Today's Reading
Numbers. Quail provided the meat and also brought God's anger. Why? Miriam's leprosy came as a result of rebellion, not against Moses, but against God. Why do you think she was made leprous and not Aaron? How do you think she felt during that week outside the camp, when the entire nation knew she was there because of sin? Twelve spies brought back a good sample and a bad report. Their fear laid the foundation for Israel to spend forty years in that wilderness.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
February 27, Day 58
Today's Reading
Numbers. Among the subjects covered today is the way the people moved or paused according to the direction of God. What does that teach us in our calendar-driven culture? I certainly am guilty of living more by the clock and the calendar and it's hard to keep in balance. Every time I go to the DR I am confronted with a culture that starts when the people arrive.
Notice the instructions about using trumpets. Anyone who has watched a movie like Return of the King on the big screen can't help but feel a sense of awe at this Biblical word picture. I was also struck by Moses' plea to his brother-in-law for help. Most likely, Moses thought their wilderness journey would be short.
Numbers. Among the subjects covered today is the way the people moved or paused according to the direction of God. What does that teach us in our calendar-driven culture? I certainly am guilty of living more by the clock and the calendar and it's hard to keep in balance. Every time I go to the DR I am confronted with a culture that starts when the people arrive.
Notice the instructions about using trumpets. Anyone who has watched a movie like Return of the King on the big screen can't help but feel a sense of awe at this Biblical word picture. I was also struck by Moses' plea to his brother-in-law for help. Most likely, Moses thought their wilderness journey would be short.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
February 26, Day 57
Numbers. Each tribe brought the same dedication offering as the others. Yet, each was listed and made a significant part of the dedication. As a parent, most of you have had the experience of watching your child sing, quote, dance, spell or otherwise stand up in front of a crowd and present the offering of their work. It didn't matter if ten other kids did the exact same thing before your child; you felt that sense of pride as he or she showed their stuff! Perhaps you can feel that sense of pride you felt back when you were the child making the presentation. With that mental image, think about God and each tribe as these offerings were brought.
Each was significant!
Friday, February 25, 2011
February 25, Day 56
Today's Reading
Numbers . Our reading today includes a story about a strange custom to test a wife and tell her jealous husband for certain if she was faithful. I wonder just how many times a couple put that test to work? What if she was unfaithful and her husband wanted to forgive her? Would he risk the possibility that she would never be able to bear children again? What if she was guilty? Would she risk the curse or just confess? Just thinkin'!
Then we read about vows of dedication called Nazirite vows. Think of vows more familiar to us like vows of silence.
Numbers . Our reading today includes a story about a strange custom to test a wife and tell her jealous husband for certain if she was faithful. I wonder just how many times a couple put that test to work? What if she was unfaithful and her husband wanted to forgive her? Would he risk the possibility that she would never be able to bear children again? What if she was guilty? Would she risk the curse or just confess? Just thinkin'!
Then we read about vows of dedication called Nazirite vows. Think of vows more familiar to us like vows of silence.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
February 24, Day 55
Today's Reading
Numbers. At this time in their history, Israel was nomadic. When they moved from place to place, great care was taken to protect and preserve the Tabernacle and its contents. It hit me today how "unfair" it seems to us that God gave specific duties to each of the clans. Most of us have grown up with the idea that we can do anything we choose with our lives. When they were born, they were pre-assigned responsibilities and couldn't do something different. Actually, that is consistent with much of the world throughout history.
Those of us who have grown up with the freedom to make many of our own life decisions struggle to imagine living like this unless we look at it another way. When we begin to know our life's purpose, it is invigoratng. We could choose to run from it like Jonah or embrace it like Isaiah ("Here am I, send me!"),but knowing our purpose changes everything.
Numbers. At this time in their history, Israel was nomadic. When they moved from place to place, great care was taken to protect and preserve the Tabernacle and its contents. It hit me today how "unfair" it seems to us that God gave specific duties to each of the clans. Most of us have grown up with the idea that we can do anything we choose with our lives. When they were born, they were pre-assigned responsibilities and couldn't do something different. Actually, that is consistent with much of the world throughout history.
Those of us who have grown up with the freedom to make many of our own life decisions struggle to imagine living like this unless we look at it another way. When we begin to know our life's purpose, it is invigoratng. We could choose to run from it like Jonah or embrace it like Isaiah ("Here am I, send me!"),but knowing our purpose changes everything.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February 23, Day 54
Numbers is about, well, numbers! Everything and everyone counts and Numbers kept track. In the midst of the tallying are a few great, memorable stories from Israel's history.
For you with a background in military strategy, do you notice any significance to the size of the tribes at the different points of the compass, as listed today? The largest number was on the east side, which was always to be the entrance to the Tabernacle.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
February 22, Day 53
Leviticus. Like Israel, our salvation is purely through God's grace and mercy. However, the New Testament (Galatians 6:7-8) tells us that we reap what we plant. Even with this detailed description of what would happen should the people choose disobedience, they turned against God. Much of the rest of the Old Testament is the history which was accurately described in this passage. It's amazing, when you think of it.
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