My studies this week have brought me to the end of the book of Numbers, and on into the beginning of Deuteronomy. I have to say that it has been a rather emotional reading, as both Miriam and Aaron passed away, the Israelites once again rebel against God, and Moses loses his opportunity to cross the Jordan, into the promise land.

So much has happened to bring our Village to the river that marked the entrance into the land flowing with milk and honey. Even after 40 years in the desert, growing up and preparing for their inheritance, the people still seemed barely ready to handle what was to come.

The people got all the way to the Jordan, sending men across to scout out the land, only to throw an absolute fit before God, over not being just handed an empty country to inhabit! This is with God right there in their midst, leading them, feeding them, and teaching them how to grow up both spiritually and mentally. I say mentally, because, sometimes I think they simply acted like idiots! Sorry, but I got so frustrated with their temper tantrums in front of God, over the things they were experiencing, I actually felt like they deserved to be left there to tough it out all by their onesies… just sayin.

Personally, I would love to be able to say that I’d be a forever changed person, all the way back at the parting of the bloomin Red Sea, but alas, I remember that those were very different times and things are never as easy as they seem. I have to remind myself that I would be of their same mindset, had I been born during those times in our history. Hindsight’s always 20/20, as they say.

I can say that I would have lost my sanity when God sent the snakes into their midst, as punishment for the nasty behavior they were displaying before Him. This was approximately a million plus people, living and traveling together, so the thought of venomous snakes literally crawling all over everything and everybody made my skin crawl. When they repented, God didn’t just remove the snakes for them, but simply had Moses place a poll in the center of their midst, leaving them to go look at it each time they were bitten, so they wouldn’t die. Painful lesson for such a stiff necked people!

Then, when the Israelites had only just gotten to the beginning of the Promise Land, they promptly fell into idol worship with the first town they came upon. Whaaaaattt??? Yup folks, this was going to be a bumpy ride for God’s people.

As I start into the book of Deuteronomy, I am pleased to be able to read through a sort of rehash of what went on over those 40 years, along with gleaning more information that was not forthcoming during my readings of the earlier books. Moses goes more into detail about certain events and happenings, that paint a more complete picture of what occurred along their journey. Granted, I’ve only read the first chapter, so far, but it seems kind of like a behind the scenes look at things.

In honesty, I don’t think I’ve fully read through these beginning books of the bible in such detail since Bible Seminary, when I was only 19 years old. I keep reading things that were either forgotten, or possibly skimmed over in my youthful studies. I’m so glad for the re-read, as there is a great deal of truth that I would have missed out on, by simply overlooking passages tucked within the pages of whosoever beget whom.

Until we meet again next week, I shall continue on into Deuteronomy, as well as, simultaneously following Paul through the books of Corinthians. I am interested to see if I can further glean insights from his letters to the church, as to the behavior of the earlier growth of our traveling Village.

Have a beautiful Sunday of rest, relaxation and family…