Numbers 3-5
Numbers 3
This chapter explains the tribe of Levi and their connection to the priesthood. I have to admit, I was a little confused knowing Aaron was the head priest. I kept trying to figure out what he had to do with Levi's tribe. But this chapter cleared it all up.
God appointed Levi's tribe to be His servants through the priesthood. They were responsible for the Holy Tent, moving all of the supplies, etc.
It was interesting to note that while all of the other tribes only recorded their males 20 years and older, the Levites counted all firstborn sons ages one month and older.
It was also interesting to note that God "claimed" the Levites. "The Levites are mine. I am the LORD." He "took" the firstborn of the Levites rather than the firstborn of the other Israelites, and even their firstborn animas became "His". I had never noticed that before. A substitution. Reminds me of a story I read later in the New Testament...
Chapter 4
In this chapter, God lays out specific roles for different families of the Levites.
The Kohathites were responsible for the most holy things in the Holy Tent. However, only Aaron's family could actually look upon these things and tend to them. Once they had done that, the Kohathites transported these things. Carefully. If they touched the most holy things, they would die. Talk about job stress!
The Gershonites had a job at the Meeting Tent...they had to carry the curtains. LOTS of curtains which sounded really heavy. I am guessing that is why they only used the men between the ages of 30 and 50.
The Merarite family also had a big job. Their job was carrying the frames, the crossbars, the posts, etc. What a workout that must have been!
I am beginning to see why this book is called numbers. There are a lot of them in there...
Chapter 5
We are reviewing some of the rules in chapter 5 like about cleanliness and paying back those we have wronged.
One of the things that stuck out to me in this chapter was that God said when we wrong another person, we are actually sinning against God. I think we forget that sometimes. We are quick (well, sometimes) to tell others sorry but do we do the same for God? We sinned against Him with our treatment of the other person...
The chapter ends with some statements about a jealous husband and what he should do if he suspects his wife is having an affair. Very interesting. For some reason, I don't think I have ever read these verses before tonight. And even after reading them tonight, I am not sure what to think...
Things that make you go hmmm...
More tomorrow (as in Sunday since I am finishing this Saturday night). I know, I know, I am a day behind. I have been out of pocket.
Reba
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Week 9 Days 3 and 4 Count on It
Introduction (in my Devotional Bible) and Numbers 1-2
According to the introduction, this chapter is about the Israelites wandering in the desert. What I had forgotten was that if the Israelites had walked straight to the Promised Land from Egypt, it would have taken only 11 days. Instead, problems arose. Mistakes were made. Ears did not listen. And for 38 years, the Israelites wandered. Aimlessly.
Chapter 1-
No sacrificed animals mentioned. Lots of numbers though. The family of each tribe of Israel was recorded. Males, ages 20 and above (wonder why ours is 18?) were recorded for military purposes.
I won't repeat all of the numbers since you can easily look them up yourself (if there is even anyone out there?). I did note that the tribe of Judah had the most listed at 76,500 while the tribe of Manasseh totaled only 32, 200 men. (I am a bit curious if they round up/down to the nearest fifty.) The total number of men for all of the tribes together? 603,550. That doesn't even include the women and children. No wonder they needed so many rules. That could easily be mass chaos with that many people!
I also learned that the tribe of Levi was not included in this count because their jobs involved the setting up, transport, and taking down of the Holy Tent.
Chapter 2-
This was basically the "map" of how the tribes would be situated in the camp, as well as the order they would head out when it was time to move on. Again, I won't reiterate all of the information. I did notice there were five "divisions" with the tribe of Levi (the priests) in the middle of the pack.
Oh, and the families had their own flags, so the people had to stay with their group.
I would love to spend one day to see what life was like for them. Did the families intermingle at all? What did the kids do all day? How about the women? The men?
Inquiring minds want to know...
Tomorrow's reading: Number 3-5
According to the introduction, this chapter is about the Israelites wandering in the desert. What I had forgotten was that if the Israelites had walked straight to the Promised Land from Egypt, it would have taken only 11 days. Instead, problems arose. Mistakes were made. Ears did not listen. And for 38 years, the Israelites wandered. Aimlessly.
Chapter 1-
No sacrificed animals mentioned. Lots of numbers though. The family of each tribe of Israel was recorded. Males, ages 20 and above (wonder why ours is 18?) were recorded for military purposes.
I won't repeat all of the numbers since you can easily look them up yourself (if there is even anyone out there?). I did note that the tribe of Judah had the most listed at 76,500 while the tribe of Manasseh totaled only 32, 200 men. (I am a bit curious if they round up/down to the nearest fifty.) The total number of men for all of the tribes together? 603,550. That doesn't even include the women and children. No wonder they needed so many rules. That could easily be mass chaos with that many people!
I also learned that the tribe of Levi was not included in this count because their jobs involved the setting up, transport, and taking down of the Holy Tent.
Chapter 2-
This was basically the "map" of how the tribes would be situated in the camp, as well as the order they would head out when it was time to move on. Again, I won't reiterate all of the information. I did notice there were five "divisions" with the tribe of Levi (the priests) in the middle of the pack.
Oh, and the families had their own flags, so the people had to stay with their group.
I would love to spend one day to see what life was like for them. Did the families intermingle at all? What did the kids do all day? How about the women? The men?
Inquiring minds want to know...
Tomorrow's reading: Number 3-5
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Week 9 Day 2 The Pros and the Cons...
Leviticus 26-27
I have to confess...I am a little excited that Leviticus is almost over. I am ready to not talk about slaughtering animals. At the same time, I know it is important to read these things and remember the whole point of Jesus' death on the cross. I also know that Numbers isn't always fun to read either. But either way, I must read.
Having said that, chapter 26 may be one of my favorites yet.
And not just because there are not details about killing animals.
I just love the way it reads. So many cool word pictures. Very clear language on what the people should do. My kind of verses...
First of all, I love how God compares what will happen to the people if they LISTEN to him and follow His (many) rules versus not listening and obeying.
Let's think about this:
Obey= good rains, abundant crops, safety and peace, many children, and kindness from God
Disobey/turn away= disease, defeat by their enemies, wild animals, crops not growing, hunger
Which would you choose?
Some of my favorite word pictures:
One of the punishments that God will dole out for disobedience is that He will make the sky like iron and the land like bronze...meaning no rain will fall nor will anything grow.
Those who turn away from God will lose courage in the land of their enemies. He said that even the people would be "frightened by the sound of a leaf being blown by the wind..."
Aren't those neat? Precise?
My favorite part is the end of 26. God tells Moses that if the people who turned away confessed their sins and took their punishment, He would remember the land, remember the people, and remember the promises He made.
Hope.
I cling to it, don't you?
Chapter 27
More rules, specifically about gifts and values of animals, land, etc.
The part that stuck out most from this chapter is that this is where the whole tithing thing began. 10 percent.
That is about all I can do tonight. I am wiped out.
I am betting tomorrow is the first 2 or 3 chapters of Numbers.
I guess we will see!
Reba
I have to confess...I am a little excited that Leviticus is almost over. I am ready to not talk about slaughtering animals. At the same time, I know it is important to read these things and remember the whole point of Jesus' death on the cross. I also know that Numbers isn't always fun to read either. But either way, I must read.
Having said that, chapter 26 may be one of my favorites yet.
And not just because there are not details about killing animals.
I just love the way it reads. So many cool word pictures. Very clear language on what the people should do. My kind of verses...
First of all, I love how God compares what will happen to the people if they LISTEN to him and follow His (many) rules versus not listening and obeying.
Let's think about this:
Obey= good rains, abundant crops, safety and peace, many children, and kindness from God
Disobey/turn away= disease, defeat by their enemies, wild animals, crops not growing, hunger
Which would you choose?
Some of my favorite word pictures:
One of the punishments that God will dole out for disobedience is that He will make the sky like iron and the land like bronze...meaning no rain will fall nor will anything grow.
Those who turn away from God will lose courage in the land of their enemies. He said that even the people would be "frightened by the sound of a leaf being blown by the wind..."
Aren't those neat? Precise?
My favorite part is the end of 26. God tells Moses that if the people who turned away confessed their sins and took their punishment, He would remember the land, remember the people, and remember the promises He made.
Hope.
I cling to it, don't you?
Chapter 27
More rules, specifically about gifts and values of animals, land, etc.
The part that stuck out most from this chapter is that this is where the whole tithing thing began. 10 percent.
That is about all I can do tonight. I am wiped out.
I am betting tomorrow is the first 2 or 3 chapters of Numbers.
I guess we will see!
Reba
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Week 9 Day 1 An Eye for an Eye
Leviticus 23-25
Yes, I realize I am behind.
I have no excuses other than I was really tired last night. I am pretty tired tonight too but determined to do this.
So...
Chapter 23
This chapter lists all of the festivals appointed by God. I would love to have a calendar where this is all spelled out for me. I am so visual. I do know there were several.
The Sabbath
The Passover
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The First of the Harvest
The Feast of Weeks
The Feast of Trumpets
The Day of Cleansing
The Feast of Shelters
Chapter 24
The title of this "An Eye for an Eye" is one of the more often quoted verses from the Bible, especially when referring to crime or retaliation.
And it all stemmed from the story of a man who cursed God during an argument with another man.
The people held him until they heard what God's plans were for this man (it wasn't a good outcome for him).
This is when God delivers the "Eye for an Eye" speech.
It is one of those things I don't completely understand. Honestly, reading this chapter made me a bit nauseated. I am not big on violence. Ask my husband. I am VERY limited in what I will watch on tv or in movies. So I cannot fully understand. It is just one of those times I have to believe He is God. And that is all I need to know.
Chapter 25
This chapter sums up a few topics.
The Year of Rest for the Land (every seventh year, letting the land rest
The Year of Jubilee (every 50th year)- a year of freedom
Property Laws and Rules for Slave Owners
I am fading fast (fatigued) so I better end for now. Tomorrow I finish up Leviticus!
Reba
Yes, I realize I am behind.
I have no excuses other than I was really tired last night. I am pretty tired tonight too but determined to do this.
So...
Chapter 23
This chapter lists all of the festivals appointed by God. I would love to have a calendar where this is all spelled out for me. I am so visual. I do know there were several.
The Sabbath
The Passover
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The First of the Harvest
The Feast of Weeks
The Feast of Trumpets
The Day of Cleansing
The Feast of Shelters
Chapter 24
The title of this "An Eye for an Eye" is one of the more often quoted verses from the Bible, especially when referring to crime or retaliation.
And it all stemmed from the story of a man who cursed God during an argument with another man.
The people held him until they heard what God's plans were for this man (it wasn't a good outcome for him).
This is when God delivers the "Eye for an Eye" speech.
It is one of those things I don't completely understand. Honestly, reading this chapter made me a bit nauseated. I am not big on violence. Ask my husband. I am VERY limited in what I will watch on tv or in movies. So I cannot fully understand. It is just one of those times I have to believe He is God. And that is all I need to know.
Chapter 25
This chapter sums up a few topics.
The Year of Rest for the Land (every seventh year, letting the land rest
The Year of Jubilee (every 50th year)- a year of freedom
Property Laws and Rules for Slave Owners
I am fading fast (fatigued) so I better end for now. Tomorrow I finish up Leviticus!
Reba
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Week 8 Day 7 Holy, Holy, Holy
Leviticus 21-22
Most of this reading selection was about the expectations for a priest. Wow. There are a lot. The guidelines list their appearance expectations, requirements for marrying, strict rules for family, even the mourning process. The priests were a people set apart. Their lives had to look much different than the lives of the common people. Why? Because God is holy. He is a holy God. Since the priests are the ones who are communicating with God, they must be as holy as they can be.
The last part of the selection was about the animal sacrifices.
I have to admit, I am eagerly awaiting a selection without animal sacrifices.
Ugh.
More soon!
Next: Leviticus 23-25
Most of this reading selection was about the expectations for a priest. Wow. There are a lot. The guidelines list their appearance expectations, requirements for marrying, strict rules for family, even the mourning process. The priests were a people set apart. Their lives had to look much different than the lives of the common people. Why? Because God is holy. He is a holy God. Since the priests are the ones who are communicating with God, they must be as holy as they can be.
The last part of the selection was about the animal sacrifices.
I have to admit, I am eagerly awaiting a selection without animal sacrifices.
Ugh.
More soon!
Next: Leviticus 23-25
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Week 8 Day 6 Can You Hear Me Now?
Leviticus 18-20
Guess what these chapters are about?
More rules/laws.
Yes, they keep on coming.
This makes me think the Israelites had to have it all spelled out for them.
You know when you look at your blowdryer and it tells you not to use it in the bathtub. Or the warning on the refrigerator advises to not carry it on your back? You know why those are there? Because somebody did it. Scary huh?
That is what I find myself thinking as I read these chapters.
These laws had to be written because someone had obviously done those things.
Scary but true...
Chapter 18
This whole chapter other than one verse about not sacrificing children all has to do with...well...um...marital relations with people they aren't married to (mainly family). I won't go into much detail. I just noticed that there were a lot of "Not _____(this person) in your family" or "Not ________(that person) in your family" which again tells me that there had probably already been problems and this had to be clarified.
Chapter 19
This chapter has a lot of laws on many different subjects. Several are repeated such as not eating anything with blood in it.
The one part that really stuck out to me in this chapter was in verses 33-34a.
"Do not mistreat foreigners living in your country, but treat them just as you treat your own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners one time in Egypt..."
While I know that our need for the law was erased, wiped clean, with the blood of Jesus, I am not so sure these words have to be thrown out completely.
I just think about our country.
We (the "settlers") were and are foreigners in a land that belonged to others. Yet we just came in and took over. Even worse, the whole foreigner thing is one of the most debated topics in our country. Don't believe me? Read the Letters to the Editor sometime. It makes my stomach churn about as much as the sacrifice descriptions do.
I just think we need reminders even today...we need to love others. Does it really matter where they come from?
Chapter 20
More sin talk except this time consequences are laid out.
The one thing repeated in this chapter is to be holy. Be a holy people. Why? Because He is God. He has made them holy.
Even as they entered new lands, the people were to be set apart. They weren't to do as the Romans did, but they were to follow God's laws.
'Nuff said.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
Leviticus 21-22
Guess what these chapters are about?
More rules/laws.
Yes, they keep on coming.
This makes me think the Israelites had to have it all spelled out for them.
You know when you look at your blowdryer and it tells you not to use it in the bathtub. Or the warning on the refrigerator advises to not carry it on your back? You know why those are there? Because somebody did it. Scary huh?
That is what I find myself thinking as I read these chapters.
These laws had to be written because someone had obviously done those things.
Scary but true...
Chapter 18
This whole chapter other than one verse about not sacrificing children all has to do with...well...um...marital relations with people they aren't married to (mainly family). I won't go into much detail. I just noticed that there were a lot of "Not _____(this person) in your family" or "Not ________(that person) in your family" which again tells me that there had probably already been problems and this had to be clarified.
Chapter 19
This chapter has a lot of laws on many different subjects. Several are repeated such as not eating anything with blood in it.
The one part that really stuck out to me in this chapter was in verses 33-34a.
"Do not mistreat foreigners living in your country, but treat them just as you treat your own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners one time in Egypt..."
While I know that our need for the law was erased, wiped clean, with the blood of Jesus, I am not so sure these words have to be thrown out completely.
I just think about our country.
We (the "settlers") were and are foreigners in a land that belonged to others. Yet we just came in and took over. Even worse, the whole foreigner thing is one of the most debated topics in our country. Don't believe me? Read the Letters to the Editor sometime. It makes my stomach churn about as much as the sacrifice descriptions do.
I just think we need reminders even today...we need to love others. Does it really matter where they come from?
Chapter 20
More sin talk except this time consequences are laid out.
The one thing repeated in this chapter is to be holy. Be a holy people. Why? Because He is God. He has made them holy.
Even as they entered new lands, the people were to be set apart. They weren't to do as the Romans did, but they were to follow God's laws.
'Nuff said.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
Leviticus 21-22
Friday, April 22, 2011
Week 8 Day 5 Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Leviticus 16-17
Leviticus 16
Oh, wow. I am not sure I would have made it as a priest. If you know me at all, you know how stressed I get. I worry a lot about whether I am doing the right thing, what if I am forgetting a step in a process, what if I say something wrong, etc. I am just thinking, if I had been Aaron, I would have been in a state of stress all of the time.
Those priests had SO many rules, so many procedures. And they had to be done just the right way.
Doing them the wrong way could result in death.
It really does make me tired thinking about it.
The one thing I was most intrigued about in this chapter was the statement made in verse 29. The people were supposed to have a day of rest (NO work) on the tenth day of the seventh month. This was the day the priest would make them clean so they could belong to the LORD. What confuses me a bit is that it says in verse 31 that this law will continue forever.
That forever is throwing me off a bit.
I have always thought (based on what I have read in the Bible) that the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ took away the need for the law.
And for that I am thankful.
But that isn't what this chapter says about THIS law.
Forever.
So are we still supposed to be doing this?
We don't need priests anymore to make us clean.
Hmmm, things that make you go "hmmmm".
(I really need to befriend a Bible scholar to explain this stuff to me...)
Chapter 17
More dead animals. There are a lot of those in this book.
Have I mentioned how much dead animals make my stomach churn? I can kill a fly but that is about as much as I am capable of. I don't kill spiders (they help us) or even mice as much as they make me scream. I would have been in trouble had I lived in the wilderness with the Israelites.
The people in the camps had a lot of rules regarding just the killing (and later disposal) of the animals.
Doing anything different would make a person clean or unclean.
Ugh.
My stomach is turning.
The one part I found interesting (and yet stomach turning all at the same time) was the whole section on the blood.
I have found myself wondering a time or two why the shedding of blood was used to cleanse the people. I mean, I think about blood, I think about a mess. Ever have a child get a cut on their forehead? Red everywhere. How is that cleansing? I think of cleansing as pure and white.
Well, my answer to "Why blood?" is found in this chapter.
Blood=Life.
Blood removes sins because it is life.
There you have it!
More soon,
Reba
Leviticus 16
Oh, wow. I am not sure I would have made it as a priest. If you know me at all, you know how stressed I get. I worry a lot about whether I am doing the right thing, what if I am forgetting a step in a process, what if I say something wrong, etc. I am just thinking, if I had been Aaron, I would have been in a state of stress all of the time.
Those priests had SO many rules, so many procedures. And they had to be done just the right way.
Doing them the wrong way could result in death.
It really does make me tired thinking about it.
The one thing I was most intrigued about in this chapter was the statement made in verse 29. The people were supposed to have a day of rest (NO work) on the tenth day of the seventh month. This was the day the priest would make them clean so they could belong to the LORD. What confuses me a bit is that it says in verse 31 that this law will continue forever.
That forever is throwing me off a bit.
I have always thought (based on what I have read in the Bible) that the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ took away the need for the law.
And for that I am thankful.
But that isn't what this chapter says about THIS law.
Forever.
So are we still supposed to be doing this?
We don't need priests anymore to make us clean.
Hmmm, things that make you go "hmmmm".
(I really need to befriend a Bible scholar to explain this stuff to me...)
Chapter 17
More dead animals. There are a lot of those in this book.
Have I mentioned how much dead animals make my stomach churn? I can kill a fly but that is about as much as I am capable of. I don't kill spiders (they help us) or even mice as much as they make me scream. I would have been in trouble had I lived in the wilderness with the Israelites.
The people in the camps had a lot of rules regarding just the killing (and later disposal) of the animals.
Doing anything different would make a person clean or unclean.
Ugh.
My stomach is turning.
The one part I found interesting (and yet stomach turning all at the same time) was the whole section on the blood.
I have found myself wondering a time or two why the shedding of blood was used to cleanse the people. I mean, I think about blood, I think about a mess. Ever have a child get a cut on their forehead? Red everywhere. How is that cleansing? I think of cleansing as pure and white.
Well, my answer to "Why blood?" is found in this chapter.
Blood=Life.
Blood removes sins because it is life.
There you have it!
More soon,
Reba
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