Numbers 15
Just when I thought I was done reading about sacrifices, there is Numbers, Chapter 15. And a good first part of the chapter is all about...sacrifice. At least it doesn't go into too much detail. But still...
Ironically, this morning in our Bible Fellowship, we referred to some of the verses in this very chapter!
One of the main things we talked about was the "sins". The unintentional sins were still called sins. And they still required a sacrifice. But even more, the intentional sins? There was no sacrifice for it. That person just had to be cut off. Turned out. Removed from the group. Ow! I wonder if that made the people think at all before they did anything?
The other thing I found interesting in this chapter is that the Israelites were asked to tie several pieces of thread together on the corner of their clothes. There had to be a blue thread among the threads. Why? To always remind the people of God's commands. Every time they saw it, they would remember.
I wonder if I sewed something like this together and gave it to my children if it would remind them at all what God's commands (which are also our commands) are.
Hmmm, something to try. :)
Next reading: Numbers 16
Reba
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Week 10 Day 4 Spies Among Us
Numbers 13-14
I would apologize for not posting last night but will just say I was wiped out and couldn't do another thing. I have come to the conclusion that I am always going to attempt to post on here each day and read my verses each day but at the same time, I am not going to beat myself up if I can't. Or don't. I don't want to find myself so overwhelmed with "catching up" that I miss the whole point of what I am doing...digging into His word!
In these chapters, Moses sent out a leader from each tribe to check out the "Promised Land". Basically, they were going to spy on the land and the people there and report back upon their return.
They visited the land. Interestingly, the actual description of the visit is very positive (in my mind). They found some fruit (grapes) to take back and carried it with them.
So they finally get back to camp. The Israelites eagerly await their report.
Suddenly things went wrong. Very wrong.
10 of the 12 "spies" reported back everything they saw that was wrong. They admitted it was a great land but that they talked about the "giants" who lived there. They said that the Israelites were mere grasshoppers in their eyes.
Joshua, dear Joshua, tried to explain that with God on their side, who could ever be against them. But in life, it is the negatives that stay with us, not the positives. And that is what happened here...
As tends to happen, bad news travels fast. Suddenly that mob mentality took control. Panic broke out. The people started weeping. They started wailing. They started complaining again about the fact that they had ever left Egypt and slavery.
Joshua and Caleb tried to calm them down.
The people wanted to stone them.
Sigh.
I wish I could say this is a thing of the past but this is human nature. I think we have seen this kind of situation happen way too many times...
Finally God stepped in. He was not a happy camper.
After much discussion with his servant Moses, God rendered his verdict.
The people, other than the two spies who saw things through God's eyes, would die in the desert. No Promised Land for them.
So sad.
Next reading: Numbers 15
I would apologize for not posting last night but will just say I was wiped out and couldn't do another thing. I have come to the conclusion that I am always going to attempt to post on here each day and read my verses each day but at the same time, I am not going to beat myself up if I can't. Or don't. I don't want to find myself so overwhelmed with "catching up" that I miss the whole point of what I am doing...digging into His word!
In these chapters, Moses sent out a leader from each tribe to check out the "Promised Land". Basically, they were going to spy on the land and the people there and report back upon their return.
They visited the land. Interestingly, the actual description of the visit is very positive (in my mind). They found some fruit (grapes) to take back and carried it with them.
So they finally get back to camp. The Israelites eagerly await their report.
Suddenly things went wrong. Very wrong.
10 of the 12 "spies" reported back everything they saw that was wrong. They admitted it was a great land but that they talked about the "giants" who lived there. They said that the Israelites were mere grasshoppers in their eyes.
Joshua, dear Joshua, tried to explain that with God on their side, who could ever be against them. But in life, it is the negatives that stay with us, not the positives. And that is what happened here...
As tends to happen, bad news travels fast. Suddenly that mob mentality took control. Panic broke out. The people started weeping. They started wailing. They started complaining again about the fact that they had ever left Egypt and slavery.
Joshua and Caleb tried to calm them down.
The people wanted to stone them.
Sigh.
I wish I could say this is a thing of the past but this is human nature. I think we have seen this kind of situation happen way too many times...
Finally God stepped in. He was not a happy camper.
After much discussion with his servant Moses, God rendered his verdict.
The people, other than the two spies who saw things through God's eyes, would die in the desert. No Promised Land for them.
So sad.
Next reading: Numbers 15
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Week 10 Day 3 A Piece of Humble Pie
Numbers 12
Yes, two posts in one day. Two. I am still not caught up. But I am more caught up than before. :)
Oh, siblings. You gotta love them. Most of the time.
In this chapter, Moses' siblings begin talking behind his back about the woman he married. They even asked OUT LOUD if God only spoke to Moses. Weren't they there too?
I love the statement in ( ). Moses. He was humble. He was the least proud person on earth at this time. How cool is that???
Anyway, God calls out to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron. He tells them to meet at the Tent. NOW.
I am thinking it would be like when sitting in the office waiting to talk to the principal. Were they nervous at all? If not, they should have been!
God spoke. And He made His point clear. He would talk to others how He wanted to, whether in visions or in dreams. But Moses. Moses was different. He would speak to Moses face to face with him. End of story. Then He ended with this statement that should have had them shaking in their shoes. Or sandals. Or whatever they wore.
"You should be afraid to speak against my servant Moses."
When the cloud lifted, Miriam was white. REALLY white. Like skin disease white.
Aaron, alarmed, called out to Moses. Yes, the same Moses they had been ya ya-ing about. Moses asked God to fix it. And He did. After 7 days.
Still not sure why Aaron didn't get it.
But that is for God to know. And me to wonder about.
Reba
Next reading:
Numbers 13-14 (I think)
Yes, two posts in one day. Two. I am still not caught up. But I am more caught up than before. :)
Oh, siblings. You gotta love them. Most of the time.
In this chapter, Moses' siblings begin talking behind his back about the woman he married. They even asked OUT LOUD if God only spoke to Moses. Weren't they there too?
I love the statement in ( ). Moses. He was humble. He was the least proud person on earth at this time. How cool is that???
Anyway, God calls out to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron. He tells them to meet at the Tent. NOW.
I am thinking it would be like when sitting in the office waiting to talk to the principal. Were they nervous at all? If not, they should have been!
God spoke. And He made His point clear. He would talk to others how He wanted to, whether in visions or in dreams. But Moses. Moses was different. He would speak to Moses face to face with him. End of story. Then He ended with this statement that should have had them shaking in their shoes. Or sandals. Or whatever they wore.
"You should be afraid to speak against my servant Moses."
When the cloud lifted, Miriam was white. REALLY white. Like skin disease white.
Aaron, alarmed, called out to Moses. Yes, the same Moses they had been ya ya-ing about. Moses asked God to fix it. And He did. After 7 days.
Still not sure why Aaron didn't get it.
But that is for God to know. And me to wonder about.
Reba
Next reading:
Numbers 13-14 (I think)
Week 10 Day 2 Woe is Me...
Numbers 11
So the people had been doing pretty good up to this point, moving out like the Lord had told them to do, you know they can't stay that way. Sure enough, after a little time, they started crying, whining, complaining. And God got mad. Really mad. Burning mad. (Literally. A fire burned among the people at the edge of the camp.) The fire didn't stop until the people ran to Moses who prayed to God. Good old Moses.
Speaking of Moses, I love His talk with God in this chapter.
The people were still eating a whole lot of manna. But like most people I know, that choice wasn't enough. They wanted more. We always want more, don't we? They started grumbling and complaining. They wanted meat. Really wanted meat. So much so, it says every family stood at the doorway of their tent crying. Is that a sad scene or what???
Moses, who to me has been a fairly patient man up until this point, finally lost it. He started ranting and raving. He asked God why God brought all this trouble on him. (I can't say I blame him for feeling this way!) He reminded God that he was NOT their father or their mother. He even goes so far as to tell God that if He is going to continue to "do this to him" (Love that phrasing), just kill him now. I would say Moses is at the end of his rope.
Of course, God could have struck Moses down at that point. But He didn't.
He instead had Moses gather 70 elders to help him. Then he told the people to cleanse themselves. They wanted meat. They would get meat.
I have to admit, when I first read this, I thought, "God? You are just giving in? That is so not how I parent." But I hadn't read far enough.
God tells Moses that He will give the people meat. And they will eat it. For a month. Not like optional, but WILL do eat it for a month. They will eat it until it comes out of their nose. That is a lot of meat. In fact, God told Moses that the people would end up hating the meat.
God did what He said. He shared His Spirit with the 70 elders. And they prophesied for that time. (Even a couple who weren't at the Tent at the time)
Then God brought in the meat. Quails.
Lots of quails.
Then the people were happy. They gathered up bushels and bushels of it.
And they eagerly ate it.
And they got sick. Terribly sick. While the meat was in their mouth.
Uh oh.
Next reading:
Numbers 12
So the people had been doing pretty good up to this point, moving out like the Lord had told them to do, you know they can't stay that way. Sure enough, after a little time, they started crying, whining, complaining. And God got mad. Really mad. Burning mad. (Literally. A fire burned among the people at the edge of the camp.) The fire didn't stop until the people ran to Moses who prayed to God. Good old Moses.
Speaking of Moses, I love His talk with God in this chapter.
The people were still eating a whole lot of manna. But like most people I know, that choice wasn't enough. They wanted more. We always want more, don't we? They started grumbling and complaining. They wanted meat. Really wanted meat. So much so, it says every family stood at the doorway of their tent crying. Is that a sad scene or what???
Moses, who to me has been a fairly patient man up until this point, finally lost it. He started ranting and raving. He asked God why God brought all this trouble on him. (I can't say I blame him for feeling this way!) He reminded God that he was NOT their father or their mother. He even goes so far as to tell God that if He is going to continue to "do this to him" (Love that phrasing), just kill him now. I would say Moses is at the end of his rope.
Of course, God could have struck Moses down at that point. But He didn't.
He instead had Moses gather 70 elders to help him. Then he told the people to cleanse themselves. They wanted meat. They would get meat.
I have to admit, when I first read this, I thought, "God? You are just giving in? That is so not how I parent." But I hadn't read far enough.
God tells Moses that He will give the people meat. And they will eat it. For a month. Not like optional, but WILL do eat it for a month. They will eat it until it comes out of their nose. That is a lot of meat. In fact, God told Moses that the people would end up hating the meat.
God did what He said. He shared His Spirit with the 70 elders. And they prophesied for that time. (Even a couple who weren't at the Tent at the time)
Then God brought in the meat. Quails.
Lots of quails.
Then the people were happy. They gathered up bushels and bushels of it.
And they eagerly ate it.
And they got sick. Terribly sick. While the meat was in their mouth.
Uh oh.
Next reading:
Numbers 12
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Week 10 Day 1 Numbers 10 Deserted
Oops! I was supposed to read part of Numbers 9 and all of Numbers 10. Except I did all of Numbers 9 in the last post. Well, I guess the good news is that I may catch up on a missing day tomorrow. Maybe...
So...
Numbers 10
The first part of this chapter was about the silver trumpets God told Moses to make. He told him what to make and how to use them. I like that the trumpets were to not only be used for "bad" reasons (like being under attack) but also for good reasons, like happy times or feasts. Since there was no Twitter, I am thinking the trumpets were the only way to spread some news among all of these Israelite people!
Oh, I like that people could just call on the trumpet and God would hear them. of course, I would guess God, being all knowing and all, would already know they were about to call...
The next part of the chapter talks about the order the Israelites are to move out of their camp when God tells them to. They had a plan to follow.
Sure enough, the day came that God moved the cloud meaning the people needed to move too.
Here is a great thing.
They followed directions! They did it just as God had asked.
It gives me hope for the four children I have living at my house. Surely if that many people wandering in the desert can do this, my kids can too. Right?
One last thing I found interesting: The people were moved from one desert to another. I wonder if the people were a little disappointed? They kept hearing about this Promised Land. Instead they ended up in the desert (a new one at that) again...
Tomorrow's Reading:
Numbers 11
So...
Numbers 10
The first part of this chapter was about the silver trumpets God told Moses to make. He told him what to make and how to use them. I like that the trumpets were to not only be used for "bad" reasons (like being under attack) but also for good reasons, like happy times or feasts. Since there was no Twitter, I am thinking the trumpets were the only way to spread some news among all of these Israelite people!
Oh, I like that people could just call on the trumpet and God would hear them. of course, I would guess God, being all knowing and all, would already know they were about to call...
The next part of the chapter talks about the order the Israelites are to move out of their camp when God tells them to. They had a plan to follow.
Sure enough, the day came that God moved the cloud meaning the people needed to move too.
Here is a great thing.
They followed directions! They did it just as God had asked.
It gives me hope for the four children I have living at my house. Surely if that many people wandering in the desert can do this, my kids can too. Right?
One last thing I found interesting: The people were moved from one desert to another. I wonder if the people were a little disappointed? They kept hearing about this Promised Land. Instead they ended up in the desert (a new one at that) again...
Tomorrow's Reading:
Numbers 11
Monday, May 2, 2011
Week 9 Day 7 Follow that Cloud
Numbers 7-9
Chapter 7
The Holy Tent
Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent. Then he poured olive oil over it. (Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE olive oil???)
Then it was time to present each tribe to the altar.
The tribes brought needed materials like the oxen and the carts that would be needed to move the Holy Tent by the Levites.
They also brought forth sacrifices. Each day, a leader from one of the 12 tribes brought forth a sacrifice to the altar. Yes, there is that "sacrifice" word...did you hear my stomach turn?
The neatest part of this chapter though was in the last two verses. Moses went to the Meeting Tent to talk to God, and he heard God talking to instead! The voice was coming from over the winged creatures above the lid on the Ark of the Agreement. How cool would that be? To hear God? An audible God?
Chapter 8:
It was finally time for the Levites to being their tasks in the Holy Tent. But first...they had to be clean. So they had to have the cleansing waters sprinkled on them, shave themselves (it doesn't just faces...but bodies!), then wash their clothes (which makes me think clothes watching didn't happy regularly). Then there would of course be more sacrifice involved. Ugh. I can't escape the sacrifice.
One thing that stuck out to me in this chapter was again, the Bible mentions that while the firstborns of Egypt were taken by God, He set apart the firstborn of Israel for Himself. A substitution...reminds me of one who hung on the cross once upon a time. And then there is a further "substitution" when the Levites, separated from the other tribes in their service.
The other interesting detail was the job requirement for the Levite males. They had to be at least 25 years old but at age 50 were required to retire.
Chapter 9
The first part of this chapter was about celebrating Passover.
The second part of this chapter was about the cloud above the tent. In the daylight, it was a cloud. By night, it looked like fire. When the Lord was ready for the Israelites to move on to a new location, the cloud moved. When He wanted them to stay for a while, the cloud stayed
In some ways, I wish life still worked like that. When God wants me to move on, the "cloud" could move. And when I was in the right place, God would let me now that too...
Wouldn't it be nice?
Reba
Chapter 7
The Holy Tent
Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent. Then he poured olive oil over it. (Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE olive oil???)
Then it was time to present each tribe to the altar.
The tribes brought needed materials like the oxen and the carts that would be needed to move the Holy Tent by the Levites.
They also brought forth sacrifices. Each day, a leader from one of the 12 tribes brought forth a sacrifice to the altar. Yes, there is that "sacrifice" word...did you hear my stomach turn?
The neatest part of this chapter though was in the last two verses. Moses went to the Meeting Tent to talk to God, and he heard God talking to instead! The voice was coming from over the winged creatures above the lid on the Ark of the Agreement. How cool would that be? To hear God? An audible God?
Chapter 8:
It was finally time for the Levites to being their tasks in the Holy Tent. But first...they had to be clean. So they had to have the cleansing waters sprinkled on them, shave themselves (it doesn't just faces...but bodies!), then wash their clothes (which makes me think clothes watching didn't happy regularly). Then there would of course be more sacrifice involved. Ugh. I can't escape the sacrifice.
One thing that stuck out to me in this chapter was again, the Bible mentions that while the firstborns of Egypt were taken by God, He set apart the firstborn of Israel for Himself. A substitution...reminds me of one who hung on the cross once upon a time. And then there is a further "substitution" when the Levites, separated from the other tribes in their service.
The other interesting detail was the job requirement for the Levite males. They had to be at least 25 years old but at age 50 were required to retire.
Chapter 9
The first part of this chapter was about celebrating Passover.
The second part of this chapter was about the cloud above the tent. In the daylight, it was a cloud. By night, it looked like fire. When the Lord was ready for the Israelites to move on to a new location, the cloud moved. When He wanted them to stay for a while, the cloud stayed
In some ways, I wish life still worked like that. When God wants me to move on, the "cloud" could move. And when I was in the right place, God would let me now that too...
Wouldn't it be nice?
Reba
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Week 9 Day 6 Bless You
Numbers 6
The first part of the chapter is about a special group of people called the Nazirites. This was a group of people who promised themselves to God in a special way. It didn't matter if it was male or female. The promise was what set them apart. If they chose to do that, then there were specific rules to follow as far as what they ate/drank (nothing from a vine, not even a raisin!) and wore their hair (uncut).
But it is the second part of the chapter that caught my attention. It was a blessing that the priests would bless the Israelites with in verses 24-26
"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord show you his kindness
and have mercy on you.
May the Lord watch over you
and give you peace."
What a beautiful blessing.
Hope you have a blessed day!
Next reading:
Number 7-9
Reba
The first part of the chapter is about a special group of people called the Nazirites. This was a group of people who promised themselves to God in a special way. It didn't matter if it was male or female. The promise was what set them apart. If they chose to do that, then there were specific rules to follow as far as what they ate/drank (nothing from a vine, not even a raisin!) and wore their hair (uncut).
But it is the second part of the chapter that caught my attention. It was a blessing that the priests would bless the Israelites with in verses 24-26
"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord show you his kindness
and have mercy on you.
May the Lord watch over you
and give you peace."
What a beautiful blessing.
Hope you have a blessed day!
Next reading:
Number 7-9
Reba
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