02/29/08: Deuteronomy 26-28
First, let me say, happy leap year day! And now, on with it:
Chapter 27:
Is this where "Amen" originates? Does it mean anything in particular?
Ted: I've always heard that "amen" is equivalent to "so be it." This would seem to be confirmed by Numbers 5:22. An online dictionary indicates that the origination of the word is from the Hebrew.
Chapter 27:
Is this where "Amen" originates? Does it mean anything in particular?
Ted: I've always heard that "amen" is equivalent to "so be it." This would seem to be confirmed by Numbers 5:22. An online dictionary indicates that the origination of the word is from the Hebrew.
02/28/08: Deuteronomy 23-25
Chapter 23:
I don't understand why it's okay to eat off your neighbor's land.
Ted: Basically, all of the land of a tribe belonged, in a general sense, to everyone in the tribe. Anyone of that tribe could walk anywhere on the land allotted to the tribe. Also, a person might be hired by a neighbor to help harvest a crop.
While on that land, for quick nourishment, a person could pick any grapes and grain that could be eaten on the fly. But he could not stockpile a bunch of grapes, nor cut down any stalks of grain, to take with him. I suppose that this would have been crossing the line of "stealing" because, presumably, a person had his own grapes and grain back home.
I don't understand why it's okay to eat off your neighbor's land.
Ted: Basically, all of the land of a tribe belonged, in a general sense, to everyone in the tribe. Anyone of that tribe could walk anywhere on the land allotted to the tribe. Also, a person might be hired by a neighbor to help harvest a crop.
While on that land, for quick nourishment, a person could pick any grapes and grain that could be eaten on the fly. But he could not stockpile a bunch of grapes, nor cut down any stalks of grain, to take with him. I suppose that this would have been crossing the line of "stealing" because, presumably, a person had his own grapes and grain back home.
02/27/08: Deuteronomy 20-22
Chapter 20:
Why do you think God prefers the people residing in the land to be slain rather than forced to move somewhere else?
Ted: If they had been forced to move elsewhere, they would have returned again and again to attack the Israelites. If they had been absorbed into the Israelite society, they would have influenced the Israelites to worship their own gods, thereby causing the Israelites to sin.
Why do you think God prefers the people residing in the land to be slain rather than forced to move somewhere else?
Ted: If they had been forced to move elsewhere, they would have returned again and again to attack the Israelites. If they had been absorbed into the Israelite society, they would have influenced the Israelites to worship their own gods, thereby causing the Israelites to sin.
02/25/08: Deuteronomy 17-19
Chapter 18:
When the Levites are given God as their inheritance, what exactly does that mean? Are they "shooed in" to the elect?
Ted: The Levites were not to receive any permanent physical compensation (such as land) as their inheritance. Being that they were the people's intermediaries to God, they in turn were to receive all of their daily necessities (money, food, lodging, etc.) from the people. Thus, God would be their "inheritance" by seeing to it that all of their needs were met, though the people they represented.
I do not believe that all of the Levites, through Israeli history, are necessarily part of the elect who will be saved unto eternal life. Probably many of them realized that the regular sacrificing of animals, and spilling of animal blood, was not enough to atone for their sins permanently. Maybe the Levites, more than the other Israelites, would have been more likely to understand this: that what they were doing was a "shadow" of something better to come (that is, the once-for-all blood atonement by the Messiah: Hebrews 9:24-26). If so, I believe that those who understood and accepted this are part of the eternal elect.
Similarly we, as "priests" of God who minister to others about the saving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, are not to look at worldly things as our permanent inheritance. Rather, God is our eternal inheritance, and He is guarding that inheritance for us until the day He returns (2 Corinthians 5:18,19; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 9:15).
When the Levites are given God as their inheritance, what exactly does that mean? Are they "shooed in" to the elect?
Ted: The Levites were not to receive any permanent physical compensation (such as land) as their inheritance. Being that they were the people's intermediaries to God, they in turn were to receive all of their daily necessities (money, food, lodging, etc.) from the people. Thus, God would be their "inheritance" by seeing to it that all of their needs were met, though the people they represented.
I do not believe that all of the Levites, through Israeli history, are necessarily part of the elect who will be saved unto eternal life. Probably many of them realized that the regular sacrificing of animals, and spilling of animal blood, was not enough to atone for their sins permanently. Maybe the Levites, more than the other Israelites, would have been more likely to understand this: that what they were doing was a "shadow" of something better to come (that is, the once-for-all blood atonement by the Messiah: Hebrews 9:24-26). If so, I believe that those who understood and accepted this are part of the eternal elect.
Similarly we, as "priests" of God who minister to others about the saving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, are not to look at worldly things as our permanent inheritance. Rather, God is our eternal inheritance, and He is guarding that inheritance for us until the day He returns (2 Corinthians 5:18,19; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 9:15).
02/24/08: Deuteronomy 13-16
Chapter 13:
Doesn't God know the intent of our hearts? Why does He test us?
Ted: Yes, He knows everything. All testing by God is to show us, not Him, how well we are conforming to His laws and standards. Back in the Garden of Eden, God asked Adam and Eve specific questions (Genesis 3:9,11,13), not because He did not know the answers but because He wanted them to acknowledge what they had done and to be held accountable, in their own minds, for their actions.
It keeps speaking of gods that were not previously known. It wasn't okay to worship ANY god, known or not, right? Why does Moses keep saying that?
Ted: Right, it was not okay to worship any god other than the one true God. Doing so was considered breaking the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). Just like most of God's laws and commandments, Moses stated them over and over again. For one thing, people tend to remember things better if they have heard them repeatedly. But also, when the people eventually broke God's laws and commandments on a regular basis (which we will see that they do as we read further), they understood why they were being punished, because they had had the laws/commandments drilled into their heads and knew that they were without excuse for their disobedience and rebellion.
Doesn't God know the intent of our hearts? Why does He test us?
Ted: Yes, He knows everything. All testing by God is to show us, not Him, how well we are conforming to His laws and standards. Back in the Garden of Eden, God asked Adam and Eve specific questions (Genesis 3:9,11,13), not because He did not know the answers but because He wanted them to acknowledge what they had done and to be held accountable, in their own minds, for their actions.
It keeps speaking of gods that were not previously known. It wasn't okay to worship ANY god, known or not, right? Why does Moses keep saying that?
Ted: Right, it was not okay to worship any god other than the one true God. Doing so was considered breaking the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). Just like most of God's laws and commandments, Moses stated them over and over again. For one thing, people tend to remember things better if they have heard them repeatedly. But also, when the people eventually broke God's laws and commandments on a regular basis (which we will see that they do as we read further), they understood why they were being punished, because they had had the laws/commandments drilled into their heads and knew that they were without excuse for their disobedience and rebellion.
02/23/08: Deuteronomy 10-12
Chapter 10:
(reading 10 spurred this question)
From the time of Christ until now, Jews/Israelites have believed the wrong thing, so to speak. Do you think any of them are among the Elect? Are they still God's people? If so, why are they so far astray?
Ted: Yes, I believe that there are many Jewish people who are among the elect and who will be saved. God always has exceptions to every rule, and this is no exception. Today, there are Messianic Jews, those who understand that Jesus is their Messiah (Christ), who keep the Ten Commandments, and who keep the traditional feasts and holy days appointed by God (Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16).
During the final half of the 70th Week, there will be a remnant of Jews who will flee Jerusalem and who will be taken care of by God for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:6). At the end of that period, when Jesus returns, they will realize and acknowledge that He is the Messiah. They will look upon Him, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn and grieve for what their ancestors did (Zechariah 12:10). On that day, they will be cleansed from their sin and impurity (13:1), and they will be saved.
(reading 10 spurred this question)
From the time of Christ until now, Jews/Israelites have believed the wrong thing, so to speak. Do you think any of them are among the Elect? Are they still God's people? If so, why are they so far astray?
Ted: Yes, I believe that there are many Jewish people who are among the elect and who will be saved. God always has exceptions to every rule, and this is no exception. Today, there are Messianic Jews, those who understand that Jesus is their Messiah (Christ), who keep the Ten Commandments, and who keep the traditional feasts and holy days appointed by God (Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16).
During the final half of the 70th Week, there will be a remnant of Jews who will flee Jerusalem and who will be taken care of by God for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:6). At the end of that period, when Jesus returns, they will realize and acknowledge that He is the Messiah. They will look upon Him, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn and grieve for what their ancestors did (Zechariah 12:10). On that day, they will be cleansed from their sin and impurity (13:1), and they will be saved.
02/22/08: Deuteronomy 7-9
Chapter 9:
When God aids the Israelites in battle, what exactly does He do for them?
Ted: God did various things. Sometimes He strengthened the Israeli forces so that they could overcome the stronger enemy. Sometimes He confused the enemy to cause them to be ineffective against the Israelites, or in some cases even to turn and start fighting against themselves. Sometimes God merely used His own power to kill the enemy directly, and the Israelites had to do nothing.
Why do you think God allows Moses (and others) to "reason" with Him or convince Him of something? It seems like God would be insulted.
Ted: God isn't insulted; He always wants for us to interact with Him. I do not believe that it actually is to change His mind or to cause Him to do something differently. He is going to do what He has set out to do from the beginning.
I believe that, in a sense, He has written a big "play," and all of us (including God Himself) are living out the "script." God has chosen, beforehand, to make certain decisions after others provide the "catalyst" (words) that result in an action or lack of action by God. All of these are written into the "script."
It is sort of like if we went fishing together. Our hooks have been baited, and we are ready to go. You already know that you are going to cast out your line, and you know where you are going to cast it. But, in deference to me as your guest, so that I will feel like I am "part of the action," you tell me, "OK, you go ahead and cast out your line first, and then I will cast mine."
Also, it is for our benefit, in the "here-and-now," reading previous "acts" of the "play" (in the Bible), to see how personal and personable God is, how He clearly interacts with people, how consistent He is, and how He seems to be, from all outward appearances, influenced by the words and actions of people. That encourages us to do things--pray, obey, help others, etc.--and, by doing so, expect certain consistent responses from God as a result.
When God aids the Israelites in battle, what exactly does He do for them?
Ted: God did various things. Sometimes He strengthened the Israeli forces so that they could overcome the stronger enemy. Sometimes He confused the enemy to cause them to be ineffective against the Israelites, or in some cases even to turn and start fighting against themselves. Sometimes God merely used His own power to kill the enemy directly, and the Israelites had to do nothing.
Why do you think God allows Moses (and others) to "reason" with Him or convince Him of something? It seems like God would be insulted.
Ted: God isn't insulted; He always wants for us to interact with Him. I do not believe that it actually is to change His mind or to cause Him to do something differently. He is going to do what He has set out to do from the beginning.
I believe that, in a sense, He has written a big "play," and all of us (including God Himself) are living out the "script." God has chosen, beforehand, to make certain decisions after others provide the "catalyst" (words) that result in an action or lack of action by God. All of these are written into the "script."
It is sort of like if we went fishing together. Our hooks have been baited, and we are ready to go. You already know that you are going to cast out your line, and you know where you are going to cast it. But, in deference to me as your guest, so that I will feel like I am "part of the action," you tell me, "OK, you go ahead and cast out your line first, and then I will cast mine."
Also, it is for our benefit, in the "here-and-now," reading previous "acts" of the "play" (in the Bible), to see how personal and personable God is, how He clearly interacts with people, how consistent He is, and how He seems to be, from all outward appearances, influenced by the words and actions of people. That encourages us to do things--pray, obey, help others, etc.--and, by doing so, expect certain consistent responses from God as a result.
02/21/08: Deuteronomy 3-6
Chapter 5:
Reading over the commandments in 5 made me wonder about something. I feel like I'm one of the more moral people in the world today, yet still I have committed outrageous sins. I think if you compared me to a "good person" in the time of the bible, the comparison would probably be very ugly; I think I would be quite a bit more immoral than they. Do you think God understands and allows for this?
Ted: God understands. He knows the hearts of all people, because He made us. He knows that none of us is righteous; all have sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20). In fact, all of us have broken all of the commandments, as indicated by this: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10).
What God looks for is humility, which we demonstrate by admitting that we have broken His commandments and laws. You have acknowledged this, unlike most of humanity. I don't believe it is possible for anyone to be saved without being able to admit this. This is because without acknowledging that we have sinned, we would have no reason to believe that we need salvation from our sins. And without the latter, we would see no reason for a Savior.
Reading over the commandments in 5 made me wonder about something. I feel like I'm one of the more moral people in the world today, yet still I have committed outrageous sins. I think if you compared me to a "good person" in the time of the bible, the comparison would probably be very ugly; I think I would be quite a bit more immoral than they. Do you think God understands and allows for this?
Ted: God understands. He knows the hearts of all people, because He made us. He knows that none of us is righteous; all have sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20). In fact, all of us have broken all of the commandments, as indicated by this: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10).
What God looks for is humility, which we demonstrate by admitting that we have broken His commandments and laws. You have acknowledged this, unlike most of humanity. I don't believe it is possible for anyone to be saved without being able to admit this. This is because without acknowledging that we have sinned, we would have no reason to believe that we need salvation from our sins. And without the latter, we would see no reason for a Savior.
02/20/08: Deuteronomy 1-3
Chapter 1:
Has there been a map of what God gave the Israelites in terms of the modern day world? I assume they don't have nearly as much now as originally.
Ted: I have seen such a map. It corresponds to what God promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21. I think that this map, corresponding to Israel at the time of King David's death, is close. Presently, they have only a small fraction of this. However, when their Messiah (Jesus) returns, they will be given what was promised to them millennia ago, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Has there been a map of what God gave the Israelites in terms of the modern day world? I assume they don't have nearly as much now as originally.
Ted: I have seen such a map. It corresponds to what God promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21. I think that this map, corresponding to Israel at the time of King David's death, is close. Presently, they have only a small fraction of this. However, when their Messiah (Jesus) returns, they will be given what was promised to them millennia ago, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
02/19/08: Numbers 30-33
Chapter 32:
When they say none of the soldiers are missing, does it mean that none of the soldiers was killed in battle?
Ted: I don't think so. First, the soldiers had gone into battle (Numbers 31:28a). Next, of those who had gone into battle, a certain number of them was set aside for God (31:28b). Then the officers indicated that none of the solders was missing (31:49). I assume this is referring to the soldiers who had been set aside or chosen, meaning that the expected number to be counted was the actual number counted. But I could be wrong.
When they say none of the soldiers are missing, does it mean that none of the soldiers was killed in battle?
Ted: I don't think so. First, the soldiers had gone into battle (Numbers 31:28a). Next, of those who had gone into battle, a certain number of them was set aside for God (31:28b). Then the officers indicated that none of the solders was missing (31:49). I assume this is referring to the soldiers who had been set aside or chosen, meaning that the expected number to be counted was the actual number counted. But I could be wrong.
02/16/08: Numbers 21-24
Chapter 21:
What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? Does it still exist?
Ted: I don't know. Wikipedia says this: "The reference to a 'book of the wars of the Lord', occurring in [Numbers] 21:14, has given rise to much discussion. But, after all, what this book was is uncertain, whether some writing of Israel not now extant, or some writing of the Amorites which contained songs and triumphs of their king Sihon's victories, out of which Moses may cite this testimony, as Paul sometimes does out of heathen poets (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12)." Searching other places revealed no additional enlightening information about it.
When it says Israel settles here, are they settling there temporarily? Or are some of them settling there and the rest moving further?
Ted: According to Deuteronomy 3:8, this land of the Amorites is east of the Jordan River. Moses gave this and other land east of the Jordan to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (3:12,13). Later, these tribes were to cross over the Jordan and help the other Israelites take possession of their land (on the west side of the Jordan), after which these 2½ tribes would be able to return to their own land (3:18,20).
What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? Does it still exist?
Ted: I don't know. Wikipedia says this: "The reference to a 'book of the wars of the Lord', occurring in [Numbers] 21:14, has given rise to much discussion. But, after all, what this book was is uncertain, whether some writing of Israel not now extant, or some writing of the Amorites which contained songs and triumphs of their king Sihon's victories, out of which Moses may cite this testimony, as Paul sometimes does out of heathen poets (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12)." Searching other places revealed no additional enlightening information about it.
When it says Israel settles here, are they settling there temporarily? Or are some of them settling there and the rest moving further?
Ted: According to Deuteronomy 3:8, this land of the Amorites is east of the Jordan River. Moses gave this and other land east of the Jordan to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (3:12,13). Later, these tribes were to cross over the Jordan and help the other Israelites take possession of their land (on the west side of the Jordan), after which these 2½ tribes would be able to return to their own land (3:18,20).
02/15/08: Numbers 18-20
Chapter 18:
What would qualify as an offense against the sanctuary, priesthood, or tent of meeting?
Ted: In Numbers 18:1, when it says "father's family," it probably is referring to the tribe of Levi. Back in 3:6-8, the Levites were to take care of all aspects of the tabernacle. Their specific duties are summarized in 3:25,26,31,36,37,38.
The details of all the duties are provided in Number 4:1-33. Aaron and his sons were to cover and wrap all of the holy and sacred objects in the Tent of Meeting (4:4-14). Then the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites were responsible for carrying all the objects from there to the next place they camped. However, no one but Aaron and his sons actually could TOUCH the sacred/holy objects or they would die (4:15). They were not even supposed to go near the sanctuary furnishings or they would die (18:3).
What would qualify as an offense against the sanctuary, priesthood, or tent of meeting?
Ted: In Numbers 18:1, when it says "father's family," it probably is referring to the tribe of Levi. Back in 3:6-8, the Levites were to take care of all aspects of the tabernacle. Their specific duties are summarized in 3:25,26,31,36,37,38.
The details of all the duties are provided in Number 4:1-33. Aaron and his sons were to cover and wrap all of the holy and sacred objects in the Tent of Meeting (4:4-14). Then the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites were responsible for carrying all the objects from there to the next place they camped. However, no one but Aaron and his sons actually could TOUCH the sacred/holy objects or they would die (4:15). They were not even supposed to go near the sanctuary furnishings or they would die (18:3).
02/14/08: Numbers 15-17
Chapter 16:
This is the second time recently Moses has fallen facedown. Is he trying to show humility to the men accusing? Is what they accuse him of a sin and he wants God to not be offended?
Ted: I think that, from past experience, Moses knew that when anyone came against him (which means that they were rebelling against God), God often would punish them, sometimes with death. Therefore, instinctively, he fell facedown before God, knowing that doing so would be the only chance of pleading for the lives of the people (as in Numbers 16:22,45).
I suspect that Moses' great humility had something to do with it as well. In effect, what he was doing was humiliating himself before the people--which did not matter to him, if there was some chance that they could be saved from God's wrath. Moses was a "type" of Jesus, Who did the same for our salvation.
This is the second time recently Moses has fallen facedown. Is he trying to show humility to the men accusing? Is what they accuse him of a sin and he wants God to not be offended?
Ted: I think that, from past experience, Moses knew that when anyone came against him (which means that they were rebelling against God), God often would punish them, sometimes with death. Therefore, instinctively, he fell facedown before God, knowing that doing so would be the only chance of pleading for the lives of the people (as in Numbers 16:22,45).
I suspect that Moses' great humility had something to do with it as well. In effect, what he was doing was humiliating himself before the people--which did not matter to him, if there was some chance that they could be saved from God's wrath. Moses was a "type" of Jesus, Who did the same for our salvation.
02/13/08: Numbers 11-14
Chapter 12:
What is Miriam's sin? And didn't Aaron do the same thing? Why is he not plagued?
Ted: Both Miriam and Aaron grumbled and talked against Moses. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that God had just sent a plague on many of the Israelites (in the previous chapter) for craving "other food" (i.e., meat). Perhaps Miriam and Aaron thought that Moses hadn't done enough to influence the Lord to allow the people to eat the quail with no consequences.
In any case, Miriam and Aaron believed that they could do at least as well being in charge of the people as Moses was. In their thoughts and actions, they were exhibiting "pride"; whereas, Moses was very humble (Numbers 12:3). For her pride and arrogance, the plague was sent by God upon Miriam.
It is not clear why only Miriam was struck with the plague. Maybe she was the one who initiated the griping and dissent. Or maybe it was because, afterwards, Aaron acknowledged their sin and foolishness (which, of course, God would have known, beforehand, that he would do). Furthermore, as high priest, Aaron would not have been as "expendable" as Miriam, who never really is described as having any major role or doing anything of notable significance.
What is Miriam's sin? And didn't Aaron do the same thing? Why is he not plagued?
Ted: Both Miriam and Aaron grumbled and talked against Moses. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that God had just sent a plague on many of the Israelites (in the previous chapter) for craving "other food" (i.e., meat). Perhaps Miriam and Aaron thought that Moses hadn't done enough to influence the Lord to allow the people to eat the quail with no consequences.
In any case, Miriam and Aaron believed that they could do at least as well being in charge of the people as Moses was. In their thoughts and actions, they were exhibiting "pride"; whereas, Moses was very humble (Numbers 12:3). For her pride and arrogance, the plague was sent by God upon Miriam.
It is not clear why only Miriam was struck with the plague. Maybe she was the one who initiated the griping and dissent. Or maybe it was because, afterwards, Aaron acknowledged their sin and foolishness (which, of course, God would have known, beforehand, that he would do). Furthermore, as high priest, Aaron would not have been as "expendable" as Miriam, who never really is described as having any major role or doing anything of notable significance.
02/12/08: Numbers 7-10
Chapter 9:
Are the Israelites still being sustained by Manna? Aren't they wandering the desert? How do they have all of these livestock and grains? Are they eating their livestock in addition to manna?
Ted: Yes, they are continuing to wander in the desert and to eat manna everyday. The livestock are used to transport their things when they move from place to place, and select animals are being sacrificed. Evidently, only Aaron and his sons can eat some of the sacrificed meat. Perhaps the people can drink the milk of the animals. Seemingly, the things made with grains can be eaten only by Aaron and his sons as well.
I do not know how they sustained the lifestock, other than possibly with grains. But then I don't know how they grew the grains, other than possibly if they were at one place for an extended period of time, long enough to grow some. In Exodus 17:1-7, God provided them water from a rock. There probably were some oases along the way as well. So, whether naturally or supernaturally, God provided everything they needed that they could not get for themselves.
As far as I can tell, the people were restricted to eating only manna. They ate it for forty years (Exodus 16:35). Evidently, the only variety they had was the different ways to cook it, such as boiling it or baking it into cakes. As we will read later, the people did wail and complain about not being able to eat meat, and God brought them so many quail that they were about 3 feet high in the camp
But as the people ate the quail, God became very angry that they had not been satisfied with the manna, and He struck many of them with a severe plague (Numbers 11:4-34). So I guess the moral is that they should have been content with whatever God provided to sustain them and not craved other things.
Are the Israelites still being sustained by Manna? Aren't they wandering the desert? How do they have all of these livestock and grains? Are they eating their livestock in addition to manna?
Ted: Yes, they are continuing to wander in the desert and to eat manna everyday. The livestock are used to transport their things when they move from place to place, and select animals are being sacrificed. Evidently, only Aaron and his sons can eat some of the sacrificed meat. Perhaps the people can drink the milk of the animals. Seemingly, the things made with grains can be eaten only by Aaron and his sons as well.
I do not know how they sustained the lifestock, other than possibly with grains. But then I don't know how they grew the grains, other than possibly if they were at one place for an extended period of time, long enough to grow some. In Exodus 17:1-7, God provided them water from a rock. There probably were some oases along the way as well. So, whether naturally or supernaturally, God provided everything they needed that they could not get for themselves.
As far as I can tell, the people were restricted to eating only manna. They ate it for forty years (Exodus 16:35). Evidently, the only variety they had was the different ways to cook it, such as boiling it or baking it into cakes. As we will read later, the people did wail and complain about not being able to eat meat, and God brought them so many quail that they were about 3 feet high in the camp
But as the people ate the quail, God became very angry that they had not been satisfied with the manna, and He struck many of them with a severe plague (Numbers 11:4-34). So I guess the moral is that they should have been content with whatever God provided to sustain them and not craved other things.
02/11/08: Numbers 4-6
Chapter 5:
Is the affliction of the barren women akin to any diseases? The description of having a skinny body and a fat stomach makes me think of starving African children.
Ted: It has to do with the punishment of a woman who has been unfaithful to her husband. There are some phrases where the footnotes indicate something else, and I think that is one. I think the footnotes indicate that she simply will be barren if she is guilty. It could be that God also would cause, as an outward appearance, her belly to look larger. Perhaps that was just an unsightly sign to everyone else that she was "marked" as being unfaithful. I'm not sure.
Is the affliction of the barren women akin to any diseases? The description of having a skinny body and a fat stomach makes me think of starving African children.
Ted: It has to do with the punishment of a woman who has been unfaithful to her husband. There are some phrases where the footnotes indicate something else, and I think that is one. I think the footnotes indicate that she simply will be barren if she is guilty. It could be that God also would cause, as an outward appearance, her belly to look larger. Perhaps that was just an unsightly sign to everyone else that she was "marked" as being unfaithful. I'm not sure.
02/09/08: Leviticus 26
Notice that all the punishments for disobedience (26:14-46) are about triple the rewards for obedience (26:1-13). Does this mean that God is more mean and cruel than He is nice and kind? No, not at all.
It means that obedience to God brings a simple, uncomplicated, trouble-free state of contentment, satisfaction, and peace of mind: the things that people constantly claim they want but don't often have. That is because it is human nature to do things "our way" rather than "God's way," and that virtually always leads to complications, snags, and problems.
For most people, when God disciplines them, the natural reaction is resentment and a tendency to do something even worse just to "get back at God." Well, that almost always is a foolish decision, because God is in control, whether we like it or not. Getting on His bad side is not very wise.
Leviticus 26:18,21,24,28 indicate that God will punish us seven times over if we continue to disobey Him and, even worse, become hostile toward Him. Wow, that is 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 2,401 times the punishment we would have gotten had we just humbled ourselves and obeyed Him in the first place.
All God wanted to do was to put His dwelling place among the Israelites, walk with them, and enjoy being their God (Leviticus 26:11,12). That is all that He wants to do with us as well; we today are no different than they. But it is human nature to rebel, and the Israelites did just that--not just for forty years in the desert but for hundreds of years after they reached the Promised Land.
In subsequent books, we will see that, although the Israelites promised to obey God's decrees and demands, they did not do so. Some did, but the majority did not. As such, God drifted further and further away from them, and protected them less and less from their enemies, until Israel and Judah ultimately were taken into captivity by the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
Fortunately, when Jesus returns, He will give the promised inheritance (which God guaranteed to Abraham in Genesis) to the remnant that remains. And all of the rewards for obedience (Leviticus 26:3-12) will be given, freely and lavishly by God, for 1,000 years: The Millennium.
02/08/08: Leviticus 23
Chapter 23:
Ted: Leviticus 23 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. It describes the main holy days, feasts, and festivals of the year, during which God expected certain activities and observances to be performed. The weekly Sabbath (seventh day of the week) was a regular day of cessation from weekly activities (Lev. 23:3). A few of the other days of commemoration were considered to be "special Sabbaths."
The Passover (Lev. 23:5), Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:6-8), Feast of Firstfruits (23:10-14), and Feast of Weeks (23:15-22) all took/take place in the Spring of the year. The Feast of Trumpets (23:24,25), Day of Atonement (23:27-32), and Feast of Tabernacles (23:34-43) all took/take place in the Fall of the year. All of them continue to be commemorated by Jews today.
These holy days and feasts are extremely important to Christians as well. Jesus was crucified on the day of Passover, He lay in the grave during the first few nights of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and He was raised from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits. With the latter (Firstfruits) being day #1, then day #50 was Pentecost (coinciding with the Feast of Weeks). This was when the Holy Spirit came upon many believers congregated in Jerusalem, and they all began to speak in tongues (Acts 2:1-4).
Since Jesus (and the Holy Spirit) fulfilled the four Spring holy days and feasts at His first coming, it is presumed that Jesus will fulfill the three Fall holy days and feasts at His second coming. I believe that the Rapture will occur on a Feast of Trumpets, Jesus' physical descent to earth (at the end of the 70th Week) will occur on the Day of Atonement, and the representatives from all nations will be expected to come to Jerusalem to worship Jesus on the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Many more details about these seven holy days and feasts (four in the Spring and three in the Fall) can be found in Chapters 4 and 5 of my (free) online Bible overview here: Jewish Spring Festivals -- Jewish Fall Festivals
The Passover (Lev. 23:5), Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:6-8), Feast of Firstfruits (23:10-14), and Feast of Weeks (23:15-22) all took/take place in the Spring of the year. The Feast of Trumpets (23:24,25), Day of Atonement (23:27-32), and Feast of Tabernacles (23:34-43) all took/take place in the Fall of the year. All of them continue to be commemorated by Jews today.
These holy days and feasts are extremely important to Christians as well. Jesus was crucified on the day of Passover, He lay in the grave during the first few nights of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and He was raised from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits. With the latter (Firstfruits) being day #1, then day #50 was Pentecost (coinciding with the Feast of Weeks). This was when the Holy Spirit came upon many believers congregated in Jerusalem, and they all began to speak in tongues (Acts 2:1-4).
Since Jesus (and the Holy Spirit) fulfilled the four Spring holy days and feasts at His first coming, it is presumed that Jesus will fulfill the three Fall holy days and feasts at His second coming. I believe that the Rapture will occur on a Feast of Trumpets, Jesus' physical descent to earth (at the end of the 70th Week) will occur on the Day of Atonement, and the representatives from all nations will be expected to come to Jerusalem to worship Jesus on the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Many more details about these seven holy days and feasts (four in the Spring and three in the Fall) can be found in Chapters 4 and 5 of my (free) online Bible overview here: Jewish Spring Festivals -- Jewish Fall Festivals
02/07/08: Leviticus
I didn't have many questions for Ted on Leviticus, because it seems pretty straightforward (and repetitive). I've chosen to put the most of our Leviticus discussion here in one post.
Ted: My overall take on Leviticus is that people, in general, are so clueless (and the Israelites were so "stiff-necked" and rebellious) that God/Moses had to repeat things OVER and OVER and OVER again to get it through their thick skulls. I know that he certainly has had to do that with me.
Leviticus 17:11,14 points out that the life of a creature is in the blood. By the fourth or fifth week of embryonic development, blood formation begins. Therefore, this is one of several indications in the Bible that abortion is wrong, since the embryo/fetus technically has "life" as soon as blood is present.
It also talks about not eating blood, but there's lots of blood in meat.
Ted: There is blood in meat; however, they were to 1) drain out as much blood as they possibly could and then 2) cook it so well that virtually no remnant of blood (at least, liquid blood) was present before it was eaten.
Ted: My overall take on Leviticus is that people, in general, are so clueless (and the Israelites were so "stiff-necked" and rebellious) that God/Moses had to repeat things OVER and OVER and OVER again to get it through their thick skulls. I know that he certainly has had to do that with me.
Leviticus 17:11,14 points out that the life of a creature is in the blood. By the fourth or fifth week of embryonic development, blood formation begins. Therefore, this is one of several indications in the Bible that abortion is wrong, since the embryo/fetus technically has "life" as soon as blood is present.
It also talks about not eating blood, but there's lots of blood in meat.
Ted: There is blood in meat; however, they were to 1) drain out as much blood as they possibly could and then 2) cook it so well that virtually no remnant of blood (at least, liquid blood) was present before it was eaten.
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