Friday, March 8, 2013

Numbers 33

what I remember:
Moses, as they traveled, took notes.  From his notes, we know all the places that they camped, in order, and some of the main events associated with places.  One place had 12 springs and 70 palm trees.  One place was noted that they didn't have enough water.  Aaron died while they were camped by a mountain.  God warns Israel through Moses to completely destroy the nations they are displacing - in particular all their religious stuff (high places, idols, etc).  If they fail to do so, then those people (the ones Israel is displacing) will become thorns in their sides, and God will punish Israel.

key verse:
And Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their starting places.

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land in which you live.

about God:
We know that the warnings of God in the second half of this chapter come true.  They don't wipe out the others, and indeed, they are still troublesome to Israel.  God had their best interest in mind when he made the commands.  God cares about purity, and it's for our own good.

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