numbers 14-36

--old testament understanding--

this will be an overview of chapters 14-36. one of my favorite verses in numbers is found in this fourteenth chapter, v 18, "the Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression...." the second half of the verse speaks of His justice as well as His lovingkindness..."He will by no means clear the guilty...." and this chapter gives account of the israelites' consequences as a result of their grumbling...that they (meaning that generation) would not be permitted to enter the promised land. chapter 15 records laws given for their entrance into canaan, laws for the "sojourner," or the one who is traveling through...and then, there is a record of a man who broke the sabbath and was stoned. at the conclusion of this chapter, we see the practice of sewing a blue tassel on the corners of their robes as a reminder "so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God" (v 40). in the next chapter, chap 16, three of the levites challenged the leadership of moses and aaron (foolishly)...and this is the account of the earth swallowing these men and all that they had. when the people grumbled about this...still distrusting moses and aaron, there was a plague in which thousands lost their lives. in chapter 17, we read how God responded to the people's questioning and grumblings...He initiated a test to display whom God had chosen as leader. rods were collected from each of the 12 tribes, and aaron's rod (representing the levites) became miraculously distinguished among them...as buds and blossoms had grown up out of it. chapters 18-20 record duties of the levites, offering of the first fruits, and the inheritance of the levites...the ordinance of the red heifer and other laws (chap 19)...and then, the record of miriam's death, the account of water from meribah (water from a rock!), and the record of aaron's death at the end of chapter 20. the Lord helped the israelites conquer the armies of arad that had come against them...He delivered them...recorded in chap 21. and then, (this phrase baffles me...), "the people spoke against God and moses...." (after all they had seen/all they had experienced...they would dare to speak against God and against moses...crazy....) the discipline/justice of God was accomplished this time through a plague of serpents. many died when bitten by these serpents. moses interceded once again for the people and was instructed to craft a bronze serpent that would provide remedy. (see john 3:14-15!!!! Jesus...our ultimate remedy!....) then, God delivered the people again against the amorites and heshbon.

chapter 22 provides the account of balak and balaam. i love balaam's resolve, "i could not do anything either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God." (v 18)...(i want this kind of obedience in my life!)...and we see his obedience later in the chapter in the midst of the very cool account of the talking donkey!...when he realized there had been an angel standing in his way, he said, "now then, if it is displeasing to you, i will turn back" (v 34). and in chapters 23 and 24, balaam prophecies according to the blessing of the Lord for israel. another quotable proclamation of balaam, "whatever the Lord speaks, that i must do..." (i just want to have this commitment to obedience...and i think it's great that we have this example of balaam's steadfastness.)

this is getting lengthy...but we are covering two-thirds of this book....:) i will try to be brief but hit the highlights...

in chapter 25, we see the sin of the israelites as they "joined themselves to baal" by playing the harlot with the daughters of moab. so, moses and the judges of israel were grieving about this, and one of the israelites brought a midianite woman (representing this culture of sin) to his relatives in their sight. one of those weeping at the tent of meeting (phineas, aaron's grandson) acted in justice against this, putting to death this man and the woman...and God was pleased that "he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of israel" (v 13). chapter 26 records a census taken...601,730 sons of israel + 23,000 levites. chapter 27 records the law of inheritance and the commissioning of joshua. chapters 28-30 record the laws for offerings, offerings of the seventh month, and the law of vows (this emphasis really made me think about my commitments/vows made/carefulness with this). we read about the defeat of midian in chap 31. chapter 32 records a decision made for reuben and gad to settle in gilead (outside of canaan) because of their large numbers of livestock...with the provision that they would fight for their brothers before settling down. chapter 33 gives an overview and summary of the journey from egypt to jordan, giving account of the israelites' movement/where they camped/etc....34 records instructions for apportioning canaan. chapter 35 is an account of cities set aside for the levites and cities of refuge. and...chapter 36 records instructions of inheritance/including instructions for daughters to "marry within the family of the tribe of their father."

--personal thoughts--

as i have been writing, seated at scott's computer this morning, my children have been in and out of my bedroom...with questions...good mornings. aiden spent a good 20 min with his head on my lap...and...i took a break from writing to address a question of my oldest son, tsion. they (he and his eight-yr-old brother) have been grounded from movies/entertainment with any kind/any measure of violence (because of behaviors that needed to be addressed). so, tsion was attempting to negotiate this punishment this morning. and we talked. we talked about God and the israelites. we talked about the justice of God. and...how God did not excuse sin. i am so thankful (how do i express this gratitude?) for the bible. for His Word to us and for us. and i love that we saw often how God responded to moses' intercession for the israelites...He often withheld His hand when He saw how hearts had been changed. as far as discipine is concerned...i just want to have a heart after God's heart. Lord, i ask for discernment to know when the punishment has been effective/or needs to be curbed/when mercy needs to be shown.... i want this reverence in me to remain...and Your Word/Your character in these pages to be written on my heart as i make decisions for my children.

praying today that God is speaking to your hearts and giving discernment about the concerns of your days...through His Word...as we move into deuteronomy. :)