The Crow's Nest

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

“Joshua’s Farewell”

“And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.” (Joshua 23:1)

Joshua tells of times past and a look toward the future.

“2And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

4Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

6Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

7That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

8But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

9For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

12Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.” (Joshua 23:2-16)

Joshua renews the covenant.

“1And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

2And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

3And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

4And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

5I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.

6And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

7And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

8And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

9Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

10But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

11And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.

12And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

13And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

16And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;

17For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:

18And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

19And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

20If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

21And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

22And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

24And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

26And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.

27And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.” (Joshua 24:1-27)

“Tribal Unity Loyalty to God”

“Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,” (Joshua 22:1)

Unity and Loyalty are wonderfully positive words. Tribal, comes with many meanings. People who like a sports team will become united around that team, some to the point of violence. Some of those who are a member of the sports team will incite their fans to have all sorts of sinful beliefs. The reason is they are not Loyal to God. That is what becomes the problem.

At this point Israel is a tribe that consists of 12 clans; much like American Native tribes, the tribes across Europe, or family groups. War among families are not unique.

“And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.” (Joshua 22:10)

Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were building and altar that the rest of Israel were suspicious of. Israel saw this as an altar against the will of God. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The children of Rueben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh explained that this was not an altar for sacrifice, but as a witness to the LORD God, between them and Israel in Canaan.

“And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.” (Joshua 22:33)

Stay tuned…

“31 Kings and the Division of the Land”

“Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:” (Joshua 12:1)

God led Joshua on a campaign through Southern Canaan, then turned to Northern Canaan. In total 31 Kings had been defeated. These include the Kings of: Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Gedon, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimronmeron, Achshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Carmel, Dor, Gilgal, and Tirzah. (Joshua 12:9-24)

“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” (Joshua 13:1)

The Land to yet be conquered includes: “2all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians,” (Joshua 13:2-6)

Joshua is now old and with more than war in mind, he must now divided the land among the tribes of Israel.

Stay tuned…

Sunday, July 23, 2023

“The Longest Day”

“Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;” (Joshua 10:1)

The King of Jerusalem knew he was in danger. He knew that not only would he lose his kingdom, he would lose his life. The King of Jerusalem created a coalition with the Kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. Their first target is Gibeon.

Gibeon was a “Royal City”. It would have mighty walls and defensive works. The Five Kings began the attack with a siege camp. A siege allows for an attacking force to reduce the enemy through lack of food and water. The camp itself will need to provide its own food and water. Given enough time a siege can allow you to defeat a larger force and still maintain your own forces. That is not going to be.

Gibeon was not locked down. They were able to send a message to Joshua to help them. Joshua gathered his forces and went to their aid by night.

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” (Joshua 10:8)

God could have evaporated the Five Kings, but that was not God’s plan. God had an audience. Not just Israel, but everyone on or near the battlefield. God rained stones down upon the enemy. Not accidental stones, but stones guided from heaven to only hit the enemy. God followed that up with hailstones. The number of dead by stones and hail was more than by the sword of Israel.

God wanted everyone to see the power of God, and the wages of sin. “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” (Joshua 10:12)

The Five Kings ran from the field and ended up hiding in a cave. Joshua ordered large rocks be used to seal the Kings in until later.

“And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.” (Joshua 10:20)

Now that the battle has ended, Joshua has his commanders execute the Five Kings and place their bodies in the trees. A message to Israel and Canaan. When the sun sets, Joshua has their bodies entombed in the cave.

Stay Tuned…

“The Deception of the Hivites”

“And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,” (Joshua 9:3)

This is the story of deception and certainly not a new one. Deception of this sort has its roots in antiquity and continues to the present day.

The Back Story

After the defeat of Jericho and Ai, the kingdoms throughout Canaan knew that Israel was a strong nation. All of the Kings in the land of Canaan built a coalition to destroy Israel. There is always that one group that wishes to appease Israel and in case Israel is destroyed they can appease the enemy coalition. This begins with a sad story.

The Sad Story

The Hivites dressed themselves as a destitute people. They had clothes that were covered in dirt, shoes that were full of holes. They brought wine that was spoiled and bread that was dry and moldy. They told Joshua that they had traveled from a far country to be servants of Israel.

The Story of the Truth

Joshua and the princes of the congregation made a promise to them that Israel would not harm them.

After three days Joshua discovered that the Hivites were not from a far land, they were from next door. They were actually from Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. The people of Israel were very angry at this and wanted to kill them all. But Joshua stopped them.

Joshua said, “20This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.” (Joshua 9:20-27)

Stay tuned…

“The Battle of Ai”

“So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.” (Joshua 8:3)

When someone is discussing Tactics and Strategy there is a wide difference between the two. The Battle of Ai speaks of Strategy through the use of Tactics. Let’s break it down.

Ai was a target of importance since it was located close to Jericho. Any time an enemy has forces close to where you were, they must be understood. Initially Israel had observed and fought with the City of Ai. Because of the Sin of Achan, God turned his back on Israel and Israel was defeated.

Joshua and Israel had repented of their sin. Now God brings in the teachings of war theory, or in other words, “Cutting off the Head of the Snake”. A snake in its hole will strike out toward a target, then pull back to the safety of its hole. The strategy in this case is to entice the snake out of its hole.

God instructs Joshua to send an ambush force behind the City of Ai. Then with Joshua in command of another force he will lure the King of Ai and his forces to chase after them. This leaves the city of Ai open to attack. The strategy leaves the city of Ai destroyed, and the King of Ai caught between two forces with no where to go.

The end result is that Jericho and Ai are utterly destroyed. With nothing threatening the rear area of Israel, the way forward is open to them.

Stay Tuned…

“The Curse at Ai”

“But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” (Joshua 6:19)

At the end of the Battle of Jericho, Israel was ordered to leave everything alone. There would be no plunder of anything. It all belonged to God. There is always someone who will ignore the will of God.

The Next Target

Joshua sent a recon mission to Ai. The men who spied the land reported that they were few in number and would be easy to defeat. Joshua sends 3000 men to destroy Ai.

No sooner had the 3000 arrived at Ai, they turned tail and ran. Thirty Six lost their lives in the battle.

The Message

Something had gone horribly wrong. Joshua prayed to God for an answer.

“7And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

😯 Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!” (Joshua 7:7-8)

God Answers

“10And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

11Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

12Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

13Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” (Joshua 7:10-13)

The Search

“14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

15And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.” (Joshua 7:14-15)

The Interrogation and Confession

“19And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

21When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

23And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.” (Joshua 7:19-23)

The Judgement

“24And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

25And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”(Joshua 7:24-26)

“When The Trumpet Sounds”

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6:1)

“13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

15And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13-15)

Because of Joshua’s faith in God, God provided him with a holy host of soldiers to pave the way.

The Army of God circles the city once each day for the next six days. At the front of this procession are seven priests with trumpets of Ram’s horns, the Shofar. Behind the priests is the Ark of the Covenant.

On the seventh day they circle the city seven times, each time sounding the trumpets. On the final trip around the wall of Jericho the trumpets sound and the people shout. The walls of Jericho falls flat.

The army had surrounded the city; when the walls fell they went up into the city and utterly destroyed it. Every man, woman, old, and young were killed by the sword. With a notable exception, the harlot Rahab.

The summary is this, God abhors sin, and he had punished Israel for their sin in the wilderness. This punishment was known to the people of Canaan from those in highest station all the way down to the lowest station in life (Rahab). Any of them could have repented and God would have in his grace saved them, but they didn’t. Their idols did nothing to save them.

That is the way of the world now. God, through his son Jesus has been warning sinners for thousands of years, yet many ignore it. Repent of your sin, believe and have faith in God, though his son Jesus will save you for everlasting life.

Stay tuned…

Friday, July 21, 2023

“Crossing the Jordan”

“And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.” (Joshua 3:1)

Rivers are a natural block to travel. The width, depth, and current will stop any foot traffic. Natural crossings, like fords, consist of narrow width, shallow depth, and slower currents that allow travel.

What we know is the Jordan was in flood. The reduces the number of fords available; which gives the enemy fewer places they had to monitor to track the location of Joshua’s Army. God changed all that.

At the front of the Army were the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant. There was a warning to the people, as well as a command to prepare to cross.

“4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:4-5)

As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests touch the water of the Jordan; the water parts creating dry land. This allowed the 40 thousand man army of Joshua to quickly cross the Jordan and place themselves directly against Jericho. In effect, this locks the enemy into the walls of their city without the ability to maneuver on the battlefield.

Joshua believed that God would always provide a way, and God did.

Stay Tuned…

“Rahab, Heroine of Jericho”

“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.” (Joshua 2:1)

Joshua had sent two men to recon Jericho. Recon missions come with special dangers. Not just that spies are executed on sight, but that spies that are caught tend to reveal information of any planned attack. Intelligence missions are a two edged sword.

The spies had penetrated the city of Jericho and picked the seediest part of the city as a base of operations. Anyone new in these neighborhoods are immediately suspect. The King of Jericho was informed that these Israeli spies were not just in the city, but they were lodging with Rahab.

Rahab had already told the spies some very important information.

I know that God has given you this land.

I know the people here are scared of you.

I know God had parted the Red Sea to allow you to escape Egypt.

I know that you utterly destroyed the Amorites.

Rahab added, “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.” (Joshua 2:11)

The King of Jericho interrogated Rahab about the men who had stayed with her. Rahab took a dangerous track. Instead of telling the King that she knew where they were hiding, she denied knowing who they were. She lied to the King and told him that the men had left and headed toward the river. She further stated that if the King sent his men out of the city they can catch them.

The deception worked. She hid the men on her roof until the Kings men had left heading toward the river. After the gates had been closed she told the men to head into the mountains for three days. Rahab lowered the men out of the city by a rope from her house.

A promise is made. The men tell Rahab that is she keeps their secret she and her family will be well treated. They told her to mark her window with a scarlet thread.

The men returned to Joseph and said, “And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.” (Joshua 2:24)

Stay tuned…

“War in the Promised Land”

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” (Joshua 1:2)

War is a term that has many meanings. There is War on Obesity, Crime, Drugs, etc.. There is War between Nations, Cities, Neighborhoods, Families, etc.. War in its simplest form is conflict. The War in the Promised Land is unique.

The War in the Promised land is God’s war. “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)

The entire universe belongs to God. God promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel the Land of Canaan. God also set forth specific commands that Israel will have to obey in order to occupy the Promised Land.

This is a situation in which God has already won the war, but he wants Israel to strictly follow his Laws and Statutes. That is the model to follow.

Joshua will cross the River Jordan into the Promised Land. With God’s mighty hand he will study each target, plan the assault, and how the land will be divided among the tribes.

This War will not be a cake walk. There are many failures of Israel to remain glued to the Laws of God and his directions. It all begins in Jericho.

Stay tuned…

“Joshua”

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Joshua 1:5)

Joshua started life as a slave in Egypt. He witnessed the plagues on Egypt, the escape across the sea, and the cloud and fire of God that led them. Joshua led the battle against the Amalekites. Joshua’s deep faith in God is why Joshua was the only person to accompany Moses to receive the Law.

Joshua was a military leader. Joshua and Caleb were selected by the tribe of Judah to spy out the land of Canaan. Joshua was ready to follow God’s will to possess the land of Canaan. While the children of Israel lacked faith they are condemned to die without entering the Promised Land.

God selected Joshua to take over Moses’s duties as Military and Spiritual leader. Joshua, as with Moses, is the model of Christ.

Stay Tuned…

“The Meaning of the Song of Moses”

“Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” (Deuteronomy 32:3)

The Song of Moses is a lyrical poem that begins with the appeal to heaven and the entire world. Moses explains the character of God, the evil of Israel, the consistent love and protection that God provides, the promise to always be with them and us.

The Song of Moses is also a memory device. Poems and songs often tell a story that is has a meter, and is simple. Like memorizing the general parts of a body; “the foot bone is connected to the…shin bone” etc…

What we know from this song is that God loves you, even when we forget he exists, or even hate him. God proves that by the way he led Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the children of Israel from a simple and small people to a great and powerful people.

The sinful nature of Israel is the sinful nature of the world. God treats us with the justice we deserve and punishes us accordingly.

The Song of Moses reminds us of the impossible task of keeping all of God’s laws. Jesus has paid that debt already. We only have to repent of our sin, believe with all our heart and soul on Jesus the Son of God.

“The Song of Moses”

“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.” (Deuteronomy 32:1)

“2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

9 For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.

26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.

28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:

46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”

“The Seven Nations”

“When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;” (Deuteronomy 7:1)

Moses makes no bones about it, Israel is to attack the nations of Canaan and utterly destroy them. There are to be no peace treaties; the enemy is to submit completely to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” (Deuteronomy 7:4)

No marriages between the nations of Canaan and Israel. This is how Satan enters the relationships between the people and God.

“But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.” (Deuteronomy 7:5)

Crush their altars, smash their images, cut down their groves, burn their graven images with fire; utterly destroy their gods as proof that there is only one God.

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:” (Deuteronomy 7:7)

God did not bring Israel as the largest force; instead he brought them as the smallest force. It is by God, and by God alone they will destroy the enemies of humanity. As long as Israel keeps God’s commandments they will prevail.

Stay tuned…

“Narrow is the Way”

Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.” (Deuteronomy 5:1)

Moses repeats the 10 commandments given to the people from God.

“4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Moses reminds Israel to teach the commandments, statutes and Jugements to their children to put them on the posts of their homes.

Moses continues to teach them that God had destroyed all of those that stand against you. It is a model of how God wants us to love him, praise him, and worship him.

Stay tuned…

Thursday, July 20, 2023

“These Are The Words”

“And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;” (Deuteronomy 1:3)

Moses provides a summary of the journey of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt to the border of Canaan. For forty years and 9 months they have traveled the wilderness.

“The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:” (Deut 1:6)

Moses tells the children of Israel that he had selected the wise and known leaders among them to rule them.

“16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Deut 1:16-17)

Moses further tells them to go up and posses the land, the spies have brought you good news. The land is truly Milk and Honey. Through God’s power you defeated Moab and Midian.

Yet, the children of Israel rebelled against going into the land of Canaan. God protected you with a cloud and pillar of fire so you could leave Egypt. He did this right in front of your eyes.

“34And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,”(Deut 1:34-35)

Moses continues with this retrospect history of the journey until Deuteronomy 4:11.

Stay tuned…

“Deuteronomy”

“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” (Deuteronomy 1:1)

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. The purpose of Deuteronomy is to repeat the covenant between God and his people. The Hebrew word for this book is elleh haddebarim, which means “These are the Words”. Unlike Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers; Moses is speaking in a more conversational tone to relate God’s promise and future fulfillment.

The setting for Deuteronomy is on the Jordan river across from Jericho, in the land of Moab. Before we start on the book of Deuteronomy, there is something for you to think about.

Find a place that you can use to quietly think back to the earliest time in your life that you can. Now slowly think about the good, bad, and ugly of life from then until now. What significant things can you remember? Which ones are regrets? Which of these events had the greatest impact on your life now? What did God do for you, that you could not do alone?

Now look at your future. Based on your past did God do anything for you? What does God promise you for your future?

“14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18)

That is the purpose of Deuteronomy. Remembering Israels past, its present, and the promise of its future.

Stay Tuned…

“The Apostasy of Israel”

“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” (Numbers 25:1)

The Old Testament begins with the creation of the universe. The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are a history of the relationship between God and Man.

Genesis details the beginning journey that God leads Man. Each step in the journey is more detailed than the one before. God demonstrates how he loves us, even when we don’t love him.

The story of The Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph is about failing to follow God. Everyone in these stories sinned, to include the heroes and heroines. The whole point is to demonstrate to us what sin is, and what the consequences are for sinning.

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

The journey through Genesis brings us to the consequence of sin in Exodus.

In Exodus we see the consequence of sin with slavery in Egypt. The book begins with the story of the birth and rescue of Moses. Moses learns who God is, and what God expects. It is not just a lesson to Moses and Israel, but a lesson for everyone.

The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are more detailed descriptions of the incidents in Exodus after Israels rescue from Egypt. It goes beyond the 10 Commandments.

Leviticus goes into great detail on the consequence of sin. The first thing you will learn is that you can’t live a sinless life. We all know that we will physically die, it is our spiritual death that has the greatest consequence. Our souls are condemned to eternal misery separated from God’s love.

Numbers is a book of violence, deceit, and false prophets. The people of Canaan, God’s promised land for Israel, were worshiping every idol available. The people of Canaan believe Balaam could manipulate God. Balaam thought he could both appease God and get some money and political power at the same time. He couldn’t.

The people of Canaan entices and deceives Israel into the pleasures and promises of the world. God destroys not just the Canaanites, but Israelis as well.

Deuteronomy is a review of God’s law and total commitment to God.

Stay Tuned…

“Balaam’s Blessing”

“And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.” (Numbers 23:1)

Balak, the King of Moab, and his conspirator Balaam, the prophet, worked together to curse Israel. It didn’t work out the way they planned.

Balaam was a wicked prophet, he wanted fame and fortune from Balak. God had forbidden Balaam to go with Balak’s messengers, but Balaam continued to press God for permission to go. People make that mistake.

If you ask your parents permission to go to a concert and they say no, you will continue to beg them to let you go. Eventually you might break them down and get permission. Worse yet, you will scheme to find a way to go around your parents. God doesn’t work that way.

When God says no, he means no. If you continue in sin, God will warn you. Just as God warned Balaam by blocking his way with the angel of the LORD. Balaam, like a child, said, “I didn’t know you meant I couldn’t go with the messengers”(paraphrased). Balaam lies to God, he knew full well that God had said no.

“And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12)

Balak builds many altars for Balaam’s curse on Israel. Every curse Balaam attempts to use on Israel come out of his mouth as blessings for Israel. We might be able to manipulate people to get what we want, but God always gives us what we need.

“Balaam’s Folly”

“And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.” (Numbers 22:21)

The Bible tells the story better than I.

“22And 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.

23And 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.

24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25And 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.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28And 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?

29And 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.

30And 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.

31Then 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.

32And 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:

33And 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.

34And 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.

35And 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.” (Numbers 22:22-35)

“Balaam’s Curse”

“And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 22:3)

Balak was the king of the Moabites. He realized Israel was strong after watching them destroy the Amorites. Balak needed a higher power to help him destroy the Israel. (Numbers 22:1-4)

The Great and All Powerful Diviner Balaam, was a man who said that he and God were constantly talking with each other. Balak King of Moab conspired with the Elders of Midian to convince Balaam to curse Israel. Balak sent princes to negotiate with Balaam.

Balaam told the messengers from Balak to stay the night while I talk to God about this, and I’ll let you know what God says tomorrow. But that is not what happened. God came to Balaam and asked who are these men? (Numbers 22:9)

Balaam replied to God, “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.” (Numbers 22:11)

God said to Balaam, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12)

Balaam sent the messengers of Balak back into their land. Had Balaam stood his ground and obeyed God’s command he would have found grace from God, but he didn’t.

Balak sent a better bunch of princes to Balaam. Balaam once again asked the messengers to stay the night. Balaam did not ask the messenger to wait for God to talk to him; Balaam wanted time to decide what he should do.

Balaam, like so many in this world was not wanting God, he was wanting fame and fortune. God has already told Balaam to not go with these men, to no curse Israel, but Balaam wanted God to do Balaam’s bidding.

” 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.” (Numbers 22:20)

When God tells you to do or not do something, obey God. God does not negotiate. Asking God the same question looking for a different answer is arguing with God. God will be done. If you choose to not obey, God is patient, God will show you the way you should go.

God will show Balaam the way he should go.

Stay tuned…

“Once Bitten, Twice Shy”

“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.” (Numbers 21:1)

A nation, every nation, has five instruments of power. The acronym D.I.M.E. is used to explain what they are.

Diplomacy. The ability of a country to use diplomatic means when dealing with hostile forces is important. The children of Israel faced that problem with the Kingdom of Edom.

Moses sent diplomats to the Kingdom of Edom to obtain permission to cross the nations borders. They promised to not damage or take anything and go only by the King’s highway.

The King refused them. The children of Israel asks again, but promises to pay of any water that their cattle may take. The King not only refused, but he sent a great army. The children of Israel retreated.

Intelligence. The ability of a country to find out information about other nations is key to planning defensive and offensive operations. The children of Israel face that problem when they sent spies into Canaan.

King Arad had detected the spies in Canaan. The King then went out and fought Israel capturing prisoners. The spies had brought back information about the land of Canaan. Which would be used in their favor.

Military. Armed forces are closely connected to Diplomacy and Intelligence. Military power, whether used or not, increases the ability of any nation to tip the scales in Diplomatic negotiations.

Israel responded to the threat of King Arad by vowing to God that if God would deliver their enemies to them; they would destroy them. God delivered, and King Arad was destroyed.

Economic. Without Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Military power; Economic power, great or small, makes you a target. Israel’s enemies were militarily strong, but Diplomatically and Intelligence weak. They were also lacking in a very important power…that is the power of God.

Without God none of these Instruments of Power have any power.

“Moses’s Sin”

“Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.” (Numbers 20:1)

Moses was not a perfect person. He had grown into a man with the family of the Pharaoh and learned that he was not an Egyptian. Moses lost his self-control when he saw an Egyptian beating one of he brethren. Then Moses ran off into the land of Midian.

It was in Midian that God spoke to Moses and instructed him on how to deal with the Pharaoh. Moses listened to God and followed his instructions. At Mount Sinai Moses received the laws from God. Not in a dream, but in a personal conversation.

The constant complaining to Moses and to God was like children asking, “are we there yet”, to the point of nausea.

It was the pressure of leading the children of Israel that was Moses’s downfall.

“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

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.” (Numbers 20:8-11)

God told Moses to speak unto the rock, not to beat it. Moses didn’t say to the people, “Watch how God provides you water”. Moses puffed himself up as being God, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?”

As punishment to the children of Israel, to include Moses and Aaron, they would die in the wilderness. Their children would continue into the promised land.

People are like that. They ignore God and substitute themselves as God.

“Spies”

“Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.” (Numbers 13:2)

Twelve men, one from each tribe, is sent to spy out the land of Canaan and return a report.

The report is much like that of a military recon using the acronym, S.A.L.U.T.E.

Size. What is the size of the territory, cities, armies, fauna, flora, etc…

Activity. What are the people doing, farming, flocks, trade, etc…

Location. Where are the cities, trade routes, communication routes, topography, etc…

Uniform. How do you identify the people or cities by their clothes, flags, markings, etc…

Time. What time determines the most activity, the least, special gatherings, patrols, etc…

Equipment. How are the cities defended, weapons, implements, water, food, etc…

When the spies return they have observed that the land was flowing with milk and honey as God had said.

“And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.” (Numbers 13:27)

The spies had also reported that the people in the land were strong and their cities were walled.

The spies identified the different organized people.

“The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.” (Numbers 13:29)

The children of Israel hearing about the strength and numbers of the forces in Canaan were afraid.

Eleven of the spies were against entering Canaan, because they thought they were not strong enough. How crazy is that? God had already defeated a Pharaoh for them, defeated an army for them, promised to give them the land of Canaan. Yet, they still lacked faith. With the exception of one.

Caleb, the spy from the tribe of Judah said, “Lets roll”.

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

Be like Caleb, have faith that God will provide.

“Miriam, Aaron, Moses”

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” (Numbers 12:1)

The complaints of the people did not stop among the followers, it included the leaders. Miriam and Aaron knew Moses, before he knew them. Miriam and Aaron had also grown up together as Hebrews. Miriam and Aaron had 40 years of experience being a Hebrew.

Moses, though born a Hebrew, was raised as an Egyptian. Moses had 40 years of experience being an Egyptian. When he left Egypt he ended up with a priest of Midian, his father in law.

The Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s concubine Keturah. They had intermarried with many people. Midinites, if we recall, had bought Joseph from his brothers. Was Zipporah Ethiopian? Probably, we have to take Miriam and Aaron’s word for it.

Miriam and Aaron were in revolt, along with the people against Moses. Their argument against Moses marrying an Ethiopian is followed with the lies they accuse Moses of.

“And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.” (Numbers 12:2)

God replies,

“6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8)

God makes it clear that Miriam and Aaron are not prophets; God didn’t send them messages in their dreams or visions. He goes further to tell them that he speaks to Moses as he would talk directly, with his voice, as he would speak to a friend.

Miriam and Aaron made a poor argument. God leaves without another word. Aaron looks at Miriam and sees she is covered in Leprosy.

When we argue with God’s instructions, he leaves us alone; to face the world alone. Moses asked God to not kill Miriam, and God agreed. Miriam still had to be sent out of the camp for seven days as punishment.

The sin of Miriam and Aaron delayed the children of Israels march toward the promised land.

“The Sorrows”

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1)

God had provided the children of Israel with manna, all that they needed. All they had to do was go pick it up off the ground (Exodus 16). Yet they continued to complain.

They complained that in Egypt they had fish, cucumbers, and melons that they could eat freely. God knows a real problem, from a whine about what you want. In Egypt nothing was free. The children of Israel were under extreme burdens to eat. Nothing in Egypt was free.

With the manna from Heaven they had what they needed, but worried themselves about what they wanted. A discontented spirit will seek any reason to quarrel. They failed to spend their time listening, learning and worshiping God.

God was angry at how the children of Israel were mad at God for saving them. God turned their inward anger to an outward fire that consumed their bodies.

Historically, it is the failure of mankind to give people what they want without any work for it. Without work there is no struggle; without struggle there is no growth.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are the poor in finances”, how much money you have, or do not have is not an issue. Your spirit is what is of concern.

Yet, God provided them with flesh. Quails were sent by a wind from God.

“But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:20)

The sorrows of the children of Israel begins along with our’s, which continues until this day. Trust in God to provide what you need. Complaining to God about what you want is an insult to God.

“God Leads Israel”

“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Numbers 10:3)

From the very beginning of time God was intent on training us. He picked Israel as a model for us. Not because they were the most powerful, but because they were the least powerful. When God sends the least capable it is a message that God can make the least of men into the mightiest (See The Battle of 9 Kings.)

In Numbers, God is building an army. Not to destroy the world, but to save it. Because we, as people, are free to make our own decision here on Earth, we require a long time in training.

To lead his chosen people God needed a signal that they could see and understand. God used a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them out of Egypt. At Mt. Sinai he added silver trumpets to call the congregation to the tabernacle, or to arms.

God had created a covenant with the children of Israel that they would be a mighty nation in the land of Canaan. To achieve that goal God’s wrath would extend not just to Egypt and Canaan, but to the disobedient children of Israel.

Stay Tuned…

“In The Desert”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,” (Numbers 1:1)

The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible. Its Hebrew name, bemidbar, means “in the desert”. It begins 2 years after escaping Egypt and are now in the shadow of Mt. Sinai.

Moses and Aaron has been busy building the tabernacle. They have also been busy building a military force. Understanding the book of Numbers begins with understanding numbers.

Lets begin with those numbers.

It begins with the ages of the troops. Obviously people who would be leaders are in an age range of 40-80+. this is because they are the leaders of their family. Draft age begins at 20 (“From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel:” Numbers 1:3). In today’s manning strength the average age of a U.S. Army enlisted personnel is just under 21. As with any military service disabilities can keep you out of service, or allow you to stay based on the needs of the service.

There is an issue with Numbers, and that is, numbers. If you add up the numbers of military aged men there are in each tribe you can expand on that and suppose there are two million plus people in total. Its called, Guesstimation.

Although it can be argued that a huge army will defeat a small one, that is just not how ground combat works in either modern or ancient times. We’ll talk about all that later.

What is about to happen in Numbers is war and rebellion in the journey to the promised land.

“The Annual Day of Atonement”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;” (Leviticus 16:1)

Once a year the children of Israel offered a sacrifice of atonement. In Mosaic law, every sin you commit requires a sacrifice. Under that law, we would need to sacrifice everyday for every sin. God gave them and us these lessons that point to a future means of atonement.

The “Scape-Goat” has been a lexicon since the time of Moses. What was the “Scape-Goat”?

It all starts with the sacrifice. A goat is taken into the tabernacle, “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:” (Leviticus 16:15)

The goat that is killed takes the wages of the sin of the human. The wages of sin is death.

The “Scape-Goat” is then brought before the altar alive.

“And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21-22)

This is the model of Jesus Christ. He accepts the sin of the world onto himself, he dies for that sin. Sending the goat into the wilderness is a symbol of Christ’s remission of our sin.

Jesus forgives us our sins.

“When a Priest Becomes a Rock Star”

“And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” (Leviticus 9:24)

The duties of a priest were many and detailed. In didn’t just include the perfection of the animals for sacrifice, but every step the priests must take. (Leviticus 1-9)

The priests were Aaron and his sons. The process of a sacrifice was to be solemn and intended to bring glory to God. These sacrifices were done with the children of Israel being present at the door to the tabernacle.

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” (Leviticus 10:1)

What did they do wrong?

Nadab and Abihu had been appointed by God to be priests (Ex 28:1) with a perpetual honor as priests (Ex 29:9). Everything about the sacrifice had been done perfectly. Their error was to add incense and then light the censer (a fire pan for the altar) by using fire of their own addition. In haste they made their own decision. Their sin was to not wait for God. When adding a “strange fire” to the censer was profane. They lost their patience.

The wages of sin is death.

Remember Nadab and Abihu, their sin is easily our sin.

The bajillion* laws in the Bible are there for a reason.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

*bajillion is not a real number.

“Leviticus”

Leviticus is the third book of the bible.

Leviticus was the translation of pre-Christian Greek meaning “relating to the Levites”. The Hebrew title is wayyiqra’, which means “and he called”, an obvious reference to God called.

Leviticus is a manual for how Israelites are to be holy and worship God in a holy way. Israel is expected to be separate from sin and to perform their daily duties in a way that honors God.

The regulations given to the Israelites are extremely tough. Leviticus requires perfection in animals used for sacrifice. Priests are to be without deformity, men and women have personal issues concerning bodily deformations, fluids, and skin diseases.

Leviticus is broken into distinct parts.

Five types of offerings

The installation and ministry of Aaron and his son’s as priests

The distinction between clean and unclean

The annual day of atonement

Holy living

Regulations and offerings vowed to God

Stay Tuned…

“The Old Testament”

The following video is a quick introduction to the Major books of the Old Testament.

I plan on more detailed videos of select books of the Old Testament.

“A Fist Full of Straws”

Life is full of pain and struggle. Jesus provides what you need. Jesus provides Eternal Life.

I had to get blood taken for a test my Doctor insisted on. I was sitting in the lab office full of other people in the same boat. None of us were happy.

As the office became all gloom, suddenly a blood curdling scream came from the direction of the main door. It jolted everyone in the room. A lady was pulling in a large stroller backwards through the narrow door. We could tell she was struggling, but there was no way we could reach around the stroller to make it easy. The screams continued.

As the occupant of the stroller came into view, still screaming, was a girl about 12, or 13. Her face was contorted in a strange way. In her left hand she was clutching a fist full of straws. You could tell her mother was embarrassed by the screaming.

The only thing I could think of was to say, as calmly as possible, “Hey there beautiful”. Immediately the little girl stopped screaming and her face lit up like a warm light and full of love. All of the stress in that room just melted away. She had the smile of an angel and would not take her eyes away from me. So, I just kept talking.

“What a beautiful smile”, I said. She just kept smiling and looking at me.

As I talked with her I felt an unbelievable calm come over me. I looked around at the others there and I could tell they were affected by it as well. A song popped into my head, no I didn’t sing it.

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

It just kept going through my head. On the way out the little girl was sitting with her mother across the office. She looked at me with that same smile. Clutching a fist full of straws.

The next week I had appointments with three doctors. The month before all three had nothing good to say. The first doctor was my kidney doctor.

My kidney doctor was surprised by the lab results. He said, “Well, things are no worse, but I expect they will get worse in the next 30 days.”

My diabetes doctor was surprised by the lab results. He and I had never spoken of Jesus, but this time he said, “Jesus was with you, your A1C is 5.5” I will order another test just to be sure. He did, it also came back at 5.5. That is a great number.

My heart doctor said, “I understand what your kidney doctor is thinking, but keep in mind those results are just labels. Keep doing whatever it is you are doing.”

That was almost a year ago. My numbers about my kidneys are above the danger levels from before. Just don’t be too happy, they can change in a minute, but I am ready for that.

The diabetes doctor is constantly asking what I did to keep my numbers low, but not too low. I just said, “Jesus did it.”

My heart doctor and I have checkups. Normally 5 minutes talking about fishing. I guess my ticker is ticking.

My health is not the issue for me. At least not physical health. Spiritual health is the most important. I know that I am a sinner and through the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus; I’m just passing through this life. When God is done with me, I’ll be out the door to eternity.

Monday, July 17, 2023

“Lost Patience, Lost Faith”

“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” (Exodus 32:1)

Moses had spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai. Before heading up the mountain God had spoken to them all. He gave them word for word the 10 Commandments that would result in a covenant between the children of Israel and God.

After just a few days of Moses heading up the mountain, the children of Israel’s incessant complaining convinced Aaron to make them an idol of gold.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:” (Exodus 32:7)

Just like when the parents leave their children at home, a party will ensue, and the house will be trashed. The children of Israel are having a party and breaking the commandments they promised to follow.

God, the father, is full of anger and tells Moses that he will consume them.

“Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.” (Exodus 32:10)

Moses intercedes with God to save the children of Israel from certain destruction.

“Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.” (Exodus 32:12)

Abraham had interceded with God to save some of the people in Sodom. Now Moses has interceded to spare the lives of the righteous. This is a look to the future, Jesus.

Moses began to return from the mountain with the two tablets. As he came to Joshua, Joshua told Moses that it sounded like there was a war in camp. Moses dismissed it as singing.

When Moses saw the Golden Calf, the people dancing, and worshiping the idol, he was angry.

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exodus 32:26-28)

Moses went back up into the mountain to ask God for forgiveness of their great sin.

“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.” (Exodus 32:32-35)

Stay tuned for a short intermission…