Wow. I went to New York and took a huge hiatus from this. I’m not completely sure why, but now I go back to school and away from the boy for a long time in 4 days. 4. days. So I think now more than ever I need to dig deep and stay in the word. After so many days off, I just decided to get completely caught up on Numbers. and here it is:
Numbers 1-36, Psalm 40-52
Numbers is about the journey from Egypt to the promised land. Israel goes to Mt. Sinai, then Paran, then Moab and they wonder through this wilderness. (get ready for a long post). At the beginning, the people take census of all of the people and the Lord describes to Moses how camp will be set up and what order the people will walk in when they’re on the move. Through these two ways, God shows that He will be at the center of their lives and that He will lead them through the wilderness. Lots of rituals are described to live the correct way and then the people start to make their way to Kadesh.
On the way, the people complain of hunger, making the Lord angry. A plague is upon them and they get on. One man from every tribe goes to spy on the land of Canaan, the people again complain and rebel an the Lord plagues them again. Those who attempt to take the land fail. *The Lord is angry at their lack of trust. He will guide them and keep them as He has said so, but they turn their backs to Him.* Next the people begin to wonder why Moses is holy, even Aaron and Miriam. Again the Lord is upset. God has appointed Moses this position and the people shall follow. In the Lord’s anger, He splits the earth and it swallows the unfaithful, then Aaron atones for them and stops the plague. The short story of the budding cane comes into play- Aaron’s staff is that which buds in the tent and thus the people believe his authority. (Sidetone: concerning the tent, the priests guard the inside and the Levites guard the outside)
Once more the people will cause problems. First God describes a way to clean those who have touched a dead body. Now they are complaining of thirst. The Lord tells Moses that He can hit a rock with his staff and water will flow, but rather than using the staff, Moses punches it with his fist and is denied entrance into the promised land. Moses in his anger actually made it seem that he himself could perform miracles, but God needs the people to trust in HIM. Israel needs to pass the land of Edom but Edom will not let them go and Aaron then dies. Because they must go around, the people become angry and speak out again. God brings on a plague of serpents, but if they look at this bronze serpent that has been created, they will live. On to Moab
The king of Moab hears of Israel and is scared so he sends for Balaam, a sorcerer, to curse them. Thrice he tries and thrice he can only bless them, the last time saying that Israel will survive and all other nations will be destroyed and a king will come from that nation. The Israelites whore those from Moab and praise their gods, so once again they are plagued, but Phinehas (son of Eleazar son of Aaron) atones for them and stops it- thus a new census is taken. It is also prophesied that Joshua will succeed Moses, and God speaks about more offerings.
Lastly, the Israelites war against Midian- they kill the men, take the women and children, and plunder the towns and everything is split according what God has said. Reuben and Gad have livestock, so they want to stay on this side of the Jordan rather than go to the promised land. This angers God once more and he says that everyone above the age of 20 will not be allowed to enter and will wander the wilderness for 40 years. After, God explains the boundaries of the land of Canaan and says Joshua and Eleazar will divide the land and appoint chiefs. And and once, the Levites will be given some inheritance and the daughters of Zelophehad that inherited money will marry within the tribe to keep it in the family.
TRUST IN THE LORD. Time and time again these people don’t and God plagues them. Not just once or twice- a lot of times. How many times does He have to remind you to trust in Him for you to get it?
All the Psalms are different. They are great to read to give thanks or ask for help. Read them and pray on them and sing them from the rooftops. He hears you.