There 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;
Continue readingNumbers 6 contains the vows taken by Nazarites and the blessing given to priests of Israel to bless people with. It’s a short chapter with no ugly business.
Numbers 6
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
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Let’s talk about the flat earth. When I was in high school, there were probably a few thousand people left in the whole world that believed the earth was flat. I had one grandmother that did not believe the earth rotates and another that did not believe in the moon landing because she had been through the western states, seen craters, and was pretty sure she knew where the moon pictures were taken. But these were older ladies, well up into their 70’s, with no formal education. One of them I know was married at age 14 and only finished the 8th grade. Unless you were going to college or planned to become to a school teacher, that’s as far as farmers’ kids went back then; at least in the rural South. The idea of a flat earth was vanishing as older generations that you could not tell anything were dying out.
Continue readingThis is an obscure passage of scripture that describes a type of trial by ordeal. We will read through it, discuss briefly, and then probably never speak of it again; unless you encounter the argument that God not only endorses abortion, he prescribed a method for causing one. Numbers just got more interesting huh?
Numbers 5
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
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The Master's Table 