Moses and Aaron are Forbidden to Enter the Promised Land; Obedience to the Lord

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 19:1 - 20:29
  
• Proverbs 11:8

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 19:1 - 20:29
I knew that both Moses and Aaron died before reaching the promised land.  I thought that was because of the judgment against that entire generation to die in the wilderness.  It turns out, however, that Moses and Aaron earned their own judgments for disobedience to the Lord.

In chapter 20 we are told that the people of Israel arrived in Kadesh, which was a camp in the middle of the wilderness of Zin.  There was no water there, and once again the people began moaning familiar phrases (why did you bring us here to die?!) to Moses and Aaron.  The two brothers went to seek the Lord's presence for an answer on what to do.

The Lord told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock in front of the people, and water would pour forth (20:8).  The people were gathered, but instead of speaking to the rock and demonstrating the Lord's power, Moses instead shouted angrily at the people.  He said: "Must we bring you water from this rock?" (20:10).  Moses then struck the rock twice, and the water gushed out.

I was shocked when I read this, for this really was serious disobedience.  The Lord wanted Moses and Aaron to show His power to the people, to speak to the rock and bring forth the water.  Instead, Moses and Aaron gathered the people, yelled at them, struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and attributed the water to their power, instead of the Lord's. 

This is another example of when God slams a door on someone.  Moses and Aaron, for their serious disobedience, were to die in the wilderness and never enter the promised land.  What a horrible price to pay for their sins.

God forgives us of our sins through Jesus Christ, there is no doubt about that.  But I firmly believe that does NOT mean that you will escape being corrected for your sins.  Let's say you commit murder, and your heart is truly repentant, and you take that to the Lord for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  You will be forgiven, you will not face an eternal judgment of hell for the offense.  But that doesn't mean that you won't face man's death penalty for your sin.  Likewise, if God has promised you something, yet you fail to obey what He has ordered you to do, God might shut that door for you.  It doesn't mean you're not forgiven, but it might mean that your path forward towards what you are working for vanishes completely.

Chapter 20 saw the deaths of Miriam and Aaron.  I assume that I will soon be reading about the death of Moses also, as well as the deaths of an entire generation of people, all held back from the promised land for disobedience to the Lord.  The Lord loves us and forgives us, but we can't forget that we must be also obedient to the Lord, especially when He has told us exactly what we need to do.  We must follow the path he has set for us.

Proverbs 11:8

The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

With the judgment imposed upon Moses and Aaron in today's reading, it might seem to some that God didn't rescue them -- that instead He let them fall.  I don't believe that at all, because the Lord still rescued Moses, Aaron, Miriam and all of the Israelite people from the land of Egypt.  He led them out of slavery and He met their daily needs; despite all their moaning, disbelief, lack of faith and disobedience.

The Lord will still rescue us from our troubles, but not always from our disobedience.  It's an important distinction to continue to make, one that I want to continue to remind myself so that I remain obedient to the Lord.

Power in the Blood

Today's Reading:

• Exodus 29:1 - 30:10
• Proverbs 8:14 - 26

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 29:1 - 30:10
Today I read about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests.  It was quite an intricate process and involved seven days of sacrifices and rituals.  The thing I found most interesting was how they were commanded to splash their garments with blood and oil so that they would be notably holy garments.  To think of all the work that went into making those lavish, detailed garments; only to have blood and oil thrown on them immediately after they are put on.

I guess to me I'm trained to think of blood as being a dirty thing.  It stains clothes, not embellishes them.  But I am realizing more and more that there is pure power in blood.  It was the blood of Jesus Christ that cleansed us all. 

I know that for years I have spoke of "the blood of Jesus" and I have sung the hymns -- but truly there is power in the blood.  The Lord requires blood sacrifice for our sins and nothing less.  It's just amazing how I can talk of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for as long as I can remember but not grasp the significance of the blood. 

I know that it was because he was the only truly sinless man to ever walk the earth that the rest of us are cleansed through him.  But the phrase "the power of the blood of Jesus Christ" is finally truly become clearly to me.

Proverbs 8:14 - 26
I have read a lot about Wisdom so far in the Proverbs, but today's passages are quite astounding.  I notice that Wisdom is often referred to as a female entity.  These verses say that Wisdom was there in the beginning with the Lord and that Wisdom was created before anything else.  Before the earth, before the dirt, before the waters, before the heavens -- before anything else on earth. 

We are told that Wisdom holds the key to success and wealth and noble rulers.  It seems like every person should covet to become wise.  The bible says that Wisdom is out of no one's reach because all who search for it will surely find it.  I guess I really should make an effort to seek out Wisdom myself.  Well I think I'm starting in a great place for that!  Where better to look for Wisdom but in the Word of God who formed her for us to seek.

Conclusion
There have been many times in my life that I have tried to read the bible, always starting in Genesis and moving forward.  Then I'd reach all the ceremony and atonement instructions and the detailed descendants lists and I'd just lose interest. 

It truly helps that I am reading both the Old Testament and the New Testament at the same time, because I think I have more patience when reading through parts of the Old Testament like I am in now.  To think that before I skimmed through this relatively uninterested.  Even today I thought that I wouldn't have much to write about.  But it's these passages in the Old Testament that have managed to get through the very important concept of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.  Who would have thought?  I surely didn't!

Bearing Guilt of an Entire Nation of People

Today's Reading:
• Exodus 28:1 - 43
• Proverbs 8:12 - 13

Exodus 28:1 - 43
Today I read about the priestly clothing of Aaron and that of his sons.  My study bible has a drawing of what the clothing probably looked like.  It all sounds very intricate and very beautiful. 

I thought it was interesting how Aaron was charged with wearing a medallion on his turban so that he always carried the guilt of his people around with him.  I have a hard enough time carrying my own guilt, I could imagine carrying the guilt of an additional 600,000 men plus women and children.  And then there is Christ who carried the guilt of all who lived with him and since his body died on the cross.  What a tremendous burden to bear!

Proverbs 8:12 - 13
Wisdom says that she lives together with good judgement and knows where to find knowledge and discernment.  (8:12).  The next verse goes on to say that all who fear the Lord will hate evil -- pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.  Apparently it's not enough to just avoid those things yourself -- being in the presence of it should upset you. 

Where does the line fall between hating that which is wrong and forgiveness and walking in love?  I know that I work really hard not to hate others and I try to ignore their actions in hopes that one day they will come around.  I try really hard not to judge others.  Of course I fail greatly, but I do try. 

I'm supposed to hate the things the Lord hates, but hate is a very strong word and it's something that I try really really hard not to do.  I don't know what to think right this moment.  I will just have to read more and self-examine myself on this topic.

Notes (this section written on 3/18/12)
I have fallen behind in managing my blog right now due to sickness and laziness, I guess.  As I have mentioned a few times now, I stay ahead on my blog posts, so a post is written anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more before it is actually published. 

Well right now I am dangerously low on my posts -- only 10 on hand as I write this.  I said a prayer before starting today that the Lord would banish the sickness that has taken over my spirit so that His will be done and shine through me again. 

It has been an entire week since I have sat down to do a study, and right now that feels like ages have gone by.  My studies, because they are so frequent, really feel intimate -- and I like the intimate relationship with God.  But right now it's been an entire week, I've been sick, I've been lazy -- and all that needs to go.  Now.  I have said my prayers and am sitting down once again in my studies.  When you read this, even if it is a month from now, please say a little prayer for me so that I can keep up with my studies and maintain the intimate relationship I am trying to create.  Thank you.

Nile Turns to Blood; Held Captive by Our Own Sins

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 5:22 - 7:25
• Proverbs 5:22 - 23

Exodus 5:22 - 7:25
Moses no longer had the support of his own people whom he was fighting for.  Moses complained to the Lord but the Lord promised Moses that He will avenge the people, and by the time He was done all of Egypt will also know the one true God. 

Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh and turned the staff into a serpent.  The Pharaoh's magicians were able to do the same thing but the Lord's staff swallowed the staff of the magicians.  The Pharaoh still refused to believe so next Aaron turned the entire Nile river into blood.  It also says that all water from the Nile -- even that which was stored in pots (7:19) was turned into blood.  Once again, however, the magicians were able to do the same thing and they also turned water into blood.  The reading ends by remarking that it had been seven days since the Nile had been turned to blood.

I have to wonder about the Pharaoh's magicians.  Their power obviously doesn't come from the Lord, and we know that Satan is quite powerful, but we also know that he's not a fraction as powerful as God is.  When the sorcerers turned their staffs to serpents, their serpents were quickly swallowed whole. 

It also says that the sorcerers managed to turn water to blood, but it doesn't say to what extent.  I know they weren't able to turn the mighty Nile and all water anywhere that came from it into blood.  I know that the Pharaoh's heart was hardened, for God said quite a few times that he hardened the Pharaoh's heart (7:3 is just one example). 

It's still hard for me to imagine that people can see what they see, know what they know, yet still stubbornly insist that God does not exist, or, if He does exist, it doesn't matter or apply to them.  Oh well.  It's not my job to understand these other people.  I know what I know, and I am learning what I can, and sharing with others the things I am learning.  But I certainly will never be able to help someone find God whose heart has been hardened! 

I guess that I would first need to pray that the person's heart been softened so that they might feel the truths of the words spoken to them.  I will start with a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ for anyone who runs across my blog that their hearts will be softened, and that, at the very least, a small fire of longing to know the truth will be light inside of them, so that they might seek these truths for themselves.  Amen.


Proverbs 5:22 - 23
These two short verses in Proverbs tell us that we will be held captive by our own sins like ropes that tie us down, and if we have no self control then we will be lost because of foolishness.  These verses were in reference to extramarital affairs but the application goes far beyond just that. 

I know that every time I sin I feel myself distanced further from God.  If I keep sinning then I keep distancing myself further and further, and eventually I will become lost.  Take heed not to become lost, but if you are, just remember that it is never too late to cut those ropes that are holding you down.  And you don't have to do that by yourself -- you have the power of the Almighty Lord to help you.

Moses and Aaron Confront Pharoh

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 4:1 - 5:21
• Proverbs 5:15 - 21

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 4:1 - 5:21
At the close of the last Exodus reading Moses was protesting his ability to do God's will and lead the people out of Egypt. The Lord had equipped Moses with his special staff, the one that turned into a serpent when thrown to the ground.  God also showed Moses how to cover his hand with disease and then make it whole again.  The Lord told Moses that if he dumped water from the Nile onto the ground that it would turn into blood.  Still, Moses continued to object to the task the Lord have given him until the Lord decided to name Aaron as the speaker for Moses.  Finally Moses had no more excuses and had to undergo his mission to speak to the leaders of Israel and to the Pharaoh.

Moses had no problem convincing the elders of his people.  They rejoiced in the fact that God was finally going to lift them up out of the suffering.  The Pharaoh, on the other hand, was outraged -- after all, who could this "God" be that was greater than he?  As a result of his anger the Pharaoh punished the people of Israel by having them work even harder than before.  This greatly angered the Israelites and turned them against Moses and Aaron.  This is where the reading stops for the day.

In the middle of this reading there was a small passage that really baffled me.  It was during Moses's return to Egypt with his family.  Seemingly out of the blue it says that the Lord confronted Moses and was about to kill him.  Then Moses's wife Zipporah immediately circumcised their son, and the Lord left Moses alone (5:24-26). 

I am wondering if I overlooked something earlier in this book, or if maybe there's more information elsewhere in the scripture that explains this?  I guess my assumption would be that the Lord had commanded Moses to circumcise his son at some point, yet Moses refused or delayed it?  It just seems odd because I didn't see that there was any reason given for God's sudden anger at Moses, and the very first reaction of Moses's wife was to circumcise their son.  Perhaps I'll find another piece of scripture at some point that clears this up for me.  I just felt like it came out of nowhere.

Proverbs 5:15 - 21
This is a continuation of the last reading from Proverbs (5:7 -14) where we were warned that extramarital affairs will destroy our lives.  In today's reading we are strongly cautioned to keep sex within our own marriage.  The man is told to let his wife be enough for her, to enjoy the sanctity of marital relations and not to share that with anyone else.