Bible in 90, Day 13: I believe the children are our future… seriously

Numbers 32-Deuteronomy 7

*image courtesy of jayofboy at www.sxc.hu

So, they finally made it to the Promised Land!  Some of these people were teenagers when they left Egypt, and now they’re in their 60’s and 70’s!  That’s a long time to wait on a promise to be fulfilled!  But God is faithful.  Before they go in, Moses lays down some ground rules: tribal allotments and boundaries, cities of refuge, Levitical towns, and inheritance standards.  This brings us to the end of Numbers.

Deuteronomy begins with a recounting of the last forty years, right up to the defeating of Sihon and Og.  Here, Moses reminds the people of God’s faithfulness, the unfaithfulness of their parents’ generation, and the reason behind the forty years of wandering.  Then begins one of the foundational passages of Judaism.  Chapters 4-6 of Deuteronomy are amazingly important chapters in the Old Testament.  In chapter 4, Moses commands the people to obey God and reminds them of their incredibly unique situation.  They are God’s chosen people and have heard His very voice speaking to them from the fire.  This prepares them to hear once again the Ten Commandments in chapter 5.  In chapter 6, we encounter the Jewish declaration of faith.  It is known as the Shema.  Shema is the first Hebrew word in v. 4 and it translates to “Hear!”  

Bible in 90, Day 11: Poor Moses!

Numbers 8-21

*image courtesy of Rene at www.sxc.hu

There are several recurring themes in today’s reading – complaining, God being furious, leadership challenges, and Moses & Aaron on their faces. And Moses really takes a lot in this passage!  Every time you turn around, someone is asking why Moses and/or God brought them out to the wilderness to die, or trying to usurp authority from Moses, Aaron, or even God!

The people complain that they are sick of manna.  They actually wish for the “good ol’ days” back when they were slaves in Egypt!  In one of my favorite lines in the Old Testament, God declares that they will have so much meat it will come out of their nostrils and they will loathe it!

Tee hee! God humor!