But watch out!Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen.
Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live?
And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildrenDeuteronomy 4:9
Memory is a powerful gift; that God-given ability to recall experiences, instructions, and conversations of the past. This week we walk with Moses as he prepares to hand over the leadership mantle he has walked in for the past forty years. As he sets things in order to pass the baton to the new commander in chief, Moses spends a great deal of time recalling the journey they’ve been on.
Our week begins with Moses reminding the Israelites of their responsibility in the daily offerings, sacrifices for Sabbaths, new moons and sacred festivals. It was a reminder that God was not to be relegated to three holidays a year – He was to be honored and remembered every day!
Tuesday we go into battle with Moses and the sons of Israel. You remember Balaam, you know, the one that wasn’t as smart as a dumb ass, the man who could speak the word of God, but didn’t know the heart of God! If we remember what we read concerning Balak’s summoning of Balaam to curse the Israelites, Phinehas’ zeal to stop the corruption that had come into the camp because of cult prostitution, and the numbering of the warriors, we will more fully understand the war against the Midianites. Remember that God had told Moses he was to strike the Midianites for what they had done. This is why God had instructed them to number the troop; it was preparation for war! God’s instruction was that Phinehas the priest that should lead them. Of course it would be Phinehas! He was the one who zealously and fearlessly stood against the infiltration of the Minianites damning influence. As you can quickly see, to understand all that is being said this week, we needed to be paying attention to the details or our journey last week.
We also learn the true nature and character of last week’s would-be holy man, Balaam. Balaam was determined to curse what God blessed. If he couldn’t get God to speak a curse over His people, he would get them to curse themselves. Disobedience to God’s commands brings its own curse. Just get them to go against His word and they will reap the consequences of their disobedience. Today there are many people who are determined to break generational curses over people, but never address the root of disobedience and wrong choices. There are more people who are destroying themselves through their willful disobedience than those who are suffering from curses. God’s Word declares that if we walk in obedience, we WILL be BLESSED. God’s promises and blessings are far more powerful than the curses of man! But His blessing requires obedience!!!
We continue to watch Moses put all things in order. Moses begins a mental journey of God’s faithfulness to them. He has been keeping record of every stop they’ve made and every experience they gone through. He reminds them of where they’ve come from, while turning their focus on where they are going. They are about to go from wanderers to warriors, to settlers. He is speaking to people who have only known life as vagabonds. Most of them weren’t even born when they left Egypt and those who were, had to be under the age of nineteen when they left, and were not counted in the first census. Moses had to cause this second-generation army to embrace the challenge with more determination than their fathers possessed. He had to get them to understand that this was their battle, and they could obtain what their predecessors failed to possess. And so Moses begins the task of rehearsing all that they have come through. The journey has been long, but there is victory and blessing waiting for them if they will be faithful and obedient! Oh God, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey!!!
Our week begins with Moses reminding the Israelites of their responsibility in the daily offerings, sacrifices for Sabbaths, new moons and sacred festivals. It was a reminder that God was not to be relegated to three holidays a year – He was to be honored and remembered every day!
Tuesday we go into battle with Moses and the sons of Israel. You remember Balaam, you know, the one that wasn’t as smart as a dumb ass, the man who could speak the word of God, but didn’t know the heart of God! If we remember what we read concerning Balak’s summoning of Balaam to curse the Israelites, Phinehas’ zeal to stop the corruption that had come into the camp because of cult prostitution, and the numbering of the warriors, we will more fully understand the war against the Midianites. Remember that God had told Moses he was to strike the Midianites for what they had done. This is why God had instructed them to number the troop; it was preparation for war! God’s instruction was that Phinehas the priest that should lead them. Of course it would be Phinehas! He was the one who zealously and fearlessly stood against the infiltration of the Minianites damning influence. As you can quickly see, to understand all that is being said this week, we needed to be paying attention to the details or our journey last week.
We also learn the true nature and character of last week’s would-be holy man, Balaam. Balaam was determined to curse what God blessed. If he couldn’t get God to speak a curse over His people, he would get them to curse themselves. Disobedience to God’s commands brings its own curse. Just get them to go against His word and they will reap the consequences of their disobedience. Today there are many people who are determined to break generational curses over people, but never address the root of disobedience and wrong choices. There are more people who are destroying themselves through their willful disobedience than those who are suffering from curses. God’s Word declares that if we walk in obedience, we WILL be BLESSED. God’s promises and blessings are far more powerful than the curses of man! But His blessing requires obedience!!!
We continue to watch Moses put all things in order. Moses begins a mental journey of God’s faithfulness to them. He has been keeping record of every stop they’ve made and every experience they gone through. He reminds them of where they’ve come from, while turning their focus on where they are going. They are about to go from wanderers to warriors, to settlers. He is speaking to people who have only known life as vagabonds. Most of them weren’t even born when they left Egypt and those who were, had to be under the age of nineteen when they left, and were not counted in the first census. Moses had to cause this second-generation army to embrace the challenge with more determination than their fathers possessed. He had to get them to understand that this was their battle, and they could obtain what their predecessors failed to possess. And so Moses begins the task of rehearsing all that they have come through. The journey has been long, but there is victory and blessing waiting for them if they will be faithful and obedient! Oh God, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey!!!
2 comments:
Hi Shirley, Can you let me know which chapters we are meant to be reading - am going by guesswork at present. Thanks, Toni
Hi Toni. I am going to post the reading schedule for this quarter. Are you using the One Year Chronological Bible or a different one? I will post it for both. Are you registered with us and receiving the charts and maps we send out? If not, contact us at CarpMin@aol.com and we will get you on the list.
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