God returns to giving instructions, as we see here with the details of what the priesthood costs and the benefits of service to Aaron and his descendants.
Numbers 18
The LORD said to Aaron “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear the guilt of the sanctuary: and you and your sons only shall bear the guilt of the sins of your priesthood.
Continue readingThere are three things kept in the ark of the covenant/ ark of testimony. The 10 commandments written on stone tablets, a jar with an omer of manna, and Aaron’s staff. Aaron’s staff is not actually in the ark, but kept with it in order to remind the Israelites who God has chosen to do his work. Here is that story.
Numbers 17
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Continue readingThis is a longer chapter but very exciting so it goes by quickly. Korah, a descendant of Kohath, gets a group of men together who challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron. They agree with Moses’ plan to have both stand before God and let him choose (which he had already done).
Numbers 16
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Continue readingThis chapter almost feels out of place. The children of Israel have just rebelled against their leadership and God, and have been condemned to spend the next 40 years in the wilderness. Then he goes back into giving instructions about making offerings and emphasizes the importance of obedience; but the instructions are for that next generation that is being raised up.
Numbers 15
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Continue readingA group of 12 went into the land to scope things out. 10 of the 12 bring back reports of walled cities and strong men that look like giants so the congregation of Israel decides to appoint new leaders that will take them back to Egypt. This is where the 40 years in the wilderness is mentioned for the first time.
Numbers 14
All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
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I’m not sure if the image is real but yes, he really said that.
This is Happy Monday #600!
This is the 600th Happy Monday post over the course of 13 years. There have been a couple of hiatus periods, for Happy Monday as well as The Master’s Table. But seeing as human beings spend 1/7 of their lives on Monday, we keep coming back and giving it another go, bringing words of wisdom and scripture, cute pics, doggos and hopefully smiles to tired faces that could use just a little bit extra. You don’t have time to read all day, it’s Monday morning. So let’s get to it.
Continue readingSpies 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.
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The Master's Table 