Deuteronomy 1-2 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness…In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them…Beyond the Jordan, in the land of …
Author Archives: John S.
February 20 / Numbers 34-36
Numbers 34-36 As we have seen before, unlike the other twelve tribes, the tribe of Levi is not to receive a large regional plot of land. The Levites have to live somewhere, though, so the LORD declares that they are to have 48 cities (or perhaps what we would now call towns) scattered throughout Israel’s …
February 19 / Numbers 32-33
Numbers 32-33 The tribes of Gad and Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh (Num. 32:33) look around at the land that the Israelites already occupy east of the Jordan River, the land of Gilead formerly ruled by Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, whom Israel previously defeated (as recounted …
February 18 / Numbers 30-31
Numbers 30-31 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites…” Numbers 31:1-2a I suspect that most of us are uncomfortable with the above command against the Midianites (though I also suspect we’d be much less uncomfortable if we were to substitute “Nazis” for “Midianites”). As much as I would …
February 17 / Numbers 27-29
Numbers 27-29 Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as …
February 16 / Numbers 25-26
Numbers 25-26 As noted yesterday, Numbers 31:16 tells us that Balaam is behind Israel’s sin here. He advises the Moabites and Midianites to lure the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. (See also Rev. 2:14.) The Moabites and Midianites take that advice and, given Israel’s proclivities toward rebellion against the LORD, they successfully entice many …
February 15 / Numbers 21-24
Numbers 21-24 Balaam is an interesting figure. His story occupies three full chapters of today’s reading, and he is referenced multiple times later in the Scriptures. (See Num. 31:8,16; Deut. 23:3-5; Josh. 13:22; 24:9-10; Neh. 13:2; Mic. 6:5; II Pet. 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14.) Balak, the king of Moab, hires Balaam to curse Israel. …
February 14 / Numbers 17-20
Numbers 17-20 Does the story of “The Waters of Meribah” in Num. 20:2-13 feel like déjà vu? Perhaps that is because we have a very similar story in Exodus 17:1-7. In both cases, the people of Israel quarrel with Moses, grumbling about the lack of water. In both cases Moses pleads with the LORD to …
February 13 / Numbers 15-16
Numbers 15-16 Today envy again raises its ugly head. Korah, a Levite of the clan of Kohath, leads a company against Moses and Aaron. Not content to be one of the chosen few designated to carry the most holy things, Korah aspires to the priesthood, thinking that Moses and Aaron have exalted themselves over everyone …
February 12 / Numbers 13-14
Numbers 13-14 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:4 There you have it: the birthplace of democracy! Don’t get me wrong. Looking at current and historical forms of government, I’ll take the Constitution of the U.S.A. over just about any other, and I’m quite …