When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images

 Numbers 33:1-56

Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages: 

On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses,  “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.

Why?

Moses mentioned what Israelites had to do after they crossed the Jordan River and entered the promised land. 

drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 

And the consequence of what Israelites did became truth as Moses said.

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以色列人在曠野的32站。

1)亞倫，米利暗為代表的第一代

2)40-49節: 第二代要跨越約旦河

3)50-56節： 摩西在約旦河邊講申記，主要是不要受到異族文化影響，去除所有會影響人神關係的東西，不留情面的除去。建立自己的城池、家室與生命。記得神的恩典，安營： 這裏不是我們的居所，只是暫時的地方！

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How?

How great and reality of the word of the Lord! May my life trust in the Lord and obey God's commands.

The Reubenites and Gadites said we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place

Numbers 32:1-42

The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon— the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”

Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?

Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance. We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”

“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.

The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair. And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.

Why?

Moses thought they didn't cross the Joden River with other Israelites, but they didn't, They promised they would arm themselves and across Jordan River with their people until they got the promised land.

To be a fighting man should not worry backyard, the home, and family. So after attacking their family Reubenites and Gadites may focus on their target to fight with their brothers.

Even though they had landed in the east of Jordan, they were away from the promised land, so their territory was lost early because they forgot the Lord.

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對這兩個半支派評價比較不高。因為看到現在的地比較好！這塊土地很有增值的潛力，發展的好機會。他們不要約旦河西岸的土地，不確定比現在的好。不確信應許之地更好。沒有意志全力走神的道路。

神在年輕時不用摩西，而是在他什麼都沒有時，跟隨主的道路，就是要豁出去的心，不為自己留後路。如此才能專心走主的道路。

他們看到眼前的好處。安於現狀，比較放心，有安全感。抓住眼前的再跟隨主！

會與其他支派一起打仗，走在前面：為自己沒有信心合理化，為沒有信心合理化。

與神的關係不是沒有罪就好了，而是積極跟隨主，生命不再成長就會枯萎凋零！

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How?

The profit before the eyes doesn't mean good to us and our inheritance. Only the promise land of the Lord may keep forever.

Vengeance on the Midianites

Numbers 31:1-54

So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.”  So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel.

Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.

Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.  Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,  but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water.  On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”

The Lord said to Moses, “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured.  Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep.

Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing."

Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the Lord weighed 16,750 shekels. Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.  Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.

Why?

Victory belongs to the Lord, under the blessing of the Lord so Israelite may conquer Midianite and capture many goods as plunder.

Not only the fighter but also the people may share this plunder. 

This is a fully success flight that is not one of Israelite's losses.

How?

Victory belongs to the Lord so as my work my success in everything belong to the Lord.

The regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter

Numbers 30:1-16

Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.

Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.  But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her.  Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself. But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.

These are the regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living at home.

Why?

The regulation concerning vow to the Lord. 

Take vows not only the personal mind and responsibility but also the spouse's responsibility.

Because of this regulation of vow, the Lord asked us not to take a vow before the Lord so easily and to seriously take a vow before the Lord. For the Lord is a living God.

How?

Be careful to take a vow before the Lord. Say the truth word and don't cheat others.

On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves

Numbers 28:16-29:40

On the fourteenth day of the first month the Lord’s Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Jan.14. 7days

On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Feb.1. 7days

On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. Jul.1

On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. Jul.10

On the fifteenth day of the e seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. the festival of Tabernacles. Jul.15. 7 days

Why?

All of these festivals to Israeltes, remember their history, and their experience with the Lord, and remember all of these are the gifts from the Lord.

Especially, on the tenth day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly, and deny yourselves and do no work to face their own sins before the Lord.

Let the festival of Christianity become our culture and our living style to remember the Lord every day.

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節期： 逾越節，除酵節、初熟節、七七節五旬節，吹角節，住棚節。表明從人得到到最後進入新天新地。神的救恩當中。現在過的節期，聖誕節、復活節，我們不能只有把心意放在傳福音上，更重要是我們要看重與神的關係。什麼勞碌的工作不可做，節期中當把工作放下來。每個節期中除了獻祭以外，還要獻除罪祭，提醒我們本來都是不配的。

在每日常獻的三祭，素祭、火祭、奠祭，仍然不可缺少。每日的敬拜都做到，節期的敬拜才蒙悅納！住棚節奉獻的東西特別多一倍，因為也叫收藏節，一年結束，數算神的恩典也多，奉獻量多，不用計較。

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How?

The Lord is my God, my savior, and my shepherd. My life, my way, and my, all in all, are in the hands of the Lord. Praise the Lord with all my heart, all my mind, and all my strength.

 

Daily offering, weekly offering and monthly offering

Numbers 28:1-15

Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives. This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.

On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil. 

This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year. Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.

Why?

Prepare food offerings to worship the Lord, so we prepare our hearts to worship the Lord in the morning daily, and weekly in the church.

The first day of a month and Sabbath day is the special day to remember the Lord has rescued Israelites from slaves in Egypt.

These regulations are the rule to worship the Lord, so everyone come to the Lord should honor the with care and fear the Lord from our heart. For our Lord is a living God.

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神給人繼承土地後，人要如何回應神，因此在此章28,29,30章說明。人過好日子很容易忘記神，每天早晚要記得感恩，不是口頭說而已，而是要獻祭。特定的日子獻祭，以實際行動奉獻給神。燔祭全部獻出，素祭獻麵，奠祭獻酒。早上開始的祭，晚上反省的祭。安息日的重點是要親近神！我們主日是否想休息，或是掛念工作?月朔獻祭是以色列人，不是每個人。在外： 月朔還要持續原來的早晚獻祭的事。目的是我們不能因為特殊的日子，服事忙碌而忽略了親近神的時間。

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How?

Prepare my mind and my heart to meet the Lord every day.

Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership

Numbers 27:12-23

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.”

Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

Why?

The Lord chose Joshua as the leader of Israelites because in him has the spirit of leadership.

Lay your hand on him means the authority transfer from Moses to Joshua in the Spirit. The priest Eleazar is the leader of the priests.

Moses did the work of the Lord in anger, knocking the stone twice, so he could not allowed to enter the promised land.

This means the Lord let Moses rest and not work hard to manage these people. Sometimes this is a good thing.

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這段是講繼承責任。摩西的事奉不僅40年，辛苦多年，卻很可惜無法進入應許之地，因為領袖所以神對要求也嚴格。我們很容易在乎最後結果，神在乎我們是否對神真心?進迦南地不是看誰是否有資格? 進迦南地是神的恩典。若是只看成果，我們很容易因此驕傲。我們不必如此看事情。摩西也順服了神的安排！神要我們是否為主做見證，不是看我們拉幾個人信主。摩西想到的是以色列百姓，不是想到自己。約書亞心中有神的靈，因為他預備了很久！我們要預備自己，建立好與神的關係。

求問的是以利亞撒，執行的是約書亞，摩西則是求問與執行兼具。

約書亞沒有取代摩西，沒有一個人可以取代某人，各有不同託付與恩典。此時祭司制度已經建立起來了，所以有這樣的分工。

如果摩西還在，約書亞也沒有辦法完全承擔責任！摩西會變成大老，超級英雄！神真的用心良苦！教會中交棒者要完全離開、放手，承接者才能成長。

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How?

Our life is in the hands of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be honored around me.