Bible Reading Reflection from Numbers 26-36

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

"The sons of Korah, however, did not die."

Korah rebelled against Moses. In doing so, it was against God who had chosen Moses to be the leader of the Israelites. God killed Korah and his men, but God spared his children who were innocent of Korah's rebellion. God knows whom to punish and whom to spare.

Another man in a different episode, Achan, was killed along with his family members! Most probably because they [Achan’s family members] were guilty of covering up. And interestingly, it was man (the Israelites, not God by natural calamity) who stoned them to death!

God knows who are His!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟛

"Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons."

These daughters of a [sinful] father weren't abused, mocked, jeered, looked down, but were taken care of by the leaders. That's how it ought to be.

Children shouldn't be discriminated against by the actions of their parents. That's what we see in the genealogy of Jesus as well. Jesus was a great, great-grandson of many people of ill reputation: like Ruth the Moabite, Rahab, the prostitute, Bathsheba, the adulteress, and oh those wicked kings as well.

Stand up for the orphans, illegitimate children, children of outcast people. They are innocent, like the rest of the people. They aren't their parents!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟛𝟙

"Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥."

Notice how many times the phrase "without defect" is used in this chapter: v3, 9,11, 19, 31.

God deserves the best! Use your best pen to underline your Bible 😂 Bring the best notes of currency for an offering. Come to the church in your best dresses.

Will you go to hell if not? Should your salvation be doubted if not? No. But it shows what's in the heart!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟟

"Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, And you shall ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖 yourselves; you shall ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝔻𝕠 𝔸𝕟𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜."

Man takes pride in their works, achievements, successes. God wants us to stop sometimes and gives Him the glory He deserves. Indeed, it's God who gives life, renews life, sustains life. Make your practice to honor God in your works by knowing it's God who produces the fruits in your work no matter how you work. Then, we shall realize it's in vain we work hard without resting which God commands.

When I was in my senior student days, I never opened my textbook or Academic books on Sunday. I just read Bible, Christian books, or attend multiple church programs. I love it. (Maybe I hated textbooks as well 😂) But, nobody smiles brighter than me in the examination hall. I worried nothing, feared nothing. I didn't dream to be a topper and never was. If I dreamt and desired, most probably I would a few times!

All this to say, God commanded us to rest. Rest. Honor God!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟚

"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."

A chapter is written concerning taking a vow. It just reminds us to be very careful of our words. We must really be a man of our word.

I hate those people who say they will come to church and don't come. I hate those who say they will call back later on (when they are free) and don't call back. Why tell a lie?

They have the freedom not to come, not to pick up a call, not to talk, whatever they like. They just shouldn't cook up a lie. I want to make an imprecatory for such lying people who do not take their words seriously!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. And Moses said to them, ‘Have you spared all the women?’"

Moses' wife was a Midianite woman. Yet he had no mercy upon them (the Midianites). Rather, he was angry when they spared the women.

Moses was zealous for God. Jesus was zealous too when he overturned the tables of money changers and drove away animals by a whip.

Godly leaders are both gentle and ferocious!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟛

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out."

There's no excuse for any sin. Because any sin and all sin are ultimately against God. So, there's no hiding from God.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟛-𝟜

"They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had struck down among them. The LORD had also executed judgments on their gods."

What a change of fortune! The Israelites who were living in fear of Egyptians were bold now. And The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. Israel’s Yahweh was shown more powerful than their [Egypt’s] Pharaoh.

Bible is full of such contrast, irony, and examples for us to learn a lesson and live wisely and joyfully!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟡

"These are those whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the sons of Israel in the land of Canaan."

Division or Apportioning is good. It's wise to make things clear.

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟝

"These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there."

Man loves vengeance, revenge. We even enjoy the MCU movie, Avengers!

God makes sure that man does not sin in his wrath. So, there are cities of refuge where the guilty ones can flee to before justice is properly given!

Don't underestimate the sinful nature of man, especially in his wrath!

 

ℕ𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟟

"Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers."

Land, Inheritance, and Tribalism are what defined the Israelites. They did so because God commanded them.

The tribalism of our modern times, fighting for land (Kuki-Naga), fighting for inheritance in our times is devoid of God. Anything even heaven devoid of God is a place of horror.

A God-centered theology reflecting Land ownership, inheritance, and tribal identity made them distinct. Unfortunately, they weren't able to live up to that standard!