Author: trevongross

Numbers 32:1-33:39;Luke 4:31-5:11;Psalm 64:1-10;Proverbs 11:22

The Tribes of Reuben and Gad had a great opportunity. They found desirable land before the other tribes had arrived at their land. They were in an interesting dilemma. They could stop and enjoy their blessing while their brothers and sisters had to continue to fight for their inheritance.

Moses challenged them with a sincere call for them to examine their hearts. Would they really take possession of their land without any consideration to the fight that others would have to undertake? God had already harshly dealt with the other doubters who enticed Israel to turn away from the Promised Land. They all would die in the wilderness and not see the Land flowing with milk and honey.

Reuben and Gad committed that they would not take possession of their land until they helped their brothers obtain their blessing. There is a powerful principle here. Are you willing to fight hard to help someone else obtain what God has promised them or are you only interested in getting your blessing? This is a test of the heart. Reuben and Gad honored their word and helped; they enjoyed all the blessings of God plus they were able to see their fellow Israelites obtain their promise as well. Your blessing is so much more enjoyable when you know there are others you helped to enjoy theirs. This is an unselfish way to live. Commit to live with that level of selflessness and your blessings will be unstoppable and perpetual.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21

God expects us to honor our word! When we give our word it is called, “a vow”. We see today that God takes our words very seriously and holds us accountable for what we say. Often we hear teaching about why our words are important but we ignore them because we question how our words can be so powerful?

This is an area where we disadvantage ourselves. We may not think our words have power but God does! From the beginning of the world, words have mattered. Regardless of the little kids chant, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me”, words can and do hurt. They shape our whole lives.

Watch how often you say things and they actually come true. “I get a cold every winter.” “No one every gives me a chance.” “I always take one step forward, two steps back.” This is just a small sample.

Start speaking positive words over your life and watch them start occurring. Trust your words, God does!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22

Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38;Psalm 62:1-12;Proverbs 11:18-19

The Journey that Israel was on was one where they had to trust God! At each point, they were presented with the option to obey or to rebel. Sometimes they obeyed, other times, they didn’t. They noticed that when they did obey, God fulfilled His promises.

Moses heard from God that the people were to bring offerings to God at various times of the year. At that, the people had a choice once again; They could accept what God was saying through Moses or reject it and go their own way.

Thankfully, Israel obeyed God’s plan for their lives. It really takes trust to obey God. The next time you are tempted to disobey, recognize it is because there is an area where you have not trusted God completely. Surrender that part to God as well and He will be Lord over it.

David said it best, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 30:1-31:54;Luke 4:1-30;Psalm 63:1-11;Proverbs 11:20-21

Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17

God will always defend His children. Often we face injustice in our lives and we have a tendency to don our battle armor and go to war. When the dust settles from the battle, we have gotten what we wanted but at a great cost. 

When God tells us that He will defend us, He really will. All we have to do is bring our issues to him! The Daughters of Zelophehad had been neglected in the distribution of the land because their father had died without male heirs. The law at the time said that they would be disenfranchised and their father’s land would have been allotted to someone else. 

They took their issue to Moses who sought God’s will on the situation. God affirmed their right to own land and established a new law just for them. What unjust process has been blocking your progress? What glass ceiling has slowed down your promotion? What barriers have been erected to keep you stuck in life? 

God will bring you through all of these because He is your Defender. Cry out to Him and He will fight your battles for you. Be like the Psalmist, “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.”

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19

Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15

As Jesus grew, the Bible says that “… the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him” (Luke 2:40). This is a powerful statement of how Jesus grew and developed as a young man and child of God.

When He was a young man, and His family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover, Jesus remained in the Temple, with the teachers of the Law. He was so engrossed in the Word of God and being in the presence of God that when His family packed up to return home, Jesus was not with them. After frantically looking for him, they found Him safely in the Temple listening to the Word of God and being in God’s presence.

The story ends by Jesus continuing to be described as, growing “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52). How was Jesus able to keep growing in wisdom and favor? He stayed in God’s House listening to God’s Word and being refreshed by God’s Spirit. If you want to see continued favor, blessings and wisdom manifest in your life then stay around God and His people in His House. You will be challenged and changed and God’s favor will chase you down! Lord, let it be said of us, that we grew in wisdom and had favor with God and people!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17

Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14

Balaam is still being pressured to curse Israel. But, he refused to give into the pressure from King Balak. Over Balak’s threats, Balaam stood firm on God’s Word. God gives Balaam a rare opportunity: To see the bright future that God has for Israel.

God showed Balaam that a star would arise from the line of Israel: “A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Balaam saw all the way through history when a Savior would be born into the world who is Jesus!

When Jesus was born, the heavens aligned to tell everyone watching the sky that something supernatural had happened. Angels found some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night. They announced that the Son of God had been born. It was His birth that put the final nail in the devil’s coffin. He represented the greatest triumph that God would get by redeeming His creation.

Jesus’ birth is the fulfillment of what Balaam saw. All of the evil of the ages was defeated when Jesus was born. Praise God today for having a plan to restore the blessing on our lives!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15

Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13

There is a world around you that your natural eye cannot see. How sensitive are you to it? Balaam set out to go to the King of Moab as the Lord had instructed. On the way, God sent an Angel to remind him of his commitment to only speak what God says. But, Balaam could not see the Angel.

The Donkey could! Each time the Angel tried to get Balaam’s attention, the Donkey responded. Balaam became angry with the Donkey not realizing that the Donkey could see something that he could not. Finally, the Donkey just lays down in the presence of the Angel. Balaam beats the Donkey in a fit of rage. (Have you ever noticed that when we are off spiritually, we will lash out at those around us?)

Finally, God speaks to Balaam, not through the Angel but through the Donkey first! The Angel reminds Balaam of his responsibility to only speak what God says and nothing else. As Balaam moves forward, he is very clear about what God wants Him to do!

God will not leave you without instructions. Don’t try to navigate your way through life using your own natural eyes. Ask God to open your eyes to see all that He is doing around you. You will see the acts of God all around you. He has dispatched Angels to help you today. Let them help because “angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.” (Hebrews 1:14)

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14

Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11

The Blessing cannot be reversed! From Genesis through Revelation, God speaks of The Blessing. In Genesis 1, God blessed us and said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” This was the original state that God wanted us to live in. To be blessed means empowered to prosper (do well).

Balaam was a man who feared God. Balak, a Moabite King, feared the Israelites power so he went to Baalam and asked that He curse God’s people. At God’s prompting, Balaam refused. King Balak became very angry at his refusal.

This is why every time the people complained against Moses and Aaron, it never registered with God. Once His hand is on someone, no one but that person can remove it! God will do whatever it takes to re-enforce His blessing on your life as well. Stay in obedience to God’s plans for your life. Stop being concerned about what other people do. You cannot control others but you can manage your own actions.

Don’t do to yourself what others and the devil cannot do. Don’t stop the blessing from manifesting on your life. Let God’s power flow through you to create a Garden of Eden around you today! You are blessed and no one can stop it!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13

Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8

The persecution of others can take a toll on you if you are not careful. Persecution is a subtle pressure that comes from people to challenge you for the position you hold or the favor you possess. Either way, if we are not careful, we will give into that pressure and act in a way that shows unbelief in God.

Moses did just that. He had faithfully led Israel and he saw some amazing events take place. He had weathered a lot of criticism and in a rash moment, he disobeyed God. As a result, he lost it all! Everything he had lived for was denied him. Though God would allow him to see the Promised Land, he would not enter in. Unbelief is dangerous.

In a similar manner, without the persecution, Zechariah demonstrates unbelief to God. Zechariah was the Father of John the Baptist but he could not believe what God promised was possible. He was struck with silence until the birth of his son.

You will face pressure to doubt God. It may come from external pressure or your own internal fears. Either way, dismiss doubt and keep trusting God. Take Him at His Word because God always backs up His Word. It may seem impossible but its not! Keep on trusting.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11

Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7

You would have thought that after all of Korah’s companions were destroyed, the complaining and rebellion would have ended. But, it didn’t. Moses and Aaron were still under attack.

Isn’t it interesting that after all these chapters, the real, fundamental reason comes out. They were jealous that Moses and Aaron had been chosen by God to lead. They could go into the Most Holy Place and the other Israelites could not. The truth is: God’s favor will set you apart and you must develop the ability to gracefully accept it.

Have you ever noticed that some people cannot handle the blessings of God on your life? Try as they may, they just cannot understand how God could have chosen you and not them. This was the fundamental issue with the Israelites. They wanted to know what made Moses and Aaron so special. The people’s persistent rebellion against Moses and Aaron angered God to the extent that He was ready to punish them.  Moses and Aaron literally interceded for the people so that their sin would not completely destroy them.  Who would help rescue the same people who are persecuting them?

When you recognize that you are favored by God, you won’t jeopardize it with retaliation. Wear your favor with grace. You can’t stop the persecution but you can live above it. Moses and Aaron did it and you can too.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8