Numbers 20:16

We live in a diverse society with a history of ethnic conflict. As the early church discovered, the gospel has enormous implications for how we relate to others from different backgrounds. These readings offer perspective on an issue that has been a struggle throughout history and insight for our response today. Commentary is excerpted from the Modern Life Study Bible.

This is the third part of a reading plan that works through every verse in the Old Testament once, every verse in the New Testament three times, and the Psalms eight times over three years following the lectionary pattern of reading in the Psalms, Old Testament, and New Testament each day.

In the book of Numbers, God demonstrates himself as a pillar of fire and a pillar of smoke, faithfully leading his often rebellious people through the wilderness. Although the faithless wilderness generation was barred from entering the promised land, God was raising up a generation to lead the people from their wandering into the conquest of the land of Canaan.