#302 Reconciliation

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,

3 And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the Lord, of the herd or of the flock:

4 Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.

5 And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.

6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.

7 And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

8 And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the Lord:

9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.

10 And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

11 Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.

12 According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.

13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

14 And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord; as ye do, so he shall do.

15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.

16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.

17 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,

19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord.

20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall ye heave it.

21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations.

22 And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses,

23 Even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;

24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance:

26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.

27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

31 Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

35 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.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.

37 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

38 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:

39 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:

40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

41 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. Numbers 15 KJV

Following the rebellion of the last chapter, where the congregation wished to stone and replace those that held to faith in God's promise, they receive a recount of the sacrifices and reconciliation. God is not here excusing sin, but rather keeping His covenant with Abraham. In the last chapter, the people were forbidden to enter the land, yet decided to take it in their own course. We can shout mightily, raise an army, say that we are chosen, set apart, of Abraham's seed, or going in the name of the Lord. Maybe they thought they could show faith now, but all it showed was disobedience and in this chapter they are brought back around to the reality of their sin, the requirement of a Holy God and the need for atonement. This extended to the sins of ignorance, though less capital, they were still an offense to knowledge and a Holy God. There is also the picking up of sticks, and something I use to scoff at, but that would be to say my ways are more pure and just than God's. I was standing in a poor place as the judge of the only Righteous judge. One thing I failed to acknowledge back then was that none of these people should even be alive. If God was merely Holy and Just, then sin would be and still be an affront to Him, and justice would demand the penalty. Another thing I failed to acknowledge in those days, is that they were already dead. They were born into the fall, slaves to sin, and the slave must serve and go where his master goes, but could God also be gracious? Absolutely, and this is evident in the Abrahamic covenant, being that Abraham was fast asleep, that he was not of a particular birthright, had not received the law, and God being the instituter and keeper of His will. Abraham is like a child adopted and then named in the will. The Sabbath violations were punishable by death, and this was known to the people. They bring the man forward and ask God what they are supposed to do, and it is the most severe of punishments, stoning. Everyone there that day that threw a stone condemned sin, but did they get it? Were they humbled? I think some took it to heart, some for a moment and others thought, what an idiot, he should have known better. He directs them to put fringes on their garments that they remember and do the commandments of the Lord, not following after their hearts which are deceitful, or their eyes which led them to whoring. Obedience shows belief, what we actually believe. We don't mind the fringe, a little sterling cross around the neck, but we leave out the "and do them". The sacrifice points to Christ's obedience and the fringe points to ours.

But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." 22Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delightin burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23"For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king."…1Samuel 15:21-23

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14: 15-21

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#301 Pride of Unbelief

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

3 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?

4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

7 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.

8 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.

9 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.

10 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.

11 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?

12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

13 And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)

14 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.

15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

16 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.

17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

18 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.

19 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.

20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.

22 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;

23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

24 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.

25 (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.

26 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

27 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.

28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

29 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.

30 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.

31 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.

32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.

33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.

34 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.

35 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.

36 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,

37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.

38 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.

39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

40 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.

41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.

42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

43 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.

44 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.

45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah. Numbers 14 KJV

Without faith it is impossible to please God, and now the people are in tears at the words of the messengers that they have chosen to believe. God is not impressed with the size of the "giants" nor the walls of the cities. Walls are built with the materials that God has spoken into existence. The giants are not even grass hoppers to the One Who created all life; He has not given them reason to doubt, nor has He spoken through these men. Now, just as we would seek a priest to justify us, or a church that does not challenge our sin nature, they want to elect a captain. Rather than holding on to the words of the Eternal, Immortal, infinite God, they listen to the voices that reflect their fear and unbelief. They now move to stone Joshua and Caleb, oh how we hate and despise those who tell the truth. "As long as you say what I want you to say I will listen to you. As long as you confirm what I already believe, I will find you believable." They are still following after the idols of human pride, and God calls to witness their own observations. You have witnessed all the miracles that He did bringing you out of Egypt and to this place, broken the covenant He made with you, that you acknowledged, and now all that is left is what you were owed in the first place, death. But Moses acts as advocate once again, imperfect, but in reflection of the work of Christ. God still takes the life of the false witnesses, and others from the congregation now decide to take the land that He has now forbidden them to enter. Moses warns them, but they run to their slaughter anyway. Human history has not changed in respect to the arrogance of men, and I fear, actually I know I would have been that arrogant, for I have been.

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father —Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world.…1John 2: 1&2

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. James 4: 10-11

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#300 Giants and Grasshoppers

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.

4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.

14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19 And 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;

20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

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.

28 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.

29 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.

30 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.

31 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.

32 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.

33 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. Numbers 13

The people have been guided by a cloud by day and fire by night, and Moses has spoken that the Lord go before them to their enemies. Men are sent now before the people and it becomes clearer in the telling of Deuteronomy 1:22 that this was what the people wanted. Those that have put their trust in the Lord will see no reason not to enter the land. The men are there 40 days and spy out the land and it's inhabitants. Caleb wants to go up at once and possess it because he believes God has given it to them so they will be able to overcome. The rest of the men, except Joshua, give a different report. They say that they cannot take the land, that the inhabitants are huge, which is probably exaggeration based upon a small percentage of large men or warriors. When I looked up what was meant by the land eating up the inhabitants, it is thought to mean that there was a plague in the land and many dead. This would make the taking of the land even easier for them, if the people were already being visited by plague, but who should they believe, the Creator or men? So many men will look at the same thing and come up with as many interpretations, but God never changes and His word is steadfast. Circumstances should not be the sole dictator of our actions; they are always the excuse though, but what has God told us to do? We give occasion to lie even when God has never said Thou Shalt not Except when you deem it necessary. So many things I hear in the mouth of politicians and others to justify wrong actions are based upon situational ethics. Abraham was promised Isaac, but he did not see it possible and wavered, listening to the voice of his wife he sired Ishmael. David sought direction from God when going to war, but ignored the laws of God and acted on his lust and emotions when it came to many of his relationships. Every day I interact with people, and some situations carry much temptation. If I lie, they will get off my back. If I speak ill then we enjoy the gossip and a laugh in the moment. If I get caught then I would reason that the law in question is ridiculous or unattainable. God, if you would not have said coveting thy neighbor's wife or adultery was wrong, then I would not have been in transgression with Bathsheba, and then I would not have had to hide it by deceit and murder. Personally, I found myself so far away from God's intent and laws that it was easier in my mind to say there is no God. Then I was not a sinner for there was no such thing then, and I had just to harden my heart and avoid Him altogether. These people don't mind a god, but he has to be made in their image. None of what I think about what I see changes who God is, and when He has gone before them, He has also gone before me. There are no excuses, only trust and obey, God is Sovereign. Walk by faith.

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22: 54-62 ESV

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#299 Who Are You?

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman, whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

4 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.

5 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.

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a Prophet among you, I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream:

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 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?

9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

10 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.

11 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:

12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed, when he cometh out of his mothers womb.

13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

14 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not bee ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not, til Miriam was brought in again.

16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. Numbers 12 KJV

Moses brother and sister speak against the prophet, and even to the extent of taking jabs at his wife. Now there are a few approaches to this text, but I believe it requires multiple angles to thoroughly understand. His wife is hear described as an Ethiopian woman, a Cushite. Cush was one of the sons of Ham, and the name Ham means "burnt", "black", basically of dark flesh. For those that don't like to think of Moses as married to a black woman, or are uncomfortable with interracial marriage, I won't apologize but please hang in there. I believe this is an important part of the text, and that not only in the meaning of the ancestor's name but also in Jeremiah, we read, 

"If you say in your heart, 'Why have these things happened to me?' Because of the magnitude of your iniquity Your skirts have been removed And your heels have been exposed. 23"Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do goodWho are accustomed to doing evil. 24"Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw To the desert wind.…Jer. 13: 12-14

When Miriam says Ethiopian it bares racial connotations,  first from the curse upon Ham, which she would be familiar with, and yet this is no ground for us who are all born under the curse of sin, but I have heard racist try to defend their position on such grounds. Secondly, she was an outsider, not born into any of the covenant tribes, but this again would not bode well for those who believe by faith. We all come from different cultures and backgrounds, and it is not a right of birth, but by Grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. One thing I am not certain of from the passage is whether this is Zipporah or a Cushite woman of later marriage. Zipporah is a wonderful example of culture vs. God's command. She saves the life of Moses from the hand of God, by circumcising their son. God commanded this and either because of the voice of his wife or by his own absorption into other cultures, for whatever reason, Moses has not obeyed this command. He bears the sin of this as the head of the household and also the affliction. Zipporah removes her son's foreskin and throws it at Moses feet and with disgust, for she says, "you are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me." God never addresses Moses marriage or choice of an Ethiopian partner, but he does address Miriam and Aaron for their arrogance. Is interracial marriage ok:

1. We are all one body in Christ, no matter where we were born or what culture we came from. The Bible is very clear about not being unequally yoked, but this is a condition of the heart and faith, for that is where God is looking. I would much rather my daughters marry a Godly black, yellow, brown or red man than a white man who does not fear the Lord. The color makes no difference just as the outer circumcision did not impress Christ, nor birthright. He said it was the inner circumcision of the heart. If you are looking to the outside you will need another Christ.

2. We all come from Adam and Eve, and we all have fallen short of the glory of God. You cannot even take a Darwinian approach here for even science is starting to catch up to the things the Bible has already so clearly stated. We all share one parentage in the end, so there is no supreme race, no white supremacy. Some of my black friends actually feel sorry for me when we are out fishing, and refer to me as melanin deficient; I do burn rather easy. There are so many different colors of flowers, birds, not all lizards are green, and if you cannot see beauty in those created in the image of God, then you will also need another god. 

3. God told Abraham that all nations of the earth would be blessed through him. He commands Christians to go out and preach the gospel to all men, not asking us to check with our culture, parents or popular opinion. We receive everyone as equals, and love even our enemies. Where is your racism founded? The same place as all our other sins, it is in hardened, wicked, deceitful hearts. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love. Who are you, are you the Creator of all? Where were you when God reached out to you? I was lost, dead in my trespasses and sin, full of envy, hate and pride. This is the easy stuff, milk, it hasn't even gotten to the difficult part yet, but if you are hung up here, will you even make the rest of the journey? If you can't let go of racism, then you will also need another gospel. 

In the end of this, God deals with Miriam and Aaron's arrogance, their envy, their jealousy. Miriam is dealt the worse and bares the outer mark. If she thought it was bad to be an Ethiopian, well she is now white as snow, and put outside the assembly as unclean. She is a Leper and Moses immediately goes to God on her behalf. God firmly requires that she remain in this manner 7 days, for as hated as spitting was in that culture, if a father were to show his disgust by spitting near or on her she would be ceremonially unclean this many days. Every sin against man is a sin against God, and He picked Moses, so they grumbled against God.

Before the coming of this faith,[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:23-29

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#298 Quail Hollow

And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.

3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.

4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

12 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?

13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15 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.

16 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.

17 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.

18 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.

19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

20 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?

21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.

25 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.

26 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.

27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29 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!

30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31 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.

32 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.

33 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.

34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.

35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth. Numbers 11

So the people wanted meat. They gather very easily what is sufficient for them to live, and they do not toil in the fields of the Egyptians, but with all that is right, we still want more. I could never be more guilty and my children have inherited the same. "There is nothing in the pantry,' or 'I need something sweet." I eat far more than I need and the pounds tell upon me. It is not healthy, and knowing that I did not create it, it is not my body that I do this to. No matter how easy or good I have it, it is easy for me to forget the Lord, to hunt for things that keep my mind busy, and praying for things I don't need. So desperately I need salvation, to be cleansed, to be sanctified, but these matters often take a back seat to my desires, my whining. I need God to exist at all. I need water, food and warmth, but to our shame we see what others have and murmur about fair and unfair. We see what others don't have and are still not ashamed of our excesses. Two of the men of the camp, that were not of the elders that Moses brought, also started to prophecy under the same spirit. Joshua is concerned, probably for fear of division, but Moses wisely knows that the work is great and will receive anyone that God appoints. People crave power and position, and I sometimes glance at the world of politics, which has learned to manipulate the crying and whining. We reward those of that nature, buying votes from them, and men have come to the role of dictator with the help of so many lusting after what their neighbor has. Stalin killed tens of millions and Hitler created a holocaust, blaming the Jews for the present economical climate in Germany at the time. It is easy to manipulate the greedy, by telling them that someone else is more greedy than them. What is owed to mere other than my wages? I don't want what God owes me, that would be the wages of sin. It is a sin to be unthankful, lazy, to lust after what I have not earned. Oh that we begged for wisdom, lusted after a heart like Gods, and chased after truth, charity sincerity. 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:13-26

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#297 Make the Trumpet

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.

11 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.

22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.

27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.

29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.

30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.

31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.

32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.

33 And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

34 And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel. Numbers 10 KJV

My boss has a flute made of silver, and he is very passionate about music so it was worth the price to him to obtain the distinct sound that silver makes. The sound of the trumpet here would carry out the messages for war, to march, to travel, and with so great a multitude, it was a brilliant way to come to order quickly. Moses tries to keep his brother in law with the camp, and he doesn't go into great detail, but it is probably because he is family and also because he is a Nomad. Moses sees him as so great an asset that he extends the Lord's blessing to him, but Hobab returns to his own dwelling. Again, there is not a detailed reason given, we do not know the thoughts of Hobab, but for myself I am reminded that it is easier to return to fishing, the things you know. I would not want the crowd of people, but would prefer the quiet of the wilderness. 

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and firemixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” Revelation 8: 6-13

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