Dear Readers,

This week we will be finishing up the book of Leviticus. How are you doing with it so far? I found it more interesting this time then I have in the past. Perhaps I am getting older and see the need for being holy and "set apart" more then I have in the past. I am also seeing more practical applications then I have in the past. This past week I had to watch two videos for a part time job I am looking into. One of them was on Universal Disease Control techniques (UDC) and the other was on Sexual Harassment. I kept thinking that much of the information sounded familiar. As they talked about how to care for people and products that have been in contact with blood, they even used the terminology "unclean." Some of the rules in Leviticus just made more sense to me. I wonder how much less disease (uncleanness) we would have in the world today if we had followed Levitical laws instead of having to wait for the modification in UDC and sexual harassment prevention manners today? God does want us to be holy; for our protection, our witness, our lifestyle, and worship. Just two more day on Leviticus!

We will begin the reading of Numbers on the third day of reading this week. Numbers is the continuation of Israel's history in the wilderness on the way to the promise land. The theme is God's training camp or boot camp. The people don't move forward based on their strength (which is a large army of about 603,550) but on their faith and trust in God. Their progress is slow. God is training them as spiritual soldiers, not as a physical army. The basic message of Numbers is, "God's people move forward only in so far as they trust God's promises."

Israel learns their lessons the hard way. They are slow learners. Sometimes it is almost painful to see their whining and disobedience over and over again. I wonder what a story of our lives would sound like? How fast do we move forward? How long does it take us to trust God?

DAY ONE, FEBRUARY 19 - Leviticus 22-24
Read Leviticus 22 - 24. Here are a few thought questions:
What does 22:32A say? How do we sometimes treat God as ordinary?
How often do you read the number seven? NOTE: seven means "perfection" or "completeness."
What are some ways the number seven is used in these passages?
What do you think the meaning is in each case?
How do you experience perfect or complete rest, forgiveness, worship, joy, provision, etc. in your life?
How much celebration in God's name do we see in the lives of the Israelites?
How much celebration in Jesus' name, do other see in your life?

DAY TWO, FEBRUARY 20 - Leviticus 25-27
Read the last three chapters of Leviticus. Here are the questions for these chapters.
What does 25:23 say about who is the real owner of things?
What do these chapters really say about greed and selfishness?
How do you treat the things and people God has entrusted to you?
What principles of business, agriculture, and money management can we learn from these chapters?
Think ahead to what you know about Israel. How do verses 26:14-46, come true for the Israelites?
What can we learn about God's relationship with his people from the whole book of Leviticus?

DAY THREE, FEBRUARY 21 - Numbers 1-2
Chapter 1 and 2
NOTE: The Israelites had been at Mt Sinai for over a year while they received God's laws, built the tabernacle, and strengthened their relationship with God.
How do these chapters show that God is a God of order and guidance?
How have you felt God's instruction and guidance in your life?

DAY FOUR, FEBRUARY 22 - Numbers 3-4
Chapter 3
After reading 3:11-13, what do you think this says about our priorities?
Do you remember God first or do you fit him in as you have time, room, and desire?
3:14-39 describes the various responsibilities of each of the clans. God does not leave any detail left undone.
What responsibilities has God given you to do in his service? How well are you handling your responsibilities?
Chapter 4
How much preparation and instructions went into preparing the levites to carry the presence and symbols of God?
How are you a carrier of God's presence and symbols of God's love, protection and redemption into the world?
How seriously do you take that responsibility?

DAY FIVE, FEBRUARY 23 - Numbers 5-6
Chapter 5
According to verse 3 why did unclean things have to be removed from the camp?
God lives among you right now. Are you asking him to live in an "unclean" area?
What in your life do you need to clean up?
What does God say about forgiveness and restitution in this chapter?
Is there anyone you need to seek forgiveness from and offer restitution?
Chapter 6
What are the requirements of the Nazirite?
Have you ever taken some time alone to focus on God and seek his direction?
Have you ever dedicated yourself to God for his use?
What is the priest's blessing?
Have you ever heard those words before?

DAY SIX, FEBRUARY 24 - Numbers 7-8
Chapter 7
What were the gifts that each tribe brought to God?
What gifts (offerings) do you give to God? Where did Moses go to talk to God?
Where do you go to talk to God?
Chapter 8
Who were the special people dedicated to the Lord's service?
Do we have people today who are dedicated to the Lord's service?
After retirement, were the levites duty free?
Can we ever retire completely from the service of the Lord?

DAY SEVEN, FEBRUARY 25 - Numbers 9-10
hapter 9
How does God give provisions for those who cannot take Passover at the specified time?
Is there a difference between the way Israelites and foreigners, who have a relationship with God, celebrate Passover?
Can you remember what Passover represents?
How did the Israelites know were to go?
How do you try to stay in the presence of God today?
How do you try to follow where God is leading you?
Can it be said of you, "They did whatever the Lord told them"?
Chapter 10
What does the trumpet blast mean?
What has a trumpet blast represented through out most of history?
When did the people finally move from Mt. Sinai for the first time?
How long are you willing to be taught by God and wait on his timing for something?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.