Tag Archive | Moses

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 70

Mar11
Day 70.  Reading Deuteronomy 1 – 2. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 1.

At the end of Moses’ life (forty years after he led the people out of Egypt) and before Israel enters the Promised Land, Moses reviews their history, bringing up the GOOD that God did and the mostly REBELLION that they did, challenging them to NOW obey and succeed. 

I love that he honored God and blessed them with, “The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as He has promised you!”

He reminded this new generation of people how (at his father-in-law’s suggestion and God’s approval) he chose leaders of their tribes to help him judge all of them. 

He also reminded them how they refused to enter the Land almost 40 years earlier because of fear and a rebellious heart, how God had condemned them to the wilderness again, and how they would not listen but rebelled against the command of the LORD and PRESUMPTUOUSLY went to fight the Amorites. How horribly they failed because the LORD was NOT with them.  

God was angry with them… and him (Moses).  

Deuteronomy 2.

Moses here recounts the years of wandering in the desert, until all that generation died (except Caleb and Joshua and their children). 

Finally, they came up again at the gates of the Promised Land. God told them NOT to invade Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother), NOR the Moabites, for they were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot.  Likewise, they were not to harass the Ammonite people for they also descended from Lot.  (Blood truly IS thicker than water.)

However, they did fight and defeat the Midianites, who, through their kings and the false prophet, Balaam, had led them into idolatry and sexual sin.  That defeat was a foretaste of their battles when God was with them. Not one soldier died.  

….

to be continued.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 68 & 69

Mar10
Day 68 – 69.  Reading Numbers 33-34 and 35-36. 
(Sunday & Monday posts are published on Monday.)
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 33.

In this chapter, God told Moses to write a list of all the stages of Israel’s progress when they left Egypt with Moses and Aaron, between Rameses and their current camp at the Jordan River in the plains of Moab, just opposite Jericho. Moses obeyed (what a memory!)  There were 40 stages (of course).

God also told Moses to challenge the people (once again, probably for the 40th time!) to “Drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and metal images, and demolish all their high places.” 

“Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans – a large inheritance for large tribes and a smaller inheritance for smaller tribes.  Where each lot falls, THAT will be their portion.”

Then God, through Moses, warned them, “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you…. then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And…. I will do to YOU as I thought to do to them.

Numbers 34.

Then, in preparation for Israel’s entry into the Promised Land, God also told them the boundaries of the Land He promised them, which actually did not include the land on the east of the river that the 2 1/2 tribes took.

Southern border:  From the bottom of the Dead Sea, down along the western side of Edom, through the wilderness of Zin to Kadesh-Barnea (the farthest point south). Then cut up toward the west to the Brook of Egypt, ending in the Mediterranean Sea (which includes the land of the Philistines … and Gaza).

Western border: The Mediterranean Sea (called The Great Sea here).

Northern border: From just above Tyre, on the sea coast, this line would cut east to Hazar-Enan near the source of the Jordan River at the base of Mt. Herman.

Eastern border:  From Hazar-Enan, go southward along the Jordan “trickle” through that little lake and then along the Sea of Galilee, following the Jordan River south to the Dead Sea, which is the Eastern border.

Moses: “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes.  The other two and a half tribes received their inheritance beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, toward the sunrise.

Moses then lists the twelve tribal chiefs.  These twelve, along with the high priest Eleazar and Commander Joshua, will divide up the land.  (But first, of course, they have to conquer it!)

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Numbers 35. 

In advance of Israel conquering the Promised Land, God also designates an inheritance for the Levites.  They shall get cities spread throughout the entire land. The cities will include some pastureland around the cities as a place to keep the animals given to them as offerings.  There were to be forty-eight cities for the Levites. Six of them, spread equally north/south were also designated as Refuge Cities. 

Refuge Cities were places that a person accused of Manslaughter (accidental killing of a person, and NOT MURDER), could run to and escape the dead person’s “Avenger of Blood.”  An Avenger was contracted by the deceased’s family to exact judgment on the manslayer (a life for a life).  But if the accidentally guilty person made it to a City of Refuge and went inside, he would be safe from revenge death. He had to remain ALWAYS INSIDE that city for the rest of his life to be secure or until the high priest died.  When that happened, the manslayer would be free to “safely” return to his home and land.

Moses clarified this by stating, “If anyone kills a person on purpose, the MURDERER shall be put to death on the evidence of at least two witnesses. No ransom can be paid. He shall be put to death. (Also, no ransom can be paid for a manslayer, so he may return home from a City of Refuge before the high priest dies.)

(I mean, you got to put it into law!)

Numbers 36 (last chapter).

One more point of law needed clarification.  Remember how those daughters came to Moses (Numbers 27:1-11), asking if their line would miss out on an inheritance because there were no males to inherit.  God told Moses that, in that case, the women could inherit their father’s portion.

Now, the brothers of the sonless man came to Moses.  What if those daughters (who inherited a portion of land) were to marry outside our tribe. Then THAT tribe would get more land, and we would have less.

Moses again went to the Lord.  Solution:  Those daughters would be allowed to marry ANYONE THEY WANTED, as long as he was IN THEIR TRIBE.  No problem.  Those five daughters married inside their tribe.  Ta-Da!

So, a new law was created for this situation. “No inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another, for each of the tribes of people of Israel shall hold on to his own inheritance.”

And now, Israel waits by the Jordan River at Jericho.  (You know what’s going to happen, right?)

##

But first, the last book of the law, Deuteronomy.  Moses wrote all but a part of the last chapters, about his death, which Joshua added on.  They are a series of speeches that Moses gave to Israel and later wrote down and gave to the priests for safekeeping, covering about a month. 

TUNE IN TOMORROW TO BEGIN IT.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 67

Mar8
Day 67.  Reading Numbers 31-32. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 31.

Remember yesterday?  The gross immorality between Israel and the pagan, idol-loving women?  And Phinehas spearing the two blatant offenders?  Well, here is God’s word to Moses:

“Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Send 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel to war.” 

And so, Moses sent them, together with Phinehas with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for alarm in his hand.  And the warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every male. The also killed the five Midianite kings …. and Balaam. 

But the Israeli warriors ALSO took plunder: cattle, flocks, all the goods, children … and the women of Midian.   YIKES!  Not woman!! That’s who led them astray before!!!

Moses was angry too, and had them kill …. every male among the children and every female who has known a man.  (They could keep all the young girls alive for themselves.)  This all happened outside the camp. All the “loot” was also purified by either fire or water depending on what it was made of. Then the soldiers could cleanse themselves and enter the camp after one week.  

A law was made that would continue in Israel’s history.  The loot that was secured by the warriors who fought would be divided with those who did not go out.  And a part was for the LORD’s house and service as well.  (The plunder that day was HUMOUNGOUS!) 

Then the great news!  Not one Israeli soldier was missing.  (God’s grace & mercy, for sure.)

Numbers 32.

One more problem needed settling before Moses could die.  The tribes of Gad and Reuben came to him and said they REALLY liked the land they’d seen on the EAST side of the Jordan River.  It was fertile for farming and livestock raising. Could they settle here?

WHAT?????  Moses was furious!  He pictured another 40 years of wilderness wandering, because Israel refused to go in and possess the land God had promised them.  It was JUST TOO MUCH!

But these tribes assured him that their soldiers WOULD GO INTO THE LAND, and fight alongside their brothers until the land was conquered.  Only, allow them to have THIS land as their possession.  They would settle their flocks and herds and families into the cities and farms, AND THEN lead the way to conquest with the rest of Israel.  They vowed.  They promised.  

So Moses said okay.  You can tell that the 120 year old man was tired of this people. But he portioned out the land and cities to Gad, Reuben, and 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh, who liked the farm land as well.  They got to work, took the cities and settled their families and animals.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 66

Mar7
Day 66.  Reading Numbers 28-30. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 28-29.

The LORD has Moses review some important things for this new generation as they are poised to enter the Promised Land. The first thing is the offerings He requires daily, weekly (on Sabbath), and annually, as well as those on the special holy days. Why so many, you might ask. Doesn’t this deplete their herds and flocks?  

First, remember that these offerings, except for the sin and guilt offerings that were burned totally, were for the priests and Levites.  Their total service was to the Lord. They would not have their own flocks and herds.  This is the way Israel would support them and at the same time, acknowledge their thanksgiving and worship to God.

Numbers 30.

This section on men and women and making vows may seem patronizing, but it actually protects women who are usually (but not always) more emotional.  First, when a man makes a vow to God, it is binding. Period.  But, if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, binding herself by a pledge, her father (if she is single) or her husband (when married) can nullify that vow. 

The LORD – knowing women very well – sometimes calls these vows “thoughtless utterances of her lips.”  (We might say, frivolous, and you know exactly what He means. Women are women and sometimes nasty!)  In such a case, the man in her life could cancel those vows, and she would not be held to them before the LORD. (And I might say, to her relief most of the time!). But a husband or father, seeing an earnest heart, may also NOT void her vow.   

I think of Hannah, years later, who had no children. She went to the Tabernacle and VOWED that if the LORD would give her a son, she would give him back for all of his life.  Her husband, Elkanah, learned of her pledge and did not cancel it.  The LORD heard Hannah, saw her heart, and gave her a son whom she named Samuel. When he was weaned, she took him to the Tabernacle and gave him up for his lifetime.  God honored her vow and fulfillment by giving her other children. (1 Samuel 1 and 2)

(Of course, men make foolish vows too, often in the heat of battle or boasting!  See Judges 11:29-40, Jephthah’s tragic vow, and  1 Samuel 14:24-48 King Saul’s rash vow.)  (I bet these men wished someone had stopped their vows!!)

  • LORD, help me to never begrudge the offerings I give to You, in whatever ways you use them.   May my heart and hand be always “open.”
  • And LORD, may I always think before I speak. Help me to consider your Word and ways before I say something foolish. And when I do spout something I regret, lead me to confession and your forgiveness.

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 65

Mar6
Day 65.  Reading Numbers 26-27. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 26.

God called Moses to count the people again after all those years of discipline in the wilderness. He was to take a census of all the men 20 years and older who could go to war. So Moses and High Priest Eleazar got to work. How did it compare with the list at the beginning of Numbers? Here’s how.

  • Two Census    OLD        NEW
  1. Reuben – – – 46,500 – – 43,730
  2. Simeon – – – 59,300 – – 22,200
  3. Gad – – – – –  45,650 – – 40,500
  4. Judah – – – – 74,600 – – 76,500 
  5. Issachar – – -54,400 – – 64,300
  6. Zebulun – – -57,400 – – 60,500
  7. Ephraim – –  40,500 – – 32,500
  8. Manasseh –  32,200 – – 52,700
  9. Benjamin – – 35,400 – – 45,600
  10. Dan – – – – –  62,700 – – 64,400
  11. Asher – – – –  41,500 – – 53,400
  12. Naphtali –  – 53,400 – – 45,400
  • TOTAL – – –  603,550 – 601,730  (1,870 fewer)
  • Levites, 1 month or older – 22,000 – 23,000  (1,000 more)

These were the people of Israel who were listed in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. But among them, there was NOT ONE of those listed at Sinai, for the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left except Caleb and Joshua.

Numbers 27.

As the people were preparing to enter the Promised Land, this census would also determine the size of the plots of land they would inherit. Larger tribes, like Judah, would inherit larger parcels, whereas smaller tribes, like Simeon, would inherit smaller portions. (Simeon’s people actually ended up merging into Judah.)

Then, an unusual situation arose. Some daughters from Manasseh came to Moses with a question. “In our father’s clan there are no sons. Does that mean his line gets no inheritance in the Land?  Can WE replace the sons and inherit?

Moses went to God with the question. 

The LORD gave Moses a surprising and righteous answer. “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them.”

Furthermore, the LORD told Moses to make that LAW for future generations where sons were unavailable.

THEN THE WORDS OF GOD THAT MOSES WAS DREADING. 

“Go up into this mountain and see the land I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall die as your brother Aaron….because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, FAILING TO UPHOLD ME AS HOLY BEFORE THEIR EYES at the waters.”

Not in this passage, but later, Moses will ask God for a reprieve. NOW, however, he is concerned that someone is chosen to lead Israel after he’s gone. 

The LORD agreed and told him to “take Joshua the son of Noon (that’s how it’s pronounced), a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight, that the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.”  Eleazar, also in the presence of the congregation, was to use the Urim before the LORD to solidify the appointment and then lay his hands on him to commission him as leader after Moses.

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Things are winding down for Moses. Soon, his 40-year job will be finished, and he can retire to Heaven. We still need to read through 9 chapters in Numbers and Deuteronomy, the SECOND review of the law, some new and old happenings before the death, and the final eulogy for Moses, and Joshua’s taking over. (Sigh.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 64

Mar5
Day 64.  Reading Numbers 23-25. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 23.

The story of Balaam continues.

So far, Balaam has inquired of the LORD twice if he can go curse Israel for the Moabite King, Balak. After all, a lot of cash and honor is involved. The LORD says No, and then Yes, IF YOU SAY EXACTLY WHAT I TELL YOU.  Of course God knows what’s in Balaam’s greedy heart, and stops him by sending a fierce angel and scaring his donkey so much that it ACTUALLY SPEAKS to Balaam.  

Yesterday we saw Balaam with King Balak on a hill overlooking part of Israel’s camp.

So… Balaam (for show???) offers seven bulls and seven rams on seven altars. Then he walks over to a high cliff, looks down on the Israelites.  But the word of the LORD to him is, “You sent me to curse this people, but how can I curse what God has blessed?  Let my own end be like Israel’s.”

Yes, Balak is furious. He takes Balaam to a different spot and says to try again to curse this people.

And again with the seven offerings of bulls and rams on altars. Balaam again goes to the cliff overlooking the people and returns to Balak with this message….

  • “God is not man, that He should lie, or the son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless, H e has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.  He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has He seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them.“

“No, no, no!  Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all!” cried King Balak.  And then he took Balaam to a third spot to view Israel. Again with the three bulls and rams on altars.

Numbers 24.

This time, when Balaam looked out, he saw each of Israel’s tribes camped in order.  “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!  Blessed are those who bless you. Cursed are those who curse you.”

King Balak is FURIOUS!  “I called you to curse my enemies, and you have blessed them three times. Go home now. I will NOT HONOR you.“

But Balaam has one last prophecy concerning Israel and Moab, Edom, Amalek, the Kenites (Midian), and even Assyria. “King Balak, Come, I will let you know what THIS people will do to YOUR peoples in the latter days.” He pronounces his last scary “oracle” before he goes home.

Numbers 25.

Ah, but Israel, does not recognize, appreciate, or return the love of their God back to Him.

(Peek ahead to Numbers 31:16 to see that it was Balaam who suggested the following.)

These Moabites invited the people to sacrifices of their gods, and soon Israeli men were eating with them and bowing to their idol Baal. 

God was horrifically angry and told Moses to have the judges of Israel round up all the men “who had yoked themselves to Baal” and kill them. He sent a plague of His fury through the camp. But to show the people’s utter arrogance in the matter, one Israeli man brought a Midianite woman right into the camp, and in front of them all, went into the tent and had sex with her.

Phinehas, the son of the high priest Eleazar, burned with indignation for the LORD.  He took a spear, went into the man’s tent and ran the spear clear through both their bellies … in the very act.  The plague stopped, but not before killing 24,000 of Israel.   The LORD told Moses that it was the zeal of Phinehas that had turned back His wrath, and that his house would have a perpetual priesthood. 

God then told Moses to “harass” the Midianites and strike them down, because of the “wiles, with which they beguiled Israel in this matter.”

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Has the old generation finally all died? Tomorrow a Census of the NEW GENERATION is taken.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 63

Mar4
Day 63.  Reading Numbers 21 -22. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 21.

Let the battles begin!

Living in the Negev (South desert) was the small kingdom of Arad. The king captured a few Jews. Israel vowed to the LORD, if He would give them this people, they would “devote all the cities to destruction.”  God did, and they did, and they named it Hormah (destruction). 

After that victory they set themselves to go around Edom and to turn north on the Eastern side of the Dead Sea/Jordan Valley.  BUT!!!!! The people became impatient. They spoke against God and Moses. “There’s no food. There’s no water. And we hate this worthless manna.”

(Sigh)

Obviously there were still some of the “Old Guard” among them who needed killing.  God sent fiery serpents among them. (Eek!!) The snakes bit many people and they died a horrible death.

“Moses! We have sinned, for we haven spoken against the LORD and against you.  Pray to the LORD to take away the serpents!”

Moses prayed, and the LORD provided a way to defeat the snakes’ poison. Moses was to make an image of a serpent and put it on a pole to hold high up.  When the people looked on the bronze serpent (believing  what God said) they would be healed.   

(Jesus used this Old Testament story to show how HE would be lifted up on a CROSS, and if anyone looked to HIM in faith, they would be saved from death.)

Israel swung around the southern and eastern boarders of Edom, and past Moab on the Eastern side of the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley to the Arnon River**, the boarder between Moab and the Amorites. 

(**NOTE:  I picture the land on the east side of the Jordan River Valley from Galilee down to the bottom of the Dead sea, like the figure of a man with the rivers at parts of his body. 

  • Going into the bottom of the Dead Sea is the ZERED BROOK. Think of that as the feet of the man-figure, wearing zories (flip-flops).
  • The ARNON RIVER enters the Dead Sea about midway. I think of that as an “iron-on patch” on the man-figure’s knees. 
  • Further up the JABBOK RIVER flows into the Jordan between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. I picture this as a finger jabbing the man-figure in the ribs. 
  • The YARMOUK RIVER flows into the Jordan just south of Galilee.  I picture that as the Yarmulka (skull cap) on the head of the man-figure. 

I know, I’m weird, but “pictures” help me remember.)

Numbers 22. 

So, Israel is camped near the Arnon River, which is the boarder between the Amorites and Moabites. They send a message to Sihon, king of the Amorites, asking him to let them pass through their land.  “Nope! Let’s fight.”  And Israel soundly beat them, all the way to the Jabbok River. And Israel moved into the territory.

Og, the city king of Bashon came out against Israel, but God told Israel not to worry. As they’d defeated Sihon, they would defeat Og.  And so they did.  Then Israel camped in the plains of Moab on the East of the Jordan River at Jericho.

Balak king of Moab sent messages to the Midianites about Israel. “This horde will not like up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And he sent a personal message to Balaam, a seer/prophet.  “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.”

The elders of Moab and Midian, raised a “fee for divination” to give to Balaam. 

But Balaam told them to wait a night while he asked God.  God said, “You shall NOT go with them. You shall NOT curse the people, for they are blessed.”

So far, so good with Balaam. He told the messengers “no” and they left.

BUT, the kings would not accept “no.”  They sent messages back saying they would give Balaam “great honor” and whatever he asked for. 

Balaam holds steady at first. “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold I could not go beyond the command of the LORD…. BUT….. stay here tonight and I will inquire of the Lord again.” 

Ah-OH. Didn’t God already say NO?

God said, “You can go with them, BUT ONLY DO WHAT I TELL YOU.”

The next part is weird, because “God’s anger was kindled because Balaam went.”  God probably knew that Balaam would actually try to curse the people and get the money. So God sent an angel to stop him. Except Balaam did not SEE the angel with the drawn sword blocking the road. ONLY THE DONKEY SAW IT. What??

Balaam beat the poor donkey because it kept turning aside into the bushes, and scratching his legs.

FINALLY, THE DONKEY SPOKE!!!  “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life to this day?  Is it my habit to treat you this way?”

AND BALAAM ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE DONKEY!  “No.”

And the LORD opened his eyes to see the angel.

Balaam realized he’d sinned and said he’d turn back. But God said THAT was NOT His plan. Balaam was to go with them…. but ONLY SAY WHAT GOD TOLD HIM.  Perhaps Balaam understood this time, for he went with the men and warned the king he could only say what God gave him.

In the morning, King Balak took Balaam up on a hill and showed him “a fraction” of the masses of Israel.

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WHAT WILL BALAAM DO? Stay tuned for tomorrow. 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 61 & 62

Mar3
Day 61 – 62.  Reading Numbers 16-17 and 18-20. (Sunday & Monday Combined)
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 16.

Rebellion, sin, and death starts, and it all begins in the House of the Lord.

Remember how Miriam and Aaron in pride thought THEY should be just as powerful in leadership as Moses was?  Now, Korah, from the family of Kohath, the Levites who served and carried the holy items of the Tabernacle, and two from the tribe of Rueben, stepped forward along with 250 other well-known men, chiefs of the assembly to oppose Moses and Aaron. 

“ALL the congregation is holy,” they said, “every one of them, and the LORD is among them.  Why do you, Moses and Aaron, exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?

Moses responded by falling to his face, an attitude of desperate prayer to God. He told them all that “In the morning the LORD will show who is His, and who is Holy.” 

They were to all bring their lit censers  to the Tabernacle and the LORD will choose who is the holy one.

“You have gone too far, sons of Levi! Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that He has brought you near HIM, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?  What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”

But Korah’s two buddies from the tribe of Rueben, Dathan and Abiram, refused to make an appearance.  Instead they blasted Moses,  “Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (that they feared to enter), nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men?  WE WILL NOT COME UP!”

Oh, dear.

Next day, the LORD proposed a wipe out of the whole congregation, yet Moses pleaded before the LORD. So God told everyone to step away from from the tents of Kohath, Dathan, And abiram.  The people moved away, but these three men stood in defiance with their families at their tent doors. 

And Moses announced, “Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent ME to do all these works, and that it has NOT been of my own accord. If these men die as all men die, then the LORD has not sent me.

“BUT … if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you will KNOW that these men have despised the LORD.”

And then ………………………….. the ground under them split apart. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. And the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 

PANIC!!! 

All Israel fled.

And the LORD’s fire came out and consumed the 250 unqualified men with censers.

Aaron’s son Eleazar, at God’s word, collected all the censers because they were holy. Later they were hammered into a bronze covering for the Altar. 

All this was to be a reminder to the people that NO OUTSIDER WHO WAS NOT OF THE DESCENDANTS OF AARON should burn incense before the LORD. 

AND STILL THE PEOPLE GRUMBLED!!! “You have killed the people of the LORD!”  The whole congregation turned against Moses and Aaron.

Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tabernacle and the glorious Presence of the LORD appeared.  The two men fell on their faces as a PLAGUE OF WRATH was sent out from the LORD into the people.

Then, at Moses’ word, Aaron put holy incense on his own censer and ran among the company of dying people.  He stood between the dead and the living and made atonement for them.  And the plague stopped. 

But not before 14,700 people were killed (besides those in the affair of Korah).

Number 17.

Then, the LORD preempted another rebellion by showing clearly just WHO was to be Priest to the Lord God of Israel.

A staff from the head of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, including Aaron’s staff representing the tribe of Levi, were to be gathered.  Each was to have the person’s name written on his staff.  Then Moses was to take them inside the Tabernacle and to lay them before the Ark of the Covenant.  

“The staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. In this way, I will make the grumblings of the people of Israel against you TO CEASE.”

Moses did as the LORD instructed.

The next morning, Moses went in and brought the staffs out.  Behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had not only SPROUTED, but PUT FORTH BUDS, and PRODUCED BLOSSOMS, and BORE RIPE ALMONDS. 

No question at all.

Moses then put Aaron’s staff before the Ark of the Covenant (later inside it) as a testimony and a sign for the rebels.

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Numbers 18.

In an unexpected way, the LORD speaks directly to Aaron (not through Moses) as the High Priest. He tells him that the priests are directly responsible for the priesthood and the things inside the Tabernacle. He and his sons are to keep guard of the Tabernacle, and the rest of the Levites are to keep guard over them and the rest of the tent while they minister. 

For this special duty to the LORD, the rest of Israel will bring a tithe to them of all the earn and raise as their support.  The Levites will then give a tithe of what they get to the LORD. 

“You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and inheritance.”

Numbers 19.

In the following 38.5 years, over 1.2 million people died in the wilderness. As the old generation died off (as God had said they would) many, people were touching dead bodies, to dispose of them. ALL needed purification ceremonies. The “water for purification” that would be sprinkled on them was made in a certain way.

Aaron’s oldest son (deputy high priest) Eleazar would take a spotless red heifer outside the camp to slaughter it. (This is the only sacrifice noted of a female animal. A heifer was a cow that had not yet given birth, and in this case, had also never been yoked.)  After it was killed, Eleazar would flick some blood on his finger towards the front gate of the Tabernacle seven times. Then the entire animal would be burned up, with the addition of cedarwood, hyssop and scarlet yarn.

Later a man who is clean is to gather the cooled ashes and deposit them in a clean place outside the camp. The ashes of the heifer and the other three items (used in the skin disease purification ritual) would be mixed with water to make a symbolic cleansing agent.  (For people who had touched a dead body.) Anyone clean (not just the priests) could sprinkle an unclean person. Then both will be considered unclean until evening.

  • Weird, I know. But think how all these rituals kept their eyes on a HOLY God and themselves as unclean sinners with an ultimate death sentence. Also remember how the Lord Jesus was taken “outside the city” to be crucified. And it is by this horrible act that we can be cleansed from all sin.

Numbers 20.

As the years pass and grow towards 40, first we see Miriam dying.  If she was a young girl when Moses was put into the Nile in a basket, she is probably at least 130 by now. The people mourned this great prophetess lady for a month. She was buried near Kadesh.

And….. there was no water. This younger generation quarreled with Moses. “Would that we would have died with our brothers.  Have you brought us out into the wilderness that we and our cattle should die of thirst? This “evil place” is not for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates…AND THERE IS NO WATER TO DRINK.”

Seriously!!!  The new, younger generation is now going to start up complaining about water?? It’s like they just came out of Egypt. I’m with God. Kill them and dust off your hands.

But when Moses and Aaron went to God, fell on their faces before Him, His glorious presence appeared to them.  He gave them instructions – VERY EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS – on how to give the people water.

“Take the staff, and the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and TELL THE ROCK before their eyes to yield its water. So (in this way) you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”

Moses and Aaron gathered the people before the rock and Moses said… TO THEM (not the rock), “Hear now, you rebels: shall WE bring water for you out of this rock?”  And Moses lifted up his hand and STRUCK THE ROCK WITH HIS STAFF, TWICE.

And water came out abundantly and the congregation drank and their livestock.

The people were happy and knew nothing about the utter disaster this was for their leaders.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold ME as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore YOU shall not bring this assembly into the land that I gave them.”

Period. 

  • Why? You might ask?  For one, Moses and Aaron glorified themselves not God.
  • And two…. remember Paul says that all that happened to them was for OUR instruction (1 Corinthians 10:1-11).  Christ is pictured as that Rock in the wilderness. Struck once for their life giving water. (As Jesus died ONCE for all for our salvation). After we are saved, we need only ask of Him for our daily needs and He will supply them.  Moses ruined that “picture” by striking the Rock again, not once but twice, making the picture seem to say that Christ had to keep dying again and again in order to save us. 
  • This was a big act of rebellion and disobedience BY MOSES.  And, like with that older generation, he would NOT be allowed to enter the promised land. Aaron too, since he was with him.

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Next on the agenda was to pass through the land of Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacob/Israel’s brother). Edom rightly refused (Imagine 2 million people with lots of animals trudging down your freeway for hours and hours).  Moses asked “Please” to pass through a second time, and the Edomites sent out a large army to protect their boarder by force.  So, Israel had to go around them. (They were not allowed to fight their “brothers.”)

Israel came to Mt. Hor on the boarder of Edom and the LORD told Moses and Aaron that Aaron was going to die there (for they had rebelled against Him at the rock).  Moses was to take Aaron and his oldest son, Eleazar up the mountain and take off the high priest’s garments and put them on Eleazar. 

Moses did this in the sight of the whole congregation. And when only Moses and Eleazar, wearing the priestly garment came down, they KNEW Aaron had died. They mourned for him for 30 days.

His death foreshadowed Moses’ own death.

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 60

Mar1
Day 60.  Reading Numbers 14 – 15 and Psalm 90. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Numbers 14.

Yesterday’s reading ended with a showdown. Two against ten.

Two spies (Joshua & Caleb) said the land of Canaan was ripe with food, and ready for picking. The inhabitants were big, but no problem for the children of God. Let’s go in and conquer!

Ten spies agreed that the land of Canaan was ripe with food, but bemoaned the giant cities with tall walls, and the giant people that made them look (in their own eyes) like grasshoppers.  NO WAY can we conquer!

And the rest of the two million people?  They were swayed by the TEN, and cried with a loud voice and wailed and wept. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They bemoaned (get this, for God will answer this prayer), “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in the wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sward? Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people.

Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and cried, “PEOPLE OF ISRAEL! The land is exceedingly good.  If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us… Only DO NOT REBEL AGAINST THE LORD! Do not fear the people – they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them. THE LORD IS WITH US. Do not fear them!

As the masses were picking up stones to stone the two, the GLORY OF THE LORD appeared.

“MOSES, how long will this people despise me? How long will they not BELIEVE IN ME, in spite of all the signs I have done among them.  I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of YOU a nation greater and mightier than they!”

And once again, Moses interceded for the righteousness of the LORD’s name and honor (“If you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, It is because the Lord was not able to bring them to the land as He swore.”).

And Moses pleaded for those horrible rebellious people too. He claimed and clung to God’s promises of love and mercy and forgiveness. (Please pardon the iniquity of the people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now!”)

Oh, for such an intercessor today!

And the LORD heard Moses’ prayer. “I have pardoned according to your word. BUT…..truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, NONE of the men who have seen my glory and my signs… and yet have put me to the test…and not obeyed my voice… shall see the land I swore to give to their fathers.  NONE who despised me shall see it.  And so, TURN BACK TOMORROW AND SET OUT FOR THE WILDERNESS.”

And to the people, God said, “As I live, what you have said, I will do. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all those listed in the census, 20 years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, SHALL NOT ONE COME INTO THE LAND, except Caleb and Joshua.  Your little ones – whom you said would fall prey – THOSE I will bring into the land.

“Your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness FORTY YEARS, and shall suffer for YOUR faithlessness UNTIL THE LAST OF YOUR DEAD BODIES LIES IN THE WILDERNESS. I the LORD have spoken.”

And immediately those ten unfaithful spies died of a plague.  ZAAPP!!!

After hearing that horrible 40 year sentence of death, the people changed their minds.  “Here we are!  We will go up into the land that the LORD promised us!”

Moses: “No! Now you are being more rebellious. The LORD is not with you!!!”

People:  “But we WILL go up into the country and fight them!”

But  neither the Ark of the Covenant, nor Moses left the camp. And the Amalekites and Canaanites came down and defeated them.  (And so, the first of those thousands of fit-for-battle rebels died.)

  • O LORD, I confess that I am so often like the people of Israel. Please keep me from walking in my own sinful rebellious ways. Grant me faith to believe ALL You promise, and courage to obey. And Father, please keep me from presumptuous sins!  Give me a humble, loving heart as Moses had.

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Numbers 15.

Even though God had pronounced the “death penalty” on the older generation of Israelites, he still had in mind to give Israel (eventually) the land of Canaan.  And He still required the sacrifices and offerings to continue as the roamed the desert. Both unintentional and intentional (knowingly and deliberately done) sins are next covered. 

Unintentional sins require and offering. A Person who sins intentionally “with a high hand” despising the word of the LORD, shall be put to death.  The example of a man who deliberately went out to gather firewood on the Sabbath, was stoned to death.

God then gave a way for Israel to always remember His commands.  They (the men) were to make tassels for the corner of their garments (shirts), each with a blue thread on it. These would be visible to themselves and to each other.

When they looked at them, they were to remember “all the commandments of the LORD, to DO them, not to follow after their own heart and their own eyes, which they were inclined to whore after. They were to remember to DO all His commandments, and be holy to their God. ‘I am the LORD your God.'”

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Psalm 90.  “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God”  

(Here Moses seems to be asking God to have mercy on sinful humans living in a sin-cursed world. It seems to have  been written to the older generation of Israelites who were dying off in the wilderness.)

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.”  ” …from everlasting to everlasting YOU are God.”   “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”

“You return man to dust.”  “You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning…in the evening it fades and withers.”

“For all our days pass away under Your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away.”

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

 

 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 59

Feb28
Day 59.  Reading Numbers 11 – 13. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Numbers 11.

Complaints by the PEOPLE and by MOSES

With the Tabernacle finished, the priests consecrated and dedicated, and the camp organized, it was finally time to set out for the Promised Land.  It’s been over a year, but the slaves have become a nation with organization, a law system, an army, and priestly, godly leaders.  So, the Ark, carried by the Kohathites starts out.

  • 1) There should be singing – “We are bound for the promised land.” – but instead the people “complain in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortune.”  Say, what??  What misfortune?

God heard it and was angered.  He sent some of His fire among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.  “Moses! Moses! HELP!”  cried the people.  Moses prayed and the fire died down.

  • 2) THEN, the “rabble among them” had a strong craving.  (Remember those non-Jewish slaves who came out of Egypt with Israel? Exodus 12:38)  THEY complained, which caused Israel to weep too.  “Oh that we had MEAT to eat!  Remember the free fish we ate in Egypt? And the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and the garlic? OH! The garlic!!  But now our strength is dried up, and there is NOTHING AT ALL BUT THIS MANNA to look at!!!”  And each one stood at the door of his tent and wept out loud.

The Lord was angered and Moses was displeased (and complained to God).

  • 3) “Why have You dealt ill with Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You lay the burden of all this people on Me? DID I CONCEIVE ALL THE PEOPLE? DID I GIVE THEM BIRTH THAT YOU SHOULD SAY TO ME, “Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child?  WHERE AM I TO GET MEAT TO GIVE TO ALL THIS PEOPLE?  I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.  If You will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in Your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.“

Whoa, Moses!  Are you frustrated or what? 

Notice that God FIRST addresses the heart of His servant Moses.  He tells him to gather the 70 elders of the people and bring them to the Tabernacle. God will put some of His Spirit on them, so they can bear the burden of the people with Moses. 

Then God addresses the complaints of the people. They are to consecrate themselves, for THEY WILL EAT MEAT the next day.  In fact they will eat meat for 30 days, so much that they will get sick of it.

It’s interesting that Moses asks God HOW He will do it. (Boy, Moses really is shaken.)  He asks God if all the flocks and herds are to be slaughtered, and would that be enough for them all to eat meat for a month?  

  • (This makes me wonder why SOME of the animals are not killed for food along with the manna.  Certainly a lot were sacrificed, and some of that meat was for the priests to eat. Hmmm.)  Perhaps the people – like me – just like to complain.

Moses obeyed and the seventy elders received a bit of the Spirit God had put on Moses.

And God sent a quail-carrying wind from the sea. The birds flew in at 3-feet off the ground. The people caught them all day, all night, and all the next day. The LEAST amount of birds gathered per person was 60-70 BUSHELS (small laundry baskets!).  They spread them out for themselves around the camp. (To count or to dry?) 

And they began eating, and eating, and while the meat was still between their teeth, the LORD “struct down the people with a very great plague.”  

And there they buried all those dead people. Then they moved out from that “Graves of Craving” place.

Numbers 12.

Complaints by MIRIAM and AARON

Okay, this seems strange. Moses married a Cushite woman. Wasn’t he married to Zipporah, a Midianite woman?  The term “Cushite” COULD HAVE referred to Zipporah, but it’s most likely Moses remarried after Zipporah died. Cush is a section of southern Egypt. She might have been among the “mixed multitude” in the camp.  

Regardless of where she came from, Moses’ older siblings (Miriam and Aaron) didn’t like it.  Could they have become (as Levites) “purists” or “racists?”  Miriam, the oldest, probably got Aaron to agree and they went to Moses, questioning – not his marriage – but his special relationship with God. 

  • 4) “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses?  Hasn’t He not spoken through US as well?”

Moses – ” meeker than all the people on earth” (Really, Moses???) – did not answer them.  BUT the LORD heard what the two siblings said, and called all three of them to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where He appeared in a pillar of cloud.

“You, Aaron and Miriam, step forward.” (They did.) “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision: I speak with him in a dream. NOT SO WITH MY SERVANT MOSES. He is faithful in all my house. WITH HIM I SPEAK MOUTH TO MOUTH, CLEARLY, AND NOT IN RIDDLES, AND HE BEHOLDS THE FORM OF THE LORD. Why then were YOU not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

And the LORD was angry.  When the pillar lifted, OH NO! Miriam was leprous like snow!

Aaron saw her and cried out to Moses, “Oh, please do not punish us, because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away!”  Yikes!!

And Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her! PLEASE!

“Nope,” God said. “Should she not be ASHAMED?  Let her be shut outside the camp seven days. After that she may be brought in again.“

So, THE ENTIRE CAMP paused their journey to wait for Miriam. After seven days and she was okayed to come back, they set out and camped in the Desert of Paran. (Just south of Canaan)

Numbers 13.

Complaints by the SPIES.

God told Moses to send out 12 men to “spy out the land of Canaan,” hopefully to bring back a report of what an amazing land they were to inherit. Lush with food, a land of “milk and honey.”  (That spoke of green pastures full of cows (milk) and orchards of fruits pollinized by bees, producing honey.)

Moses obeyed and sent out a man from each tribe.  The two we know, are Caleb from the tribe of Judah, and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (1/2 of Joseph).  He charged them to —

  • “Go up into the Negev (south) and the Hill Country, and see what the land is, 
  • whether the people are strong or weak,
  • whether they are few or many, 
  • whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, 
  • whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds,
  • whether the land is rich or poor, 
  • whether there are trees in it or not.
  • Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.”

Forty long days later, the twelve spies returned.  There were two very different reports.

  • “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. (a huge cluster of grapes that it took two men to carry)
  • However … the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large, and besides, WE SAW ANAK THERE (Giants).  The Amalekites dwell there. The Hittites and Jebusites and Amorites, and Canaanites!!
  • No matter, Let us go up at once and occupy it for we are well able to overcome it!”
  • 5) No, We are NOT able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we. The land, through which we have gone to spy is a land that devours its in habitants, and all the people that we saw are of great height. They are GIANTS, and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers!”

So, which will it be?

Will Israel go in to conquer this good land, like Joshua and Caleb reported?

Or … will Israel turn back out of fear for the pagan peoples and especially the giants, like the other ten spies said?

WE WILL SEE IN TOMORROW’S STUDY.

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  • O, LORD, I confess I have a cranky, complaining heart. Please forgive and cleanse me. Let me see and acknowledge the wonderful love and care you show me every day! I do not need to be afraid for my strength is in YOU, in your joy.