The sons of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan were given their inheritance by lot from Joshua and Eleazar in Joshua 19. I continue to find it interesting how all these tribes are laid out throughout the promised land. It is easy to just read these chapters and not see anything that stands out because I have no knowledge of the region or cities. In the midst of these verses describing the dividing of the land the sons of Simeon and Dan inheritances stood out. Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Numbers
Stumbling blocks, careful you don’t fall: Joshua 19 and 20
Strength and courage of a promiscuous woman: Joshua 1 and 2
Moses has died and it is time for the Israelites to move to take possession of the promised land. Reading Joshua makes me excited because I am back to reading a narrative story about the people of Israel instead of the law which was detailed thoroughly in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. How will the people honor and follow God’s command to obey Him? Will Joshua be an effective leader and instill dependance upon God? I am looking forward to seeing how these questions and others are answered in Joshua. Continue Reading…
Remember to love God and love people: Deuteronomy Summary
If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would probably leave is a legacy of ambition. But, if my life is motivated by the power of God’s spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my motives, that’s the only time I think we really leave a great legacy.
-Rich Mullins
This is my favorite quote of mine is a unique way to sum up Deuteronomy. What will your legacy be built upon? What is your motivation in life? Why do you do what you do? These and many more questions are answered within Deuteronomy. Continue Reading…
Refuge and strength in Jesus Christ: Deuteronomy 19 and 20
I love how God provides cities of refuge for the people of Israel to run to if they are charged with manslaughter. These cities of refuge were a prefect solution for people to have protection from vigilante justice. In Deuteronomy chapter 19 Moses repeats God’s command that cities of refuge would be spread throughout the land that the Israelites would inherit. These cities of refuge were places where a person could be safe until it was determined whether they were guilty of manslaughter or not. I remember when I first read about cities of refuge in Numbers 35 and 36 how I began to wonder about the stories of people running to a city of refuge. Continue Reading…
Does God test us, stand firm in faith: Deuteronomy 13 and 14
My reading today in Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 14 has left me asking a question: Does God test us? In Deuteronomy 13:3 it states that, “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord you God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” The scripture says that God is testing the Israelites when there is a false prophet luring them away. This was something that I guess thought didn’t happen. I don’t know why I thought that because I honestly don’t have any reason to assume anything about God. Continue Reading…
Signpost to true satisfaction past disbelief: Numbers Summary
What is the book of Numbers all about. It starts with details on how the Israelite camp was arranged and it ends with laws about cities of refuge and inheritance. The journey which started in Exodus with the Israelites leaving captivity in Egypt and then learning to love and worship God in Leviticus heads into growing pains in Numbers. The people of Israel constantly grumbled against God even as he proves Himself faithful time and time again to them. The people consistently looked back to their old life in captivity and longed for what they saw as a better existence. I wonder if this existence was easier because in Egypt they were not constantly reminded of their dependance on God. It is always easier to complain about a problem or circumstance but once deliverance comes it can be more painful to be free than you would have ever realized. I think of drug addicts that may wish to be free from their dependancy on drugs but the road to overcome the addiction is blocked by an insurmountable wall. I think there was an insurmountable wall in the Israelites way. Continue Reading…
Cities of Refuge for the Israelites in Numbers 35 and 36
When the land was divided up between all the tribes of Israel the Levites were given a portion of the cities. Chapter 35 denotes six of these cities as ‘Cities of Refuge’ for anyone who had accidentally killed someone or committed a crime. I wonder if there were ever life or death races to a refuge city. Could justice have been served for the innocent people in any other way? In a society where there were constant life and death struggles between one nation and another it seems like such a different life compared to today. But you still see people today that want to be a vigilante and take the law into their own hands and these cities of refuge would help protect people from such vigilantes. Continue Reading…
Past remembered and future foretold within Numbers 33 and 34
We get a look at the past and future of Israel in Numbers 33 and 34. The past 40 years of the Israelites journeying in the wilderness is chronicled by each spot where the people camped. It is amazing to think of a few million people moving from place to place. I am amazed by the thought of coordinating so many people. Why was it important for the people to remember where they had been? I can only think of my own life and walk with God. There are moments in my life when it is absolutely necessary for me to look back and remember the journey that God is leading me on. In the same way the Israelites needed to be able to look back upon their history to remember their past and the God that they served. Continue Reading…
Living life in radical obedience to God in Numbers 31 and 32
Today I gained a better understanding who Balaam the son of Beor was from the story beginning in chapter 22 and concluding chapters 23 and 24. It was easy to look at Balaam as a good man similar to Melchizedek because Balaam was speaking of God but in Numbers 31 verse 8 we are told that Balaam was killed by the Israelites when they attacked Midian. I had compared Melchizedek to Balaam but they are each very different? Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God where Balaam was an oracle who God used. Melchizedek was given offerings by the Israelites. Balaam lived among the people who worshiped Baal and these same people are the ones who Israel played the harlot with. There is no comparison to these men as I thought because one worship God, Melchizedek, and Balaam didn’t worship God. Continue Reading…
Hold to your word as you sojourn on Earth: Numbers 29 and 30
After reading Numbers 29 and 30 today all I am left with many confusing questions. Why are the sacrifices constantly being restated? Were the people not listening? What’s the point? As I ask these questions I remember what has happened in Numbers 27 where the mantle of leadership is transfered from Moses to Joshua. I am also reminded of Numbers 26 where the census was take again after the 40 years in the wilderness and there the was no one left who was numbered in the wilderness because God said, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” Only Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun were left from those who disbelieved and rebelled. Continue Reading…
