In the late winter or early spring each year, many Christians observe Lent, the forty days of reflection and spiritual preparation leading to Holy Week.

Holy Week lies between Palm Sunday and Easter. On Palm Sunday we remember that Jesus made a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday the Last Supper is commemorated. On Good Friday, we recall the day Jesus was crucified, and on Holy Saturday, we think about the day Jesus’ body lay dead in the grave. On Easter Sunday, of course, we celebrate our risen Lord.

Traditionally people fast in some way during Lent. It’s a time to practice self-restraint and make room for God by denying ourselves something we love. Every time we miss the thing we gave up, we can remember that the Lord is more important to us than what we crave.

Nazirite Vows

In the Old Testament people could set themselves apart to the Lord for a time by taking a Nazirite vow. The vow was taken and the time set by the individual most of the time, but there are a few cases where God called a person to a lifetime of being a Nazirite, including Samuel, Samson and John the Baptist.

The Nazirite was not allowed to eat or drink anything made from grapes. They were not allowed to cut their hair, and they had to avoid all contact with the dead. If they violated these restrictions they had to shave their heads and start all over again with their term of dedication.

The Nazirite could be a man or a woman, and as with any vow made to the Lord, it had to be strictly kept. When the time of the vow ended, the Nazirite brought sacrifices of two lambs for sin and burnt offerings, and a ram, along with, grain, drink, and unleavened bread for a fellowship offering to the tabernacle and returned to normal life.

We don’t observe Nazirite vows these days, but there are still many people who feel led to set themselves apart in different ways in order to grow closer to God or serve him. They do it by fasting, going on personal retreats, or spending extended time in prayer. Some feel compelled to leave their ordinary life completely and go to the mission field for a while or even for a lifetime. God is able to do great things with people who give themselves to him in these ways.

The Aaronic Blessing

God gave Aaron a priestly blessing to say over the Israelites. We still hear people say it today:

“May the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

God gave the priests this blessing, “So that they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27

This blessing includes the blessings of light, grace, God’s presence and peace. What more could we ask for in any situation? No matter what we face in life, these blessings can make us strong and able to give thanks.

Silver Trumpets

God sure does love trumpets in the Bible! When Israel first encountered the Lord at Mount Sinai, loud heavenly trumpets blasted in the midst of the earthquakes, fire and smoke.

In Revelation (which we will read in December in our Chronological Bibles) the Apostle John saw seven angels with loud trumpets who announced events that mark the end of the world.

In today’s reading God commissioned two silver trumpets for the priests to use to call assemblies, to announce when it was time to set out on the next leg of the journey, and to rejoice over burnt and fellowship offerings at the appointed festivals. In case anyone thought these trumpets were optional, notice how God signs off on the order.

“ – you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 10:10

God was serious about those trumpets.

Leaving Sinai

Twenty days after God organized Israel into their tribes and showed them how to camp around the tabernacle, he told them it was time to leave Sinai. The cloud of his presence lifted from above the tabernacle and moved in the direction the Desert of Paran.

Tents came down and everything needed to live in tents was packed up. Little children were placed on the laps of old people who needed to ride in carts. Animals were herded together for the long walk and herdsmen figured out how to keep them moving.

Aaron and his sons disappeared into the holy place and prepared the most sacred objects for travel. When the Kohathites emerged carrying the Ark of the Covenant covered by its blue cloth on their shoulders, the cloud of God’s presence led them to the front of the procession, and Moses and Aaron took their places behind the Ark.

Meanwhile, the Gershonites and Merarites methodically disassembled the tabernacle and carefully loaded it onto ox carts. They slipped into position between the first and second groups of tribes and drove the oxen forward with their precious cargo.

The remaining Kohathites loaded their bundles of sacred objects onto their shoulders and found their place in line, between the second and third groups of tribes as they passed by.

Hundreds of thousands of people were on the move that day. In Numbers 10:11-36 there is a list of the people in charge of each tribe and its families. Those names don’t mean much to us now, but God wanted them to be remembered. They were the people who guided Israel into the great adventure in the wilderness and we can only imagine the logistical challenges they faced.

The Lord went before them and after three days of travel they arrived in Paran.

Moses and His Unique Work

Moses knew God was going to lead Israel, but he also understood that some of the logistics were his responsibility. He valued the expertise of his brother-in-law Hobab as a scout because Hobab was familiar with the desert and he would be able to advise Moses and the other leaders about finding campsites for Israel. Hobab agree to go along with them and see what God would do for Israel.

Whenever the Ark set out following the Lord’s presence, Moses would call out,

“Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” Numbers 10:35

When the Ark came to rest, Moses prayed,

“Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.” Numbers 10:36

It was a tremendous responsibility for Moses to lead his people through the wilderness. If he had not been able to trust God to protect them from enemies, and to return to them each night, he would not have been able to go on. Moses was not a Nazirite, but he was set apart and equipped by God to do a unique work.

What kind of unique position has God given you in life? Who do you influence?

You may think that your place in life is insignificant, but God doesn’t see it that way. You are a channel of his blessing to the world. Think about who you can pray for and serve today. You may be like Moses or Aaron, a source of leadership and blessing to someone who needs to follow the Lord.

Take five minutes right now and pray for whoever the Lord puts on your heart. Ask him for one step you can take next to care for that person.