what I remember:
God gives the boundaries of the land that He's giving to Israel.
key verse:
When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders.
about God:
God defined the future nation of Israel quite precisely on the land. I wonder if Israel actually occupied that exact tract as defined, and when.
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.
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.
Number 32
what I remember:
The tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh decide that they'd like to stay where they are now (west of the Jordan?) instead of cross over with the rest of Israel. The land here is good for their livestock. Moses gets really angry at their request, thinking that they're being traitors - like the 10 bad spies. But they're not, and agree to go to battle with their brothers until they all have a home.
key verse:
And Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, everyone who is armed for battle, will cross with you over the Jordan in the presence of the LORD, and the land will be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession.
about God:
God was flexible with Israel. He allowed the three tribes to stay in Gilead while the others went on, provided it didn't mean shirking. He wished them to all stand and fight together.
The tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh decide that they'd like to stay where they are now (west of the Jordan?) instead of cross over with the rest of Israel. The land here is good for their livestock. Moses gets really angry at their request, thinking that they're being traitors - like the 10 bad spies. But they're not, and agree to go to battle with their brothers until they all have a home.
key verse:
And Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, everyone who is armed for battle, will cross with you over the Jordan in the presence of the LORD, and the land will be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession.
about God:
God was flexible with Israel. He allowed the three tribes to stay in Gilead while the others went on, provided it didn't mean shirking. He wished them to all stand and fight together.
Numbers 31
what I remember:
God sends Moses and the Israelites out on Moses' last battle - to punish the Midianites (for not letting the Israelites pass through their land?). They do so, killing off all sorts of people, including Balaam, the prophet that Balak had hired to curse Isreal, but who had blessed Isreal (and who had the talking donkey). They brought the women and kids back to Israel captive, but ended up also killing the women and boys and left only young girls. The loot was divided equally between those who went to battle and those who didn't (note: the battle group was smaller, so they each got more), and a portion of each was God's.
key verse:
"Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people."
about God:
Important to remember that God is just. When he orders revenge, it's the right thing. I don't understand it.
An offense against God's chosen people (Israel) is one that God takes incredibly seriously.
God sends Moses and the Israelites out on Moses' last battle - to punish the Midianites (for not letting the Israelites pass through their land?). They do so, killing off all sorts of people, including Balaam, the prophet that Balak had hired to curse Isreal, but who had blessed Isreal (and who had the talking donkey). They brought the women and kids back to Israel captive, but ended up also killing the women and boys and left only young girls. The loot was divided equally between those who went to battle and those who didn't (note: the battle group was smaller, so they each got more), and a portion of each was God's.
key verse:
"Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people."
about God:
Important to remember that God is just. When he orders revenge, it's the right thing. I don't understand it.
An offense against God's chosen people (Israel) is one that God takes incredibly seriously.
Numbers 30
what I remember:
A vow that a woman takes before God can be nullified by her husband or father (whichever one she lives with). The man, however, must nullify it on the day he learns of it. If he lets it stand, then later changes his mind, he bears her guilt.
key verse:
Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it.
about God:
This seems to me to take special note of women's impulsiveness - God gives her a way out when she's acted impulsively. I'm not going to get in to whether this is un-feminist. God put it here.
A vow that a woman takes before God can be nullified by her husband or father (whichever one she lives with). The man, however, must nullify it on the day he learns of it. If he lets it stand, then later changes his mind, he bears her guilt.
key verse:
Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it.
about God:
This seems to me to take special note of women's impulsiveness - God gives her a way out when she's acted impulsively. I'm not going to get in to whether this is un-feminist. God put it here.
Numbers 29
what I remember:
It seems like the seventh month of the Jewish year was full of celebrations: The first day, the seventh day, and a seven day feast beginning on the fifteenth day. Each feast is spelled out with what the sacrifice should be.
key verse:
You shall present these to the LORD at your appointed times.
about God:
God is meticulous, detailed, and precise. I'm amazed at how many things passages like this spell out. The efficiency and lazy in me wants there to be a bullet-list, with the note: "Repeat on these days". God didn't write the Bible like that, and I know the repetitions have meanings. This was important to God.
It seems like the seventh month of the Jewish year was full of celebrations: The first day, the seventh day, and a seven day feast beginning on the fifteenth day. Each feast is spelled out with what the sacrifice should be.
key verse:
You shall present these to the LORD at your appointed times.
about God:
God is meticulous, detailed, and precise. I'm amazed at how many things passages like this spell out. The efficiency and lazy in me wants there to be a bullet-list, with the note: "Repeat on these days". God didn't write the Bible like that, and I know the repetitions have meanings. This was important to God.
God Sees Me
Sometimes it seems like God has me in a holding pattern. Maybe I need to grow some before He sends the next thing - I'm not sure. But the last several years have felt like just that. I keep doing what I know to do, and slowly growing, but wishing there was maybe a bit more excitement to it.
A few weeks ago, I remarked to a friend that it seemed like God had me entering a new life-phase, a more relational one. God intends for me to be a part of His body not just through serving in the church, but in relationship to His people. It seems like perhaps one of God's major goals in my life is that I learn to really actually love people.
Last night, God did something that astonished both me and my husband in the form of a ministry opportunity for him. This morning I received a message from an acquaintance who'd found this blog, and wants to study the Bible together, through these posts. God is moving. Perhaps this next phase is beginning.
And so, after spending a few years feeling like I'm in a holding pattern, to I feel so closely and definitely God's eye on me. And like Hagar in Genesis, (was she the only one in the Bible to deliberately give God a new name? I kinda think so), I see God today as "God who sees" - El Lahai Roi (or however you spell it).
It's been three years since I've posted here. Maybe it's time to start again. I'd forgotten it existed, but it fits in nicely with where I am. I'm reading the Bible, chronologically, in a year. I'm in Numbers now.
Join me, will you? I'll post the passage (from youVersion.com) that I'm reading, and write my thoughts. I think I'll even open up comments, until I start getting spam or starting arguments anyway. Let's see what God will do.
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