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Moses Continued........
The children of Israel, a few weeks out of Egypt, began complaining about food. God then told Moses he would rain manna (bread) from heaven for them, but to gather enough on the sixth day so they wouldn't gather on the Sabbath (Ex.16:5). The Lord appearing in the cloud told Moses "....at even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread;...." (Ex. 16:12). And at even, as the Lord had said, the quails covered the camp, the manna came in the morning, tasting like wafers made with honey (Ex.16:31).They ate so much God told them they would be sick (come out of their nostrils) and I will punish you (Ex.11:33) and the Lord did as he said because of their lusting after the food. Paul said in ( ........................) "....their god is their stomach...." .Jesus said in John 6:58 "....not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." For forty years God sent this manna (wonder how many pounds this would be), until they came into Canaan, then they ate of the land (Joshua 5:12)
In Exodus chap. 32 The people began one of their greatest sins (Moses being away on the mount 40 days), asking Aaron the Levite (Ex. 4:14) , one of God's leaders, to make them gods (idols). Since Moses had been gone so long Aaron also impatient, gave in to them. We do the same thing, asking prayer, then to impatient too wait for God's answer. God answers all prayers according to His will, for our good. After Aaron had taken their gold, making a golden calf, he even built an altar before it (Ex.32:5) for the people to worship God knew this was going on (Ex. 32:8) and told Moses to go down to them, and don't try to stop me for I am going to consume them (Ex. 32:10).But Moses asked God anyway, reminding him of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. God changed his mind and Moses went down the mount. When Moses saw the molten calf he threw the tables (ten commandments) down and brake them. Then threw the calf into the fire, ground it into powder, threw it upon the water, and made them drink it (Ex. 32:20). Asking Aaron why he did such a thing, he blamed them "...they are set on mischief." (Ex.32:22)Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent. We don't do things like that!!!!. I cast it into the fire and out came this calf. God's leader, a priest lying to Moses.
Moses stood up and asked those on the Lord's side to come to him. Those that rebelled against God were killed, about three thousand men (Ex.32:28). Moses then prayed for the remaining people, even saying if God would not forgive them to blot him out of his book. God's mercy forgave them but He plagued them because of the molten calf.
I'll be going to the book of Numbers next. Be sure to visit again.
Moses now writes the Book of Numbers telling of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness (approx. 1445 B.C.), Symbols of Christ..(manna the bread, the Rock, the cloud (I believe when Jesus comes in the Rapture only one cloud will be needed). Then Moses numbered the men able to go to war, twenty years or older, totaling out of the tribes, 603,550 (Num. 1:46) plus the Levites who would care for and minister to them (Num. 1:50). Aaron and his sons were anointed priests, but two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, died for offering strange fire before the Lord (Num.3:3,4). Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother for marrying an Ethiopian (Cushite) woman and also envious, asking Moses why the Lord spoke only to him and not them (Num.12:1,2). Are we not sometimes envious of someone ourselves? God then spoke to them telling He knows what He is doing, calling who He wants in a vision or a dream. We better listen when He calls us to do something. (Num. 12:6). God then punished Miriam with leprosy, but Moses prayed to God "....Heal her now, o God...."(Num.12:13) and God made her punishment very light, seven days out of the camp and then be received again, and their journey continued out of the wilderness.
God then spoke to Moses to send 12 men, one of each tribe (a leader) to spy out the land of Canaan (Palestine, Promised land) (Num.13:2,16) and check its strength and land quality. After searching forty days, they brought back fruit (grape cluster that two men had to carry), telling Moses "...it floweth with milk and honey,...." as God had told them. But the people are strong, and we saw giants (probably very few). The children of Israel started murmuring against Moses again, saying they wished they had died in Egypt and wanting a new leader to return them to Egypt (Num.14:4).Only two men of the twelve trusted God that He would give them the land (Joshua and Caleb) and the people tried to get them stoned (Num.14:10) causing God to become angry, wanting to disinherit and smite them, but Moses begged the Lord and He told him he would pardon according to His word (Num.14:20). God also told Moses He had been good to them ".....have tempted me now these ten times,...."(Num.14:22) and because they have been disobedient, only Joshua and Caleb of the twelve "...followed me fully,..." and full of a good spirit (Num.14:24,30). Because you have murmured against me, all above twenty years old will die in the wilderness because I am making you wander forty more years, one year for each day the spies were searching the land (Num.14:33-35). They could have went in after one year, but they told Moses, not trusting God, that they wanted the land searched (Deut.1:20-25). This scared the children of Israel, causing them to go up the mountain to meet God, but Moses told them God would not be with them (Num.14:43) and you will be defeated by the amalekites and Canaanites. They would not listen and were defeated (Num.14:44,45).
Two hundred fifty well known and famous men (Levites) rose up against Moses, jealous of God's leader (Num.16:1-3). Moses fell on his face and spoke to Korah, the leader, "....to-morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who are holy;...."(Num.16:5). God told Moses to separate from Korah and his congregation. And all were consumed by the earth opening up and swallowing them and their families (Num.16:27-35. Korah's children were not killed (Num.26:11).The next day the children of Israel murmured against Moses saying ".....ye have killed the people of the Lord." God then destroyed them, 14,700, besides those of Korah. Moses and Aaron made an atonement and the plague God had put on them stopped (Num.16:46-50).
Later, arguing against Moses again, God sent firey serpents that bit and killed many of them. God had Moses make a firey serpent and put upon a pole, which when the people looked upon after being bit, they lived. The children of Israel, camped at Moab, scared the king, King Balak, because they were many (Num.22:3). Balak sent messengers to persuade Balaam, a fortune teller and magician (Joshua 13:22) to join them, but God would not let him. Balaam's donkey turned against him and talked (Num.22:28), asking Balaam why he was hitting him so. Balaam later caused the people to sin and was slain (Num.31:8) leading the people to whoredom (Num.31:16). Israel sinned again (Num.25:1-5) causing a plague from God that killed 24,000 (Num.25:9).
After Moses was commanded by God to go up into the mount and view the Promised land, God told him because you have rebelled against my commandments (Num.27:14) you will not be allowed to enter the land (nor Aaron Num.20:24). Moses did not argue with God, and even asked for a replacement to lead the people. Joshua (very military) was the man, and taken before the priest and given a charge, by laying hands on him.
In Numbers chap. 34 Preparations being made to enter Canaan and possessing the land. Reuben and Gad did not want to cross the Jordan, wanting to stay because the land was rich for their many cattle. Moses finally agreed but told them they would have to help the others in their battles (Num.32:1-6) and the land was given (Num.34:14,15). All had to drive the other people out before possessing the land (Num. 33:52). Nine and one half tribes to possess the land west of the Jordan, and two and a half tribes, Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe Manasseh the east side of Jordan (Num.34:13-15). The land possessions were commanded by Joshua and Eleazar (Aaron's son) the priest (Num.34:17). The Levites were only given cities in the other's possessions to dwell in, forty eight cities in all (Num. 35:7)
In the book of Deuteronomy Moses repeats to the children of Israel "..the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month,...." the journey they had made. They were now ready to enter (disobedience kept them from entering the first year) after forty years. Moses was one hundred twenty years old, preparing to die (Num.27:13) . Joshua would take his place. God always has someone to carry on his work. God had really blessed them with food, even their clothes and shoes never wore out (Deut.8:4). Not one city was too strong for them because God delivered them (Deut.2:36). Ain't God good? They defeated the giants of Bashan, whose king was Og and slept in a bed thirteen feet long, and six feet wide (Deut.3:11) Moses warned the people they would be scattered among the nations (Deut. 4:27), but not lost, because of his love for them, he chose them (Deut.4:27). From Genesis through Numbers, love of God was not mentioned, but now in Deuteronomy mentioned twenty one timed.
To be blessed above all people and multiplied exceedingly (Deut.7:14). To possess nations greater and mightier than they as they enter the Land of Milk and Honey God had promised them. God reminded them that He, not their righteousness caused them to possess the land. Moses addressed the people (Deut. 10 through 11::32) telling how good God was to them, how everything belongs to God. He only lets us use them. All our wealth comes from God who gives us power to get it (Deut.8:18) And be sure to care for the preachers (Deut.25:4......1 Timothy 5:17,18.....Luke10:7).Moses prepares to die (Deut.31:14). God tells him the people will start worshipping other gods after he dies (Deut.31:16,27). Moses charges Joshua to lead them in (Deut.31:23) and then writes a song (Deut.32:1-45). Death of Moses (Deut.34:). God lets him view the land but not enter. Moses dies in the land of Moab (Deut. 34:5) on top of mount Pisgah (Deut.3:27.....32:49)at the age of one hundred years, his eyes were not dimmed, and still had strength (Deut. 34:7). He was buried where no man knew. (Was this to keep them from building a statue and maybe worshipping him?) Moses was a great man. He wrote the first five books of the Bible.
I have really enjoyed studying and writing this. I hope I did not make too many mistakes. I am open for any thoughts or mistakes. would appreciate any help or corrections. My E-Mail address is brewxxy@aol.com