Week 10, Numbers 7 to 24

Sorry this is a week late. I make notes in a spiral notebook and then post my thoughts. The notebook is MIA, I am bummed. I gave up and began using a new notebook, so I should find the lost notebook tonight after work...

In chapter 7, I find the various items which are offered to the Lord quite interesting. So different than what we offer today.

Chap. 8 - the Levites are set apart from the rest of Israel. They are consecrated to the Lord and are to live a holy life; just as Christians are set apart, we are in the world but not of the world. Can people see the difference in us? We are not to be self righteous or legalistic, but a loving, holy people. We are a part of the Body of Christ, not The Holier Than Thou Club.

Chap. 9 - The Israelites would encamp and set out according to where the cloud was located. They had an outward and visible sign of the Lord's will for them. Part of me thinks wow, what if we had that, the other part knows even with the glory cloud, we would still sin, still get it wrong, etc.

Chap. 10 - The Lord tells the people what the sounds of the trumpets mean, they knew if the leaders were being called, if the entire community was being called, if they were going into battle. Just think, if we are alive the day Jesus returns, we will hear the trumpet and know what it means.

Chap. 11 - No matter how much the Lord does for us, we have human moments and grumble and complain just as the Israelites did. It is an easy habit for humans to develop. Search your heart and make sure you are not a murmurer or complainer, so fall into it in the disguise of always being right.

In verses 10-12, we have the people saying they would rather be slaves in Egypt. It's hard for us to imagine. Many of us have remained in a bad situation in life because it's familiar. Humans are humans, it is hard to imagine being of the mindset being a slave in Egypt beats the glory cloud of the Lord and having our meals provided by Him.

Chap. 12. - Moses interceded on Miriam's behalf. She spent 7 days outside the camp, the people did not move on till she was brought back. I think her experience would be very humbling.

Chap. 13 - Moses followed the Lord's instructions and sent men into the Promised Land to explore. Caleb wanted to take possession, other men did not because the people of Canaan were of great size. How many times do we know God has promised us something and we look around and see problems of great size and do not follow through with what the Lord has for us?

Chap. 14 - 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

Moses and Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb were wise men, they knew what to do, get on their faces and pray. The key phrase is: If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us. It's all about pleasing Him and letting Him lead us.

Chapters 15-19 contain material which I think describes humans - fear, pride, doing it our way, mumbling, complaining, etc. I am so glad we drink of the Living Water.

Chap 20: 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! 4 Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"

Again the people preferred bondage, again Moses and Aaron fell face down before the Lord. How often are we steps from the Promised Land and miss it because our faith wavers?

Aaron dies...he has been a part of our readings for so long, it's like saying goodbye to a friend. We see a man who in his humanness messsed up years ago with the golden calf incident become a mighty man of God who interceeded for his people and really served the Lord. We get to see a man become a spiritual giant...

Chap. 21- The Lord gives the Canaanites over to Israel, but in verses 4 & 5 we come to the What's Wrong with Those People Category for 100.00 Alex:

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, [a] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

The people repented quickly this time and Moses interceeded for them. To me this is a lesson on not only our own behavior but possibly how long we may need to interceed on behalf of a lost loved one or over a situation.

Chap. 22- 24, we read the account of Balaam and his donkey, Balak being clueless as to the things of the Lord. Balaam's donkey filled Balaam in on the Lord's will, Balak seemed genuinely astonished Balaam would not curse the people.

I would not be telling the truth if I did not admit I am glad we are nearing the end of Numbers, but in reading the book - I am reminded how easily we can ignore God and fixate on what we think the problem is.