Daily Devotionals

Since the Tabernacle is designed as a place of communion with God (Exodus 25:8), it makes sense that everyone should have access to it. Within limits, of course. For instance, Leviticus 1:2-3 says that people are allowed to bring their offerings to the Tent of Meeting, but that’s as far as they can go. Exodus […]

Given all the things that have happened over the last several chapters (the bad report from the spies, Nadab and Abihu, Korah’s rebellion), it’s understandable why Israel had some trepidation with approaching the tabernacle. Instead of seeing it as a place of communion with God, they saw it as a place of judgment and death.

Fresh off the heels of yet another rebellion—this time, one that challenged Moses and Aaron’s authority—God decides to create a test that will prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who is in charge of the priesthood. The test is simple. Take a rod from every tribe in Israel and write the name of the

Oh look, another rebellion by the people. Another grumbling that Moses is doing it all wrong. Another accusation that him and Aaron have caused something terrible to the people. In other words, another Tuesday afternoon. It’s very tempting to look at this outcry from the people and pass it off as yet another moment when

We haven’t talked about the Tabernacle in some time, even though it dominated the conversation in the second half of Exodus.  Indeed, we talked about it so much, that I wondered if we would ever get around to talking about what actually happened inside the Tabernacle. But I digress. Numbers 16 allows a glimpse back

I’m a Christian. I take the Bible at its Word. I give it all the respect and honor that God rightfully deserves. But I’ll admit, even I get choked up at chapters like Numbers 16.  Not because of Korah, mind you. He got what he deserved for his rebellion. He tried to “go up” into

The way in which God acts is sometimes just as important as the fact that God acts at all. For instance, when Jesus heals people in the New Testament, sometimes He speaks (Matthew 8:3). Sometimes He touches them (Mark 5:41). Sometimes He spits on the ground and puts the mud across the eyes of a

In the chronicle of Numbers 16, Korah takes center stage. He seems to be the ringleader, and for good reason—he is the one who opposes Moses directly, taking him on during the the test of censers to see who God has chosen for total leadership. But Dathan and Abiram are there, too. Their complaint may

At the time of this writing, Indiana University is on an improbable run in the College Football Championship. They’ve decimated everyone in their path with almost surgical precision, to the point that it feels like nothing will be able to stop them. (Note: I write these devotionals in advance, so there’s a good chance they

Most every coup that I can think of throughout history usually has two principal players: The one in power, and another already somewhat-powerful figure that wants to take power from them. Cronies and/or support staff are usually involved on both sides. When neither one blinks, a civil war erupts. That seems to be the pattern