Friday, October 17, 2014
1 Kings 11:9-40
9 GOD was furious with Solomon for abandoning the GOD of Israel, the God who had twice appeared to him 10 and had so clearly commanded him not to fool around with other gods. Solomon faithlessly disobeyed GOD's orders.
11 GOD said to Solomon, "Since this is the way it is with you, that you have no intention of keeping faith with me and doing what I have commanded, I'm going to rip the kingdom from you and hand it over to someone else. 12 But out of respect for your father David I won't do it in your lifetime. It's your son who will pay — I'll rip it right out of his grasp. 13 Even then I won't take it all; I'll leave him one tribe in honor of my servant David and out of respect for my chosen city Jerusalem."
14 GOD incited Hadad, a descendant of the king of Edom, into hostile actions against Solomon. 15 Years earlier, when David devastated Edom, Joab, commander of the army, on his way to bury the dead, massacred all the men of Edom. 16 Joab and his army stayed there for six months, making sure they had killed every man in Edom. 17 Hadad, just a boy at the time, had escaped with some of the Edomites who had worked for his father. 18 Their escape route took them through Midian to Paran. They picked up some men in Paran and went on to Egypt and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house, food, and even land. 19 Pharaoh liked him so well that he gave him the sister of his wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage. 20 She bore Hadad a son named Genubath who was raised like one of the royal family. Genubath grew up in the palace with Pharaoh's children.
21 While living in Egypt, Hadad heard that both David and Joab, commander of the army, were dead. He approached Pharaoh and said, "Send me off with your blessing — I want to return to my country."
22 "But why?" said Pharaoh. "Why would you want to leave here? Hasn't everything been to your liking?"
"Everything has been just fine," said Hadad, "but I want to go home — give me a good send-off!"
23 Then God incited another adversary against Solomon, Rezon son of Eliada, who had deserted from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 After David's slaughter of the Arameans, Rezon collected a band of outlaws and became their leader. They later settled in Damascus, where Rezon eventually took over as king. 25 Like Hadad, Rezon was a thorn in Israel's side all of Solomon's life. He was king over Aram, and he hated Israel.
26 Adversaries Arise
And then, the last straw: Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was an Ephraimite from Zeredah, his mother a widow named Zeruah. He served in Solomon's administration.
27 This is why he rebelled. Solomon had built the outer defense system (the Millo) and had restored the fortifications that were in disrepair from the time of his father David. 28 Jeroboam stood out during the construction as strong and able. When Solomon observed what a good worker he was, he put the young man in charge of the entire workforce of the tribe of Joseph.
29 One day Jeroboam was walking down the road out of Jerusalem. Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh, wearing a brand-new cloak, met him. The two of them were alone on that remote stretch of road. 30 Ahijah took off the new cloak that he was wearing and ripped it into twelve pieces.
31 Then he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten of these pieces for yourself; this is by order of the GOD of Israel: See what I'm doing — I'm ripping the kingdom out of Solomon's hands and giving you ten of the tribes. 32 In honor of my servant David and out of respect for Jerusalem, the city I especially chose, he will get one tribe. 33 And here's the reason: He faithlessly abandoned me and went off worshiping Ashtoreth goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh god of the Moabites, and Molech god of the Ammonites. He hasn't lived the way I have shown him, hasn't done what I have wanted, and hasn't followed directions or obeyed orders as his father David did.
34 "Still, I won't take the whole kingdom away from him. I'll stick with him through his lifetime because of my servant David whom I chose and who did follow my directions and obey my orders. 35 But after that I'll remove the kingdom from his son's control and give you ten tribes. 36 I'll leave one tribe to his son, to maintain a witness to my servant David in Jerusalem, the city I chose as a memorial to my Name.
37 "But I have taken you in hand. Rule to your heart's content! You are to be the king of Israel. 38 If you listen to what I tell you and live the way I show you and do what pleases me, following directions and obeying orders as my servant David did, I'll stick with you no matter what. I'll build you a kingdom as solid as the one I built for David. Israel will be yours! 39 I am bringing pain and trouble on David's descendants, but the trials won't last forever."
40 Solomon ordered the assassination of Jeroboam, but he got away to Egypt and found asylum there with King Shishak. He remained in exile there until Solomon died.
1 Kings 3:10-14
10 God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, 12 I'll give you what you've asked for — I'm giving you a wise and mature heart. There's never been one like you before; and there'll be no one after. 13 As a bonus, I'm giving you both the wealth and glory you didn't ask for — there's not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. 14 And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I'll also give you a long life."
Thursday, October 16, 2014
2 Samuel 12
12:1 But GOD was not at all pleased with what David had done, and sent Nathan to David. Nathan said to him, "There were two men in the same city — one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. 3 The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him.
4 "One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest."
5 David exploded in anger. "As surely as GOD lives," he said to Nathan, "the man who did this ought to be lynched! 6 He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!"
7 "You're the man!" said Nathan. "And here's what GOD, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. 8 I gave you your master's daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn't been enough, I'd have gladly thrown in much more. 9 So why have you treated the word of GOD with brazen contempt, doing this great evil? You murdered Uriah the Hittite, then took his wife as your wife. Worse, you killed him with an Ammonite sword! 10 And now, because you treated God with such contempt and took Uriah the Hittite's wife as your wife, killing and murder will continually plague your family. 11 This is GOD speaking, remember! I'll make trouble for you out of your own family. I'll take your wives from right out in front of you. I'll give them to some neighbor, and he'll go to bed with them openly. 12 You did your deed in secret; I'm doing mine with the whole country watching!"
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, "I've sinned against GOD."
Nathan pronounced, "Yes, but that's not the last word. GOD forgives your sin. You won't die for it. 14 But because of your blasphemous behavior, the son born to you will die."
15 After Nathan went home, GOD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he came down sick. 16 David prayed desperately to God for the little boy. He fasted, wouldn't go out, and slept on the floor. 17 The elders in his family came in and tried to get him off the floor, but he wouldn't budge. Nor could they get him to eat anything. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him. They said, "What do we do now? While the child was living he wouldn't listen to a word we said. Now, with the child dead, if we speak to him there's no telling what he'll do."
19 David noticed that the servants were whispering behind his back, and realized that the boy must have died.
He asked the servants, "Is the boy dead?"
"Yes," they answered. "He's dead."
20 David got up from the floor, washed his face and combed his hair, put on a fresh change of clothes, then went into the sanctuary and worshiped. Then he came home and asked for something to eat. They set it before him and he ate.
21 His servants asked him, "What's going on with you? While the child was alive you fasted and wept and stayed up all night. Now that he's dead, you get up and eat."
22 "While the child was alive," he said, "I fasted and wept, thinking GOD might have mercy on me and the child would live. 23 But now that he's dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can't come to me."
24 David went and comforted his wife Bathsheba. And when he slept with her, they conceived a son. When he was born they named him Solomon. GOD had a special love for him 25 and sent word by Nathan the prophet that GOD wanted him named Jedidiah (God's Beloved).
2 Sam 7:18-29
18 King David went in, took his place before GOD, and prayed: "Who am I, my Master GOD, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? 19 But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master GOD! 20 What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master GOD, just as I am. 21 You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are — out of your very heart! — but you've let me in on it.
22 "This is what makes you so great, Master GOD! There is none like you, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we've heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people, like Israel, a nation unique in the earth, whom God set out to redeem for himself (and became most famous for it), performing great and fearsome acts, throwing out nations and their gods left and right as you saved your people from Egypt? 24 You established for yourself a people — your very own Israel! — your people permanently. And you, GOD, became their God.
25 "So now, great GOD, this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it permanently! Do exactly what you've promised! 26 Then your reputation will flourish always as people exclaim, 'The GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will remain sure and solid in your watchful presence. 27 For you, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, told me plainly, 'I will build you a house.' That's how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you.
28 "And now, Master GOD, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, 29 please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Judg 13:2-25
2 At that time there was a man named Manoah from Zorah from the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren and childless. 3 The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son. 4 But take much care: Drink no wine or beer; eat nothing ritually unclean. 5 You are, in fact, pregnant right now, carrying a son. No razor will touch his head — the boy will be GOD's Nazirite from the moment of his birth. He will launch the deliverance from Philistine oppression."
6 The woman went to her husband and said, "A man of God came to me. He looked like the angel of God — terror laced with glory! I didn't ask him where he was from and he didn't tell me his name, 7 but he told me, 'You're pregnant. You're going to give birth to a son. Don't drink any wine or beer and eat nothing ritually unclean. The boy will be GOD's Nazirite from the moment of birth to the day of his death.'"
8 Manoah prayed to GOD: "Master, let the man of God you sent come to us again and teach us how to raise this boy who is to be born."
9 God listened to Manoah. God's angel came again to the woman. She was sitting in the field; her husband Manoah wasn't there with her. 10 She jumped to her feet and ran and told her husband: "He's back! The man who came to me that day!"
11 Manoah got up and, following his wife, came to the man. He said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?"
He said, "I am."
12 Manoah said, "So. When what you say comes true, what do you have to tell us about this boy and his work?"
13 The angel of God said to Manoah, 14 "Keep in mind everything I told the woman. Eat nothing that comes from the vine: Drink no wine or beer; eat no ritually unclean foods. She's to observe everything I commanded her."
15 Manoah said to the angel of God, "Please, stay with us a little longer; we'll prepare a meal for you — a young goat."
16 GOD's angel said to Manoah, "Even if I stay, I won't eat your food. But if you want to prepare a Whole-Burnt-Offering for GOD, go ahead — offer it!" Manoah had no idea that he was talking to the angel of God.
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of God, "What's your name? When your words come true, we'd like to honor you."
18 The angel of GOD said, "What's this? You ask for my name? You wouldn't understand — it's sheer wonder."
19 So Manoah took the kid and the Grain-Offering and sacrificed them on a rock altar to GOD who works wonders. 20 As the flames leapt up from the altar to heaven, GOD's angel also ascended in the altar flames. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground. 21 Manoah and his wife never saw the angel of GOD again.
Only then did Manoah realize that this was GOD's angel. 22 He said to his wife, "We're as good as dead! We've looked on God!"
23 But his wife said, "If GOD were planning to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted our Whole-Burnt-Offering and Grain-Offering, or revealed all these things to us — given us this birth announcement."
24 The woman gave birth to a son. They named him Samson. The boy grew and GOD blessed him. 25 The Spirit of GOD began working in him while he was staying at a Danite camp between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judg 6:8-10
"GOD, the God of Israel, says,
I delivered you from Egypt,
I freed you from a life of slavery;
9 I rescued you from Egypt's brutality
and then from every oppressor;
I pushed them out of your way
and gave you their land.
10 "And I said to you, 'I am GOD, your God. Don't for a minute be afraid of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.' But you didn't listen to me."
Judg 2:10-3:10
that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn't know anything of GOD or the work he had done for Israel.
11 The People of Israel did evil in GOD's sight: 12 they served Baal-gods; they deserted GOD, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, gods of the peoples around them. They actually worshiped them! And oh, how they angered GOD 13 as they worshiped god Baal and goddess Astarte! 14 GOD's anger was hot against Israel: He handed them off to plunderers who stripped them; he sold them cheap to enemies on all sides. They were helpless before their enemies. 15 Every time they walked out the door GOD was with them — but for evil, just as GOD had said, just as he had sworn he would do. They were in a bad way.
16 But then GOD raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. 17 But they wouldn't listen to their judges; they prostituted themselves to other gods — worshiped them! They lost no time leaving the road walked by their parents, the road of obedience to GOD's commands. They refused to have anything to do with it.
18 When GOD was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies' oppression as long as the judge was alive, for GOD was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. 19 But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways — but even worse than their parents! — running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn't drop a single evil practice.
20 And GOD's anger blazed against Israel. He said, "Because these people have thrown out my covenant that I commanded their parents and haven't listened to me, 21 I'm not driving out one more person from the nations that Joshua left behind when he died. 22 I'll use them to test Israel and see whether they stay on GOD's road and walk down it as their parents did."
23 That's why GOD let those nations remain. He didn't drive them out or let Joshua get rid of them.
Judges 3
3:1 These are the nations that GOD left there, using them to test the Israelites who had no experience in the Canaanite wars. 2 He did it to train the descendants of Israel, the ones who had no battle experience, in the art of war. 3 He left the five Philistine tyrants, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon to Hamath's Pass. 4 They were there to test Israel and see whether they would obey GOD's commands that were given to their parents through Moses.
5 But the People of Israel made themselves at home among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 They married their daughters and gave their own daughters to their sons in marriage. And they worshiped their gods.
7 Othniel
The People of Israel did evil in GOD's sight. They forgot their GOD and worshiped the Baal gods and Asherah goddesses. 8 GOD's hot anger blazed against Israel. He sold them off to Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. The People of Israel were in servitude to Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.
9 The People of Israel cried out to GOD and GOD raised up a savior who rescued them: Caleb's nephew Othniel, son of his younger brother Kenaz.The Spirit of GOD came on him and he rallied Israel. He went out to war and GOD gave him Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. Othniel made short work of him.
10 The land was quiet for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Judg 2:1-4
2:1 GOD's angel went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you out of Egypt; I led you to the land that I promised to your fathers; and I said, I'll never break my covenant with you — never! 2 And you're never to make a covenant with the people who live in this land. Tear down their altars! But you haven't obeyed me! What's this that you're doing?
3 "So now I'm telling you that I won't drive them out before you. They'll trip you up and their gods will become a trap."
4 When GOD's angel had spoken these words to all the People of Israel, they cried out — oh! how they wept!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Deut 3:1-6
3:1 Then we turned north and took the road to Bashan. Og king of Bashan, he and all his people, came out to meet us in battle at Edrei.
2 GOD said to me, "Don't be afraid of him; I'm turning him over to you, along with his whole army and his land. Treat him the way you treated Sihon king of the Amorites who ruled from Heshbon."
3 So GOD, our God, also handed Og king of Bashan over to us — Og and all his people — and we utterly crushed them. Again, no survivors. 4 At the same time we took all his cities. There wasn't one of the sixty cities that we didn't take — the whole region of Argob, Og's kingdom in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fortress cities with high walls and barred gates. There were also numerous unwalled villages. 6 We totally destroyed them — a holy destruction. It was the same treatment we gave to Sihon king of Heshbon, a holy destruction of every city, man, woman, and child.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Num 22:21-33
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went off with the noblemen from Moab. 22 As he was going, though, God's anger flared. The angel of GOD stood in the road to block his way. Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. 23 When the donkey saw the angel blocking the road and brandishing a sword, she veered off the road into the ditch. Balaam beat the donkey and got her back on the road.
24 But as they were going through a vineyard, with a fence on either side, 25 the donkey again saw GOD's angel blocking the way and veered into the fence, crushing Balaam's foot against the fence. Balaam hit her again.
26 GOD's angel blocked the way yet again — a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. 27 Seeing the angel, Balaam's donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick.
28 Then GOD gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: "What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your trusty donkey on whom you've ridden for years right up until now? Have I ever done anything like this to you before? Have I?"
He said, "No."
31 Then GOD helped Balaam see what was going on: He saw GOD's angel blocking the way, brandishing a sword. Balaam fell to the ground, his face in the dirt.
32 GOD's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off."
Num 21:6-9
GOD sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke out against GOD and you. Pray to GOD; ask him to take these snakes from us."
Moses prayed for the people.
8 GOD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live."
9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.
Num 17:1-11
GOD spoke to Moses: 2 "Speak to the People of Israel. Get staffs from them — twelve staffs in all, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write each man's name on his staff. 3 Start with Aaron; write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi and then proceed with the rest, a staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Now lay them out in the Tent of Meeting in front of The Testimony where I keep appointments with you. 5 What will happen next is this: The staff of the man I choose will sprout. I'm going to put a stop to this endless grumbling by the People of Israel against you."
6 Moses spoke to the People of Israel. Their leaders handed over twelve staffs, one for the leader of each tribe. And Aaron's staff was one of them. 7 Moses laid out the staffs before GOD in the Tent of Testimony.
8 Moses walked into the Tent of Testimony the next day and saw that Aaron's staff, the staff of the tribe of Levi, had in fact sprouted — buds, blossoms, and even ripe almonds! 9 Moses brought out all the staffs from GOD's presence and presented them to the People of Israel. They took a good look. Each leader took the staff with his name on it.
10 GOD said to Moses, "Return Aaron's staff to the front of The Testimony. Keep it there as a sign to rebels. This will put a stop to the grumbling against me and save their lives."
11 Moses did just as GOD commanded him.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Num 14:1-35
GOD spoke to Moses: 2 "Send men to scout out the country of Canaan that I am giving to the People of Israel. Send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a tried-and-true leader in the tribe."
3 So Moses sent them off from the Wilderness of Paran at the command of GOD. All of them were leaders in Israel, one from each tribe. 4 These were their names:
from Reuben: Shammua son of Zaccur 5 from Simeon: Shaphat son of Hori 6 from Judah: Caleb son of Jephunneh 7 from Issachar: Igal son of Joseph 8 from Ephraim: Hoshea son of Nun 9 from Benjamin: Palti son of Raphu 10 from Zebulun: Gaddiel son of Sodi 11 from Manasseh (a Joseph tribe): Gaddi son of Susi 12 from Dan: Ammiel son of Gemalli 13 from Asher: Sethur son of Michael 14 from Naphtali: Nahbi son of Vophsi 15 from Gad: Geuel son of Maki
16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land. Moses gave Hoshea (Salvation) son of Nun a new name — Joshua (GOD-Saves).
17 When Moses sent them off to scout out Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and then into the hill country. 18 Look the land over, see what it is like. Assess the people: Are they strong or weak? Are there few or many? 19 Observe the land: Is it pleasant or harsh? Describe the towns where they live: Are they open camps or fortified with walls? 20 And the soil: Is it fertile or barren? Are there forests? And try to bring back a sample of the produce that grows there — this is the season for the first ripe grapes."
21 With that they were on their way. They scouted out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob toward Lebo Hamath. 22 Their route went through the Negev Desert to the town of Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, descendants of the giant Anak, lived there. Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. 23 When they arrived at the Eshcol Valley they cut off a branch with a single cluster of grapes — it took two men to carry it — slung on a pole. They also picked some pomegranates and figs. 24 They named the place Eshcol Valley (Grape-Cluster-Valley) because of the huge cluster of grapes they had cut down there. 25 After forty days of scouting out the land, they returned home.
26 They presented themselves before Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the People of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They reported to the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told the story of their trip:
"We went to the land to which you sent us and, oh! It does flow with milk and honey! Just look at this fruit! 28 The only thing is that the people who live there are fierce, their cities are huge and well fortified. Worse yet, we saw descendants of the giant Anak. 29 Amalekites are spread out in the Negev; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites hold the hill country; and the Canaanites are established on the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan."
30 Caleb interrupted, called for silence before Moses and said, "Let's go up and take the land — now. We can do it."
31 But the others said, "We can't attack those people; they're way stronger than we are." 32 They spread scary rumors among the People of Israel. They said, "We scouted out the land from one end to the other — it's a land that swallows people whole. Everybody we saw was huge. 33 Why, we even saw the Nephilim giants (the Anak giants come from the Nephilim). Alongside them we felt like grasshoppers. And they looked down on us as if we were grasshoppers."
Numbers 14
14:1 The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. 2 All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: "Why didn't we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? 3 Why has GOD brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don't we just head back to Egypt? And right now!"
4 Soon they were all saying it to one another: "Let's pick a new leader; let's head back to Egypt."
5 Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in front of the entire community, gathered in emergency session.
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, members of the scouting party, ripped their clothes 7 and addressed the assembled People of Israel: "The land we walked through and scouted out is a very good land — very good indeed. 8 If GOD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land that flows, as they say, with milk and honey. And he'll give it to us. 9 Just don't rebel against GOD! And don't be afraid of those people. Why, we'll have them for lunch! They have no protection and GOD is on our side. Don't be afraid of them!"
10 But, up in arms now, the entire community was talking of hurling stones at them.
Just then the bright Glory of GOD appeared at the Tent of Meeting. Every Israelite saw it. 11 GOD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me like dirt? How long refuse to trust me? And with all these signs I've done among them! 12 I've had enough — I'm going to hit them with a plague and kill them. But I'll make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they ever were."
13 But Moses said to GOD, "The Egyptians are going to hear about this! You delivered this people from Egypt with a great show of strength, and now this? 14 The Egyptians will tell everyone. They've already heard that you are GOD, that you are on the side of this people, that you are present among them, that they see you with their own eyes in your Cloud that hovers over them, in the Pillar of Cloud that leads them by day and the Pillar of Fire at night. 15 If you kill this entire people in one stroke, all the nations that have heard what has been going on will say, 16'Since GOD couldn't get these people into the land which he had promised to give them, he slaughtered them out in the wilderness.'
17 "Now, please, let the power of the Master expand, enlarge itself greatly, along the lines you have laid out earlier when you said,
18 GOD, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love,forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; Still, never just whitewashing sin.But extending the fallout of parents' sins to children into the third, even the fourth generation.
19 "Please forgive the wrongdoing of this people out of the extravagance of your loyal love just as all along, from the time they left Egypt, you have been forgiving this people."
20 GOD said, "I forgive them, honoring your words. 21 But as I live and as the Glory of GOD fills the whole Earth — 22 not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me — 23 not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.
24 "But my servant Caleb — this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I'll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it.
25 "Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are so well established in the valleys, for right now change course and head back into the wilderness following the route to the Red Sea."
26 GOD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long is this going to go on, all this grumbling against me by this evil-infested community? I've had my fill of complaints from these grumbling Israelites. 28 Tell them, As I live — GOD's decree — here's what I'm going to do: 29 Your corpses are going to litter the wilderness — every one of you twenty years and older who was counted in the census, this whole generation of grumblers and grousers. 30 Not one of you will enter the land and make your home there, the firmly and solemnly promised land, except for Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
31 "Your children, the very ones that you said would be taken for plunder, I'll bring in to enjoy the land you rejected 32 while your corpses will be rotting in the wilderness. 33 These children of yours will live as shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, living with the fallout of your whoring unfaithfulness until the last of your generation lies a corpse in the wilderness. 34 You scouted out the land for forty days; your punishment will be a year for each day, a forty-year sentence to serve for your sins — a long schooling in my displeasure.
35 "I, GOD, have spoken. I will most certainly carry out these things against this entire evil-infested community which has banded together against me. In this wilderness they will come to their end. There they will die."
Num 12:1-16
Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses behind his back because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite woman). 2 They said, "Is it only through Moses that GOD speaks? Doesn't he also speak through us?"
GOD overheard their talk.
3 Now the man Moses was a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on Earth. 4 GOD broke in suddenly on Moses and Aaron and Miriam saying, "Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting." The three went out. 5 GOD descended in a Pillar of Cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent. He called Aaron and Miriam to him. When they stepped out, 6 he said,
Listen carefully to what I'm telling you. If there is a prophet of GOD among you,I make myself known to him in visions,I speak to him in dreams. 7 But I don't do it that way with my servant Moses;he has the run of my entire house; 8 I speak to him intimately, in person,in plain talk without riddles:He ponders the very form of GOD.So why did you show no reverence or respect in speaking against my servant, against Moses?
9 The anger of GOD blazed out against them. And then he left.
10 When the Cloud moved off from the Tent, oh! Miriam had turned leprous, her skin like snow. Aaron took one look at Miriam — a leper!
11 He said to Moses, "Please, my master, please don't come down so hard on us for this foolish and thoughtless sin. 12 Please don't make her like a stillborn baby coming out of its mother's womb with half its body decomposed."
13 And Moses prayed to GOD:
Please, God, heal her,please heal her.
14 GOD answered Moses, "If her father had spat in her face, wouldn't she be ostracized for seven days? Quarantine her outside the camp for seven days. Then she can be readmitted to the camp." 15 So Miriam was in quarantine outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't march on until she was readmitted. 16 Only then did the people march from Hazeroth and set up camp in the Wilderness of Paran.
Num 11:4-23
The riff-raff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, "Why can't we have meat? 5 We ate fish in Egypt — and got it free! — to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. 6 But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna."
7 Manna was a seedlike substance with a shiny appearance like resin. 8 The people went around collecting it and ground it between stones or pounded it fine in a mortar. Then they boiled it in a pot and shaped it into cakes. It tasted like a delicacy cooked in olive oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna was right there with it.
10 Moses heard the whining, all those families whining in front of their tents. GOD's anger blazed up. Moses saw that things were in a bad way.
11 Moses said to GOD, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? 12 Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? 13 Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, 'Give us meat; we want meat.' 14 I can't do this by myself — it's too much, all these people. 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here."
16 GOD said to Moses, "Gather together seventy men from among the leaders of Israel, men whom you know to be respected and responsible. Take them to the Tent of Meeting. I'll meet you there. 17 I'll come down and speak with you. I'll take some of the Spirit that is on you and place it on them; they'll then be able to take some of the load of this people — you won't have to carry the whole thing alone.
18 "Tell the people, Consecrate yourselves. Get ready for tomorrow when you're going to eat meat. You've been whining to GOD, 'We want meat; give us meat. We had a better life in Egypt.' GOD has heard your whining and he's going to give you meat. You're going to eat meat. 19 And it's not just for a day that you'll eat meat, and not two days, or five or ten or twenty, 20 but for a whole month. You're going to eat meat until its coming out your nostrils. You're going to be so sick of meat that you'll throw up at the mere mention of it. And here's why: Because you have rejected GOD who is right here among you, whining to his face, 'Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?'"
21 Moses said, "I'm standing here surrounded by 600,000 men on foot and you say, 'I'll give them meat, meat every day for a month.' 22 So where's it coming from? Even if all the flocks and herds were butchered, would that be enough? Even if all the fish in the sea were caught, would that be enough?"
23 GOD answered Moses, "So, do you think I can't take care of you? You'll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not."
Friday, October 3, 2014
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Ex 31:1-11
GOD spoke to Moses: 2 "See what I've done; I've personally chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. 3 I've filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft 4 to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; 5 to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood — he's an all-around craftsman.
6 "Not only that, but I've given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts I've given the skills to make all the things I've commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the Chest of The Testimony and its Atonement-Cover, all the implements for the Tent, 8 the Table and its implements, the pure Lampstand and all its implements, the Altar of Incense, 9 the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering and all its implements, the Washbasin and its base, 10 the official vestments, the holy vestments for Aaron the priest and his sons in their priestly duties, 11 the anointing oil, and the aromatic incense for the Holy Place — they'll make everything just the way I've commanded you."
God gave them skills!
Ex 18:7-11
7 Moses went out to welcome his father-in-law. He bowed to him and kissed him. Each asked the other how things had been with him. Then they went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that GOD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how GOD had delivered them.
9 Jethro was delighted in all the good that GOD had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression. 10 Jethro said, "Blessed be GOD who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt. 11 Now I know that GOD is greater than all gods because he's done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly
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