A visual glimpse of some of the places mentioned in Numbers.

As I was reading today in Numbers 19-21, I couldn't help but think of my own journey through this same land 2 years ago! So, I thought I would post some pictures so you can also get a glimpse of this area and have a better idea in your mind of what it looks like!

These are pictures of the Wilderness of Zin. It probably hasn't changed all that much since Bible times. This is where Miriam died and was buried. (Numbers 20:1-2)

In Numbers 20:17 you hear reference to the King's Highway. I have been on this road. I did not take any pictures because we were up high on a mountain and it was incredibly foggy and the road was rather windy and I was turning wonderful shades of green! But I have been there! 

These 2 pictures above are of the mountains near Petra. The exact location of Mount Hor is not known, but it is possible one of these could be what was known as Mt. Hor. This is where Aaron died and was buried. (Numbers 20:22-29) The bottom picture was actually taken from our hotel room window! The top picture was taken from the balcony off the main lobby of the same hotel. 

Discontentment

While reading in Numbers chapter 11 this morning I had to stop and just think about what I was reading and search my own heart. This is going to be a very transparent post, because this struck home for me big time. Here were the children of Israel. No longer in bondage in Egypt, God providing for their needs, yet complaining. They were putting themselves in "bondage" to themselves through discontentment. Their complaining so angered God that he actually brought fire down from heaven and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. God had made a way of escape for these people, provided for their needs in miraculous ways, and they were not grateful at all! They began to crave the foods that they had while they were in bondage in Egypt. So much so that they wept and Moses cried out to God asking why God dealt so poorly with him as God's servant!

So many times in my life I look at the small discomforts and the small problems and those small problems cloud my thoughts and make me cry out to God asking why he placed this burden on me! When really, I need to keep my focus on the big picture and see how God has provided miraculously in so many ways and so many times! And thank Him for how he has provided and ask him to continually provide what I do need! The children of Israel did receive their "meat" that they so craved, but it came with a price. While the meat was still between their teeth, the Lord brought a plague and struck down all those who had the craving for the meat.

Obviously, God does not judge us the same way today. We are not struck down for being dissatisfied with what God does provide for us, but what if he did? How many times is God angry with me when I allow discontentment to creep into my life? Oh what a thought! No, I may not have everything I would want or crave, and maybe there are days when it seems I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel because of the burdens that I carry....but that is my fault! My focus is off! I need to keep my focus fixed on all that God has done and is doing in my life. I need to trust that He knows best! Because for the children of Israel, the manna was best for them. They craved the meat, but it was not what they were supposed to have. Oh what a lesson to be learned! May I crave, not what I don't have or even used to have, but may I crave that which God would want me to have trusting that He will provide what is best for my life! Lord, help me keep my focus on you!

Where I am at......

Today I am finishing up the book of Leviticus. So much detail on the laws and the sacrifices! So thankful we no longer live that way and instead can kneel before our heavenly Father any time we want!

An interesting note....

While reading Leviticus chapter 12, I found something interesting. After a woman gave birth to a child she was obviously unclean due to the bleeding that takes place afterwards. If she gave birth to a son, she was considered unclean for 7 days. If she gave birth to a daughter, she was unclean for 2 weeks! After this time was complete she then had to wait 33-66 days (depending on the gender of the child) and then she had to bring a burnt offering and a sin offering to the priest at the Tabernacle! Then she was once again considered pure and clean! I had never seen that before and just thought it was interesting....not much else to note on other than just the immense attention to detail of the different offerings and steps to be restored in God's sight after committing a sin.

A Skilled Woman with a Heart to Do God's Work!

While reading along in Exodus, I have been intrigued at all of the detail that has gone into the Tabernacle. God requested things be done a certain way with such detail! It is truly amazing! And after hearing my Pastor's sermon on Sunday morning about heaven it just makes me wonder....if so much detail was put into the Tabernacle here on earth....I can't even imagine what heaven is going to be like! We are so limited in our understanding and our material here on earth. Anyway, as I was reading along at the requirements for Aaron's garments and for the curtains, and even the items that are to go inside the Tabernacle I began thinking of those who had the honored privilege of constructing such beautifully intricate things for God! I would imagine these people had a heart to serve. Just as much as Aaron or Moses. And then, when I got to chapter 35 of Exodus I read these verses!

(20-23) Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, and all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And everyone who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. (25-26) And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. (29) All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

Sure, we attend church, and we know there are women who serve in many different area's of the church. We each have a different skill that we can bring to God's house and give to Him to use for His honor and glory! But, are we doing what we are supposed to be doing with a willing heart? Are we doing what we are doing because our heart's were stirred? Do we have a skill that God gave us that we are not using simply because we don't see how in the world it could be used? When was the last time your heart was stirred to use a skill that God had given you to give back to God as a freewill offering? I love artsy crafty things. I can't say I am necessarily good at them, but I do enjoy them. I can't imagine having the skill that these women possessed that they were able to use in such a way to give back to God and help to build/construct the Tabernacle! What an honor and what a privilege.

I also think of all the possessions that these women had. Some near and dear to their hearts no doubt, that they were willing to give to God! Wow! I have some special treasures of my own. I would be honest when I say that to give them to God would be difficult, but if the opportunity arose I would like to think that I could do that! My challenge for myself after reading this is to search my heart and know that if God called upon me to give up any of my possessions here on earth that I would do so in a heart beat with a heart that was willing. Also, to be searching for certain skills/gifts that God has specifically equipped me with that I can use to give back to Him in a special way and use for His honor and glory! May we all be willing women with hearts stirred to use our talents and gifts and skills for God!!

Where I am at.

Well, today I just finished Exodus 21. I have really been enjoying this study and since having been to the Holy Land have a better idea of the area where a lot of the events that I have read about took place. Just a plug...if you have never been to Israel..GO! Your Bible reading will come alive in a way that will  help you immensely! Since I last posted, I have read about the children of Israel's flight out of Egypt and their journey through the wilderness and how God provided in miraculous ways for them! Today I read about the Ten Commandments and then God's rules on slavery.
The other day something jumped out at me that I found most interesting. In Exodus 18, Moses' father in law, Jethro comes to him and seeing that Moses is taking on all of the burdens of the people steps in and gives Moses some instruction. He tells Moses to appoint able men who fear God and who are trustworthy to take on some of these burdens from Moses. These men were to be over different groups of people. Any matter too great they would bring to Moses, and any small matter they would decide themselves. This looks like a clear picture of how the church is set up today! You have deacons and or assistant Pastor's who can help bear some of the burden! I like what the end of chapter 18 says, "If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure..." I believe this is a clear picture of a healthy church.
I also love chapter 15. It is the song that Moses led the people in singing after they crossed the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptians.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, 

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.

"Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'

You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.

"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

The LORD will reign forever and ever."

Looking forward to continuing my journey! As you can tell I may not write every day, but I will write!! There is so much I am learning through this study and I hope you are also being blessed by it! 

God Preserves His People Through Faithful Women

I have read the book of Exodus and have heard these stories over and over, but have never seen how God used different women to accomplish his will! He uses the following women to preserve his people:

~Shiphrah and Puah (Hebrew midwives)
~Moses' mother
~Moses' sister
~Pharaoh's daughter
~Zipporah (Moses' wife)

Exodus begins with the Pharaoh realizing how great the people of Israel had become in number and strength and for fear that war would break out against the Egyptians he made the people of Israel work as slaves. Then to make matters worse he commanded that the Hebrew midwives kill all sons born! And there we see a pillar of strength! These midwives, Shiphrah and Puah specifically, feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt. God used these two godly women to preserve his people! They did not do as the king said, but rather let the male children live. Verse 20 of chapter 1 says, "So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families." God will always bless us for doing what is right just as he blessed these midwives!

Then Pharaoh decides to command every son born to the Hebrew's to be cast into the Nile.

A Levite couple gives birth to a son. This son was good, and healthy. Knowing the command given by Pharaoh this woman hides her son for 3 months. He really must have been good to be kept hidden for so long! Well, when this woman could no longer hide her son, she made a basket out of bulrushes (papyrus reeds), placed her precious son in the basket, and placed the basket among the reeds by the river. This brave woman was Moses' mother. She knew she could not cast her precious son into the Nile as Pharaoh has commanded. So she did what she could to preserve his life! And oh did God bless her!!

This little boys sister stood a little distance away from where her brother was placed into the river by his mother to see what would happen. Obviously, she must have loved her little brother because this simple act showed how she cared. Well, after a time, Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe in the river. She saw the basket and sent her servant to grab it. Pharaoh's daughter opens the basket and saw the child. He began to cry and Pharaoh's daughter took pity on him and saw he was one of the Hebrews' children. Moses' sister then comes to Pharaoh's daughter and says "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" Pharaoh's daughter agrees and Moses' sister ran and called her mother! So, then Pharaoh's daughter says to Moses' mother, " Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages."

Oh! How God blessed the faithfulness of these women! Here was a mother who could not commit such a sin of killing her own son, and how God blessed her! She was paid to care for her son! And this sister who was brave and cared for her little brother and who God used to work his mighty plan in the life of Moses and the children of Israel! But there is one more woman that God used!

Moses, after he fled from Pharaoh to the land of Midian, took a wife from the priest of Midian. Her name was Zipporah. After God commands Moses through the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt the Lord sought to put Moses to death because he had failed to circumcise his son. This command to circumcise goes back to the covenant God made with Abraham. Well, Zipporah steps in and takes care of the circumcision and once again Moses' life is preserved thanks to a godly woman!

In just 4 chapters we are introduced to 6 women who God used mightily to accomplish his will in the life of Moses and in the lives of the children of Israel! God used these women to preserve his people! Guess what! God can use us even today to accomplish His perfect will in the lives of those around us and in the lives of future generations. How are you doing? How would you rank your faithfulness? Would you be able to have the strength to do what was right if placed in the situations these women were placed in? Do you fear God more than you fear man? Let us strive to be faithful women! We don't know what kind of impact our decisions to follow God will have on the lives around us or the lives of those who come after us!