Numbers

Introduction Though many details in Numbers 35 are foreign to us, it also reminds us where much of our system of jurisprudence – prudent justice – comes from – the ancient law of God.  The law made a distinction between kinds of sin – there is premeditated murder, and there is manslaughter. Two different crimes, […]

The book of Numbers is often about people of modern-day California, because it’s often about people who grumble about where they live. And therefore we need to consider its ancient lessons, about staying or leaving California. Bumbling Grumbling The book of Numbers follows the Exodus, and by Numbers 20, as the people move through the

We’re not sure exactly why Miriam is singled out for discipline by God in Numbers, and not her husband (10). But we can guess.  Numbers 12 begins with Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses. The fact that Miriam is mentioned first (1) could be a subtle indicator that she was instigating it. At least on the

I’ve never forgotten what Darrin Patrick said about prayer, in a talk he gave. Essentially, he said:  When you are having trouble praying, when you go silent on God, look for disappointment with God as the reason.  There are of course other reasons for prayerlessness:            – A lack of sleep.

Some lessons from Korah’s rebellion, in Numbers 16, will land us on prayer. The short version of the story is that Korah cultivates 250 followers from Israel, and they rebel against Moses and Aaron. Their major claim is “You’ve gone too far!” (v. 3). They resent Moses and Aaron’s singular, special leadership. Some observations from

The story of the quail and the prophets, from Numbers 11, is strange to us, in many of the details. But the point could not be more contemporary.  The people are on the other side of the Exodus, and are three days into a new season of their journey. But they complain, sentimentalizing their slavery