The verses for today that come in the center of the reading is a Firestarter for your heart to glow with a basic truth: God wants purity for his people. This may help to interpret the warlike behavior, which seems impossible to justify by modern understanding of how God wants us to act toward our enemies. Certainly, Jesus’ position is clear: we are to love our enemies and to pray for them. These “coals of fire” upon their heads are the holy violence of love designed to win people into the Kingdom. As for the Book of Numbers, there is no consistently clear position about what constitutes a Holy War. Killing defiles; hence the need for purification afterward.

There are harsh consequences for those given to idolatry. However, thank God for Jesus. The way he treats the foreign woman in Matthew 15 shows how he makes new “spoils” for the Kingdom by healing and love.

Numbers 30:2—31:54

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Matoth (The Chiefs) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Numbers 30:2—32:42

There is another portion assigned this year: Maseh (Journeys) 
Numbers 33:1—36:13

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Vengeance belonging to You 31:1ff

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

 Isaiah envisions the fall of Babylon, the city called “The Wilderness of the Sea.” In 703 B.C., Sennacherib of Assyria takes the city. Isaiah experiences within, the terror of Jerusalem as the thought, “You’re next” brings pain to God’s people as of a woman in labor.

Is there anyone or any circumstance coming against you that is frightening you? Isaiah describers the crippling power of fear. Just as he identifies with the fear of Jerusalem, so can this chapter serve to have the fears in your life come to the surface so that you can face them, releasing them to the Lord who has ultimate power against all the “bullies” in your life.

Are there persons in your life who are being frightened? Perhaps the Lord will have you intercede for them by experiencing their fear, just as Isaiah stands in for Jerusalem and its terror, until God’s saving power enters in.

Isaiah 21

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Isaiah 13 – 27; Lamentations 1 and 2 in the Ninth Week.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Glory of the world passing v. 16

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.