Numbers!

Daily Reading: Numbers 1

Scripture Focus: All those listed were 603,550 (Numbers 1.46)

Devotional Thought: Aauugghh! It's Numbers! How can I read a book called Numbers? I know that's what some people think when they get to this book in the Old Testament. Patient, thoughtful reading, however, will give you much to think and much to rejoice about. Numbers are pretty exciting things!

But you may have to look at them a while in order to see any of those exciting things. When the Hubble telescope was pointed into an 'empty' area of space, it discovered 3000 new galaxies. 3000! In a width of one quarter the size of the moon. Some were as far as 12 billion light years away. By training the telescope for 100 hours in one area, and increasing the exposure times up to 45 minutes, astronomers saw things that no one - except God of course! - had ever seen before. How exciting! But Hubble time was valuable; it could have been looking at other things, known things, interesting things. It took a 'brave' and dedicated astronomer to insist that he use the telescope for 100 hours on 'empty' space.

When we look at Numbers we find things like "All those listed were 603,550" (1.46). That's a big number, too. And every one of those numbers represented something big - one of God's children. And, God has no trouble keeping track of 603,550 of his children. After all, he put billions of galaxies in space and keeps track of all of them. How exciting!

And, there is another listing of numbers and people. It is the Lamb's Book of Life. If you are a follower of Jesus, your name is there. That's exciting reading, too!

Prayer: Father, you are amazing, and you have created an amazing universe. Thank you that in all the numbers of the universe, you keep track of me. I love you, Lord! Amen!

Psalm of the Day: 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. (Psalms 116:5-9)