From Deuteronomy 31-34:
1. Keep singing - Wow! That is a long song. And all the Israelites will learn and remember it? Impressive. I guess this gives credibility to the idea that it is easier to remember something when it is in song form.
2. In Deuteronomy 32:17 it states that they sacrificed to demons. I have always felt that there was some power with the false gods that are worshiped around the world. It is demons that give these false gods their power. After all, Satan only cares that people do not believe in the one true God. He does not care what else one believes in, as long as it is not the truth.
3. It is nice to know that the Lord cares for his servants and will take vengance on those who slaughter his servants.
4. It is interesting that Moses specifically commanded the Israelites to learn the words to the song so that they could command their children regarding these things. It is very important to impress upon one's children the importance of following God.
5. I don't know that I would want to be like Moses, because he was told by God when he would die. I think it would give me a heart-attack just thinking about it! I believe most people are this way. They say that most people who die by falling from a very high height die of a heart-attack before they ever hit the ground. Same idea, I guess.
6. It is interesting that in chapter 33 Moses is referred to as Moses the man of God.
7. King over Jeshurun? What is this referring to?
8. Moses laid his hands on Joshua so that Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom. Nice! I wish I had that spirit.
9. The last two verses about Moses in Deuteronomy really extol Moses as exceptional.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sunday: Don't touch the secret things
From Deuteronomy 28-30:
1. I notice that it states in chapter 28 the stipulation for blessings as "if you fully obey...and carefully follow". That means that it was not to be just a casual kind of 'if I get around to it' or 'I'll try' type of thing.
2. He specifically said in Deuteronomy 28:14 not to turn to other gods. I know that Israel did do that. I wonder how God would view the US in our turning away from God as a nation. We have not chosen to worship other gods in the same sense as Israel, but the nation is now more obsessed with money/wealth and politics than with God.
3. God was very clear that he did not want the Israelites to turn away from Him. It is interesting that the list of curses is far longer than the list of blessings. The blessings sound wonderful, but the curses sound absolutely horrifying.
4. Don't touch the secret things - I wonder what the meaning is of chapter 30 verse 29. What are the secret things? Does this refer to mysteries not yet revealed, like the coming of the Christ and how he will appear, etc.?
5. What must a man do to have the kind of covenant that the Israelites had? If only they had obeyed. Though it does state that when they are again willing to be faithful that God will again bless them.
1. I notice that it states in chapter 28 the stipulation for blessings as "if you fully obey...and carefully follow". That means that it was not to be just a casual kind of 'if I get around to it' or 'I'll try' type of thing.
2. He specifically said in Deuteronomy 28:14 not to turn to other gods. I know that Israel did do that. I wonder how God would view the US in our turning away from God as a nation. We have not chosen to worship other gods in the same sense as Israel, but the nation is now more obsessed with money/wealth and politics than with God.
3. God was very clear that he did not want the Israelites to turn away from Him. It is interesting that the list of curses is far longer than the list of blessings. The blessings sound wonderful, but the curses sound absolutely horrifying.
4. Don't touch the secret things - I wonder what the meaning is of chapter 30 verse 29. What are the secret things? Does this refer to mysteries not yet revealed, like the coming of the Christ and how he will appear, etc.?
5. What must a man do to have the kind of covenant that the Israelites had? If only they had obeyed. Though it does state that when they are again willing to be faithful that God will again bless them.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Saturday: Don't Forget!
From Deuteronomy 25-27:
1. I am not sure that there is anywhere in the bible that tells about how the Amalekites cut off all who were lagging behind in the Israelite group when they were traveling to the promised land. I wonder what happened.
2. It explains more clearly in chapter 26 about the year of tithe. It says it is the third year, and that the tithe is to go to the Levite, the fatherless, the widow and the alien.
3. Deuteronomy 27:5 talks about building an altar to God on Mount Ebal. It is interesting that God tells the Israelites specifically not to use any iron tool on these stones. I believe this was so that the altar would not become a snare and cause the Israelites to worship it more than God himself.
4. Don't Forget! - It is interesting also how the Israelites are split and required to pronounce the blessings on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal. God wants to make sure that they understand and remember the covenant rules.
1. I am not sure that there is anywhere in the bible that tells about how the Amalekites cut off all who were lagging behind in the Israelite group when they were traveling to the promised land. I wonder what happened.
2. It explains more clearly in chapter 26 about the year of tithe. It says it is the third year, and that the tithe is to go to the Levite, the fatherless, the widow and the alien.
3. Deuteronomy 27:5 talks about building an altar to God on Mount Ebal. It is interesting that God tells the Israelites specifically not to use any iron tool on these stones. I believe this was so that the altar would not become a snare and cause the Israelites to worship it more than God himself.
4. Don't Forget! - It is interesting also how the Israelites are split and required to pronounce the blessings on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal. God wants to make sure that they understand and remember the covenant rules.
Friday: You're practically married
From Deuteronomy 22-24:
1. Deuteronomy 22:5 states that men should not wear women's clothing.
2. I like the start of chapter 22 because it is very clear about needing to care for your neighbor's things if they should somehow end up on your property.
3. I did not realize that you should build a parapet around your roof according to the laws of God given to Israel.
4. I wonder how you would prove virginity nowadays. This could be problematic today, since women tend to be a whole lot more active and physical in their activities.
5. You're practically married - If a girl is pledged to be married and she cheats on her fiance, both she and the guy are to be stoned. I guess getting engaged in God's eyes is practically marriage. I know when I was dating, I always used to think that it was okay to try and date someone as long as they did not have a ring.
6. If you want to marry a foreigner, marry an Edomite or an Egyptian. Whatever you do, do not marry an Ammonite or Moabite. (Of course, this is if you were following the old testament law.)
7. If you offer to loan something to someone, do not follow them into their house when they go to get the pledge. Let them bring it out to you.
1. Deuteronomy 22:5 states that men should not wear women's clothing.
2. I like the start of chapter 22 because it is very clear about needing to care for your neighbor's things if they should somehow end up on your property.
3. I did not realize that you should build a parapet around your roof according to the laws of God given to Israel.
4. I wonder how you would prove virginity nowadays. This could be problematic today, since women tend to be a whole lot more active and physical in their activities.
5. You're practically married - If a girl is pledged to be married and she cheats on her fiance, both she and the guy are to be stoned. I guess getting engaged in God's eyes is practically marriage. I know when I was dating, I always used to think that it was okay to try and date someone as long as they did not have a ring.
6. If you want to marry a foreigner, marry an Edomite or an Egyptian. Whatever you do, do not marry an Ammonite or Moabite. (Of course, this is if you were following the old testament law.)
7. If you offer to loan something to someone, do not follow them into their house when they go to get the pledge. Let them bring it out to you.
Thursday: I'm afraid. Can I go home?
From Deuteronomy 19-21:
1. It would sometimes be nice if our law courts had the same rules as the Israelites had. It seems that many times we see stories on the news of some person in jail that was falsely accused of something that he/she did and there was not a single witness. Then there are other accounts of situations where many witnesses saw what happened and yet the person gets to walk free. It does not appear that the laws God set up would allow that to happen very easily.
2. I did not realize that the cities of refuge were to be three as a base number, and then they were to increase this number to six whenever God increased their land.
3. I'm afraid. Can I go home? - In chapter 20:5-9 it states that all of the men that go to war must be asked first if they have unfinished business and also see if they are afraid. If one of these things is true, they can opt out of fighting. I wonder if this means that they have to inquire before each and every battle. I mean, I am sure that sometimes these guys must have been afraid, right? I wonder if they set it up similar to our military, where it is a purely voluntary force of fighting men.
4. I did not realize that they were to offer forced labor to the cities that they fought before they fought them. This was an offer that was only offered to cities that were far away from the land promised to the Israelites. The cities that were in the area where the promised land was God commanded the Israelites to fully destroy.
5. Interesting! God commanded the Israelites not to cut down any fruit trees that were around the cities that they besieged, so that later they could harvest the fruit.
6. Unsolved mysteries were handled a little bit differently in God's plan. The elders of the town closest must take an oath before God that they had nothing to do with the murder of the person and had seen nothing. When they made this oath they were to wash their hands over a heifer whose neck was broken there in that area.
7. No one would want to be considered a stubborn and rebellious son under the laws that God gave. Otherwise that would be instant death penalty.
1. It would sometimes be nice if our law courts had the same rules as the Israelites had. It seems that many times we see stories on the news of some person in jail that was falsely accused of something that he/she did and there was not a single witness. Then there are other accounts of situations where many witnesses saw what happened and yet the person gets to walk free. It does not appear that the laws God set up would allow that to happen very easily.
2. I did not realize that the cities of refuge were to be three as a base number, and then they were to increase this number to six whenever God increased their land.
3. I'm afraid. Can I go home? - In chapter 20:5-9 it states that all of the men that go to war must be asked first if they have unfinished business and also see if they are afraid. If one of these things is true, they can opt out of fighting. I wonder if this means that they have to inquire before each and every battle. I mean, I am sure that sometimes these guys must have been afraid, right? I wonder if they set it up similar to our military, where it is a purely voluntary force of fighting men.
4. I did not realize that they were to offer forced labor to the cities that they fought before they fought them. This was an offer that was only offered to cities that were far away from the land promised to the Israelites. The cities that were in the area where the promised land was God commanded the Israelites to fully destroy.
5. Interesting! God commanded the Israelites not to cut down any fruit trees that were around the cities that they besieged, so that later they could harvest the fruit.
6. Unsolved mysteries were handled a little bit differently in God's plan. The elders of the town closest must take an oath before God that they had nothing to do with the murder of the person and had seen nothing. When they made this oath they were to wash their hands over a heifer whose neck was broken there in that area.
7. No one would want to be considered a stubborn and rebellious son under the laws that God gave. Otherwise that would be instant death penalty.
Wednesday: The Month of Abib
From Deuteronomy 16-18:
1. The month of Abib - According to Wikipedia (yes, I know it is not always 110% accurate, but it does do pretty well in most things I have seen) gives a list of the Hebrew months. Very interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar
2. Someone once used a reference to the Passover feast like what we find in Deuteronomy 16 to indicate that God likes barbeques. If that were true, does that mean that God would go to Burger King and not McDonalds? It puts a whole new spin on "What Would Jesus Do".
3. It is interesting that in Deuteronomy God calls for all (including the fatherless and widow) to celebrate the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. He does not mention the alien in the portion of the passage about the Passover.
4. I remember about the command in chapter 17 about the king not taking many wives, but I did not realize that God also commanded them not to acquire great numbers of horses for themselves. It also says he must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Boy, I guess Solomon might have been really wise, but he sure messed up on these.
5. I wonder why it says that the Levites are to have no inheritance among the Israelites, and yet I know that some areas were assigned to the Levites as their lands - certain cities and such. This is from Numbers 35. It must not have been considered an inheritance.
1. The month of Abib - According to Wikipedia (yes, I know it is not always 110% accurate, but it does do pretty well in most things I have seen) gives a list of the Hebrew months. Very interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar
2. Someone once used a reference to the Passover feast like what we find in Deuteronomy 16 to indicate that God likes barbeques. If that were true, does that mean that God would go to Burger King and not McDonalds? It puts a whole new spin on "What Would Jesus Do".
3. It is interesting that in Deuteronomy God calls for all (including the fatherless and widow) to celebrate the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. He does not mention the alien in the portion of the passage about the Passover.
4. I remember about the command in chapter 17 about the king not taking many wives, but I did not realize that God also commanded them not to acquire great numbers of horses for themselves. It also says he must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Boy, I guess Solomon might have been really wise, but he sure messed up on these.
5. I wonder why it says that the Levites are to have no inheritance among the Israelites, and yet I know that some areas were assigned to the Levites as their lands - certain cities and such. This is from Numbers 35. It must not have been considered an inheritance.
Tuesday: Where did we get that idea?
From Deuteronomy 13-15:
1. God was serious about following Him. If you led the people in following other Gods - death to you. It is too bad that the Israelites did not follow this command. Otherwise there would be no straying from God in the land of Israel.
2. I did not realize that God commanded the Israelites to destroy the towns of those Israelite cities which turned away from God to worship other gods. Not only this, but he also said that they should not try to rebuild the town later.
3. Where did we get that idea? - It is interesting to find that our credit system works similar to the Israelite system in that after seven years your poor credit record is erased. I wonder where we got the idea of seven years?
4. God said that if the Israelites would fully obey Him, there should not be any poor among them (Deuteronomy 15:4-5). I believe that in any nation this is the case. If people work hard and follow God's word closely, God will bless them. Many of the poor that I see today are poor due to the wrong life choices: smoking and drinking excessively, getting into drugs, gambling, and some for just being lazy. I would like to think that they would not be in these situations for nearly as long (or for their whole lives) if they would choose to cling to God and His word. (This is my opinion, but I think that you could argue that the bible holds this up.) However, if one chooses to be poor because they are more interested in other, more valuable things, such as following God like missionaries would - this is different. And there are also a group of fatherless and widows who will be poor because of unfortunate cirumstances. Although I think that possibly one could even argue that some of these cases were because the parents or husband was sinning greatly so God took them. (This is not always the case, but in some cases...)
5. Later God says that there will always be poor among the Israelites. Upon a closer look, I think actually God is saying that although He will bless the Israelites, that some foreigners may live among them who will not be blessed in such a manner as the Israelites are.
6. Why would people ever want to shave the front of their heads for the dead? Sounds weird to me.
7. God commanded that every third year that the people should take their tithes and store them in their towns for the Levites, the widows and the fatherless so that they would have something to eat.
1. God was serious about following Him. If you led the people in following other Gods - death to you. It is too bad that the Israelites did not follow this command. Otherwise there would be no straying from God in the land of Israel.
2. I did not realize that God commanded the Israelites to destroy the towns of those Israelite cities which turned away from God to worship other gods. Not only this, but he also said that they should not try to rebuild the town later.
3. Where did we get that idea? - It is interesting to find that our credit system works similar to the Israelite system in that after seven years your poor credit record is erased. I wonder where we got the idea of seven years?
4. God said that if the Israelites would fully obey Him, there should not be any poor among them (Deuteronomy 15:4-5). I believe that in any nation this is the case. If people work hard and follow God's word closely, God will bless them. Many of the poor that I see today are poor due to the wrong life choices: smoking and drinking excessively, getting into drugs, gambling, and some for just being lazy. I would like to think that they would not be in these situations for nearly as long (or for their whole lives) if they would choose to cling to God and His word. (This is my opinion, but I think that you could argue that the bible holds this up.) However, if one chooses to be poor because they are more interested in other, more valuable things, such as following God like missionaries would - this is different. And there are also a group of fatherless and widows who will be poor because of unfortunate cirumstances. Although I think that possibly one could even argue that some of these cases were because the parents or husband was sinning greatly so God took them. (This is not always the case, but in some cases...)
5. Later God says that there will always be poor among the Israelites. Upon a closer look, I think actually God is saying that although He will bless the Israelites, that some foreigners may live among them who will not be blessed in such a manner as the Israelites are.
6. Why would people ever want to shave the front of their heads for the dead? Sounds weird to me.
7. God commanded that every third year that the people should take their tithes and store them in their towns for the Levites, the widows and the fatherless so that they would have something to eat.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday: Do you think that might be important?
From Deuteronomy 10-12:
1. I wonder why it states that the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers in Deuteronomy 10:9. I mean, I know that they were given cities by God, so that would seem to me to be an inheritance of theirs. Unless, of course, God is saying that those cities were not the Levites' cities, but rather cities God is loaning to them to use.
2. In Deuteronomy 10:16 God asks the Israelites to circumcise their hearts. I wonder why the religious leaders in Jesus' day could not understand Him when He told them about spiritual things. It is obvious even here that God is more interested in the spiritual aspect than the physical aspect. But to them I suppose it may have been a great mystery.
3. God commands the Israelites to love the aliens among them. I never realized that.
4. Having had a garden in years past, I understand what God is talking about regarding rain. The Israelites had come from Egypt where they had to water things by hand or irrigation, but now they are going into a land where God will provide rain as long as they are faithful to Him. I have planted gardens in years where it was really dry, and I got very little, if any crop.
5. Do you think that might be important? - Deuteronomy 11:18-21 state the same things that Deuteronomy 6:6-9 say. If you want to know what is emphasized in Deuteronomy, I think that repetition should be a pretty good indication.
1. I wonder why it states that the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers in Deuteronomy 10:9. I mean, I know that they were given cities by God, so that would seem to me to be an inheritance of theirs. Unless, of course, God is saying that those cities were not the Levites' cities, but rather cities God is loaning to them to use.
2. In Deuteronomy 10:16 God asks the Israelites to circumcise their hearts. I wonder why the religious leaders in Jesus' day could not understand Him when He told them about spiritual things. It is obvious even here that God is more interested in the spiritual aspect than the physical aspect. But to them I suppose it may have been a great mystery.
3. God commands the Israelites to love the aliens among them. I never realized that.
4. Having had a garden in years past, I understand what God is talking about regarding rain. The Israelites had come from Egypt where they had to water things by hand or irrigation, but now they are going into a land where God will provide rain as long as they are faithful to Him. I have planted gardens in years where it was really dry, and I got very little, if any crop.
5. Do you think that might be important? - Deuteronomy 11:18-21 state the same things that Deuteronomy 6:6-9 say. If you want to know what is emphasized in Deuteronomy, I think that repetition should be a pretty good indication.
Sunday: I am so hungry!
From Deuteronomy 7-9:
1. Once God decided that the seven nations living on the land the Israelites were to inherit from God were evil, he did not spare anyone. He commanded them in no uncertain terms to wipe out all of the people and not have pity on them. This was obviously because none of the people would acknowledge Him as the one and only true God. But there was Rahab who did acknowledge Him, and he spared her.
2. It is interesting that there is irrefuteable evidence in Deuteronomy 7:8 that the reason that Israel was the nation that God favored was due to His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not due to their faithfulness or any other thing.
3. Deuteronomy 7:9 is another great verse for memory.
4. Deuteronomy 8:3 is where it first talks about not living on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
5. In Deuteronomy 9:4-6 is where it very clearly states that the reason that God is giving the land that the Israelites are about to take to them is because of the wickedness of the nations living in it at the time. It has nothing to do with the Israelites being very righteous or anything like that. In fact, it even states that the Israelites are a stiff-necked people.
6. I am so hungry! - It just dawned on me that Moses went up Mount Horeb and did not eat or drink forty days or nights, just the same as Jesus did before starting his ministry. That must be some sort of a miracle, because I have trouble believing that without divine help someone could go forty days without water. Perhaps they can, but I have never heard of it before (other than these instances in the bible).
7. Moses really sacrificed of himself to save the Israelite people after they sinned against God by making a golden calf. Moses states that he fasted forty days just as he had done on the mountain to persuade God that He should not destroy the Israelites.
1. Once God decided that the seven nations living on the land the Israelites were to inherit from God were evil, he did not spare anyone. He commanded them in no uncertain terms to wipe out all of the people and not have pity on them. This was obviously because none of the people would acknowledge Him as the one and only true God. But there was Rahab who did acknowledge Him, and he spared her.
2. It is interesting that there is irrefuteable evidence in Deuteronomy 7:8 that the reason that Israel was the nation that God favored was due to His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not due to their faithfulness or any other thing.
3. Deuteronomy 7:9 is another great verse for memory.
4. Deuteronomy 8:3 is where it first talks about not living on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
5. In Deuteronomy 9:4-6 is where it very clearly states that the reason that God is giving the land that the Israelites are about to take to them is because of the wickedness of the nations living in it at the time. It has nothing to do with the Israelites being very righteous or anything like that. In fact, it even states that the Israelites are a stiff-necked people.
6. I am so hungry! - It just dawned on me that Moses went up Mount Horeb and did not eat or drink forty days or nights, just the same as Jesus did before starting his ministry. That must be some sort of a miracle, because I have trouble believing that without divine help someone could go forty days without water. Perhaps they can, but I have never heard of it before (other than these instances in the bible).
7. Moses really sacrificed of himself to save the Israelite people after they sinned against God by making a golden calf. Moses states that he fasted forty days just as he had done on the mountain to persuade God that He should not destroy the Israelites.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Saturday: You are so wise!
From Deuteronomy 4-6:
1. You are so wise! - When you observe God's laws carefully, it will show your wisdom to those around you. See Deuteronomy 4:6 for evidence.
2. The Israelites were instructed to be very careful to observe these commands and to also teach them to their children and even grandchildren.
3. In Deuteronomy 4:15-19 it shows clearly that God is not pleased with any kind of symbolic image of Him. He wants us to worship in Spirit and in Truth, worshiping only Him, without any graven image.
4. If you fear God and keep his commands, it will go well with you and your children forever. He also said to walk in the way that the Lord has commanded you so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days. It sounds like a good deal to me. I believe that the offer still stands today. If we follow God, he will bless us. However, there is nowadays the element of persecution that was absent from the Israelite nation at the time, since they were all supposed to be following Him.
5. Deuteronomy 6:5 is one of my favorite verses. It is also stated in a similar way in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30. But the entire paragraph after that verse emphasizes how the Israelites were to keep God's word in the center of their lives and follow it religiously.
1. You are so wise! - When you observe God's laws carefully, it will show your wisdom to those around you. See Deuteronomy 4:6 for evidence.
2. The Israelites were instructed to be very careful to observe these commands and to also teach them to their children and even grandchildren.
3. In Deuteronomy 4:15-19 it shows clearly that God is not pleased with any kind of symbolic image of Him. He wants us to worship in Spirit and in Truth, worshiping only Him, without any graven image.
4. If you fear God and keep his commands, it will go well with you and your children forever. He also said to walk in the way that the Lord has commanded you so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days. It sounds like a good deal to me. I believe that the offer still stands today. If we follow God, he will bless us. However, there is nowadays the element of persecution that was absent from the Israelite nation at the time, since they were all supposed to be following Him.
5. Deuteronomy 6:5 is one of my favorite verses. It is also stated in a similar way in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30. But the entire paragraph after that verse emphasizes how the Israelites were to keep God's word in the center of their lives and follow it religiously.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Friday: Me or You?
From Deuteronomy 1-3:
1. It is interesting that Deuteronomy starts out from the first person viewpoint of Moses. I was just reflecting upon what I have read so far and noticed that Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy all cover the same area of time. They all cover from one aspect or another the covenant that God made with the Israelite nation. It is very similar to the four gospels which cover four different angles of Jesus' life and the new covenant that God instituted through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
2. It is interesting to see how God commanded the Israelites to be very careful not to go to war against the Moabites, since he had given them the land that they occupied. He specifically told them that he WILL NOT give them (the Israelites) any of the Moabite land. It tells me that God will do what he feels is right, and he is not a respecter of persons OR nations.
3. Me or You? - I wonder why in Deuteronomy 2:30 that Moses, after talking in the first person, says "...the Lord your God has made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands,..." What does the "your" refer to? It also uses this "you" reference in Deuteronomy 2:37.
4. It appears that when the "you" is in there (this is a guess, by the way) that it may be in the context that Moses is giving this to Joshua, and in this case the "you" could refer to Joshua.
1. It is interesting that Deuteronomy starts out from the first person viewpoint of Moses. I was just reflecting upon what I have read so far and noticed that Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy all cover the same area of time. They all cover from one aspect or another the covenant that God made with the Israelite nation. It is very similar to the four gospels which cover four different angles of Jesus' life and the new covenant that God instituted through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
2. It is interesting to see how God commanded the Israelites to be very careful not to go to war against the Moabites, since he had given them the land that they occupied. He specifically told them that he WILL NOT give them (the Israelites) any of the Moabite land. It tells me that God will do what he feels is right, and he is not a respecter of persons OR nations.
3. Me or You? - I wonder why in Deuteronomy 2:30 that Moses, after talking in the first person, says "...the Lord your God has made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands,..." What does the "your" refer to? It also uses this "you" reference in Deuteronomy 2:37.
4. It appears that when the "you" is in there (this is a guess, by the way) that it may be in the context that Moses is giving this to Joshua, and in this case the "you" could refer to Joshua.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Thursday: An iron rice bowl
From Numbers 35-36:
1. An iron rice bowl - Even the towns among the Israelites had a portion that was allotted to the Levites. They had to work very hard, but God sure did make sure that they were taken care of. Kind of like being a government employee. (Except that the Levites had to work really hard. And I am sure God takes better care of his employees than the government does of theirs.)
2. The six towns of refuge is a setup I have always been very interested in. I think it is a novel idea to solve the problems that arise from having people falsely accused of crimes, or people who have inadvertently caused someone else's death, etc.
3. I did not realize this, but in the Israelite law there was not to be any negotiation on the death penalty for murder. See Numbers 35:31-32.
4. I wonder what the meaning is of Numbers 35:33. Does that mean the land would not be productive, or does it mean in a spiritual sense only? Could there have been a physical correlation?
5. All Israelite daughters who inherited land were to marry within their clans in order to avoid problems with land inheritance. I did not realize this.
1. An iron rice bowl - Even the towns among the Israelites had a portion that was allotted to the Levites. They had to work very hard, but God sure did make sure that they were taken care of. Kind of like being a government employee. (Except that the Levites had to work really hard. And I am sure God takes better care of his employees than the government does of theirs.)
2. The six towns of refuge is a setup I have always been very interested in. I think it is a novel idea to solve the problems that arise from having people falsely accused of crimes, or people who have inadvertently caused someone else's death, etc.
3. I did not realize this, but in the Israelite law there was not to be any negotiation on the death penalty for murder. See Numbers 35:31-32.
4. I wonder what the meaning is of Numbers 35:33. Does that mean the land would not be productive, or does it mean in a spiritual sense only? Could there have been a physical correlation?
5. All Israelite daughters who inherited land were to marry within their clans in order to avoid problems with land inheritance. I did not realize this.
Wednesday: Could this be the reason?
From Numbers 32-34:
1. I wonder if the Reubenites and Gadites really intended to go with the rest of the Israelites over the Jordan, or if it was just in response to Moses condemning their actions and reminding them of what happened to the generation before them. And after making this choice, they must have realized that they were isolating themselves from the rest of the nation, making them more vulnerable to attack and occupation by any surrounding hostile nations. Sometimes it is best to wait for the Lord's timing. What may seem good to do at the time may end up being the wrong choice because God has other plans in the future that are better.
2. Could this be the reason? - I also wonder if part of the reason that the Israelites did not run all of the nations out of Canaan was because they had plenty of room already. After all, two tribes were living on the other side of the Jordan. And the Israelites were commanded to drive out all the inhabitants in Numbers 33:55.
3. It is interesting that it says in Numbers 33:4 that the Lord brought judgment on (the Egyptians') gods. In reality, he obviously was not punishing the inanimate objects - idols - that they considered gods, but rather the Egyptians for worshiping these false gods.
4. I wonder why, in the recording of the Israelite journey by stages, it specifically calls out the fact that the Canaanite king of Arad heard that the Israelites were coming. What was the point of mentioning this?
1. I wonder if the Reubenites and Gadites really intended to go with the rest of the Israelites over the Jordan, or if it was just in response to Moses condemning their actions and reminding them of what happened to the generation before them. And after making this choice, they must have realized that they were isolating themselves from the rest of the nation, making them more vulnerable to attack and occupation by any surrounding hostile nations. Sometimes it is best to wait for the Lord's timing. What may seem good to do at the time may end up being the wrong choice because God has other plans in the future that are better.
2. Could this be the reason? - I also wonder if part of the reason that the Israelites did not run all of the nations out of Canaan was because they had plenty of room already. After all, two tribes were living on the other side of the Jordan. And the Israelites were commanded to drive out all the inhabitants in Numbers 33:55.
3. It is interesting that it says in Numbers 33:4 that the Lord brought judgment on (the Egyptians') gods. In reality, he obviously was not punishing the inanimate objects - idols - that they considered gods, but rather the Egyptians for worshiping these false gods.
4. I wonder why, in the recording of the Israelite journey by stages, it specifically calls out the fact that the Canaanite king of Arad heard that the Israelites were coming. What was the point of mentioning this?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Tuesday: What is the cost?
From Numbers 28-31:
1. What is the cost? - Wow! There were a whole lot of lambs to be sacrificed to God over the course of a year. If I have calculated correctly - based upon Numbers 28:3,9-10,11,19,27 & 29:2,8,13,17,20,23,26,29,32,36 - there are 1029 lambs per year that need to be sacrificed to the Lord. This is just the basic daily, weekly, monthly and festival requirements that God set. And that is just for lambs. God is great in love and abounding in mercy and grace, but you need to do your part too! Or to put it another way, God will protect you and richly bless you and give you success in whatever you do, but you need to give a certain amount to Him. (At least, that is what I take away from that. In the same way, the gift of salvation is freely given, but you must then live for Christ, not for yourself - that is a big price - although definitely worth it.)
2. It is interesting to see that if a guy makes a vow, he is to be held to it. However, if a woman makes a vow, her husband or father can nullify it.
3. I wonder what happened to the 32,000 women who had never slept with a man. Did they automatically become Israelites? Or was anyone who took one as a wife considered a Samaritan? And what did the 16 women do that were given to the Levites? They could not work around the tabernacle, I don't think, because they were not Levites.
1. What is the cost? - Wow! There were a whole lot of lambs to be sacrificed to God over the course of a year. If I have calculated correctly - based upon Numbers 28:3,9-10,11,19,27 & 29:2,8,13,17,20,23,26,29,32,36 - there are 1029 lambs per year that need to be sacrificed to the Lord. This is just the basic daily, weekly, monthly and festival requirements that God set. And that is just for lambs. God is great in love and abounding in mercy and grace, but you need to do your part too! Or to put it another way, God will protect you and richly bless you and give you success in whatever you do, but you need to give a certain amount to Him. (At least, that is what I take away from that. In the same way, the gift of salvation is freely given, but you must then live for Christ, not for yourself - that is a big price - although definitely worth it.)
2. It is interesting to see that if a guy makes a vow, he is to be held to it. However, if a woman makes a vow, her husband or father can nullify it.
3. I wonder what happened to the 32,000 women who had never slept with a man. Did they automatically become Israelites? Or was anyone who took one as a wife considered a Samaritan? And what did the 16 women do that were given to the Levites? They could not work around the tabernacle, I don't think, because they were not Levites.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Monday: No compromise
From Numbers 25-27:
1. No compromise - It is cool to see how Eleazar was not willing to allow the sin of Israel to go on, and instead was angry against sin just as God was. He took a spear and ran the guy through who was sinning against God while the rest of the Israelites were weeping due to the sin of the nation in prostrating themselves before Baal. Sometimes extraordinary situations require extraordinary actions, and in this case God was very displeased with Israel. Were it not for Eleazar's action, perhaps God might have destroyed most of Israel.
2. It is amazing that of all the people that were of adult age, when the census was performed in Numbers 26, that none of the people counted were still alive except for Joshua and Caleb. God really is powerful!
3. It is wonderful to see that God was concerned about the welfare of Zelophehad's daughters. So although the society was definitely patriarchal in nature, there was still concern for females.
4. Even as Moses was about to die, he was still concerned about the future of the Israelite nation. He asked God to help him pick a successor to help lead the Israelites into the promised land.
5. I am trying to remember if Moses was the last one to have direct communications with God. I notice that from this point God says that he will talk through the Eleazar, not directly to Joshua. So from this point forward, I think that it could be said that in most situations that God chose to speak through the priest instead of directly to the leader(s) of the nation.
1. No compromise - It is cool to see how Eleazar was not willing to allow the sin of Israel to go on, and instead was angry against sin just as God was. He took a spear and ran the guy through who was sinning against God while the rest of the Israelites were weeping due to the sin of the nation in prostrating themselves before Baal. Sometimes extraordinary situations require extraordinary actions, and in this case God was very displeased with Israel. Were it not for Eleazar's action, perhaps God might have destroyed most of Israel.
2. It is amazing that of all the people that were of adult age, when the census was performed in Numbers 26, that none of the people counted were still alive except for Joshua and Caleb. God really is powerful!
3. It is wonderful to see that God was concerned about the welfare of Zelophehad's daughters. So although the society was definitely patriarchal in nature, there was still concern for females.
4. Even as Moses was about to die, he was still concerned about the future of the Israelite nation. He asked God to help him pick a successor to help lead the Israelites into the promised land.
5. I am trying to remember if Moses was the last one to have direct communications with God. I notice that from this point God says that he will talk through the Eleazar, not directly to Joshua. So from this point forward, I think that it could be said that in most situations that God chose to speak through the priest instead of directly to the leader(s) of the nation.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Sunday: I heard you, but ...
From Numbers 22-24:
1. I heard you, but... - Balaam just did not get it. First he asked the Lord and the Lord gave him an answer. But he did not like the answer, so when more of Balak's officials appeared, he sought answers from the Lord again. It reminds me of when I tell my children something, and yet they do not like the answer so they ask again. I can see why God would be angry.
2. It is amazing that Balaam never considered the fact that his donkey had never acted the way it did before these three incidents. It is also interesting that he was not shocked when the donkey talked to him (or at least the bible does not mention about him being surprised when it talked to him).
3. Balaam sure did not make any friends when he blessed the Israelites. But it is interesting to see that he said what God wanted him to say the first time, and the message was really one that could have been more of a message to Balak. He said that he would not curse Israel. This should have been sign enough to Balak that he did not need to pursue this course of action. He was not listening though, and so he proceeded to take Balaam to two other places before giving up in disgust.
4. In Numbers 24 it talks about how Balaam did not resort to sorcery as he had before. I wonder what type of sorcery he was using and why.
1. I heard you, but... - Balaam just did not get it. First he asked the Lord and the Lord gave him an answer. But he did not like the answer, so when more of Balak's officials appeared, he sought answers from the Lord again. It reminds me of when I tell my children something, and yet they do not like the answer so they ask again. I can see why God would be angry.
2. It is amazing that Balaam never considered the fact that his donkey had never acted the way it did before these three incidents. It is also interesting that he was not shocked when the donkey talked to him (or at least the bible does not mention about him being surprised when it talked to him).
3. Balaam sure did not make any friends when he blessed the Israelites. But it is interesting to see that he said what God wanted him to say the first time, and the message was really one that could have been more of a message to Balak. He said that he would not curse Israel. This should have been sign enough to Balak that he did not need to pursue this course of action. He was not listening though, and so he proceeded to take Balaam to two other places before giving up in disgust.
4. In Numbers 24 it talks about how Balaam did not resort to sorcery as he had before. I wonder what type of sorcery he was using and why.
Saturday: Dead Poet's Society
From Numbers 19-21:
1. I wonder what is the significance of the red heifer for the purification offering that is used to make the water of cleansing. I wonder if the reason for it having to be red relates to the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all sin.
2. They were to sprinkle the unclean things with the water of cleansing. Interesting. It does not really relate directly, but I wonder if this correlates to baptism in any way. I mean, with the big debate about immersion versus sprinkling - We know that Jesus was baptized using immersion, but it does not appear that sprinkling would be unacceptable, especially in light of this passage. (I could be wrong, though.)
3. I wonder how Aaron felt, knowing that he was going to die on top of the mountain before it ever happened. There is one thing that is a blessing in not being able to tell what the future holds: at least you don't know when you will die. But this blessing can also be a curse if you are not ready when you die.
4. It almost feels like there is something that is not being told on the passage in chapter 20 that talks about what Moses and Aaron did and how they sinned against God. I think this is because God told them to speak to the rock, and instead they hit the rock twice with the staff. (Actually, Moses did that. I wonder how Aaron got in trouble there. See Numbers 20:24)
5. I wonder about the reference that the bible has about the "Book of the Wars of the Lord". What book was this? Is this a book that is only used by the Israelites to this day, or does the book no longer exist? Or is it that it was determined to be inaccurate, due to some embellishments?
6. In Numbers 21:16, it is interesting that the Lord tells Moses to gather the people together so that he can provide water for them. This time they did not complain, but rather God made the decision as to when to give them water.
7. Dead Poet's Society - It also records in chapter 21 about what the poets said. I wonder what kind of poetry they had back in that day. Did they have books of poetry? If so, what were they called?
1. I wonder what is the significance of the red heifer for the purification offering that is used to make the water of cleansing. I wonder if the reason for it having to be red relates to the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all sin.
2. They were to sprinkle the unclean things with the water of cleansing. Interesting. It does not really relate directly, but I wonder if this correlates to baptism in any way. I mean, with the big debate about immersion versus sprinkling - We know that Jesus was baptized using immersion, but it does not appear that sprinkling would be unacceptable, especially in light of this passage. (I could be wrong, though.)
3. I wonder how Aaron felt, knowing that he was going to die on top of the mountain before it ever happened. There is one thing that is a blessing in not being able to tell what the future holds: at least you don't know when you will die. But this blessing can also be a curse if you are not ready when you die.
4. It almost feels like there is something that is not being told on the passage in chapter 20 that talks about what Moses and Aaron did and how they sinned against God. I think this is because God told them to speak to the rock, and instead they hit the rock twice with the staff. (Actually, Moses did that. I wonder how Aaron got in trouble there. See Numbers 20:24)
5. I wonder about the reference that the bible has about the "Book of the Wars of the Lord". What book was this? Is this a book that is only used by the Israelites to this day, or does the book no longer exist? Or is it that it was determined to be inaccurate, due to some embellishments?
6. In Numbers 21:16, it is interesting that the Lord tells Moses to gather the people together so that he can provide water for them. This time they did not complain, but rather God made the decision as to when to give them water.
7. Dead Poet's Society - It also records in chapter 21 about what the poets said. I wonder what kind of poetry they had back in that day. Did they have books of poetry? If so, what were they called?
Friday, February 02, 2007
Friday: No inheritance?
From Numbers 16-18:
1. It is amazing how the Lord revealed Himself to Moses and spoke to Moses instructing him as to what should happen, and yet the people would not accept it. They must have thought that there was some nepotism going on, because Aaron was Moses's brother and got to be high priest. However, they should have realized that it was God making these decisions. And after Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were swallowed by the earth, they really should have been able to see the situation more clearly. Instead, they continued to fight against God. I think that many times we only see what we want to see, and this appears to be exactly what the Israelites did.
2. Moses (and Aaron) constantly were having to be the intercessors between God and the Israelites. It is interesting that even at this point that Moses and Aaron would still be concerned for the welfare of the Israelite people, after all the challenges and complaints that they had received.
3. That would be quite awesome - a staff budding and flowering and producing almonds. Though some would say it is just nuts!!!
4. No inheritance? - In Numbers 18:20 & 23 it says that the Israelites will receive no inheritance, but that rather they will be allowed to partake in what is offered to the Lord. Part of it is still offered, but a portion of it is for the Levites. It makes me wonder - Did the Levites get any land? If not, they truly were like strangers in a strange land, or like travelers just passing through. They would exist for one purpose only - to serve Him.
5. God wants the finest new wine (Numbers 18:12). So I guess the Prohibition would not work at that time.
6. Numbers 18:26 & 28 says that even the Levites had to offer a tithe to the Lord. Interesting.
1. It is amazing how the Lord revealed Himself to Moses and spoke to Moses instructing him as to what should happen, and yet the people would not accept it. They must have thought that there was some nepotism going on, because Aaron was Moses's brother and got to be high priest. However, they should have realized that it was God making these decisions. And after Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were swallowed by the earth, they really should have been able to see the situation more clearly. Instead, they continued to fight against God. I think that many times we only see what we want to see, and this appears to be exactly what the Israelites did.
2. Moses (and Aaron) constantly were having to be the intercessors between God and the Israelites. It is interesting that even at this point that Moses and Aaron would still be concerned for the welfare of the Israelite people, after all the challenges and complaints that they had received.
3. That would be quite awesome - a staff budding and flowering and producing almonds. Though some would say it is just nuts!!!
4. No inheritance? - In Numbers 18:20 & 23 it says that the Israelites will receive no inheritance, but that rather they will be allowed to partake in what is offered to the Lord. Part of it is still offered, but a portion of it is for the Levites. It makes me wonder - Did the Levites get any land? If not, they truly were like strangers in a strange land, or like travelers just passing through. They would exist for one purpose only - to serve Him.
5. God wants the finest new wine (Numbers 18:12). So I guess the Prohibition would not work at that time.
6. Numbers 18:26 & 28 says that even the Levites had to offer a tithe to the Lord. Interesting.
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