READINGS FOR OCTOBER 31, 2024: NUMBERS 35, HEBREWS 11, PSALM 115:1-8

Numbers 35

            The Levites were not given an allotment of land. The entire tribe was set apart to be the priests of the people of Israel. As such, they are to be given towns within each or the other tribes to provide for their families. 

            Six of the Levitical cities are to be “Cities of Refuge”. These were to be spaced throughout Israel and had a specific purpose. If a person accidentally killed another Israelite, they could go to one of those towns for refuge. This would allow protection while it was determined whether the death was an accident. 

When a person was killed at the hands of another person, it was the responsibility of the family to avenge their death. The avenger would not stop their pursuit until the life of the dead person had been avenged. 

            These “Cities of Refuge” made it possible for there to be a trial. It kept innocent people from being killed for an accident. It kept the family avenger from killing someone who did not deserve to die for their transgressions.

Hebrews 11

            This chapter goes through the history of the Bible and lifts-up several of the patriarchs who showed faith by their actions. 

            Abel

            Enoch

            Noah

            Abraham

            Isaac

            Jacob

            Joseph

            Moses

            Rahab

The progression of the author’s thought about faith is (all from NIV):

Verse 1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Verse 6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 

READINGS FOR OCTOBER 31, 2024 (CONTINUED): NUMBERS 35, HEBREWS 11, PSALM 115:1-8

Verse 13 – All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

Verse 39-40 – These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

It is only through faith that we can believe in God. It is only through belief in God that we can have hope. Through faith and hope we can hold on to the promises of Jesus Christ. We can be assured of our salvation. We can hold on to the faith that God has something better for us.

            In each case of the Old Testament examples, each person showed their faith by their actions. They acted in faith because they believed and hoped in the promises of God. Their actions were fruit of their faith. 

            Our faith is shown by our actions. We live out the hope we have in the promises of God, by living in assurance of those promises. Our faith in God shines to all the world by what we do.

Psalm 115:1-8

            Psalm 115 is a hymn of praise. It offers praise to God for God’s love and faithfulness toward God’s people. The psalm is split into two parts. The first eight verses are a call to praise. The last 10 verses are a call and response.

            We are to praise God for it is God who is worthy. We dot deserve the glory and honor. We have done nothing that warrants praise. It is God who is all-loving and God’s faithfulness to us that is worthy of praise.

            The enemies of those who worship God taunt when things go wrong for the faithful. They ask where is God? Where is God amidst the tragedy?

            The psalmist reminds us that our God sits enthroned in Heaven. God is with us always. God is with us in the hardships.

            Where our God is alive and well, the God that our detractor’s worship is nothing but an idol. It is made with human hands. It is voiceless, sightless, without life.  

            Our society is full of idols. It may be beliefs (like secular humanism or atheism); it may be one of the false religions; it may be the worship of science in the name of enlightenment. People will belittle our faith in God, the Creator. They will question our faith. 

            For me, I find comfort and strength in our Creator. I find the answer to the creation in the work of God: I find awe:

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place, (Psalm 8:3, NIV)