Spies are sent, one from each tribe, to scout out the land of Canaan. They find a rich land described as “flowing with milk and honey” but also wall cities and men they believe are giants. 10 of the 12 men convince Israel they cannot take control of the land and should not try, despite God’s promise to give it to them.
Numbers 13
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Continue readingI need to tie up a few loose ends before they are left hanging another week. Let’s start with a news story that should have been included in the Deja Vu. I added it later as a comment but not everybody reads those, and email subscribers may not know about comments that are added later.
Lawrence County in Tennessee will no longer excuse absences even with a doctor’s note. Each student will be marked either present or absent and there will be no more “excused” absences. School intervention will begin after three absences and juvenile authorities will be contacted after eight absences. The school system says they are stressing attendance and responsibility because in the real world young adults will be expected to come to work even if they are sick.
Continue readingIt’s Aaron and Miriam’s turn to do a little complaining as they question if Moses is the only one God speaks through. God explains some things about how he deals with Moses. In his anger Miriam is struck with leprosy for seven days. That pales in comparison to what is coming.
Numbers 12
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married: for he had married an Cushite woman.
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When the Special Edition films were released in 1997, 20 years after A New Hope was released, I remember thinking that 20 years seemed like a long time. They were interviewing people standing in line who remembered seeing the films the first time back in the 70’s and showing clips of reactions from the summer of ’77. The nostalgia featured disco music, roller skates and Star Wars characters out in public places like video arcades. I was born in the 70’s, I don’t really remember the 70’s. But now as they prepare for the 50th anniversary, the Special Edition versions are 30 years old; and somehow that doesn’t strike me as being that long ago. My first date with Teresa was to see The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition.
Just remember, when you tell your kids about things that happened in the 1980’s, that is just like your grandparents back in the 80’s talking about the 1940’s.
Continue readingThere are a couple of exciting chapters in the book of Numbers and chapter 11 is one of those. One of my favorite verses in all of scripture is in this chapter.
Numbers 11
When the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed them that were in the outlying parts of the camp.
Continue readingThe LORD instructs Moses to make two silver trumpets. Then the children of Israel break camp and set out for the first time in the order assigned to the tribes and according to the instructions God has given for carrying all of the things. They spent over a year at Sinai and finally moving on.
Numbers 10
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Continue readingThe children of Israel observe the first Passover since leaving Egypt, which let’s us know it has been one year since the Exodus event took place. God explains what to do if you are unclean at the time of Passover; and we are reminded that the Israelites moved and stopped at the command of the LORD.
Numbers 9
The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
Continue readingIn this chapter Aaron lights the lamps inside the Holy Place, the Levites belong to the LORD instead of all the first born, and God explains retiring the Levites at the age of 50. Nothing really “happens” but we will observe a milestone tomorrow.
Numbers 8
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Continue readingThis is the second half of Numbers 7, beginning at v. 47. If you have not listened to part 1, verses 1-47, please do that before continuing or this will not make sense. Most of this text will be more of the same and then offer a summary of all the offerings made by the tribes of Israel for the dedication of the altar.
Numbers 7 (pt. 2)
48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, made his offering.
Continue readingWe have dealt with some long chapters before by reading the text one day then having the discussion on the next. Numbers 7 is just shy of 90 verses so we are splitting this one into two episodes. There are several books of the Bible shorter than Numbers 7. Jonah for instance is divided into four chapters but it”s about the length of what we are reading today, Numbers 7:1-47.
Numbers 7 (pt 1)
On the day that Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, and anointed and sanctified it, with all its instruments, both the altar and all the vessels, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
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The Master's Table 