James McNaught: January 2013

Numbers 26:57–65, “And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites. These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram. And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel. These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

The Levites had no inheritance of their own. The Lord chose them, as a tribe, to be devoted to His service in the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple. They were to be paid by the rest of Israel to do their service because they were representing Israel to the Lord and the Lord to Israel. This was fair and appropriate. For this reason they didn’t have to be numbered in the census and be given land to inherit. Later we see that they Levites were given towns to live in but they were never allotted land to inherit. The Lord established an ancient form of superannuation when He gave the families the land to inherit. When a person was old they would still be free to live in their home but their children would inherit the Land and keep them. In the fiftieth year all the land was to return to the original owner, as the Lord commanded, this meant that families would be able to regain access to their Land and never be completely poor and dependent. (compare Prov 30:7–9, “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”)
Caleb and Joshua were the only men, who had been slaves, who entered into the Promised Land because they were the only men who weren't afraid of giants. The Israeli soldiers had to be ready to fight giants because there were giants in the Promised Land.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

To every one shall his inheritance be given

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 26:52–56, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.”

The allotment of the Land was to be equitable. The Lord had no intention of making one tribe better than another tribe. Of course, each individual would be responsible for their own behaviour (see Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” and compare Jeremiah 31:29–30, “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.”) The Land was to be divided by lot rather than one person being able to choose better land than another person. This was quite appropriate in their culture and ceremonial religion as the Lord provided the high priest a way of determining the Lord’s will. The high priest would use two stones called Urim and Thummim to determine the Lord’s will (compare Numbers 27:21, “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”) Once the Land was divided between the tribes and clans it was to belong to them forever, unless the Lord invoked the penalty clauses of the contract He made with Israel concerning possession of the Land and sent them into exile.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Invasion and Possession

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 1:44–46, “These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.”

This section summarises the census taken by Israel’s leaders before they went into the Promised Land so that they could apportion the Land according the the needs of the tribes, clans and families. At this stage it is a good idea to distinguish between invasion and possession. In the last decade the United Nations troops invaded Iraq and were successful in that invasion. However, later they were never able to posses Iraq. The same was true of Israel.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

601,730

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 26:5–51, “Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites: Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty. And the sons of Pallu; Eliab. And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites: Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred. The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites: 16 Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites: Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites. These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred. The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites: Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred. Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred. The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim. Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites. These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites: And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites: And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred. These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families. The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites: Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred. These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred. Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites: Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred. These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.”

Jacob, aka Israel, had twelve sons so the nation was divided into tribes according to the sons of Israel. Joseph’s sons were accepted as Israel’s sons so he was represented by two tribes (Gen 48:15–16, “And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”) The tribes were further divided into clans to make the administration of nation easier. When the census was finished they found that there were 601,730 men, who were the right age to fight in the army, this compared with 603,550 men, who were of the right age to fight in the army. after they left Egypt, In forty years the adult population of Israel decreased by 2200 men who were able to fight in the army but, 603,548 adult men died in the wilderness. Of those men only Joshua and Caleb survived to go into the Promised Land. The Lord performed a great miracle by feeding and giving water to all those people in the desert while many died and many more were born.

Take the sum

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 26:1–4, “And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel. And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.”

Israel escaped from slavery in Egypt when the Lord miraculously intervened. The Lord promised to take them into the Promised Land and Moses was told to take a census of all the people so that they could share the Promised Land freely among all the people. However, those people refused to go into the Land and take possession because they were afraid of giants. The Lord waited for all those people to die and promised the next generation that they could go into the Land. During the time in the Wilderness, there were rebellions and plagues and those people died as the Lord promised. Now that they were ready to go into the Promised Land, it was essential that another census be taken so that they would know how many people would need to have their own plot of land. The Lord waited till Israel were just on the borders of the Promised Land and then he ordered that the census be taken. This way there would be no time for the numbers to change.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Vex them

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 25:16–18, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Vex the Midianites, and smite them: For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.”

The Midianites had proved themselves to be Israel’s enemies. They tried to defeat Israel in every way they could. Their plan was to defeat Israel in battle and destroy the entire nation. However, they tried to defeat them with spiritual means by hiring Balaam to curse them. When that failed they sought to seduce them away from the Lord so that they would be easy prey for their armies. However, the Lord told Moses that these people had demonstrated themselves to be enemies so Israel could treat them as enemies. Before Israel came to the borders of the Promised Land they had rules of engagement that were designed by the Lord. However, when a nation proved to be unfriendly or warlike they were free to engage with that enemy.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Phinehas

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 25:6–15, “And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.”

Israel, as a nation, had agreed to keep the Law, which included the death penalty (Ex 19:8, “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”) There was no excuse for their behaviour. One man, who was a prince in one of the tribes, and therefore, should have known better, flaunted the fact that he was disobeying the Lord’s commandment. This was a serious moment in Israel’s history. The whole nation was being attacked by a plague for their sin and someone had to do something before everyone died. Phinehas, who was Aaron’s grandson, realised that stern measures needed to be taken so, in his role as priest and guardian of the Law, he executed the man who was sinning. This courageous act on his part led to the Lord’s anger being appeased and the plague was stopped.

Israel abode in Shittim

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 25:1–5, “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”

On the one hand there was the visible battle to prevent Israel from coming into the Promised Land there was also a spiritual battle going on. From the very early days of the earth there was a contest between the Lord God and Satan. This was carried on in the spiritual realm and could be seen in the material world. Satan knew that the Lord’s curse included the Promise that one day a super spiritual man would be born with the resources to bruise his head (Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”) Satan also knew that this man would come from Israel, Abraham’s descendants (Gen 12:1–3, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”) The only way that all the families of the earth could be blessed is through Satan’s defeat when his head was bruised. However, Satan realised that he would not be able to engineer a comprehensive defeat of Israel as long as the Lord protected them. He followed another scenario by leading them into sin, that is, he taught them to break the Ten Commandments by worshipping other gods and committing adultery. However, Moses still remained true to the Lord and there were enough other people who sere loyal as well so they were able to punish the people who led Israel into sin and the nation was saved from the Lord’s anger.

Balaam's parable

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 24:15–25, “And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.”

When Balaam finally told the truth, he was bound by the promised that the Lord had given to Abraham all those years before. Balaam himself said that the Lord was not a man that He should lie (Num 23: 19). The Lord would never retract those promises and Balaam was a prophet who actually heard the words of the Lord. He promised that a star would come out of Jacob and a great ruler. This great ruler would defeat these nations that had conspired to prevent Israel from progressing towards the Promised Land. After this Balaam went home and so did Balak.

Balak's anger

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 24:10–14, “And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.”

Balak was extremely angry and with good cause. He sent Balaam messengers because it wasn’t appropriate for a king to visit someone of lesser status. Balaam refused the first time but eventually came after the second invitation. Balaam may have said that he could not go beyond the commandment of the Lord but his actions indicated otherwise. We know that actions speak louder than words. Balak was entitled to make certain assumptions from the fact that Balaam came with his princes in spite of the fact that he said he couldn’t go beyond the commandment of the Lord. We have already seen that Balaam was greedy and was hoping to get the money even though he tried to protect himself by referring back to his statement. Now that Balaam had been found out he tried to exonerate himself by being sanctimonious. He pretended that he came with honourable motives but he was really covetous, seeking wealth and honour (see 2 Pet 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”) Finally Balaam’s conscience got the better of him when he discovered that he wouldn’t get the money he longed for and he told Balak the truth, as he should have done at first.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

It pleased the LORD to bless Israel

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 24:1–9, “And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”

Balaam decided that it was time to go ahead and do what he thought was right. The Lord had told him not to curse Israel so he went ahead and blessed them as the Lord had told him before. He claimed to be using words from God, which was correct as he had waited for the Lord to give him a message before. We know that “God is not a man that he should lie” (Num 23: 19). He refused to allow Balaam to curse Israel before so Balaam knew that the Lord would not allow him to curse Israel this time. This was a significant blessing for Israel and was based on the fact that the Lord had already delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and the Lord had promised Abraham that He would bless those who blessed Abraham’s descendants and curse anyone who cursed Abraham’s descendants (Gen 12:1–3, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” We know that Agag was a king of the Amalekites during the time when Saul was king of Israel (1 Sam 15:8, “And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.”) Agag was a name for the kings of the Amalekites in the same way that Pharaoh and Caesar were the names for the kings of the Egyptians and the Romans, respectively. Balaam knew that Israel would defeat the Amalekites and neither he nor Balak could do anything to stop this from happening because it was the Lord’s will.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Another place

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

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Numbers 23:13–30, “And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”

Balaam still wanted his money even though he knew that he could not speak against the Lord’s instructions. He went through the entire process of offering sacrifices forgetting that unholy sacrifices could easily lead to a premature death (compare Num 3:4, “And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.” and 1 Sam 15:22–23, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”) He continued with his charade but had to bless Israel anyway. Balak became desperate and gave Balaam one more chance to curse Israel so Balaam went ahead without even consulting the Lord this time.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Build me here seven altars

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 23:1–12, “And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?”

Balaam might have been greedy but he wasn’t stupid. Even though he knew that the Lord didn’t want him to go and do Balak’s bidding, he was interested in the money and did everything that he possibly could to earn the money without actually cursing Israel. He did what every spiritual man would have done and had seven altars built then offered a bullock and a ram on each altar. Seven is the number that represents completion so this looked even more impressive. Surely Balak was beginning to be impressed. Balaam them went to the Lord, partly for show and partly to see if he could just get approval to earn the money. Every prophet or spiritual man would say something that sounded wise so Balaam began with a pompous beginning to his pronouncement. However, Balaam would not curse Israel because the Lord had blessed Israel and would curse anyone who cursed Israel. In fact, Balaam gave Israel a blessing. Balak was livid with anger. He was offering to pay Balaam great riches to curse Israel but Balaam did exactly the opposite. However, Balaam tried to reconcile with Balak by reminding Balak that he had earlier said that he could only say what the Lord gave him to say.

Friday, January 11, 2013

The utmost part of the people

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 22:36–41, “And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.”

Balak was very glad when he heard that Balaam had arrived. He was concerned about Israel and determined to do anything that he could to stop them before they could destroy his own kingdom and take his position and wealth away from him. However, Balak was a king and wasn’t used to people saying “No!” to him so he reprimanded Balaam for taking his time before coming. Perhaps Balak thought that Balaam was only trying to get more money out of him. After this they go down to business and Balak started by offering sacrifices of sheep and oxen. After that they came to the critical issue and Balak took Balaam to the top of hill so that he could see part of the Israeli nation. He was careful not to let him see the whole nation because Balaam might suggest that this was too great a task for him to perform. At that stage there were 601,730 men of fighting age in Israel (Num 26:51, “These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.”) If we include women and children then there would be at least 1.5 million people and they has stock with them as well. Cursing a group of people this large would be major task, even for a man of Balaam’s reputation.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

God’s anger was kindled

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 22:22–35, “And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”

Even though Balaam had a vision from the Lord, he was still following his own way. The Lord told him no to go with Balak’s men but he told them to wait and see if the Lord would change. The Lord didn’t change but allowed Balaam to go anyway (compare Psalm 106:15, “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”). Even though Balaam was determined to get his own way, the Lord gave him a further chance to change his mind. Balaam rode his donkey as he went to Balak’s place. At first the donkey left the pathway and went into a field, then the donkey tried to leave the path but there were walls on both sides and Balaam crushed his foot against one of the walls. The donkey saw the Lord’s angel standing in the way with a sword trying to stop Balaam from going with Balak’s men but Balaam was so busy thinking about the money that he didn’t see the angel. Eventually the donkey spoke to Balaam when he began to curse the donkey and beat it for crushing his foot. Balaam was greedy that he didn’t even think it was strange that the donkey spoke to him but he did see the Lord’s angel in the way. The angel gave Balaam one last stern warning and let him go with Balak’s men because he was so eager to get his money.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

More honourable than they

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 22:15–21, “And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.”

We learn from the New Testament that Balaam was greedy for riches (see 2 Pet 2: 15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”) He also taught Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit fornication (Rev 2:14, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”) However, at this stage these problems were yet to be revealed. He was a man with a reputation for knowing the Lord. Balak was determined to call Balaam to curse Israel so he sent more princes to meet Balaam. Balak flattered Balaam by sending some of the highest order of prices he could find. Balaam knew that he was not meant to go but he continued to hope for riches and glory. He even told Balak that he would not go for riches, this was really just a suggestion as to what he was hoping to gain. He waited, hoping that the Lord would let him go and get the riches. The Lord knew that Balaam had made up his mind so he met Balaam in the night and told him he could go but he would be restricted to the words that the Lord gave him.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Balaam

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 22:1–14, “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.”

The first interesting issue about this passage is the fact that cattle eat grass by using their tongues to grasp a clump of grass and then they bite the clump (see http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm255500.htm ). When Israel reached Moab the king of Moab, Balak the son of Zippor, was afraid and he knew that he would never be able to defeat the Israeli armies by himself. He knew that Israel came in the Lord’s power (compare Joshua 2:9–11, “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”) so he had to look to other means to defeat Israel. There was a man called Balaam who was know as a holy man in that region. Balak sent messengers to Balaam to ask him to curse Israel in the hope that Israel would be unable to defeat Moab in a battle. Balaam knew the Lord and the Lord told him not to go.

We will not turn into the fields

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 21:21–35, “And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders. And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there. And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.”

At that stage, Moses knew that the Lord had promised the Land to Israel but, as far as Moses knew, He had not promised them any other land. Even though the promise the Lord made to Abraham talked about the iniquity of the Amorites (see Gen 15:16, “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”) they didn’t believe that this country was part of the Lord’s promise. Moses was diplomatic with Sihon, their king, and asked permission to travel through their land without taking anything from the people. However, the Lord had determined that this was also part of the Land that He had promised to Israel (compare Gen 13:10–15, “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”) Sihon and his armies attacked Israel and they were defeated and they took possession of land on the eastern of the Jordan. This was appropriate as, in those days, soldiers were not paid by their leaders and they were allowed to take their pay from the people they defeated. This was so that the soldiers would have a comfortable retirement. After the battle with Sihon, another king called Og attacked Israel and they defeated him and took possession of the area now known as the Golan heights. Og was a giant so the Lord gave Israel the opportunity to fight and conquer a giant that that their father’s were afraid to attack (compare Num 13:33–14:4, “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” with Deut 3:1, “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.”)

Monday, January 7, 2013

The children of Israel set forth

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 21:10–20, “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth. And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising. From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared. From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab. And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.”

Many of these places have changed names since the time that this account was written. After Israel took possession of the Promised Land they changed some of the place names. Much later the Assyrians, then the Babylonians took possession of many of these place and exiled the original inhabitants. The Greeks came after them and then the Romans. The Romans forced the Jews to leave Israel after Hadrian attacked and defeated Jerusalem and then the Arab armies conquered the Lands as well. There was some fighting between the Arab armies and Christian armies from Europe and the Arabs finally drove them out. The Land under discussion was part of the Turkish Empire until the middle of the last century when it was divided into a number of sovereign states. However, when Moses wrote this record of Israel’s travels the people knew exactly what he was talking about. We can believe that this is a true record of actual historical events. People trying to reconstruct them many thousands of years later might easily associate the wrong place with the wrong name.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Fiery serpents

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 21:4–9, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

Israel chose not to fight against Edom but were forced to travel around through a long desert excursion. As they went out into the hot place again they began to complain. They seemed to follow a constant refrain, accusing Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness. Not only that, the complained about the manna that the Lord gave them to eat ever day. This wasn’t the first time they complained about the manna or the fact that they didn’t think the Lord would give them any water. They were getting close to the end of their forty years of wandering and the Lord sent snakes among them. These snakes killed people with a very painful bite. After they were bitten the people died in agony. The Lord brought Israel to their knees again in repentance and they confessed to Moses that they had sinned against the Lord. The Lord offered them a solution by telling Moses to cast a bronze snake, just like the snakes that were biting them and to set the bronze snake on a large pole so that anyone, anywhere in the camp, could see the snake. If a person looked at the snake then they would be healed of their snake bite and saved from the painful death they were experiencing. This wasn’t just a matter of a quick glance at the bronze snake, they had to make and effort to look at it and see it properly. This snake, later became a snare to Israel and they worshipped the bronze snake (2 Kings 18:4, “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.”) If we are not careful even things that are good can lead us astray. The important issue is for us to focus on our God and not the things that He does from day to day or on how good we think our life might be.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Arad

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 21:1–3, “And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.”

While the Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the Promised Land, the people living there actually wanted to keep the Land for themselves. They were not just going to lie down and let Israel take the Land away from them (Gen 15:13–16, “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”). In spite of this, the people in the Land were afraid (Josh 2:9–11, “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”). Arad, the Canaanite king, decided that the best thing for him to do was to fight against Israel for they would be better to die fighting for their land than to give it up without any struggle. It seems as though they set and ambush and took Israel by surprises and were able to capture some prisoners. These people were not related as the Edomites and, obviously, the iniquity of the Amorites was now full so Moses prayed to the Lord, on Israel’s behalf, and asked for success in battle. The Amorites had started the battle but Israel finished it. They soundly defeated their enemies and called the place “cursed for destruction”, that is, Hormah.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Aaron and Eleazar

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

Numbers 20:22–29, “And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.”

The Lord chose Aaron to be Moses’ prophet (Ex 7:1, “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.”) Aaron was no different to Miriam, his sister, in that he had to die as well. He was older than Moses so he could be expected to die before Moses. Aaron needed to die so that his son Eleazar, would be free to take over the role as high priest without interference from his father. Often, when one person takes over a role from the previous incumbent, the old leader will interfere and not let the new person do the job in their own way. Everyone is different and everyone needs to grow into their leadership gifts without having to be a different person. Aaron was also involved in the rebellion at Meribah (see Num 20:9–13, “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.”) and, like Moses, was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. The Lord always works for good (see Deut 8:16, “Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;” and Rom 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”). This was part of the Lord’s good plan but the people respected Aaron and they mourned his death for thirty days before they moved on.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Edom

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php