"The Anchor Holds In Spite of the Storm"
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
An Anchor, when properly placed, holds a marine vessel securely in one location and keeps it from drifting away from the captain’s desired position. Under the teachings of the Holy Spirit of God, what in Hebrew is called the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Five books of Moses serve us as an Anchor to keep us from drifting away from God's good, acceptable and perfect will for our lives.
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
|
Bamidbar (Numbers)
nasso 4:21-7:89 |
Meaning
elevate |
Day One
5th day of 3rd Month 5785 1 June 2025 
|
Haftara
Judges 13:2-25 |
B'rit Hadashah
Luke 1:11-20 |
1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5
Modeh Ani (ּמודה אני)
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Numbers 4:21-49 (KJV)1
21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 22 "Take a census (elevate/count) of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' households, by their families; 23 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 24 "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying: 25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of porpoise skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the doorway of the gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shall perform. 27 "All the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their loads and in all their work, shall be performed at the command of Aaron and his sons; and you shall assign to them as a duty all their loads. 28 "This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers' households; 30 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 "Now this is the duty of their loads, for all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its sockets, 32 and the pillars around the court and their sockets and their pegs and their cords, with all their equipment and with all their service; and you shall assign each man by name the items he is to carry. 33 "This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest." 34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers' households, 35 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 36 Their numbered men by their families were 2,750. 37 These are the numbered men of the Kohathite families, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses. 38 The numbered men of the sons of Gershon by their families and by their fathers' households, 39 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 40 Their numbered men by their families, by their fathers' households, were 2,630. 41 These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD. 42 The numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers' households, 43 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 44 Their numbered men by their families were 3,200. 45 These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses. 46 All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers' households, 47 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the tent of meeting. 48 Their numbered men were 8,580. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
It's a good day on the homestead! The temperature might be a tad chilly for a June morning, but I'm not complaining. I'm just making an observation. The first major fundraiser for the Golden Age Club for 2025 is now history. It was nippy in the morning, but by the time we were winding down at two in the afternoon, the sun was out and we could relax outside for a short time before the major washing up started. My poor old body was screaming at me from late afternoon until I retired for the night. “I told you if you did that again this year, you'd be sorry!” There was nothing else to do but medicate appropriately, calming the fibromyalgia and promoting sleep, and taking extra time this morning to facilitate recovery. If the temperature rises to sixty-eight as forecast today, I shall be profoundly happy.
If there is one thing that fascinates me about our God is that He is the chief organizer and planner. I was a compulsive organizer when I was working. I had a system. The pack rat in me is still attracted to any new box, regardless of size, and says: “Oh! This will come in handy at some point—I’ll keep it for a few days (or weeks) and I’m sure I’ll use it for something.” My increased propensity for pack ratting came from, (I would like to think), eighteen years working part-time casual, where I floated from ward to ward in a nursing home, rarely finding anything in the same place twice. This is also a trait that I seem to have shared with my father, who left me numerous collections he’d amassed because he knew he’d need them someday. He was raised in some serious poverty and the war and depression years instilled in him a life-long need to “keep something by”. So, I'm always amazed at our Father God's organization! The best thing about His system is that it is “always just enough” with “nothing left over”. Just look at how he divided up the Levite clans!
21 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation... 29 As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 4:21-23; 29-30.
God tailored this system of porterage so that He would get the best out of the ones He employed while at the same time giving every consideration to those that He employed. God set in place the middle management team of Aaron and sons, who would be giving direction and encouragement. The descendants of Levi however, weren’t looking at this trip being long-term. That first group of Israel who came out of Egypt most likely expected to be in their new land within days, and if they had seen ahead just how long they were destined to stay in the desert lands, they might have lost all hope at the onset. If Moshe had seen how long it would take him to lead these people through, even he might have been crushed under the revelation. This reasoning leads me to believe that no matter how I try to box and organize my life so that I have the least fuss and bother, circumstances have a way of blowing those plans into oblivion! The only way to overcome that, when it may come in various degrees of annoyance to full-blown meltdown, is to KNOW and EXPECT the “ups and downs” that life will hand me. It seems inevitable that I'll handle some instances better than others.
When our planning and organization go by the wayside we tend to think that all is lost and we exist for a time in the insanity that God has left us when in reality, He is perhaps, just moving our attention to where we can begin new planning and organization. In the past, I’ve heard pillars of the church (who may have been more decorative than useful) chide, “You shouldn’t make plans! God will order your way!” I wondered how kind is it to make these pontifications to others who are struggling. Wouldn’t it be kinder to validate their struggle and help them “shoulder the load”? Why cause even more angst in the heart of one who is already struggling because they don’t have the faith that those ‘pillars’ possess? We do need a certain amount of planning and organization in order to more effectively shoulder the burdens that we carry for Him. When we come to the passage that speaks of how the camp would break up and who would start moving with the furniture of the tabernacle in their ordered groups we will see how perfect our Father God’s panning and organization is when put to practical use!
The selection process of who would be associated with the priests to carry out this move (yes, pun intended) has a secondary purpose. Notice that they were selected by the “clans of their ancestral houses”. How else would one go about preserving the structure of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel? What about the organization of the tribes around the tabernacle? They were organized by the clans of their ancestral houses. All the sons of Judah stayed together while all the sons of Benjamin had their place and so on down to the last son of Jacob. If this was so important to God way back at the beginning of Israel’s history, then why should it be any less important now? I submit to you that it is every bit as important. One day I felt that I’d made a great discovery. Many have probably come to this conclusion quicker than me, but I quite suddenly realized that the “lost tribes of Israel” are not lost at all! God knows where every single one is who has a drop of Israel blood in their veins. Whether or not the world believes this, and come to that, whether or not how many “Christians” don't believe it, does not negate this truth.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; 17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:15-21.
In the balance of the text for today, is a recap of this momentous selection and organization of the sons of Levi. We have so many of these 'recaps'. It's as if our Father God knows how easily we forget things!
If there is one thing that fascinates me about our God is that He is the chief organizer and planner. I was a compulsive organizer when I was working. I had a system. The pack rat in me is still attracted to any new box, regardless of size, and says: “Oh! This will come in handy at some point—I’ll keep it for a few days (or weeks) and I’m sure I’ll use it for something.” My increased propensity for pack ratting came from, (I would like to think), eighteen years working part-time casual, where I floated from ward to ward in a nursing home, rarely finding anything in the same place twice. This is also a trait that I seem to have shared with my father, who left me numerous collections he’d amassed because he knew he’d need them someday. He was raised in some serious poverty and the war and depression years instilled in him a life-long need to “keep something by”. So, I'm always amazed at our Father God's organization! The best thing about His system is that it is “always just enough” with “nothing left over”. Just look at how he divided up the Levite clans!
21 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation... 29 As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 4:21-23; 29-30.
God tailored this system of porterage so that He would get the best out of the ones He employed while at the same time giving every consideration to those that He employed. God set in place the middle management team of Aaron and sons, who would be giving direction and encouragement. The descendants of Levi however, weren’t looking at this trip being long-term. That first group of Israel who came out of Egypt most likely expected to be in their new land within days, and if they had seen ahead just how long they were destined to stay in the desert lands, they might have lost all hope at the onset. If Moshe had seen how long it would take him to lead these people through, even he might have been crushed under the revelation. This reasoning leads me to believe that no matter how I try to box and organize my life so that I have the least fuss and bother, circumstances have a way of blowing those plans into oblivion! The only way to overcome that, when it may come in various degrees of annoyance to full-blown meltdown, is to KNOW and EXPECT the “ups and downs” that life will hand me. It seems inevitable that I'll handle some instances better than others.
When our planning and organization go by the wayside we tend to think that all is lost and we exist for a time in the insanity that God has left us when in reality, He is perhaps, just moving our attention to where we can begin new planning and organization. In the past, I’ve heard pillars of the church (who may have been more decorative than useful) chide, “You shouldn’t make plans! God will order your way!” I wondered how kind is it to make these pontifications to others who are struggling. Wouldn’t it be kinder to validate their struggle and help them “shoulder the load”? Why cause even more angst in the heart of one who is already struggling because they don’t have the faith that those ‘pillars’ possess? We do need a certain amount of planning and organization in order to more effectively shoulder the burdens that we carry for Him. When we come to the passage that speaks of how the camp would break up and who would start moving with the furniture of the tabernacle in their ordered groups we will see how perfect our Father God’s panning and organization is when put to practical use!
The selection process of who would be associated with the priests to carry out this move (yes, pun intended) has a secondary purpose. Notice that they were selected by the “clans of their ancestral houses”. How else would one go about preserving the structure of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel? What about the organization of the tribes around the tabernacle? They were organized by the clans of their ancestral houses. All the sons of Judah stayed together while all the sons of Benjamin had their place and so on down to the last son of Jacob. If this was so important to God way back at the beginning of Israel’s history, then why should it be any less important now? I submit to you that it is every bit as important. One day I felt that I’d made a great discovery. Many have probably come to this conclusion quicker than me, but I quite suddenly realized that the “lost tribes of Israel” are not lost at all! God knows where every single one is who has a drop of Israel blood in their veins. Whether or not the world believes this, and come to that, whether or not how many “Christians” don't believe it, does not negate this truth.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; 17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:15-21.
In the balance of the text for today, is a recap of this momentous selection and organization of the sons of Levi. We have so many of these 'recaps'. It's as if our Father God knows how easily we forget things!
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. 26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Isaiah 43:25-26.
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise stated.
Daily Torah Bites ©
anne@anchorchurchsurfside.com
“Vehalachta Bidrachav—you shall walk in His ways!”
Ten Commandments
1
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6
13 Thou shalt not kill.
7
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8
15 Thou shalt not steal.
9
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10
16 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Ten Commandments
1
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6
13 Thou shalt not kill.
7
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8
15 Thou shalt not steal.
9
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10
16 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.