Feb.17 - Numbers 27 - 29

Yesterday, we read of the 2nd census Moses took concerning the nation of Israel. This census took place nearly 40 years after leaving Egypt, and the purpose of it was specifically for determining the land grant rights for each tribe before they entered the Promised Land. In today's reading, they're getting ready to enter, and before they do Moses will offer some final instructions and a reminder of all they've gone through. You'll see this as you read the rest of the book of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. In fact, it's in today's reading (chapter 27) that we read of God's choosing of Joshua as a replacement for Moses. Moses will NOT have the privilege of entering the Promised Land due to his sin in striking the rock twice at Meribah. God had told him to strike it once, but out of anger he struck it twice! God saw it as a disobedient act and says in Numbers 27 concerning him and Aaron sin, "for you both rebelled against my instructions...". Consequently, Aaron died on the top of Mount Hor in chapter 20, and Moses will die sometime later in Deuteronomy 34 on the top of Mount Nebo at Pisgah Peak. This lesson should teach all of us that God is "no respecter of persons" and if you sin, no matter how spiritual you may seem, God will punish you because of that sin. God described it this way to Moses in Numbers 27:14, "you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them...".

As we read the rest of today's reading (chapter 28 and chapter 29), we basically see that the Lord is meticulously going over the sacrificial offerings once again with Moses. These offerings include:

- A daily offering

- A Sabbath day offering

- First day of Each Month offering

- The 14th day of the First Month offering - Passover - in the spring around April 14th.

- The New Harvest offering

- The Festival of trumpets offering in the fall.

- The Day of Atonement offering - 10 days after the festival of trumpets offering

- The Festival of Booths - 5 days after the day of atonement offering

Hang in there! We almost through the civil laws for Israel.

Have a great day in the Lord!