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Numbers 11 - 20

So now after two years of eating the same food i must be honest, i would also start to rumble. This is the first true sign of frustration. I mean imagine not only having one option of food but being told how to eat it in a certain way? In today's society that's personal suicide. Some people would say that's one good reason to start civil war in a country.

Now Moses feeling the sense of pressure from the people demanding meat (and fish, cucumber etc..) outside his tent and the Lord getting exceedingly angry because of people's demands, he broke down. But what's amazing is that he vented his frustrations TOWARDS God not away from him. Often times we seperate ourselves from God because we are stressed. I can SO relate as I tend to take matters into my own hands. Something to learn and carry into my heart.

So God's answer is to this problem to provide meat for a whole month. The count of Isreal was 600000 men on foot: so roughly 2 Million mouths to feed mear in the middle of a desert for a whole month! Moses astonished asks the obvious question, which firstly shows that he hasn't relinquished his responsibility yet. Those who gathered quail from the sea died from a disease. And so the moral of the story. Be careful of what you ask for!

The Lord shows where His loyalty lies. When Moses is attacked by his siblings! The feelings of Jealousy has been there since the beginning of times. But rebukes Aaron and Miriam and explains to them that Moses receives his instructions not like other prophets but face to face! WOW! The reason: He was and remained humble. Amen!

Some men were sent to explore the Land of Canaan. The prophecy of hundreds of years is now being fulfilled! This must have been exciting times for you could see the desert behind you. It was very specific on what they should look for and where they should go! Amazing! After 40 days they returned. Remember the noah?

Caleb (from the tribe of Judah - the tribe knows for their bravery and number of soldiers). who had also gone in the expedition "silenced" the crowd to speak. That must have been a period of courage for him. The people were not convinced and felt the canaanite people were too strong and fortified cities. It's good to note the people were doing all this based on the promise of God. WOW!

God sets himself against the grumbling Israelites. It reminds of the scripture that talks about how dreadful is it to experience the Lord's wrath. Here God punishes the people and promises hardship for their children except Joshua and Caleb.

A man was caught gathering wood on Sabbath day. The Lord said "He must die". He was stoned outside the camp by the whole assembly. The reason is two fold: (1) He intentionaly disobeyed God's commands (2) If nothing was done, the whole assembly will bear that man's sins. This is not cruelty, this is justice based on God's laws given to us.

A clan of levites (Korah) who were not priests started rebelling against Moses and Aaron. Moses said to the people that this was not his idea. The ground opened up and swallowed the men and their families. For the priests are holy. But Moses kept falling face down.

Aaron stood between the living and the dead to offer an atonement for their sins. That must have been a sight. Dead people and live people on either side. Aaron's staff budded to show everyone who He had chosen as Most Holy and that the priest were to be respected and set apart just as God commanded.

For the first time the Lord speaks to Aaron and tells him that its a gift to be a priest. He says to him they are not to have any inheritance in the land, but that God is their share through the gift they recieve from the offerings.

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