The Answer is to Repent

The answer for all sinners is to repent. In Luke 13:1-5, examples are given of bad that had happened to Galileans by Pilate and bad that had happened to eighteen when a tower fell on them. Jesus does not attribute the happenings to those involved as having more sin than others, but said, "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5).

Jesus Heals and Delivers

Luke 4:18,19 (KJV)

18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

1) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Family Memorial

I am writing today in memory of my cousin, Patrick Watson, who went to be with the Lord on December 26, 2010. I knew Patrick as a quiet, kind gentleman who always seemed to have a smile on his face. I used to see Patrick and his wife, Teresa, in a popular retail establishment where I worked in town. Both of them were always cheerful. Both of them were happy parents as they often talked of their daughters. My thoughts and prayers go out to Teresa and family. May God comfort them at this time. Amen!

Jesus Grows in Spirit, Wisdom, Stature and Favor

Jesus, the child, grew to be strong in spirit. His wisdom and stature increased as well as His favor with God and man (Luke 2:40,52).

Jesus, Our Saviour, Born Unto Us

Luke 2:6-20 (KJV)

6) And so it was, that, while [Joseph and Mary] were [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18) And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19) But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Joseph and Mary Go to Bethlehem

Luke 2:1-5(KJV)

1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Zacharias Prophesied

Luke 1:67-80 (KJV)

67) And [John the Baptist's] father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70) As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72) To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73) The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75) In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77) To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80) And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

The Lord was with John

Luke 1:66 (KJV)

66) And all they that heard [the sayings] laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with [John].

Word Spread Concerning John's Birth

Luke 1:65 (KJV)

65) And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

Zacharias' Mouth Unsealed

Luke 1:64 (KJV)

64) And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

'His Name is John'

Luke 1:59-63 (KJV)

59) And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60) And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61) And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62) And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63) And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Elisabeth Delivers Her Son

Luke 1:57,58 (KJV)

57) Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58) And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Mary's Stay with Elisabeth

Luke 1:56 (KJV)

56) And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Mary Magnifies the Lord (Magnificat)

Luke 1: 46-55 (KJV)

46) And Mary said, My sould doth magnify the Lord,

47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50) And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51) He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53) He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54) He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55) As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Blessed Mary

Luke 1:45 (KJV)

45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth Filled with Holy Ghost

Luke 1:39-44(KJV)

39) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40) And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Mary Accepts Angel's Word

Luke 1:38 (KJV)

38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Nothing is Impossible with God

Luke 1:36,37 (KJV)

The angel said unto Mary,

36) And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37) For with God nothing shall be impossible.

The Son of God Shall Be Born

Luke 1:34,35 (KJV)

34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Angel Delivers News of Jesus

Luke 1: 29-33 (KJV)

29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Mary Favored by the Lord

Luke 1:28 (KJV)

28) And the angel came in unto [Mary], and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Angel Gabriel Visits Mary

Luke 1:26,27 (KJV)

26) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Psalms and Prayers for your Afflictions, Persecutions and Temptations

Psalms 119:49,50

49) Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalms 7:1

1) O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me[.]

Matthew 6:9-13

Lord's Prayer

9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11) Give us this day our daily bread.

12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Be Blessed and Counted Happy

Christians certainly encounter temptations, persecutions and afflictions in life. Those Christians who are patient through temptations are blessed. Those who are patient and suffer affliction are counted as happy.

James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James has us to turn to his brethren of the Lord, the prophets, 'who have spoken in the name of the Lord', for examples of 'suffering affliction, and of patience' (5:10). "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (5:11).

Jesus is the Only Sacrifice

Once we have been exposed to Jesus through the Word of God and accept Him, we must endure to the end. Otherwise, the Word was sown on stony ground (Mark 4:17). If we choose to completely turn away from Jesus to other gods after knowing Him, we must remember that there is no other way to heaven except through the one sacrifice of Jesus for us (Hebrews 10:12).

Embrace the Word of God sown into your heart. Be bold and hold on to the Word through all of Satan's temptations, persecutions and afflictions. Do not give in to our perverse society. Remember that Jesus was armored with the Word when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:1-11).

Jesus Warns of Unforgivable Sin

"Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mark 3:28,29)[.]

Let Jesus Bind Satan

When Jesus calls you, open your heart to let Him in to bind the strongholds of Satan. Satan is nothing but a liar. Do not be deceived by him. Flee his evil through Jesus! (Mark 3:27).

Hear a Physician calling?

Jesus may be the Physician calling you. In Mark 2:17, Jesus said, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

If you hear Jesus' call, you may possibly respond by saying, "Yes Lord, I believe in You and answer Your call. I repent of my sins. I want to live my life for You. Amen!"

Ministries Converged

Writing has become my Christian ministry. My faith in action. The proper word(s) placed by the Holy Spirit at the right place at the right time is/are a powerful thing!

My attempts toward other ministries have all converged to writing. I believe the time has come for me to be settled as an inspirational writer. Writing is happening The rest is in God's hands.

Let the Spirit Flow

When you discover the Holy Spirit is in your midst, make no effort to extinguish the fire through sin. As simply commanded in I Thessalonians 5:19--"Quench not the Spirit." Amen!

Give Thanks Today and Everyday

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).

God's Word is Life and Happiness

Open your heart to the treasures of God's Word for "[wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her" (Proverbs 3:18).

Prayer: Thank you Lord for providing the way of life and happiness for us. Amen!

'Trust in the Lord'

Proverbs 3:5,6 (KJV):

5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Receive Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding from God

Proverbs 2:1-6 (KJV):

1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

6) For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Thank You Jesus

Recently Jesus led me to the words in Matthew 28:20. I want to pray a prayer of thanks to Him for always being there for me. He will always be there for you too!
Prayer: Thank You Jesus for always being with me even to the end of the world. Amen!

Place Hope and Trust in the Lord

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:7).

Search Mode

I have various things weighing on my heart. I have searched the scriptures with no clear revelation for today. I shall continue to search. May we all remain steadfast in our most needful Jesus. Amen!

Embrace Jesus

During these tough economic times, embrace the one needful thing who shall not be taken away--Jesus (Luke 10:42).

I Had a Blind Moment

Thank God for wonderful sisters. I am blessed with three of them. Yesterday, Jesus worked through my sister, Treasa, to help me through a personal storm. I had a blind moment where Treasa helped me to see.

It is important for Christians to embrace the ministering God sends for us to share with one another. At first, when Treasa was talking to me, I was a bit arrogant, but the Holy Spirit humbled me through the words of wisdom He sent through her. By the end of our conversation, my personal storm had become a shower of blessings from God! I was blind but now I see.

Prayer: Thank you God for working through Treasa, time and again to help me see! Amen!

Continuously Rely on Jesus

I have visited the Words of Jesus in John 9:39 on various occasions and left with no clear understanding of the verse. The verse says, "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind"

I have been unable to understand why Jesus would want a person to become blind. He had just healed a blind man. This morning, however, I have come to understand the meaning to be that Jesus wants us to continuously rely on Him. Can you see the reciprocity in the verse?

Jesus wants believers who do not understand His spiritual truths to turn to Him so they will understand. At the same time, Jesus wants believers who already understand His spiritual truths to become blind to them so they will not become self-righteous like the Pharisees. Thus, all believers are to always be reliant on Jesus for answers.

Personally, I have been blind to this explanation, but now I see. When I return to the verse at another time, I'll have to turn to Jesus for the explanation. Therefore, as a Christian, I search the scriptures with Jesus opening my eyes to the truth!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for opening my eyes to Your truths. I pray for those searching Your Word to always turn to You for the answers! Amen!

Unity in Our Diversities and Differences

I Corinthians 12:4-7 (KJV):

4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Do You Believe in Jesus?

If you have any doubt that Jesus exists, the book of John in the Bible is for you. Jesus did many signs written in John so that we "...might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:30,31). When you discover Jesus, the gift from God to us, all you have to do is ask and He will give you the living water for everlasting life (John 4:10,14).

My testimony is that Jesus exists. My hope is that you will believe in Jesus as a result of my testimony. If you do not believe me, then, I hope you are drawn to the Word of God to experience the truth for yourself!

Prayer: Father God, I pray that You use this blog to help those who do not believe in You to come to believe. I also hope they are drawn to living a life for You! Amen!

Veteran's Day Prayer

When I came across II Corinthians 13:14 this morning, it weighed on my heart. It is an appropriate prayer of blessing for all of our veterans. Thank God for all of our veterans!

Prayer: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Overcome Hatred with Love

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins (Proverbs 10:12).

Personal note: Replace whatever hatred you have in your heart with love! Overcome the snare of Satan!

Solution for Bullying

The solution for bullying or any evil in our society is for the Word of God to be witnessed to all. When people come to believe in God and worship Him in spirit and in truth, they want to become more and more like Him. Since God is love, love will abound. Love is the more excellent way. The definition for love (charity) is in I Corinthians 13:4-8:

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; Beareth all things , believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth..."

Prayer: I pray God that You permeate society with Your lovingkindness and that the people of society want to become more and more like you! Amen!

God is Everywhere

In Psalms 139, you will learn that God is everywhere you are. It is so simple to turn to God wherever you are and have Him to search your ways to lead you to life everlasting!

Prayer: Lord, I know You are not far from me and I am praying to You from this very spot the words from the Psalm of David--Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Amen!

Listen for Jesus' Voice

Do you belong to Jesus' fold? Listen for Jesus' voice. Is Jesus preached in your church? Listen for Jesus' voice. Here are some Words from Jesus: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:27,28).

The following words may be the ones you have been waiting to hear:

"...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ....Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2: 38-40).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray Your voice is heard by all to become a part of Your eternal fold! Amen!

Exalt the Lord

God is speaking to me today through Isaiah 66:5. He says, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at [H]is word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but [H]e shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed."

God appeared to my joy on my recent first visit to an Episcopal church where there are no outcasts! I am moved to exalt God through the verse of Psalms 99:5 which says, "Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at [H]is footstool; for [H]e is holy."

God knows of the time when and where I was cast out because of accusations for His name's sake. Glory be to God for appearing to my joy!

Prayer: Thank You God for not casting me out. You make me welcome wherever You are. You appeared to my joy and made me welcome at Your table in the Episcopal church. Praise Your Glorious Name! Amen!

Testimony of Holy Spirit Manifestation

Today's blog is to express testimony of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Glory be to God for His presence always and for manifestation of His presence to me yesterday during a church service. While the rector was praying before distribution of the bread and wine, the Holy Spirit came upon me with a pressing down from above and with an electric-like feeling through my feet and up my legs. The whole experience left me in awe! The pressing down was not oppressive, but comforting which made the form of His Holy Spirit known. The feeling in my feet and legs was energizing. Let this stand as witness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is Lord! Glory be to God! Amen!

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your most welcome presence in my life! Amen!

A Psalm for Protection from the Enemy

A Psalm for anyone experiencing Satan's attack:

Psalm 64

1) Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2) Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3) Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

4) That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5) They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

6) They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7) But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

8) So they shall make their own tongue to fall fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

9) And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10) The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Personal note: God sees and knows what the evil are doing. He will convict their hearts of their doings!

You Have the Holy Ghost, If...

Our way to salvation is through Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13). When we believe in Jesus and love Him, we keep His commandments (John 14:15). In keeping Jesus' commandments, God, the Father, gives us "...another Comforter, that [H]e may abide with [us] for ever" (John 14:16)[.] This Comforter is the Holy Ghost (John 14:26).

Yesterday's blog entry was closed with the question--"Do you have the Holy Ghost?" The answer to this is yes to all who have called upon the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:13). The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins which brings Jesus to light in an opportunity for a sinner to repent of sins and be saved (John 16:8,9). When we are saved, we are opening up for the Holy Spirit to abide with us.

Jesus is the Lord

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. I Corinthians 12:3 (KJV).

Do you have the Holy Ghost?

Abide in the Holy Ghost

Be sure to know the true God of our worship is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Be not snared by Satan and turn aside to worship false gods. Follow Jesus' example Who turned to the Word of God when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:10). The good of God's Word overcame the evil of Satan.

On Halloween be extra vigilant of what might be lurking out there. Let the only ghost you embrace for a permanent abode be the Holy Ghost!

God Wants Our All

One of the ten commandments found in Deuteronomy 5:7 is 'Thou shalt have none other gods before me.' We find in Deuteronomy 10:12,13 that God requires us to fear Him, "...to walk in all [H]is ways, and to love [H]im, and to serve [H]im with all [our] heart and all [our] soul[.]" We are to "[t]ake heed to [ourselves], that [our] heart be not deceived, and [we] turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16) [.]

Today we have so many things fighting for our attention. We have to be cautious of anything that causes our heart to be lifted up and directs our attention away from God. God wants us to give Him our all! God wants all of our sights set on Him!

Stay Grounded in God's Word

God's Word to Israel in Deuteronomy 8:11-13, 18,19 runs parallel to Jesus' parable in Matthew 13:7,8,22,23. In both situations, God wants His children to serve Him and not to be deceived by the riches of this world. When we are grounded in God's Word, we are fruitful in serving Him as opposed to being unfruitful and serving other gods.

Always Keep God First

We must always keep God first in our lives lest we think too highly of ourselves and turn from Him. Deuteronomy 8 is a lesson for us as we travel through our wilderness. Whether we believe or not, God is to be given the credit for all in our life "...for [H]e maketh [H]is sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). The believer can rest in knowing that "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [H]is purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Downsize the High Thoughts

Here is a New Testament verse for you to think upon in relation to yesterday's blog entry: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3--KJV).

Moses Speaks to Israel

Moses let the children of Israel know in Deuteronomy 9:4 that the people who dwell in the Promised Land were being driven out by God because of their wickedness and not because of Israel's righteousness. Moses says to Israel, "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me into possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee."

Maybe in reading Moses' words you will take a closer look inward at yourself as well as a closer look outward. Your look inward to possibly steer from self-righteousness. Your look outward to see God's work in your life.

God Shares

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. --Deuteronomy 10:14

Laws Delivered by Moses

A search of the Book of Deuteronomy (KJV):

In Deuteronomy, Moses delivered the laws of God to the children of Israel before turning leadership over to Joshua. Moses was only allowed to view the Promised Land from a distance because he trespassed against the Lord in the wilderness (32:51,52). More specifically, Moses had failed to sanctify the Lord in Israel's presence (32:51).

"And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the Land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended" (34:4-8).

"And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt ot Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel" (34:9-12).

Unfinished Matters Before Canaan

A search of Numbers 33 through 36 (KJV):

Chapter 33 reviewed the points of travel of the children of Israel from beginning to just before they entered Canaan.

Chapter 34 described the borders of Canaan. The Lord assigned the task of dividing the Promised Land to Eleazar, the priest, Joshua, the son of Nun and one prince from each of the remaining tribes (34:17,18). The names of the princes with their tribes in parentheses were as follows: Caleb (Judah), Shemuel (Simeon), Elidad (Benjamin), Bukki (Dan), Hanniel (Manasseh), Kemuel (Ephraim), Elizaphan (Zebulun), Paltiel (Issachar), Ahihud (Asher) and Pedahel (Naphtali) (34:19-28).

In chapter 35, Moses was commanded to have the children of Israel to give of their inheritance to the Levites (35:2). Israel was to give them cities in which to live and suburbs for their cattle, beasts and goods (35:2,3). In all, the Levites were to be given forty-eight cities with their suburbs (35:7). Six of these cities were to be used for refuge purposes for Israel or strangers or sojourners involved somehow in killing any person (35:6,15). The killer was to stay in refuge until judged by the congregation (35:12). God dwelled among the children of Israel and did not want the land defiled by bloodshed (35:34).

In chapter 36, the Lord worked through Moses to clear up concerns among Israel about the daughters of Zelophehad. Moses said, "This is the thing which the Lord doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance" (36:6-9).

"Even as the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad: For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons: And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. These are the commandements and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho" (36:10-13).

Reuben and Gad Prefer Land Before Canaan

A search of Numbers 32 (KJV):

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad preferred to have their inheritance of land given on the side of the Jordan before crossing into the Promised Land. They found that land to be a place for their cattle, so they approached Moses and Eleazar, the priest, about their wishes. The servants said to Moses and Eleazar, "if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan" (32:5).

Moses felt that the children of Israel might be discouraged if the children of Reuben and the children of Gad did not go to war into the Promised Land (32:6,7). God would, therefore, become angry and keep Israel wandering in the wilderness with all of them doomed because of the children of Reuben and the children of Gad (32:15).

Instead of promoting discouragement, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad agreed to go armed before Israel into Canaan and would only return to their claim of inheritance after Israel was given theirs (32:17,18). "And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, And the land be subdued before the Lord: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out" (32:20-23).

"And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the Lord hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side of Jordan may be ours" (32:31,32).

"And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities of the country round about. And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep" (32:33-36).

"And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded" (32:37,38).

"And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair. And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name" (32:39-42).

War Booty Distributed

A search of Numbers 31:25-54 (KJV):

The booty collected in the war with the Midianites--persons, beeves, asses and sheeps--was commanded by God to be divided between those of Israel who participated in the war and the remainder of the congregation of Israel (31:25,27). The men who went to battle were to give of their half to Eleazar, the priest, as a tribute to be a heave offering to the Lord (31:28,29). The others were to give of their half to the Levites who were responsible for the tabernacle (31:30). Moses and Eleazar did as they were commanded with counts of the booty conducted and divided accordingly (31:31-47).

"And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses: And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. We have therefore brought an [offering] for the Lord, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord" (31:48-50).

"And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the Lord, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.) And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord" (31:51-54).

Israel Battles Midianites

A search of Numbers 31:1-24 (KJV):

God commanded Moses to arm one thousand of the children of Israel from each tribe for a total of twelve thousand to go to war against the Midianites (31:1-5). After the war, Moses was then to gather to his people (31:2). "And Moses sent them to war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword" (31:6-8).

"And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire. And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho" (31:9-12)

"And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them [outside] the camp. And Moses was [angry] with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle" (31:13,14).

"And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves" (31:15-18).

"And do ye abide [outside] the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person , and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. And purify all you raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood" (31:19,20).

"And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord commanded Moses; Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron the tin, and the lead, Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp" (31:21-24).

Offerings and Statutes Commanded

A search of Numbers 28, 29 and 30 (KJV):

In chapters 28 and 29, God spoke to Moses about the offerings that the children of Israel were to offer to Him in their due season (28:1). Chapter 30 concerned vows to the Lord. The statutes in this chapter commanded to Moses by the Lord were "...between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house" (30:16).

Joshua Given Charge of Congregation

Numbers 27:12-23 (KJV):

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin." (27:12-14).

"And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd" (27:15-17).

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 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" (27:18-21).

"And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses" (27:22,23).

Daughters Take Stand for Inheritance

A search of Numbers 27:1-11 (KJV):

Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah were "...the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Mannasseh the son of Joseph..." who "...stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation..." to claim their inheritance because their father had died in the wilderness without any sons (27:1-4). The daughters said, "Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father" (27:4).

"And Moses brought their cause before the Lord. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. And if his father have no brethern, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses" (27:5-11).

New Census Taken

A search of Numbers 26 (KJV):

After the plague, God commanded Moses and Eleazar, Aaron's priestly son, to take a census of all members of Israel who were twenty years and older and able for war (26:1,2). Moses and Eleazar did as they were commanded (26:3). When the count was complete, there were six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty children of Israel (26:51).

Now that the count was complete, God said to Moses that the land was to be divided amongst Israel for their inheritance (26:53). According to the Lord, the division was to take place as follows: "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" (26:54-56).

Moses and Eleazar also took a census of the male Levites who were one month and older (26:62). This count was separate from that of the children of Israel since the Levites were not included in the inheritance (26:62). In all, there were twenty-three thousand counted (26:62).

"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, [except] Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun" (26:63-65).

Israel Strays in Shittim

A search of Numbers 25 (KJV):

In Numbers 25, Israel dwelled in Shittim and participated in whoredom with the daughters of Moab; bowed down to their gods and joined Baalpeor (25:1, 2,3). These actions made God angry and He dealt with the people through Moses (25:3,4,5).

"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" (25:6-9).

"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" (25:10-13).

"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" (25:14,15).

"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" (25:16-18).

God Delivers Parables to Balaam

A search of Numbers 24 (KJV):

The spirit of God was upon Balaam to deliver the parable-richness of this chapter. The parables expressed blessings as well as prophecy for Israel (24:5-9; 24:14-24).

Balak became angry at Balaam for blessing Israel three times because he had wanted them to be cursed (24:10). In the end, however, good overcame evil with Balaam standing firm with God (24:13). Balaam was not enticed by Balak's promotions of honor (24:11). Balaam and Balak parted ways (24:25).

Personal note: Be sure to search the blessings and prophecies set forth in parables in this chapter!

More Attempts to Curse Israel

A search of Numbers 23 (KJV):

The theme throughout this chapter was that of the blessing or cursing of Israel. Balak brought Balaam to Moab to curse Israel; however, God had previously made it known to Balaam that Israel was blessed, so he could not curse them (22:12; 23:7). In his Words from God, Balaam asked, "How shall I curse, when God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied" (23:8)?

"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" (23:11,12)? Even after Balaam said this, Balak attempted to entice him to curse Israel from atop Pisgah (23:14).

Upon Pisgah, God delivered more parables through Balaam for Balak to hear (23:16). These were the Words of God: "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" (23:19-24).

Even with these Words of God, Balak was adamant about working through Balak to change God's mind to curse Israel. Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor for another attempt (23:27,28).

Personal question: Have you noticed the persistent darkness of Balak?

God Intervenes with Miracles

A search of Numbers 22:22-41 (KJV):

God had agreed in verse twenty to allow Balaam to go with the princes of Moab if they called him to go with them. In the morning, however, when Balaam went with the princes, God became angry (22:22). Why did God become angry although he had agreed to let Balaam go? God's anger occurred because of perverseness that had developed in the way of Balaam (22:32).

God worked through His angel to correct Balaam which could have resulted in his death had it not been for the donkey's sight into the angelic realm. Three times the donkey turned away from the angel to save Balaam. Three times Balaam beat the donkey.

It was when the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to the angel's presence that Balaam realized his sin: sin in his heart for his pervert way; sin for beating the animal (22:32). The angel allowed Balaam to continue to Moab under the condition that only the word spoken by the angel was the word to be spoken by Balaam (22:35).

When Balaam arrived in Moab, he exalted the Word of God above the temporal offer of Balak: "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 work that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak" (22:37,38). The chapter closed with what seemed to be another enticing move by Balak toward Balaam with the 'high places of Baal' where 'he might see the utmost part of the people' (22:41).

Personal note: Be cautious of Satan's subtile ways!

Israel Camps in Moab

A search of Numbers 22:1-21 (KJV):

The children of Israel journeyed on in the wilderness setting up camp 'in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho' (22:1). Now, the Moabites of the land were distressed because of all the children of Israel in their land (22:3). The Moabites' King Balak had seen what Israel had done to the Amorites; therefore, he sought help from Balaam, Beor's son, who lived in Pethor "...by the river of the land of the children of his people" (22:2,5).

King Balak knew of Balaam's power to bless and to curse others, so he requested, through the elders of Moab and Midian, for Balaam to curse the children of Israel so that perhaps he could drive them out of the land (22:6,7). Balaam was a man of God who had the elders to lodge with him while he waited for word from God about what to do (22:8). "And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee" (22:9)? Balaam explained Balak's request through the elder messengers (22:10,11). "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed" (22:12).

Morning came with Balaam telling the 'princes of Balak' to return to their land that God refused to let him go with them (22:13). "And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us"(22:14).

"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" (22:15-17).

Balaam then replied, "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" (22:18). Balaam exemplified a true man of God who did not place worldly riches above the Word of God.

Continuing to wait upon the Lord, Balaam said, "Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know that 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" (22:19-21).

God's Hand in the Matter: Clearly Balaam waited for God before he acted. In waiting for God's hand in the matter, Balaam discovered the children of Israel were blessed. We learned that Balaam would not do more or less than the Word of God! God's hand was with Balaam! God's hand was with Israel!

Israel Defeats Sihon and Og

Numbers 21:21-35 (KJV):

21) And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,

22) 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.

23) 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.

24) 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.

25) And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.

26) 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.

27) Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

28) 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.

29) Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he had given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.

30) We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.

31) Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

32) And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.

33) And they turned and went up to the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.

34) 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.

35) So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

Israel Travels and Sings

A search of Numbers 21:10-20:

These verses mention Israel's travels from place to place through the Wilderness. They came to "...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" (21:15-18).

From there, Israel traveled from place to place all the way to "...Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon" (21:20).

Personal note: After the previous complaints, it is certainly pleasing to witness in the Word of God that Israel was singing.

Israel Approached God Two Different Ways

A search of Numbers 21:1-9:

King Arad, a Canaanite, who lived 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" (21:1). Then, Israel turned to God for help. They vowed to God in an acceptable manner which resulted in a favorable outcome for Israel--the Canaanites were delivered by God which resulted in the destruction of them along with their cities (21:2,3). Israel had worked in cooperation with God.

Israel left the area called Mount Hor and traveled by 'way of the Red Sea' around the land of Edom which discouraged them (21:4). They complained against God and 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" (21:5).

"And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died" (21:6).

"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" (21:7).

"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" (21:8).

"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" (21:9).

Two ways of approaching God were exemplified by Israel in these verses. "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of the spirits, and live" (Hebrews 12:9)? Which way do you choose to approach God?

Israel Complains to Moses

A search of Numbers 20:

All of the children of Israel journeyed into the desert of Zin and made Kadesh their temporary home (20:1). Kadesh was the location where Miriam died and was buried (20:1).

Again, the children of Israel complained to Moses about having traveled out of Egypt--"And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink"(20:5).

Moses and Aaron went to the Lord for the people (20:6). "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "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"" (20:7,8). Moses did as the Lord commanded and there was an abundant supply of water from the rock for the congregation and their animals (20:11).

"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" (20:12,13).

After making futile requests to the King of Edom to pass through his borders, Moses and Israel traveled from Kadesh to Mount Hor (20:14-22). "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" (20:23-26).

"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" (20:27-29).

Personal note: Why complain about our condition? God, in His Holiness, wants us to approach Him reverently in faithful prayer for our needs. Of course, the children of Israel had Moses and Aaron to approach the Lord on their behalf. You can witness their reverent approach to God in the words of verse 6. God's glory appeared to them!

Sins Cleansed

A search of Numbers 19:

A way of purification for the unclean or sinful among the children of Israel was through the ashes of a sacrificed, unblemished red heifer (19:2,9). The ashes were mixed with water in a vessel and sprinkled by a clean person with hyssop upon the persons or items for purification (19:17,18). The children of Israel had a choice, "[b]ut the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him: he is unclean" (19:20).

Today, people are separate from the world if they choose to be one of God's children. Jesus is the sacrifice without blemish for the purification of the world's sins. Through the blood of Jesus, believers are saved. Saved for eternity in heaven with God. Saved from eternity in hell.

God Gives of His Offerings

God's Word is full of hidden treasures. Treasures waiting to be received by you. Sometimes the King James version of the bible will leave you walking away scratching your head and wondering what a verse or chapter means. Don't be alarmed! There are times you can read the verse or chapter two or three times and the meaning becomes more and more clear. There are also times when the meaning does not come at all. For His reasons, God has chosen not to reveal the meaning to you yet. I have oftentimes found God revealing the meaning to me at a later time, when I least expect it. This leaves me with a feeling of awe toward God. It is an unexplainable Spiritual Aha moment! There is nothing like it!

Today's blog entry is from Numbers 18. Wonder what God wants to reveal to you?

1) And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

2) And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of they father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.

3) And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

4) And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.

5) And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

6) And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

7) Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

8) And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.

9) This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

10) In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.

11) And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.

12) All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee.

13) And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.

14) Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.

15) Every thing that openeth the [womb] in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

16) And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

17) But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

18) And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.

19) All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and they daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

20) And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

21) And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

22) Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

23) But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

24) But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

25) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

26) Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.

27) And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

28) Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering to Aaron the priest.

29) Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.

30) Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

31) And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

32) And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.

One of the things God revealed to me today is how He joined Aaron and the tribe of Levi together to 'minister before the tabernacle of witness' (18:2). It makes me think of how the Spirit of God works through our ministers today in bringing them together in the unity of the Spirit to bring His Word. In breaking down denominational barriers, God's Spirit works through our ministers to bring us hope of a better future He has in store for us.

Aaron's Rod Buds, Blooms, Yields Almonds

The following is word for word from Numbers 17 in the King James version of the bible:

1) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

3) And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

4) And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

5) And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

6) And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7) And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

9) And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

10) And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

11) And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he.

12) And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

13) Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Korah and Company Rebel Against Moses and Aaron

Verbatim entry of Numbers 16 from the King James version of the Bible:

1) Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

2) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

3) And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

4) And when Moses heard it he fell upon his face:

5) And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

6) This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

7) And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

8) And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

9) Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

10) And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

11) For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12) And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

13) Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

14) Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

15) And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

16) And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17) And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18) And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19) And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

20) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22) And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

23) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24) Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25) And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26) And he spake unto the congregations, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

27) So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28) And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

29) If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.

30) But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

31) And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them.

32) And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33) They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34) And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

35) And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

36) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

37) Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

38) The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

39) And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

40) To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

41) But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.

42) And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.

43) And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

44) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

45) Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46) And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.

47) And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48) And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49) Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

50) And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

God Speaks of Commandments

A search of Numbers 15:

God spoke to Moses about laws the children of Israel were to follow once they entered the Promised Land (15:2). The laws pertained to offerings to the Lord which were to be followed by Israel and any stranger among them (15:15). If the laws were broken out of ignorance, there was a way for forgiveness; however, if broken presumptuously "...that soul shall be cut off from among his people" (15:28-30). Observance of the laws applied to "...all that the Lord commanded...by the hand of Moses, from the day the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among [their] generations" (15:23) [.]

"And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses" (15:32-36).

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God" (15:37-41).

Personal note: Today, we have forgiveness for our sins through the death of Jesus Christ. If we love Jesus, we keep His commandments (John 14:21). We have the Holy Spirit to teach us and to remind us of Jesus' sayings (14:26).

Continuation of 'Israel Provokes the Lord'

Today's entry is word for word from Numbers 14:25-45 with a brief personal note following.

"(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die" (14:25-35).

"And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still" (14:36-38).

"And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned" (14:39,40).

"And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you" (14:41-43).

"But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwell in that hill, smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah" (14:44,45).

Personal Note: When others say things are impossible, we should be like Caleb with a different spirit and keep our faith in the Lord, with Whom, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The children of Israel acted without the Lord which left them beaten by the Amalekites and Canaanites. Today, as then, we should not presume to do anything without the Lord!

Israel Provokes the Lord

A search of Numbers 14:1-24:

Caleb delivered words of certainty to the children of Israel that they would be able to take over the land of Canaan; however, the others who travelled with Caleb delivered a report that they would not be "...able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we" (Numbers 13:30,31). This negative report overshadowed Caleb's words and left the children of Israel lifting up their voices--crying, weeping and murmuring against Moses and Aaron (14:1,2). Israel asked, "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" (14:3)? The people talked of making a captain and returning to Egypt (14:4).

"Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel: And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh which were of them that searched the land [tore] their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not" (14:5-9).

"But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they" (14:10-12).

"And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. And now, I beseech thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now" (14:13-19).

" And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it" (14:20-24).

Israel Spies on Land of Canaan

A search of Numbers 13:

Moses followed God's command to send a ruler from each tribe of the children of Israel to search the land of Canaan which God gave to them (13:1-3). The names of the rulers with the tribes they represented in parentheses were as follows: Shammua (Reuben), Shaphat (Simeon), Caleb (Judah), Igal (Issachar), Oshea (Ephraim), Palti (Benjamin), Gaddiel (Zebulun), Gaddi (Joseph or Mannasseh), Ammiel (Dan), Sethur (Asher), Nahbi (Naphtali), Geuel (Gad) (13:4-15). Oshea, son of Nun, from the tribe of Ephraim was called Jehoshua by Moses (13:16).

Moses gave the rulers travel plans for their search of the land of Canaan (13:17). They were to "...see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; [a]nd what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; [a]nd what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not" (13:18-20). Moses said for the men to "...be...of good courage, and to bring of the fruit of the land" (13:20).

After a forty day venture into the wilderness, the men reported back to Moses, Aaron and the congregation of Israel about their travels (13:25,26). The men returned with fruit of the land to show (13:26,27). "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. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 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" (13:27-29).

"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. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 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" (13:30-33).

God Angered at Miriam and Aaron

A search of Numbers 12:


Moses had married an Ethiopian woman which caused Miriam and Aaron to speak against him (12:1). "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (12:3)). So, Miriam and Aaron seemed to uplift themselves when they said, "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?" Their words were heard by the Lord (12:2). "And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out" (12:4).

"And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 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. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 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" (12:5-8)?

"And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous" (12:9,10).

"And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb" (12:11,12).

"And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran" (12:13-16).

God Relieves Moses' Burden

A search of Numbers 11:11-36:

Moses turned to the Lord for the children of Israel. Moses asked the Lord, Why have You afflicted me, Your servant (11:11)? Why do you not favor me, that You place the burden of all the people on me (11:11)? "Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers" (11:12)?

When shall I have flesh to give to the people (11:13)? "...for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness" (11:13,14,15).

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 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" (11:16-20)?

Moses asked the Lord if the food for the six hundred thousand people among him was to come from the flocks, herds, or fish from the sea (11:21,22). "And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand [grown] short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not" (11:23).

As the Lord commanded, Moses gathered the seventy elders around the tabernacle (11:24). "And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease" (11:25).

"But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel" (11:26-30).

"And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth" (11:31-35).