This week, we will finish Acts and begin again in Matthew. Today we start Revelation. In Numbers, we will witness the rebellion of Israel against the Lord’s command to go in and possess the Promise Land, from there the rebellion of Korah will transpire. It’s forty years to undo Egypt out from Israel, unbelief is stubborn. Psalms 58 – 64 are Psalms of David when he cried for help in various situations throughout life. Jeremiah begins with God’s expansive promises of redemption. Jeremiah learns that God speaks and acts and during His actions, He speaks over them into the next move of His.
We move from believers in Jesus to disciples of Jesus when we abide in His word. Here in abiding we know the truth and the truth makes us free. Freedom is Jesus; for it was for freedom that Christ made us free. We honor God when we abide in His word, and He blesses us with His freedom. It is not information but encounters with Jesus that we seek, and they are here in His word.
Acts 24 – 28
Paul has been brought to Caesarea. Five days later, Ananias the high priest with elders, and an orator named Tertullus come demanding that Paul be judged. Paul says, “I came to bring alms to my nation.” The dispute is about the resurrection of the dead. For two years Paul will live in Caesarea until Porcius Festus succeeds Felix. Festus soon learns that the Jews want Paul to come to Jerusalem. He has them come down to Caesarea instead. The plan of the council is to have Paul return to Jerusalem and kill him in an ambush along the way. Paul appeals to Caesar.
In Chapter 26, Paul shares his testimony and ministry calling. To know Paul better read Acts 9—his conversion, Acts 22—his testimony, and Acts 26–his ministry calling which all come from the salvation he experienced with Jesus, on the way to Damascus. Paul is then sent on a boat to Rome and warns everyone of the doom that is in store, but they won’t listen. The storm comes and Paul prays everyone to safety. Paul arrives in Rome and on an appointed day shares with all about the kingdom of God and Jesus.
Matthew 1 – 2
We begin the gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. See if you can find the five women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. Joseph is persuaded to take Mary as his wife. After Jesus’ birth, wise men from the East come, leave, and then Joseph must take the young child and his mother to Egypt.
Revelation 1 – 7
The glorious revelation of Jesus Christ begins with John, on the island of Patmos for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Jesus shows up in a vision and gives John seven messages for the seven churches.
In Chapters Four and Five, John is called up into the throne room and beholds God on the throne. The Lamb is the only one who is able to open the scrolls.
In Chapter Six He opens the six seals leading to Chapter Seven where we see the tribes of Israel sealed and then heavenly worship before the throne with his saints abiding, Jesus providing, and God wiping away every tear from their eyes.
Numbers 12 – 19
Numbers 12 begins with the jealousy of Miriam and Aaron concerning Moses, finding fault with his Ethiopian wife. God will not stand for it. Moses is exalted, Miriam is left leprous, and the whole nation must wait for Miriam’s cleansing. Next, Moses is instructed to send twelve spies for the twelve tribes to spy out the land. It is a good land, flowing with milk and honey, but there are giants in the land. Ten spies see only the giants and see Israel as grasshoppers, But Caleb and Joshua see the giants as lunch. The ten tribes prevail with their bad report and Israel collapses in despair and complains against Moses and Aaron. God is going to destroy Israel, but Moses intercedes. God says for every day, shall be a year, and that the children they feared would die will now bring Israel into the Promise Land. Next Chapter, God speaks immediately about when they do come into the land, even though it is forty years away.
In Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen, there is greater jealousy and rebellion against Moses and Aaron. First, the rebellion of Korah (Levites who wanted Aaron and Moses’ position), and then the entire nation refuses Moses after God judges the Korah rebellion.
Chapters eighteen and nineteen are more instructions, as God is slowly transforming a nation of slaves into sons.
Psalm 58 – 64
These Psalms of David are grouped together with David calling and trusting in the Lord in times of conflict. They are glorious Psalms of trust that bring courage to all of us as we see David facing real situations and moving from the problem into the promises of God and His faithfulness.
Jeremiah 31 – 36
In these chapters, we will witness God’s new covenant promised, and Israel gloriously coming back into the land. But Jeremiah is in prison in the tenth year of Zedekiah. God tells Jeremiah to redeem the property and seal the deed for days ahead. Jeremiah does so and prophesies the future restoration of Jerusalem. While Nebuchadnezzar sits outside the wall of Jerusalem is sieged. Jeremiah points out the obvious of the equation and God says, in effect, “So what, I am able to speak on top of judgment the healing of the land forthcoming.”
Jeremiah thirty-three is an explosion of this dual prophetic word, one being fulfilled, and another set already in motion to save. God is good!
Jeremiah thirty-four is the heartbreaking story of the leaders of Jerusalem setting their slaves free and then changing their minds and God declaring that they missed another chance to be saved from Nebuchadnezzar.
Read this one slowly. In Chapter Thirty-five, God points out a family in obedience in the midst of the apostasy of a nation and the promise for their obedience.
Chapter thirty-six is a throwback to the time when the Lord had Jeremiah write on a scroll, during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, all the adversities God planned to bring on Judah. He is hoping this will persuade Judah to repent. Judah does respond with fasting and the fear of God. But when the scroll is brought to the king, he takes the scroll and throws it into the fire. God’s longsuffering continues and He tells Jeremiah to have Baruch the scribe write down another scroll. God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
