the ruminations of aaron eberline

How easily it is to fail to see God for who He truly is. The Israelites consistently grumbled against God. In adversity what do you do? Is God’s anger kindled against you when you lack faith to trust in His provision? Do you think that God can do all things one moment and then you try to solve all your problems your way? In Numbers chapter 11 the people were grumbling to God and he burned up the outskirts of the camp. How amazing is that. God doesn’t change so when we grumble He is not pleased. I would imagine that the people would stop grumbling but they started up again complaining about the food that God was providing. How crazy is that! God was supplying what they needed but they were not thankful for that. The lie that freedom was found in their bondage in Egypt and not in God had poisoned the peoples thoughts so they didn’t see the truth that their freedom was through and in God. Read more

I wonder what the energy level of the Israelites was like on the day that Moses had finished setting up the Tabernacle? Was there an awe and reverence of God? Were the millions of men, women, and children pressing in to see just a glimpse of the Tabernacle? In Numbers chapters 7 we get a little of the feeling of what took place when the Tabernacle was completed. What blessing God bestowed upon Moses. Moses was within the Tabernacle anointing and consecrating the walls, furnishings, and utensils. Moses was declaring that the Tabernacle and all with in it was Holy and God’s. Read more

I just finished a study and it was suggested that I read Hosea chapter 1 because it is a great expression of God’s grace and love. I cannot deny that God expresses His love in a very real and tangible way. How often we are driven to seek out sin and fulfill the desires of our wicked ways. How often do we forsake God’s commands and laws? Even though Israel had strayed from God they were never forsaken by Him. God will restore His people and it will only be by His power. We will never be able to make a way for ourselves our of our condition. It is only God who  can save us. Read more

So I have a few questions about Numbers 5. What about the men who were having these adulterous relationships with the women? Could a woman accuse her husband? I think it is interesting that when a husband was jealous and thought his wife may have been unfaithful she would go to the priest and she would have to swear before God of her innocence. I would not take it lightly to take an oath before God. It would scare me to no end. Wouldn’t you rather confess your sin. The penalty for adultery death by stoning. But if you lied before God and lived under a curse wouldn’t that be worse? Today I think christians often take too light of a view when it comes to sin. I think of Paul when he talks about grace in Romans chapter 6. Shall we continue to sin so that grace can abound more? Grace is what frees us from bondage to sin but it does not give liberty to indulge in sinful behavior.
Read more

Numbers 3 and 4 are the two chapters that I read today in my journey to blog as I read my way through the Bible two chapters at a time. In Numbers 3 and 4 God is giving continued instruction to the people of Israel. Specifically God instructs Moses and Aaron to take the Levites as the priesthood in service to God. The Levites were divided by the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons and all the generations of these households were in service to the Tabernacle of God. The sons of Gershon were instructed to manage the the tent of meeting and the hangings in the court within the Tabernacle. The sons of Kohath were instructed to minister within the sanctuary with the ark, table, and lamp stand. The sons of Merari were instructed to manage the framework of the Tabernacle.

Read more