Waders.
Distractions.
Blog.
Distractions.
Football.
Distractions.
Sleep.
Not likely.
Head space.
Diminishing.
Love Thursdays.
Oh and I should squeeze family in there as well.
But mainly, distractions.
Oh and I measured up another section of the fence that never ends this afternoon.
Not sure why.
I guess it'll come in handy one day.
As long as I don't lose the measurements.
Onwards........
Deuteronomy 4
This is a "full" chapter. There is so much good in it, I'm struggolling where to start.
And how to spell "struggling".
The wilderness years are encapsulated in this one passage of chapter 4
v32-35 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.
Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?
Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.
Remember God because God remembers you.
Keep God's commandments to prolong your days.
Follow the laws and statutes to remain set apart.
Others will recognise the work of God in you and through you.
Pretty simple.
And above all God will never leave you or forget you and if you do stray and then wish to come back to Him, He will accept you.
He is merciful.
I think the call to not be distracted by things around the people is sound.
When things seem to go wrong, a penchant to hold onto the ways of the tribes around them was strong.
Wow, inadvertent poetry.
The warning is clear, there is nothing in the natural that could do what the people of Israel have seen God do.
Nothing else could deliver them.
Nothing else could win battles for them.
Nothing else could impart wisdom and mercy.
Nothing else could speak to them the way God did.
Nothing.
Not bird.
Not animal.
Not plant.
Not heavenly body.
'Nuff Said.
For now ;)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
156 The Wrong Side of the Jordan (Deut 3)
Wheeling and dealing in high finances this evening.
A joy to speak to a normal, helpful bank dude at 8:30 at night.
It's a situation that raises annoyances.
Well one anyway.
I might lose the ute.
The "might" bit is the only annoyance in that sentence.
And when I say "lose", I mean "replace".
I've enjoyed it.
I've nearly run it to the ground.
But jolly, I'll be glad to see the end of it.
Sort of.
There you have it, all sentimental me.
Deuteronomy 3
Twice God says "Do not fear" in this chapter.
Once a recap.
The first time was when Israel came up against a man whose bed was made of iron and over 4 metres long.
Og was a monster of a man.
A big man.
A tad bigger than Daniel Boone.
Who was a man.
A big man.
Yet God enabled him, his fortified cities and his armies to be wiped out.
Completely.
His call to "not fear" was justifiably demonstrated.
Despite the odds.
The second time, God tells Moses to tell Joshua "Do not fear".
But He also expands this. This reason for a lack of fear.
God is fighting the battles for him.
History showed this to be true.
Yet I guess it's easy to tell someone to not be afraid.
Our senses, particularly sight will tend to get in the way of our anti-fear mechanisms.
We need to know, however that God doesn't change.
God keeps His word.
He can do, what our eyes and mind say can't be done.
He has already done it.
He will do it again.
Moses knew this.
He gazes one last time at the land he can only see, but never enter.
He encourages and brings strength to Joshua.
He has known what was required to lead.
He has known that faith was needed.
He knew wisdom would be required.
He knew that Joshua will need to know all this also.
I don't think you can teach that.
You experience it and it grows within you. Faith that is.
You need to be open to it.
Otherwise it makes no sense and what could happen, doesn't.
Moses learns this on the wrong side of the Jordan.
At least that what my muddled mind perceives this evening.
I'll probably re-read this tomorrow and slap my head and long for a rewrite.
The fogs of slumber can often distort the mind.
And so it is this evening.
A joy to speak to a normal, helpful bank dude at 8:30 at night.
It's a situation that raises annoyances.
Well one anyway.
I might lose the ute.
The "might" bit is the only annoyance in that sentence.
And when I say "lose", I mean "replace".
I've enjoyed it.
I've nearly run it to the ground.
But jolly, I'll be glad to see the end of it.
Sort of.
There you have it, all sentimental me.
Deuteronomy 3
Twice God says "Do not fear" in this chapter.
Once a recap.
The first time was when Israel came up against a man whose bed was made of iron and over 4 metres long.
Og was a monster of a man.
A big man.
A tad bigger than Daniel Boone.
Who was a man.
A big man.
Yet God enabled him, his fortified cities and his armies to be wiped out.
Completely.
His call to "not fear" was justifiably demonstrated.
Despite the odds.
The second time, God tells Moses to tell Joshua "Do not fear".
But He also expands this. This reason for a lack of fear.
God is fighting the battles for him.
History showed this to be true.
Yet I guess it's easy to tell someone to not be afraid.
Our senses, particularly sight will tend to get in the way of our anti-fear mechanisms.
We need to know, however that God doesn't change.
God keeps His word.
He can do, what our eyes and mind say can't be done.
He has already done it.
He will do it again.
Moses knew this.
He gazes one last time at the land he can only see, but never enter.
He encourages and brings strength to Joshua.
He has known what was required to lead.
He has known that faith was needed.
He knew wisdom would be required.
He knew that Joshua will need to know all this also.
I don't think you can teach that.
You experience it and it grows within you. Faith that is.
You need to be open to it.
Otherwise it makes no sense and what could happen, doesn't.
Moses learns this on the wrong side of the Jordan.
At least that what my muddled mind perceives this evening.
I'll probably re-read this tomorrow and slap my head and long for a rewrite.
The fogs of slumber can often distort the mind.
And so it is this evening.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
155 5 P's (Deut 2)
I've been suffering chronic pain in my mouth for about a week now.
My bottom lip is sore, to be precise.
It seems you can't put on your seat belt on while sneezing without risk.
Sigh.
At it's worst, it is quite swollen and difficult to smile or talk.
At it's best, it is quite swollen and difficult to smile or talk.
I just have to keep licking it to prevent stickage.
And with that amount of too much info, let's delve into.......
Deuteronomy 2
A short account of the long stay in the wilderness.
Not my line.
I borrowed it from a commentary.
:)
Yet very apt.
We still aren't at the point of crossing into Canaan.
It is recognised though, that God has never forsaken His people.
Ever.
Throughout the entire journey.
He has provided.
He has prospered.
He has protected.
He has punished.
He has persevered.
Ooooo, I spy a 5 point "P" sermon there.
But He has never left.
My bottom lip is sore, to be precise.
It seems you can't put on your seat belt on while sneezing without risk.
Sigh.
At it's worst, it is quite swollen and difficult to smile or talk.
At it's best, it is quite swollen and difficult to smile or talk.
I just have to keep licking it to prevent stickage.
And with that amount of too much info, let's delve into.......
Deuteronomy 2
A short account of the long stay in the wilderness.
Not my line.
I borrowed it from a commentary.
:)
Yet very apt.
We still aren't at the point of crossing into Canaan.
It is recognised though, that God has never forsaken His people.
Ever.
Throughout the entire journey.
He has provided.
He has prospered.
He has protected.
He has punished.
He has persevered.
Ooooo, I spy a 5 point "P" sermon there.
But He has never left.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
154 An Early Mistake (Deut 1)
Well I find myself at work at an unexpected time.
It's now 1:45AM and I'm here by my own forgetfulness.
I took a call during a staff meeting this afternoon.
The worker filling in for the worker on holidays and who is supposed to be working now, called me saying they were ill. Could I get a replacement?
Sure no bother.
Nothing simpler.
I returned to the meeting....................
At ten past midnight, my phone rings.
Never good to see work's name appear on the screen.
"What could the problem be?" I wondered as my deep, deep sleep was disturbed.
Actually "disturbed" is a rather simple way of describing the bone jarring eruption of vibrating hell that shattered the best sleep I'd discovered for over a week.
Sigh.
"Hi Steve, sorry to wake you. But............."
As soon as the worker's name was mentioned my memory decided "now" would be a good time to work.
And so without making a long story any longer,
I find myself at work at an unexpected time.
Deuteronomy 1
Ok so Moses is doing a recap.
I detect he's trying to make a point.
Wandering around for 40 years may not have been enough for the Israelites to get that they had stuffed up.
Moses says it all again.
I guess there's wisdom in that.
The inhabitants now are the same inhabitants that inhabittated the land back then.
It's a not too subtle reminder about what happened before and what to expect this time.
There will be an abundance of good fruits.
But there will also be the big guys waiting for them.
This time though, remember how the Lord carried His people through the wilderness.
Remember how He delivered them from Egypt.
Trust in God.
Take what appears to be untakeable.
This time.
There are times when it's easy to trust in God.
There are times when it's not quite so easy.
The trick is to understand that when it's not easy, that's actually the most important time to.
Mostly it's easy when we can see what's up ahead.
Real trust is about not knowing what's going to happen.
We can make assumptions based on history or our own calculations, but trusting God is about accepting that whatever happens, will happen.
And you will be okay.
How many times has something happened and then later you have an
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh, I get it" moment?
I think that "trust" is also a deliberate act. You consciously make a decision to do something when you aren't sure of the end result.
I think that's right.
My eyes and mind are both a bit blurry at the moment.
Oh and I am working and not just doing this blog.
I just need focus on something or else I'll fall asle....e...............p
It's now 1:45AM and I'm here by my own forgetfulness.
I took a call during a staff meeting this afternoon.
The worker filling in for the worker on holidays and who is supposed to be working now, called me saying they were ill. Could I get a replacement?
Sure no bother.
Nothing simpler.
I returned to the meeting....................
At ten past midnight, my phone rings.
Never good to see work's name appear on the screen.
"What could the problem be?" I wondered as my deep, deep sleep was disturbed.
Actually "disturbed" is a rather simple way of describing the bone jarring eruption of vibrating hell that shattered the best sleep I'd discovered for over a week.
Sigh.
"Hi Steve, sorry to wake you. But............."
As soon as the worker's name was mentioned my memory decided "now" would be a good time to work.
And so without making a long story any longer,
I find myself at work at an unexpected time.
Deuteronomy 1
Ok so Moses is doing a recap.
I detect he's trying to make a point.
Wandering around for 40 years may not have been enough for the Israelites to get that they had stuffed up.
Moses says it all again.
I guess there's wisdom in that.
The inhabitants now are the same inhabitants that inhabittated the land back then.
It's a not too subtle reminder about what happened before and what to expect this time.
There will be an abundance of good fruits.
But there will also be the big guys waiting for them.
This time though, remember how the Lord carried His people through the wilderness.
Remember how He delivered them from Egypt.
Trust in God.
Take what appears to be untakeable.
This time.
There are times when it's easy to trust in God.
There are times when it's not quite so easy.
The trick is to understand that when it's not easy, that's actually the most important time to.
Mostly it's easy when we can see what's up ahead.
Real trust is about not knowing what's going to happen.
We can make assumptions based on history or our own calculations, but trusting God is about accepting that whatever happens, will happen.
And you will be okay.
How many times has something happened and then later you have an
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh, I get it" moment?
I think that "trust" is also a deliberate act. You consciously make a decision to do something when you aren't sure of the end result.
I think that's right.
My eyes and mind are both a bit blurry at the moment.
Oh and I am working and not just doing this blog.
I just need focus on something or else I'll fall asle....e...............p
Monday, April 11, 2011
153 It Just Makes Sense (Num 36)
And on the Monday, Steve sat down after work.
And it was late.
For there had been much running around.
And he stretched forth his right hand and picked up a coffee.
And the coffee did flow down the throat of Steve.
Yea, and it was good.
And he satteth on the left side of Donna.
And it was good.
And Steve did declare, it was good.
For it was good.
And so nearly ended the night of the Monday.
Until Steve remembered he hadn't blogged.
And so Steve blogged.
And it was ordinary.
But in a good way.
;)
Numbers 36
Well the end of another book.
Numbers, for the challenged amongst you.
Canaan has been entered.
A promise fulfilled.
Yet it leaves an empty feeling somehow.
Joshua and Caleb remain of the horde who left Egypt 40 years before.
2 and a bit tribes have chosen not to remain in the promised land.
This staggered me.
Not accepting what God offered. Which was the best.
But there you go.
And now there is a final tricky bit to sort.
And it is sorted well.
God is big enough to cover all eventualities.
Even the highly unlikely and improbable ones.
The solution is easy, direct and followable.
It just makes sense.
I can imagine the trepidation the leaders had in coming forward and putting forth their dilemma.
How long had they stewed?
As soon as the decree to the allocation of land?
Throughout the journey every little detail was covered by God.
The intricacy in the design of the tabernacle. Covered.
The make up of each implement. Covered.
Food? Tick.
Water? Tick.
Safety? Tick.
Why was there doubt?
We are fallible.
We need security.
We long for acknowledgment.
And we yearn for acceptance.
God knew all the time.
And when the question was asked, there was an answer.
Sensible.
Reassuring.
Right.
And it was late.
For there had been much running around.
And he stretched forth his right hand and picked up a coffee.
And the coffee did flow down the throat of Steve.
Yea, and it was good.
And he satteth on the left side of Donna.
And it was good.
And Steve did declare, it was good.
For it was good.
And so nearly ended the night of the Monday.
Until Steve remembered he hadn't blogged.
And so Steve blogged.
And it was ordinary.
But in a good way.
;)
Numbers 36
Well the end of another book.
Numbers, for the challenged amongst you.
Canaan has been entered.
A promise fulfilled.
Yet it leaves an empty feeling somehow.
Joshua and Caleb remain of the horde who left Egypt 40 years before.
2 and a bit tribes have chosen not to remain in the promised land.
This staggered me.
Not accepting what God offered. Which was the best.
But there you go.
And now there is a final tricky bit to sort.
And it is sorted well.
God is big enough to cover all eventualities.
Even the highly unlikely and improbable ones.
The solution is easy, direct and followable.
It just makes sense.
I can imagine the trepidation the leaders had in coming forward and putting forth their dilemma.
How long had they stewed?
As soon as the decree to the allocation of land?
Throughout the journey every little detail was covered by God.
The intricacy in the design of the tabernacle. Covered.
The make up of each implement. Covered.
Food? Tick.
Water? Tick.
Safety? Tick.
Why was there doubt?
We are fallible.
We need security.
We long for acknowledgment.
And we yearn for acceptance.
God knew all the time.
And when the question was asked, there was an answer.
Sensible.
Reassuring.
Right.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
152 Safe Cities (Num 35)
The other day I was boasting about my dexterous abilities brought about by fishing exploits.
It may have been a bit much too soon.
I seem to neglected another trait I have picked up from buddy Michael.
He is so focused on fishing that he tends to fall down a lot.
Very a lot.
He is so intent on the water he just doesn't see rocks, holes, stumps, branches, other rocks.........
Actually if it wasn't for his amazing recovery skills, he would fall more.
It's pretty funny to see.
He's a big lad, so he falls big.
I do too.
But not for those reasons.
I just tend to be a tad "un-co".
Anyway my trait.
I park my car and walk a few blocks to work.
I put my bag on my shoulder.
Plug my earphones in, and away I walk.
Now when I get to work, if I want to keep listening to the music or podcast I take my bag off and keep listening.
Which does mean a little organising prior to getting to work.
If I have my bag on over the earphone lead, it's easy to just take off.
But if the headphone lead is over the bag strap, then I can't just take the bag off without untangling my way through straps, leads, sunglasses and anything else.
Sounds hard.
So here I was walking to work, bag balanced on one shoulder, iPod playing and concentrating on untangling the earphone lead (which I can do) and banged straight into a parking sign.
Fine.
No one saw me.
No embarrassment.
Almost.
Except there was a guy walking his dog coming the other way.
He smiled.
We said "g'day".
I had earphones in by this stage but I swear as we passed I heard a sniggering.
Maybe the dog had gas or something.
My focus can sometimes cause pain.
Or lack of focus.
Numbers 35
When we do something wrong there is a price.
Whether we intentionally do wrong or not.
There is a price.
The price can be large.
It can be small.
There is a price.
It can be paid immediately or later.
There is a price.
Sometimes the longer the delay, the more the price increases.
The greater the number of ways it is extracted.
Yet it will always be paid.
Coming into Canaan, if you killed someone on purpose, in anger or by laying in wait, you could expect to be put to death by a relative of the deceased.
The people were coming into their own land now.
They were going to settle.
Stability was needed.
Structure and very, very clear boundaries are going to be needed.
There is a recognition though, that stuff happens.
Accidents occur.
Consequences still follow.
Restitution is still required.
Enter the cities of refuge.
Living in a strange town, away from family and never able to leave is a hefty price.
Living, I guess is the key here.
Not ideal, but not dead.
For a mistake or error you would live with forever anyway.
A place to live, run by Levites.
A place of good law and knowledge of God.
A hope of redemption.
Just don't leave.
It may have been a bit much too soon.
I seem to neglected another trait I have picked up from buddy Michael.
He is so focused on fishing that he tends to fall down a lot.
Very a lot.
He is so intent on the water he just doesn't see rocks, holes, stumps, branches, other rocks.........
Actually if it wasn't for his amazing recovery skills, he would fall more.
It's pretty funny to see.
He's a big lad, so he falls big.
I do too.
But not for those reasons.
I just tend to be a tad "un-co".
Anyway my trait.
I park my car and walk a few blocks to work.
I put my bag on my shoulder.
Plug my earphones in, and away I walk.
Now when I get to work, if I want to keep listening to the music or podcast I take my bag off and keep listening.
Which does mean a little organising prior to getting to work.
If I have my bag on over the earphone lead, it's easy to just take off.
But if the headphone lead is over the bag strap, then I can't just take the bag off without untangling my way through straps, leads, sunglasses and anything else.
Sounds hard.
So here I was walking to work, bag balanced on one shoulder, iPod playing and concentrating on untangling the earphone lead (which I can do) and banged straight into a parking sign.
Fine.
No one saw me.
No embarrassment.
Almost.
Except there was a guy walking his dog coming the other way.
He smiled.
We said "g'day".
I had earphones in by this stage but I swear as we passed I heard a sniggering.
Maybe the dog had gas or something.
My focus can sometimes cause pain.
Or lack of focus.
Numbers 35
When we do something wrong there is a price.
Whether we intentionally do wrong or not.
There is a price.
The price can be large.
It can be small.
There is a price.
It can be paid immediately or later.
There is a price.
Sometimes the longer the delay, the more the price increases.
The greater the number of ways it is extracted.
Yet it will always be paid.
Coming into Canaan, if you killed someone on purpose, in anger or by laying in wait, you could expect to be put to death by a relative of the deceased.
The people were coming into their own land now.
They were going to settle.
Stability was needed.
Structure and very, very clear boundaries are going to be needed.
There is a recognition though, that stuff happens.
Accidents occur.
Consequences still follow.
Restitution is still required.
Enter the cities of refuge.
Living in a strange town, away from family and never able to leave is a hefty price.
Living, I guess is the key here.
Not ideal, but not dead.
For a mistake or error you would live with forever anyway.
A place to live, run by Levites.
A place of good law and knowledge of God.
A hope of redemption.
Just don't leave.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
151 Nostagiacally Spontaneous Awkward (Num 34)
Last night after demolishing a vanilla square I decided to check out a few retro video clips.
Relive the glorious era of '80's pop.
Fueled, probably over-fueled with sugar I dredged my memory for hits of the past.
Then I hit gold.
Pure gold.
The unadulterated madness of well, Madness.
Catchy blend of happiness, outrageous English accents and brass.
I enjoyed them and felt the compulsive need to share my relived joy with the world of facebook.
Now I never share video clips on facebook.
The practice is fraught with peril.
You need to make sure, well I do, of anything that could be interpreted controversial.
But where was the harm is posting some fun-loving poms singing about living in a fun house?
I guess the bit where it's a song about buying condoms to use for the first time.
Doh!
I blame poor memory and a low speaker volume.
Thanks Jeffrey for subtly pointing it out.
But let that be a warning to you all kids, late nights, sugar and the interwebs don't mix well.
And I will not post on facebook after 9pm again.
I have a strong suspicion I have said this before.
Numbers 34
It's all set up.
It's a done deal.
The vagueries are finished, with a clear definition of boundaries.
The land is divided and Joshua and other leaders head off to mark out the allocations.
But wait.
There are still people living there.
That could be awkward.
"Mum what's that weird guy doing with the theodolite?"
"That's one of those Israelite guys. Backward sheep herders! Everybody knows using a kinematic GPS is best for total precision. Pass the grapes, son."
"Oo, he just ran his Gunter's chain right through Uncle Jehosphat's pomegranate grove. He won't be happy."
"Better get ya father, boy. Battle's about to be brewing."
Just as a slight footnote, the above reads funnier if you incorporate a cockney or outrageous ocker accent.
Totally inaccurate but try it for kicks.
You know you want to.
No-one will hear.
Even better, while doing it, look at your reflection in the monitor or phone screen.
You crack me up.
Things are going to get interesting real soon.
More than watching yourself speak cockney into the monitor.
;)
Relive the glorious era of '80's pop.
Fueled, probably over-fueled with sugar I dredged my memory for hits of the past.
Then I hit gold.
Pure gold.
The unadulterated madness of well, Madness.
Catchy blend of happiness, outrageous English accents and brass.
I enjoyed them and felt the compulsive need to share my relived joy with the world of facebook.
Now I never share video clips on facebook.
The practice is fraught with peril.
You need to make sure, well I do, of anything that could be interpreted controversial.
But where was the harm is posting some fun-loving poms singing about living in a fun house?
I guess the bit where it's a song about buying condoms to use for the first time.
Doh!
I blame poor memory and a low speaker volume.
Thanks Jeffrey for subtly pointing it out.
But let that be a warning to you all kids, late nights, sugar and the interwebs don't mix well.
And I will not post on facebook after 9pm again.
I have a strong suspicion I have said this before.
Numbers 34
It's all set up.
It's a done deal.
The vagueries are finished, with a clear definition of boundaries.
The land is divided and Joshua and other leaders head off to mark out the allocations.
But wait.
There are still people living there.
That could be awkward.
"Mum what's that weird guy doing with the theodolite?"
"That's one of those Israelite guys. Backward sheep herders! Everybody knows using a kinematic GPS is best for total precision. Pass the grapes, son."
"Oo, he just ran his Gunter's chain right through Uncle Jehosphat's pomegranate grove. He won't be happy."
"Better get ya father, boy. Battle's about to be brewing."
Just as a slight footnote, the above reads funnier if you incorporate a cockney or outrageous ocker accent.
Totally inaccurate but try it for kicks.
You know you want to.
No-one will hear.
Even better, while doing it, look at your reflection in the monitor or phone screen.
You crack me up.
Things are going to get interesting real soon.
More than watching yourself speak cockney into the monitor.
;)
Monday, April 4, 2011
150 Why Always 10? (Num 33)
A nice relaxing evening with daylight savings slowly taking effect.
It felt like 10 at 7.
It still feels like 10 and it's 8.
Why does it always feel like 10pm?
What will it feel like at 10?
I'm really, really hoping I won't know as I'll be asleep.
Why did I wake up earlier than normal this morning when I turned the clocks back on the weekend?
Shouldn't I struggle and wake up later than it really is?
I don't mind that I don't, but my head is not figuring this out.
This is rhetorical quizzing by the way.
Answer or don't, I'll still ponder the weird way my body works just the same.
:)
Numbers 33
The whole journey is chronicled in this chapter.
Each camping place.
It's quite remarkable.
45(I hope I counted correctly) locations.
Just before the Jordan River, God spells it out again.
Take the land.
Deal with the inhabitants.
Totally.
The people and their "gods".
Or you will have never ending problems.
Like barbs in the eye.
Oochie wa wa.
Barbs in the eye sounds decidedly unpleasant.
But I guess God has a strong point to make.
This is the new generation.
The gen Y'ers of the day.
We've already seen they think they know it all.
They don't.
And Moses' time is running out.
It will fall to Joshua.
Strong leadership.
Strong character.
He'll need both.
Heaps.
On the plus side. God is showing the people He has been with them all the way.
From the outset God has guided.
Day one, while the Egyptians buried their firstborn to now, where the Israelites are about to bury their leader and last of the generation that began the journey.
Sure there has been flashes of anger and annoyance.
But in the end, they are standing on the Jordan River, just about to step into the fulfillment of God's initial promise.
Ten out of the 12 will take the inheritance promised.
2 will do okay.
God will remain God.
He knows it has only just begun.
It felt like 10 at 7.
It still feels like 10 and it's 8.
Why does it always feel like 10pm?
What will it feel like at 10?
I'm really, really hoping I won't know as I'll be asleep.
Why did I wake up earlier than normal this morning when I turned the clocks back on the weekend?
Shouldn't I struggle and wake up later than it really is?
I don't mind that I don't, but my head is not figuring this out.
This is rhetorical quizzing by the way.
Answer or don't, I'll still ponder the weird way my body works just the same.
:)
Numbers 33
The whole journey is chronicled in this chapter.
Each camping place.
It's quite remarkable.
45(I hope I counted correctly) locations.
Just before the Jordan River, God spells it out again.
Take the land.
Deal with the inhabitants.
Totally.
The people and their "gods".
Or you will have never ending problems.
Like barbs in the eye.
Oochie wa wa.
Barbs in the eye sounds decidedly unpleasant.
But I guess God has a strong point to make.
This is the new generation.
The gen Y'ers of the day.
We've already seen they think they know it all.
They don't.
And Moses' time is running out.
It will fall to Joshua.
Strong leadership.
Strong character.
He'll need both.
Heaps.
On the plus side. God is showing the people He has been with them all the way.
From the outset God has guided.
Day one, while the Egyptians buried their firstborn to now, where the Israelites are about to bury their leader and last of the generation that began the journey.
Sure there has been flashes of anger and annoyance.
But in the end, they are standing on the Jordan River, just about to step into the fulfillment of God's initial promise.
Ten out of the 12 will take the inheritance promised.
2 will do okay.
God will remain God.
He knows it has only just begun.
Friday, April 1, 2011
149 Today is a Good Day (Num 32)
Today was a good, good day.
I enjoyed it.
I am looking forward to another good day tomorrow.
And that happening is in no doubt at all.
Numbers 32
The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a very great number of livestock.
Well after last chapter, no joke Freddy.
At first I thought the request to stay on the opposite side of the river was reasonable.
It looked ok.
In the end they would still fight for the land, yet not move in.
Seems fine.
But then I realised.
They forgot the story that got them into the trouble in the first place and wander around the wilderness for 40 years.
They were rejecting the land God was offering them.
They were saying they knew better than God.
Because no matter how good the land they wanted was, it was no land flowing with milk and honey.
There were no bunches of grapes that took two men to carry.
God had said "I'll give you the best."
They were willing to take something less than that.
The second generation made a worse mistake than the first.
Kids, huh?
Why the rush?
Why not wait a little while longer after waiting 40 years?
Still scared of giants?
Still no trust in God's word?
Don't know, but I think years later when they compared what they got and what they could have had they would be spewing.
I enjoyed it.
I am looking forward to another good day tomorrow.
And that happening is in no doubt at all.
Numbers 32
The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a very great number of livestock.
Well after last chapter, no joke Freddy.
At first I thought the request to stay on the opposite side of the river was reasonable.
It looked ok.
In the end they would still fight for the land, yet not move in.
Seems fine.
But then I realised.
They forgot the story that got them into the trouble in the first place and wander around the wilderness for 40 years.
They were rejecting the land God was offering them.
They were saying they knew better than God.
Because no matter how good the land they wanted was, it was no land flowing with milk and honey.
There were no bunches of grapes that took two men to carry.
God had said "I'll give you the best."
They were willing to take something less than that.
The second generation made a worse mistake than the first.
Kids, huh?
Why the rush?
Why not wait a little while longer after waiting 40 years?
Still scared of giants?
Still no trust in God's word?
Don't know, but I think years later when they compared what they got and what they could have had they would be spewing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)