The Highlighter [Numbers 7-Deuteronomy 4]

This week I read Numbers 7 through Deuteronomy 4. Here is what God put on my heart:

Numbers 7:9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.

Numbers 9:23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

I hate to seem like a broken record. I know I've touched on this idea the past couple of weeks. But I really don't think obedience is to be taken lightly. If there is one thing we've learned about God thus far, it's that he means what he says. "Good news" or "bad news" he is serious.

Numbers 11:10-12 Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers?

To me, this is one of those comparative lessons. I didn't type out verse 1, but verse 1 says Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. Ouch! The people complain and God sends a fire!

Yet, compare that to what happened to Moses a few paragraphs later. He was troubled...but God didn't send one of his flaming special deliveries to Moses. What's the difference? He took his burdens to the LORD. He "asked the LORD" as the text reads.

That comparison teaches me a lot. I hope it blesses you the same way it blesses me.

Numbers 14:18 The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.

Numbers 15:30-31 But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.

It is important to note that those who sinned defiantly and deliberately received a harsher punishment. They were to be cut off. There is a temptation to justify our sin by saying "It will be ok, I can do this. God will forgive me". Well, we can see what happened to the Israelites when they intentionally sinned.

Paul addresses that particular justification in Romans 6:1-2 as well. Whichever verse you use, I think the point is that we aren't to take sin so lightly.

Numbers 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

What jumps out at me here is that phrase "you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy". He didn't say "you disobeyed me", even though Moses clearly disobeyed. He didn't say "you lost your temper" even though that is what happened. Instead, the LORD used the phrase "you did not trust me".

My Hebrew knowledge is limited (one semester's worth). Someone smarter than me is going to have to handle that part.

Anyways, I find that phrasing interesting. I have a few thoughts about it, but I'd love to hear yours as well.

Numbers 33:52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

I love how there is to be a high priority in getting rid of the idols before they move into the promised land.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

There is a passage similar to this in Jeremiah that is a bit more well known. The context in this one is a bit different though. However, they both have one thing in common: look for him, seek him with all our heart.

I don't think we can emphasize enough what that phrase "all your heart" really means. All of our heart! What would it be like if we looked for God with half of our heart? Can we seek God with half our our heart while the other half follows the ways of the world? (Revelation 3 refers to that as "lukewarm")

God Bless!