step we walk, each breath we breathe, we know we are preserved by God, we know we are accompanied by God, we know we are ruled by God; and therefore no matter what doubts we endure or what accidents we experience, the Lord will guard us from every evil, he guards our very life.” – Eugene Peterson

I have lived just long enough now to experience a few rude awakenings. Gone are the days when I would speed along the highway at 80+ miles per hour without a care in the world. From the speeding tickets to slipping around on black ice, I now proceed with a little more caution than before. Rude awakenings often happen when we get an overblown sense of our ability to control, manage, and succeed in whatever comes our way. Sometimes (as crazy as it sounds), we need those rude awakenings to shake us from an unhealthy and misplaced dependence on someone or something other than God.

This week’s readings from Numbers give us a glimpse at Israel’s temptations and struggles with misplaced dependence. In chapter 1, God’s people take a census of all those able to serve in the military. What is intended as a reminder of God’s good providence for Israel also serves as a temptation to trust in their military might. Chapter 9 opens with the celebration of The Passover in the desert. Passover is meant to assure Israel of the Lord’s salvation and faithfulness. But observing the celebration is also a temptation for Israel to depend on legalism and soul-killing ritual. In chapter 11, some of the Israelites begin to grumble about the lack of meat in the desert. The allure of what they had as slaves in Egypt begins to cloud their judgment and their trust in God’s provision. In response, the Lord sends a wind that brought quail “all around the camp to about three feet above the ground” to remind Israel of His great ability to provide (v 31). Finally, in a bizarre situation later in Numbers, the Lord uses a talking donkey to get through to an obstinate prophet named Balaam. Balaam is tempted to serve the rulers of the world rather than the God of the universe. Thanks to a talking donkey, the Lord gets through to Balaam. Our Father in heaven tries to help His people see that He is trustworthy and true in the Bible, and He desires the same for us today.

One of our weekly psalms, Psalm 121, is all about provision and trust. It begins, “I lift my eyes up to the mountains—where does my help come from?” God’s people had faced the ever-present temptation to look to the high places all around them for help from the gods. On almost every hill and mountain were shrines or altars devoted to the worship of lesser gods. Each nation they encountered looked to these high places daily in the hopes of help and provision from their gods. Life was guided by the favor or disfavor of these idols. But, the psalmist continues, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” This psalm is a reminder that we trust in the God who made the very hills and high places where those ancient shrines were constructed.

The hard truth is that we are still surrounded by hills and high places. Now, perhaps more than ever, we choose to depend on and hope in figures that represent power, prosperity, wisdom, and all the “high places” of our world. They allure us with promises of security, wealth, and a better life. But before we succumb to their temptations, we need the course correction offered by Psalm 121. This timeless psalm serves as a regular reminder and affirmation to us about who we place our trust in. We trust in the One who never sleeps for our safety and provision. Only He will watch over the coming and going of His children both now and forevermore. – Nate Metler

• Check out The Bible Project’s overview video of the book of Numbers. It is an excellent source for background information and context that walks through the book’s sections and themes. It can be really helpful for those who appreciate some visuals while learning.

• Do you have questions about this week’s Bible reading? We’d love to help! Rather than relying on the first thing you find on the internet, email us at biblequestions@warsaw.cc. We are more than happy to answer that nagging question you have, provide you with some clarity, or point you in the right direction for further study.

*This devotional was inspired by Eugene Peterson’s book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. If you would like to grow in your understanding and appreciation of the psalms and their value for the Christian life, check it out. You will appreciate Peterson’s spiritual depth and warmth as you journey through the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).