Wed. 2-21-07

Our Bible reading for today: Numbers 1-3; Mark 3

On the home front: Joyce has had a pretty good week thus far. The pain meds seem to be working as they should and Joyce isn't experiencing nearly the pain she was a couple of weeks ago. Her present need is to get more nourishment. Her appetite has been gone for months now and she has lost a lot of weight. She is still very fatigued and unable to do any sustained physical activity that could build up her strength. So we are praying that with the lessening of pain, her desire to eat will return and with that, the ability to build up her strength.

The Palliative care doctor and nurses have been awesome - 3 home visits in 8 days! It's helped lift the burden of the correct treatment of the pain from her and I. So now we're gearing up for chemo again a week from tomorrow (Mar. 1). Our daughter, Noelle, will be with us thru mid March - she's been a tremendous help already.

Today, in our Bible reading, we're starting thru the book of Numbers. I've been teaching thru Numbers on Wednesday evenings at the church for about 4 months now - I'll be in chapters 27-29 this evening. If you want to listen to any of the studies, they are all posted on our church website www.ccesco.com

Davis Guzik notes that: The Book of Numbers is all about God's people in the wilderness - how they get there, how God deals with them in the wilderness, and how He brings them out of the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.

The Book of Numbers gives us a big vision: Where is God taking us? What will it take to get there? What inward qualities must God develop in us and demand in us along the way?

The Book of Numbers approaches it all God's way. When we are in the wilderness, we are tempted to launch a hundred different schemes and plans to escape. But only God's way really works; and the Book of Numbers gives us God's way. The idea that the Lord spoke to Moses is repeated more than 150 times and more than 20 different ways in Numbers.

Exodus covered a year; Leviticus only a month - but the Book of Numbers encompasses more than 38 years.

Below is a brief outline of the four major divisions of the Book of Numbers:

1. Preparation for departure from Mt. Sinai - 1:1 -10:10
2. From Sinai to the plains of Moab 10:11-21:35
3. The prophecies of Balaam - 22:1- 25:18
4. Instructions and preparations for entering the promised land. - 26:1 - 36:13

Lot's of great stories in Numbers as well as some amazing forshadowings of our Lord Jesus!

Have a blessed day! Pat