Through 2024, every member of the Thirst Collective – Thir.st, Salt&Light, Stories of Hope, 还好吗 hhm.sg, Living Room, Collective Studio – has committed to reading the Bible from cover to cover. 

We thought it’d be cool to pick out reflections and insights from our team’s readings to share with you. This time, dive deep into Numbers with us!

Numbers 6: A proactive faith

Isaac, Collective Studio

The Nazarite vow was voluntary, which led those who made the vow to have a strong desire to separate themselves to serve God, rather than just doing the bare minimum.

I am learning so much from people who are actively searching for ways to deepen their relationship with God and people who are voluntarily looking for ways to contribute more of themselves to Him.

Numbers 8: Appreciating our leaders

Juleen, Salt&Light

“And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.” ‭‭(Numbers‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬, ESV)‬‬

A reminder of the gift that pastors are to us. Their Levitical role may have changed somewhat since Jesus, but they are still interceding for us and contending for our souls. Saying a prayer in thanksgiving for pastors today.

Numbers 13-15: God goes with us

Edwin, Collective Studio

There is no defeat in any battle when God goes with us. Those who know the power and might of our Almighty God will trust in His victory and not in our own abilities. Like Joshua and Caleb.

Numbers 14:36-38: Eyes of greater faith

Edric, Thir.st Collective

“And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.” (Numbers 14:36-38, ESV)

Very important lesson here. Are we like Joshua and Caleb, calling other people to see with eyes of greater faith?

Or are we the 10 spies, dragging others down with us in our lack of faith? Do we know there are consequences to being this negative?

Numbers 20:10-12: Surrendering the negativity

Zemin, 还好吗 hhm.sg

“Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”” (Numbers 20:10-12, NLT)

Having to travel in the wilderness for so long and dealing with toxic people along the way, Moses was probably affected by his surroundings badly and he may even have been stumbled. Being in his position must have been really upsetting as he had to journey with and love the unlovable.

May we learn to surrender our negative thoughts and emotions to the feet of Jesus so that it is easier to obey God when we are to carry out His instructions.

We have to ask God to help us keep the faith and not get affected by the negativity that surrounds us.

Numbers 22-24: An unexpected source

Ming Feng, Collective Studio

It’s easy and common for us to assume God’s voice will only come from sources we trust. We end up listening only to people who think like we do, belong to our social circles, or denomination, or speak and act like us.

It is wiser for us to also pay attention to others who would take a different position from us, as God may speak to us through the words of a potential enemy (Balaam) or even a beast of the field (donkey).

By God’s grace, could we somehow learn to listen to what God might be saying to us, even through people we don’t trust or sources we don’t agree with?

Numbers 26:11: The wonders of His mercy

Peck, Salt&Light

“But the sons of Korah did not die.” (Numbers 26:11, ESV)

Korah’s rebellion goes down in history as the most staggering example of pride coming before a fall, a fall so deep into hell that his name and family would be blocked out forever.

Yet, because of the Lord’s great love, the name and sons of Korah were not consumed.

The sons of Korah wrote 11 beautiful psalms (Psalms 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, 88) that were especially poignant because of their heritage.

The mercy of God is great. Our heritage does not determine our destiny; our choice does.