Remember When and Where

O. T. #362  "Remember When and Where"
Sept. 11, 2014
Numbers 33
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan: Numbers 33:51

Praying for the families who lost loved ones on 9-11 when the Twin Towers were attacked and brought down.
Do you recall where you were when it happened?

LET IT GLOW

When our family is talking about a certain time that a particular thing happened, I think back to where we lived at that specific time. Then I recall which years we lived there. That helps me to remember when something occurred. To my best recollection, we have lived in 18 various places since we moved off to college in 1980 until now. You understand, my madness, don't you? Some places our son would not remember, since he was less than two years old when we first moved. The people, activities, and churches hold vivid memories for me. It may have been that way for Moses and some of the Israelites.

This long chapter is where Moses listed the 40 stops between Egypt and Moab that the Israelites made. These places would have been the camps where they stayed during their forty year journey through the wilderness. Looks like they averaged about one place a year, though it may not have happened that way. This younger generation, who conquered Moab and were presently living there may not have had memories of all of the places they lived, camped.

Some of the names would have brought back vivid memories.  (Falwell)

We may consider the whole book of Numbers as a diary, and indeed the first book of travels ever published. (Clarke)

When you add Egypt and Moab into the forty places, they total 42, as they rested at the shore of the Jordan River. When they crossed over Jordan, they entered the rest (later) of the Promised Land. Similarly, there are 42 generations from Abraham unto Christ, the Promised Messiah and Savior.

Do you have special events in your life that you can recall the time and place it happened?


LET IT GROW

I am not going into those many places where Israel pitched their tents. Certainly crossing the Red Sea and camped at Mount Sinai would have been highlights. Also, it was a memorable journey which would have involved drought, desert, fiery serpents, pits, an earthquake, squabbles, and death. Through it all, God was faithful to provide for their needs, even their shoes and clothes did not wear out. Time after time God showed His love and mercy, as well as His judgment to His chosen children.

Here are four commands God gave Israel as well as a two-fold warning:

1. When they passed over Jordan, they were to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.(In verse 52, there was no command by God to carry out a mass slaughter of the Canaanites. Falwell)
2. They were to destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. (verse 52)
3. Take possession of the land and settle in it, the land which God gave them to possess. (verse 53)
4. Distribute the land by lot according to their clans. The larger groups got a more land; smaller groups got less land.

The warnings of what would happen if Israel did not drive out the inhabitants, disobeying God's instructions included:

1. The inhabitants would become pricks, barbs, in Israel's eyes. A prick is a brier as a hedge.
2. They would be thorns in Israel's sides.
3. They would give Israel trouble in the land where they live.
4. God would do to Israel what He planned to do to them.

If Israel failed to obey God, she would be the object of God's punishment in exactly the same way as the Canaanites were. (MacArthur)

For a brief time during the reigns of David and Solomon Israel possessed this area. Then came the Syrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians to take over, due to Israel's idolatry. And we know the rest of the story. The 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and New Testament, the Romans and Greeks ruling and Jews were scattered. However, since 1948, Israel has been a nation once again.

Are we warning people of judgment to come? What about the love and mercy and salvation of Jesus?
Are we standing up against sin in our society?

LET IT GO

Remember all the good and bad I have experienced; how God delivered us from my sins.

Follow God's Word and Spirit.

Be a faithful warrior growing in faith and love.

Pray for Israel, our military, our leaders, and God's protection and direction now.