DAILY BIBLE READING

Mar 1: Num 14-15; Ps 90
Mar 2: Num 16-17
Mar 3: Num 18-20
Mar 4: Num 21-22
Mar 5: Num 23-25
Mar 6: Num 26-27
Mar 7: Num 28-30
Mar 8: Num 31-32

NOTES ON NUMBERS 13-30

·         Numbers is about more than numbers (the census figures at the beginning and the end of the book).  It’s about the time “in between” the Exodus and the conquest (Joshua).

·         There is a 38-year (or so) gap between Numbers 19 and 20, not readily visible in the text.  I suppose there wasn’t much to tell during those years – the people camped, ate and drank, and worshiped.  They established their rhythms (see devotions) and waited.  They were born, grew up, married, had children, and the older generation died out.

·         Other than reading Job early on, you get your first glimpse of the “chronological” plan of reading the Bible this week when you read Psalm 90 on Monday.  This psalm is attributed to Moses, probably written toward the end of the 40 years of “wandering.”

·         The repeated grumbling would be funny if it weren’t so sad.  Apparently rather radical discipline for complaining still didn’t make a difference, and it started up again at the of the forty years.

·         There are some great stories in this section, including the “different spirit” of Caleb and the mysterious Balaam (sermons on these texts, if you missed them, are on my blog, corinthpastorbob.com), the impulsive action of Moses that prevented him from seeing the Promised Land (ch. 20), and the snake story (ch. 21), which prefigures Jesus’ own death (John 3:14).

·         Early in the year, your pastors preached the story of Noah after you had read it in your Bible reading.  We skipped ahead to Numbers, and preached the story of the ten explorers and of Balaam before you read them.  Which do you prefer?  Let us know by e-mail or on the Through the Bible in 2010 Facebook page.  It might help us plan sermons for the rest of the year.