136 I Fixed Something. Really. (Num 19)

Hey! Today I did a plumbery thing.
I don't normally do handy man stuff.
My body generally repels any "handy" DNA bits.
But one of my clients called about breaking a tap.
After calling a plumber, I thought I should really go have a look.
There were other concerns.
I went and had a look.
You never know. Right?
It was just a busted tap handley thingy.
So I bought another and swapped it over.
I got to call the plumber and say,
"It's ok Mr Plumber bloke. I fixed it. Your services are not required today."
"Your bill is in the mail."
(I didn't really say the last bit about the bill. But maybe it was thought in my deep sub-conscious. Just below old catalog numbers I remember from my work 11 years ago.)
Plumbery thing accomplished.
Think I need to go and get me a Monkey Wrench.
I have a hankering for peeling a banana.

Numbers 19
I have to admit this chapter has nearly done my head in.
I've read it 4 times in the last month, yet here I sit scratching my head and thinking
"...................."
Zilchareeno.

Another sacrifice.
Some more rules.
Why wash on the third and seventh days if you touch a dead body?
What is it with the third day? Smell?
Nah.
Must be something else.
Being in a tent with someone dead is the same as touching a dead body in a battlefield. Why?
Touching a bone is the same as touching a grave. How come?
Something just isn't clicking in my head.
Maybe I'm trying too hard.
Death is a normal thing.
With so many people.
Living in hard conditions.
I'm sure it was reasonably common for someone to die.
There was certainly lots of battles to be undergone.
Battles normally equals dead people.
Either immediately or later from injury.
So I guess it needs dealing with.
Is that it?
Don't know.
But I need to keep going.
I've already held off blogging for this chapter twice.
And I'm not happy.
Grrrrrrr.
Angry face in place.
Watch out!
Now I'm getting annoyed by a mosquito.
Stupid bug.



Heh heh.
I just "fixed" something else.
*wipes hand on shirt*

135 Don't Want a Boofy Head (Num 18)

I have this new tent that I really want to unpack.
It's actually the second time I've had this tent to look at.
The first time I set it up, I realised I been given the wrong model.
Now I have the correct one.
It's a bushwalking tent.
Fairly light weight.
(I nearly typed wait then. Tiredness?)
But really compact.
I'm a bit worried I won't be able to fit it back in it's bag.
Even though i did it for the one I had to return.
I might try to do it tomorrow.
I have this mate who would probably be keen to have a look.
Not really sure why I said that.
I must be weary.
But he would be keen.
I might call him tomorrow as well.

Numbers 18
Aaron has been recognised by God in an incredible way.
Now I guess there's wisdom by God in that straight away He reminds Aaron of exactly what is expected of him.
Can't let him get a big, boofy head.
There is a burden to bear with this position.
It's not all fun and games and flowering staffs.
He has responsibility.
To God and to the Israelites.
He can't waver.
He can't fall short.
He is set apart.

Big call for a guy who was complaining not too long ago that he didn't have this.
I guess we need to be patient on the big calls.
Maybe he felt that this was what he was meant to be doing.
He just raised it poorly earlier.
God elevates and promotes.
Or else, to use the hip, young lingo of today, epic fail dude.
Hmmmmm.
Probably shouldn't have added a "dude" there.

134 Arrrmonds (Num 17)

I could mention a funny thing that happened today with a trifling facebook moment.
It was innocent and funny.
But cutting in the eyes of some.
A bit too cutting perhaps.
Sometimes I forget that something implied is visualised by others.
So I wont dredge up the whole incident again.
Promise.
And anyway I think seals are cute.
I made a stuffed one as a Home Ec project in grade 8.
I gave it to a cousin or nephew removed once or twice also named Stephen.
I like seals.

Numbers 17
I'm no horticulturalist, so if a tree produces leaves, flowers and fruit, my reaction is likely to be moderate.
Y'know that's sort of what trees do, right?
If it sprouts flowers and fruit overnight, that's still fairly mundane.
Fruit growing overnight may be a rare sight, but flowers, surely not.
But if it happens and the tree is a staff, carved from a stick and definitely not in its prime of its reproduction cycle, then that's remarkable.
Miraculous even.
I doubt that Aaron's staff was even initially made from the limb of an almond tree.
Yet grew almonds and blossumy things.

Just a little tip for those reading aloud.
You pronounce the "l" as an "rrr" in almond.
It's a little lesson I have learned over time.
People have such long memories.
Sigh!

So God is showing indisputable favour on Aaron.
The priest's job is his.
Not anybody else's.
Not just this.
God showed that those blessed by Him shall be fruitful.
Prosperous.
They shall stand out.
Warm fuzzy feeling.

133 Patience Pushed Again. (Num 16)

Do you ever get those moments when you are so fixed on doing something, that when you can't, you can't see what else you could do?
I often get so set in my way that the blinkers come out and I can see nothing else.
That's ok, because when it works out, it REALLY works out.
I get heaps done well and quickly.
But when something unavoidable like, say, long, continuous, heavy rain happens, I fall in a heap of stubborn nothingness.
"I want to do that. But I can't. So I can't do anything else. Obviously!"
The section in my brain that is rational.
The tiny bit in the dark corner up the back.
Well, it just digs a hole through my cranium with a spoon and does a runner.
I sort of mope around with a dull smile.
I think I nod a lot as well.
But not much else gets done.
I must try to incorporate more focus on option creating, I think.
Oops. Got to go. I hear a knocking and it must be my rational thingy trying to get back in.
I might need him tomorrow.
So Ta-ra.

Numbers 16
There will always be people who profess they have heard from God.
There will be some who get things awfully close to something that sounds like they may have heard from God.
That's fine if they keep things to themselves.
But often they don't.
What's the point of hearing from God if you don't have any power to go with it?
So they try and get as many to follow as possible.
What happens if you hear this, without good understanding of God's word?
What if you don't know enough to know what you're hearing is off the mark?
What happens if you believe something that contradicts a leader, say like Moses, who HAS heard from God, HAS demonstrated his relationship with God, DOES continue to walk closely with God AND continues to hear from God?
Well, there's a chance you will suffer badly.

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram got swallowed up by the ground.
They paid for their arrogance, self importance and pride.
Not only them, but all their families.
The people, who had already seen God's patience tested to its end and were headed to the wilderness as a consequence, had quickly jumped behind the ringleaders.
It's here we can see God's real grace in handling the Israelites to this point.
How does walking in the desert for 40 years compare to getting swallowed by a hole miraculously appearing or to death by plague?
The people shouldn't have complained again.
God and Moses had proven their love for the people.
They show it again.
Everything planned and carried out showed the love of God for His displaced people and their restoration to a land He had promised them.
The reason they had not entered was not Moses's fault.
Not God's fault.
But again, they needed to learn the hard way.
And again, God stepped in showed grace.
But some paid the price for the complaints, the rebellion.
We need to know God.
We need to know Him so that we can sense things that are not God.
Then, we can help others.
We can help ourselves.

132 Enthuasiasm. Yeah! (Num 15)

Friday nights are about as good as it gets.
Almost as good as a leisurely Saturday morning.
Almost.
It's the end of the working week for me.
It's a relaxed meal time.
It's a chance to watch a movie or have friends around.
I get to spend an hour working with my kids.
Together.
I get to see Donna sitting on the couch.
And every now and then I watch a bit longer.
This makes me smile.
Friday nights are great.
Of course I do the last bit, watching Donna, most nights.
But Fridays.......
It just seems right.

Numbers 15
v2-3 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you,
and you offer to the LORD from the herd or from the flock a food offering or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing aroma to the LORD,"

The first thing I see here is that God has forgiven the Israelites.
There is the statement of intent by saying, WHEN you come into the land.
There is no "if".
There is no alternative land.
God is talking about THE promised land.
And the Israelites will go into it.
They will inhabit it.
Chalk up another big tick to Moses.

Secondly, He's talking about how and what to offer as sacrifices.
Now.
God knows there is about to be 40 years of wandering around.
So why instruct now?
This sacrifice is the fulfillment of God's promise.
I think God tells them now, so that the Israelites have that vision of fulfillment fresh.
New.
Identifiable.
They have a picture of the first day in this land of milk and honey.
They have the carrot to give them impetus to get through the hard days.
When they sit around the campfires at night after a long day of walking, they will smell the meat cooking.
They will nod knowingly at each other, wink and say,
"This is what it will be like on that day God's promise is complete."
They'll forget the sore feet.
They'll ignore the burning sun.
They'll look forward to one less day in the wilderness.

How effective was it?
Someone ignores or forgets the Sabbath.
ALL of the people brought the man before Aaron and Moses.
Everyone was enthusiastic about honouring God's commandments now.
Too little, too late?
Perhaps.
But there is a sign they are learning.
For now.

131 I'm Nice (Num 14)

Today was filled with strategy planning.
I wish my strategy had been how to avoid the planning.
I'm not much of a forward thinker.
Donna asks all the time, "What are you planning for Saturday?"
My initial thoughts normally involve, "What day is today?"
Then, "wonder what there is to eat?"
I find it hard.
To plan.
Having said that, I've been planning a fishing trip since August.
Priorities?
Actually lately, my default answer has been, fishing or mowing.
It could also partly explain the lack of progress with a certain fence.
Or some certain garden planning.
Or some certain painting.
Or some certain.............there's so many things I have half finished.
Grrrrrrr.
Maybe I need to plan better.
Correction.
Maybe I need to plan.
Donna is right.
No surprises there, she generally is.
Cute as well.
Really cute.
The simple "what are your plans?" question requires thought on my part.
Maybe I need to respond with a question, "What would you like to do?"
It's just I know the answer will be,
"Spend time with you."
Nice!
Who could blame her?

Numbers 14
The complaining finally catches up with the Israelites.
God says ten times is enough to put up with complaints and murmuring.
The demand to go back to Egypt at the doorstep of the Promised Land seems nuts.
God said "Here it is."
Ten spies say "It's good but we will get out little butts swatted."
The people say "Quick find someone to take us back to Egypt."
God says "You're kidding! Why I aughta ..... "
Moses says "Don't kill them."
Joshua and Caleb say "We can do it. Let's go."
The people say "Idiots. We will stone you with............um stones."
God says "Go to the wilderness again."
Moses says "Okay. Better than death."
The people say "Ok, we'll go into the land. We've been bad."
Too late.
They try to do it anyway.
They get a sound beating.

When God promises something and you reject it. His grace may give you another shot. Maybe even another after that. And possibly another.
Who knows, maybe one more.
Eventually though if you muck God around, expect to miss out.
In the end, God's promise passes to the next generation.
The first to miss out, are the spies who lost sight of what God's promise was.
The land was theirs.
The inhabitants were inconsequential.
With God backing them.
The start of the 40 years of wandering begins with a return to the Red Sea.
Back to the beginning.

130 Grasshoppery Bugs (Num 13)

A few things at work taking headspace this evening so just a quickie.
Sometimes things that seem so big, just aren't.
That's good.
Because we can only handle so many big things at one time.
I hope you take something from tonight's post anyway.

Numbers 13
So initially God says to go into the land He has GIVEN the Israelites and check it out.
Was this really a spying mission?
Or was this a mission to see the quality in God's promise?
Like God was saying "I've told you milk and honey, this is what it looks like."
The spying was for the sake of the people.
It wasn't a scouting mission to figure out how to attack.
God knew what it looked like.
He knew who lived there.
He knew what grew there.
He knew it was good.
He wanted the people to see it.
Despite following the cloud, the fire, the manna, the quails, the Red Sea etc,
I get the feeling there was doubt in the camp.
Doubt creates a lack of confidence.
Lack of confidence leads to concentrating on the strengths of others.
Which is what happens.
"Oh the descendants of Anak."
"Oh the Nephilim."
"Did we tell you about the grapes? Massive! But we are going to get stomped on like teeny tiny grasshoppery bugs."
Except for Caleb, who trusted in God.
He saw the good.
He still saw the difficulties.
But he saw the good.
And knew God.
And that right there is the difference.

129 I Said I Would Blog ABout This Today (Num 12)

Today I learned there are two sides to paper.
To my untrained eye, I have assumed that it doesn't matter which way paper goes into a photocopier.
I assumed that one side is the same as the other.
That they are not different.
Oops.
Apparently, it DOES make a difference.
There are even little warnings on the outside of the reams of paper INSTRUCTING you how to put the paper in.
The side facing the seam of the ream packing HAS to go into the tray facing up.
"Surely you jest" I hear you say.
"Nay." I reply. "It is truth."
For the lovely ladies and token male (sorry Geoff) in the office playfully mocked me and friendly'y scorned my attempts at photocopier refilling today.
For all I know, they may still be giggling at my comfortableness, or lack thereof, at not really being sure if this is true or not.
(Or at my feeble attempt to form new words.)
There were certainly giggles at the time of my hesitancy.
But the instructions were there.
I saw them.
Have a look yourself.
On the packaging of the ream of "Reflex" or whatever the blue and white paper is.
Right in the spot that I see words and then ignore what they say because it's just another ream of paper.
What important things could be there to say?
Nothing?
Wrong!
Aaaaarrrrggggghhhh, it makes no sense.
And yet, I recall the number of photocopiers I have left in my wake.
Beeping.
Always beeping.
And screwing up paper.
And jamming.
And the beeping.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.
For the love of all humanity make the beeping stop.
Please!

Sure. Just put the paper in the photocopier with the side facing the seam of the ream packaging facing up in the tray.

Numbers 12
Why are there times when we see what someone else is doing, and wish we could do that?
Because I mean it can't be that hard? "They" do it.
I can surely do it much better.
Surely?
The problem is, when doing something that God has made just for you to do,
only you can do it.
Not your brother.
Not your sister.
Not your uncle Francis.
You.
And if you are the brother or sister or heaven forbid, Uncle Francis, you have something else that you can do better than anyone else.
Do that.
If you don't know what "that" is, look really, really hard.
Don't try and take over.
Don't get jealous.
Support the person whose job you think you could do.
In prayer and in deed.
After seeing what Moses had put up with over the last few months, why would anyone even want to put up with the whining and the complaining and the arguing and the negotiating?
Because they probably didn't know that went on when no-one was around.
They wanted the job, because they didn't know about the hard stuff.
The long times feeling alone.
The times of interceding hour after hour.
The arguing with God.
The days without sleep or food.
Day after day smelling of sheep.
They heard of the flaming bush.
They saw the sea parting.
The shiny new tablets of stone.
Talking to a storm.
The intimate relationship with God.
And decided to take on the role they saw without preparation for the role they didn't.
God knows.
That's why Moses got things happening.
He was equipped by God.
That's why Miriam got the sickness.
She wasn't.
For that anyway.

Just a little quick reference to verse 1.
Because it makes me smile.

"Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman."

Just so there was no confusion, he had indeed married a Cushite woman.

128 Eating 'Til it Comes Out Your Nose (Num 11)

Some time ago I started building a fence.
Not a particularly large fence.
Not a particularly long fence.
Haven't finished it.
Not by a long shot. (Well maybe a long shot)
Which is unfortunate.
It looks a bit bare, and has done since before Christmas.
The good news is that it will be finished.
One day.
But you know the saying, "wood doesn't grow on trees."
Maybe I should try and get some sort of funding for it.
You can get government funding to train to be a clown.
Irony abounds in that statement.
Another saying is "Rome wasn't built in a day."
Well neither was Sydney.
Or Hobart.
Or Launceston.
Actually neither was Oatlands.
Even Tunbridge wasn't built in a day.
So my little Great Wall, Dingo fence, fence is all under control.
Annoys me though that it's not done.
;)

Numbers 11
The Israelites complain in the hearing of God 3 days into their trek.
About their MISFORTUNE.
(More about this in a sec)
God gets angry and burns a bit of stuff.
So the Israelites direct their cries for help to........
Moses.
"Oh Moses, stop God being angry at us!"
Did they do that because they knew God would listen to Moses?
There is some history there.
Or did they direct stuff at Moses because he was a softer target?
Easy choice for me, Moses or God? God or Moses?
Der, Moses.

Moses was the only person able to speak with God.
He was the only one anointed.
God saw the issues with this and enabled part of his load to be shared with 70 others.
Delegation to prevent burn out (literally) at its finest.

I love the way Moses reacts to God at times.
v11 "...did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth..."
So dramatic.
Cracks are showing.
God also appears to give it back in spades as well.
v19-20 "...you shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils..."
God making a point?
I wouldn't be arguing with God when he has just sent fire to burn part of the camp.
But, hey. I'm not a feisty Moses with over a million moaning people giving me a hard time.

Now let's get back to the misfortune.
Keep in mind, the dramas getting the commandments is reasonably recent history.
The tabernacle is only just freshly stitched, sewn and hammered together.
3 days of walking and the first thoughts that come to mind is not,
"Gee God is looking after us."
Not, "What a great day."
Not, "I'm free and the wind is blowing in my beard."
But "Dude. I could really go some fish about now. Deserts sucks. Moses sucks.
God sucks."
I probably would sent some fire to brighten their day as well.

But God also shows grace.
Thanks to Moses, He shows forgiveness.
He shows care and compassion.
He grants the requests for meat.
He provides help for Moses.
There is a line in the sand of this desert though.
A line the Israelites like to cross.
This time it cost a bit, for some of them.
Food with a lesson attached.
Appreciate what you have and where God is taking you.
Don't just look at the now, remember the big picture.
Don't look back.

127 I'm Wrong. And Right (Num 10)

There are many times when I am wrong.
That is all.
Just thought I should start today with some sort of community service announcement.
So rest easy folks.
It can happen.
Many times.
To counter that, there's a plethora of occasions when I'm correct.
So if you're ever in doubt about stuff, give me a call.
By my reckoning the odds are slightly better that you'll call when I'm going to be right.
Oops.
I just used a "correct" occasion.
That means the odds drop for next time.
Ah ha! Another correct statement.
Better get in quick!
Each correct statement is one closer to a wrong one.
Doh!
Another.
And another............


Just messing with you. These don't really count.

Numbers 10
Ok, so if someone blows one trumpet, how different will it sound to two trumpets?
I'm not really sure if I could tell the difference between one trumpet or two.
And this is important, because if you couldn't you be doing the wrong thing.
Unless you were a chief.
Then you hear a trumpet (or Two) and head over to Moses.
How many got there to see other "non-chiefs" wandering back to their tents, shaking their heads, muttering "I'm sure there were two trumpets........"
Maybe that's how they got so good at murmuring.
And what is the difference between an alarm and a blast?
I'm sure I would be sick of the sound of a trumpet after a month.
There would also be the slight possibility that I could possible set off for war if a camel farted noisily walking past my tent.
That would be embarrassing.

So the tribes set off to find the promised land.
The order in which they set up is described and here's the thing for today.
The tabernacle leaves well before the stuff from inside the tabernacle.
No change of mind here.
The thing is, they followed a cloud into the wilderness without qualm.
The order was described by God.
The people fell into line.
The only ones who didn't follow, were Moses' father-in-law and his family.
Midianites.
Moses pleaded for him to stay and help "serve as eyes for us." v31
Did Hobab know he couldn't inherit any of what God promised the Israelites?
Did Moses know?
He offered a share.
Could this have happened?
Moses' wife wasn't Israelite.
Ooooooorrrrrrr, does Hobab and his family earn a share of the gifts from God because they shared in the hardship in getting to this place?
That sounds better.
In the end it's not clear whether they hang with Moses or depart.
But God's promise to deliver a land to His people has just taken a big step forward.
With trumpets.
Or trumpet.
Doh! Got it wrong again. murmurmurmurmurmurmurmur

126 Cloudy (Num 9)

I had this cracking thought today driving.
I giggled at it thinking how it would look in my blog.
Should have pulled over and written it down.
Hate that!
I did ponder about including some statement about 5 "Roadworks Ahead" signs and 60 km speed limits, followed by "Roadwork Ended" signs and nothing in between.
But I won't.
I'm sure the invisible road crews would not appreciate the mocking.
Particularly after such a hard day.
It was a nice drive.
I was happy for most of it.
The rest is a bit blurry.
Not in a dangerous way though.
Just uneventful.
I think.

Numbers 9
I am fascinated by clouds.
Absolutely love watching them.
I love the incredible range of "depth" they appear to have.
I love those days where you get big massive storm heads rolling behind thin, wispy stretched out ones.
I love the changes of colour at sunrise and sunset.
I love when they peek out over the hills.
Clouds are just cool.
The children of Israel experienced some cool cloud moments.
When it was time to move on, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle.
It would move for a day or two days or a month.
And the people would follow.
It would settle.
And they would camp.
One day.
A few days.
Possibly random.
But I doubt it.
Randomness with purpose to me would indicate intent.
A continuous reminder of God's presence and His promise.
A promise to lead.
A promise to keep close.
A sign of beauty and wonder.
Something so natural.
Yet not.
The first thing you would see each day.
Apart from the ceiling of your tent!

125 The Chosen (Num 8)

Dining with friends around a bbq. Well, it doesn't get much better.
The wind could have been calmer.
Another degree or two wouldn't have gone astray either.
But with fine company, it could have been hailing and it would have been great.
An amazing end to a busy day.
Too many reports at work and not enough head space. Actually I could have done with an extra head today.
One to talk and one to think.
Doh! Sorry lads, just gave credence to the urban myth that males can only do one thing at a time.
Well sometimes that's true.
Sometimes.
Maybe.
But Shhhhhh.
It's a secret from girlie types.
But tonight bbq, chatting, potential fishing trips to plan, funny girls and now blog time.
Feeling good.

Numbers 8
Preparation was required before the Levites could begin their roles.
One part of that was all of the Israelites would lay hands on them.
Laying on of hands we would normally indicate prayer.
I don't think this is the case this time.
Prayers weren't done by anyone back in them there days.
I think this laying on of hands was more symbolic. Maybe to show the people trusted them to fulfill their new role.
A bit like "duck, duck, goose" but everyone was a "goose".
Chosen to do a job, not chase someone around a circle.
"You are chosen"
"You are chosen"

First though, a wash.
Then a shave, big shave. These were generally a hirsute group of men.
So a big, big job.
With a big, big razor, no doubt.
Purified, to obey God.
Prepared, to serve the people.
To ensure the nation of Israel was made right before God.

More offerings, more sacrifice.
The things that needed to happen to be acceptable in God's eyes.
So much easier now.
It's all been done.