“I’m Fine” Proverbs 29:11

“No one really cares how you’re doing”. That was the reply I got from a “friend” after I responded to the question “How are you?” That was over 40 years ago now but I remember it like it was yesterday. 

Now, I know that is not the context of Proverbs 29:11 but that 40 year old conversation came back in all it’s blaze and glory when I read that verse the other day. 

“A fool vents all his feelings. But a wise man holds them back.”

Proverb’s 29:11 is speaking about self control, not letting our emotions control our actions. We’ve all failed at THAT haven’t we? 

Maybe that simple question needs to be rephrased. How are you holding up? How can I pray for you today? What’s been going on in your life? 

So, I ask you with true sincerity and interest, how are you, really?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xC2wk1w09U8&feature=youtu.be

Numbers 35:6-8 Influencing People

 6Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. 7The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. 8The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”

“This shows the wisdom of God in not making a Levitical state that others would have to go to. God intended that these ministers go out among the people, to influence them for the LORD.” (Guzik)

“In the same way, God does not intend that there be a Christian country or state where all the Christians live together in spiritual bliss, and simply say to the world, “come and join us if you want.” Instead, God wants Christians to be sprinkled throughout the whole world, influencing people for Jesus Christ.”(Guzik)

Are you influencing people for Jesus Christ?

CH Spurgeon, the great English preacher of the nineteenth century, was asked once by a young leader, “How can I be used of God to lead people to Christ?” Spurgeon’s answer was brilliant, “Young man, set yourself on fire and people will come and watch you burn!”

Blessings 

https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/truth-that-changes-lives/read/articles/7-step-stratedy-for-influencing-people-for-christ-17889.html

Numbers 35:4-5 Pasturelands

 4The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side. 5You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.

Cities were walled for protection and pastures were for livestock and small scale farming. 

1 cubit = 1.47638 feet, 1000 cubits = 1476.38 feet (Levites portion), 2000 cubits = 2952.7559055118 feet. 1 mile = 5280 feet.

The pasture lands sustained the inhabitants of the city. 

Why is it important that we study the Old Testament?

Because it points to the Messiah, Jesus Christ! 

If you read a book would you skip the first half?

Blessings 

 https://www.gotquestions.org/old-testament.html

Numbers 35:1-3 Gods Plan

 1Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: 2“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. 3The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.

Gods Plan

“The tribe of Levi had no “state” or “province” within Israel. Their inheritance was to be the LORD alone: Then the LORD said to Aaron: You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. (Numbers 18:20)” (Guzik)

The Levites would be sprinkled throughout the Promised Land in the cities and their livestock would have common land for grazing similar to what we call open range.

Ephesians 3:6 NLT And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Do you belong to Christ Jesus?

Blessings 

Numbers 34:16-29 Inheritance-Mine!

 16Then the LORD said to Moses, 17“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. 18Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land. 19These are their names:

Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;

20Shemuel son of Ammihud from the tribe of Simeon;

21Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;

22Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan;

23Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

24Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim;

25Eli-zaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

26Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar;

27Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;

28and Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

29These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Inheritance-Mine!

“The division of the land was, in fact, a potentially divisive - even explosive - issue among the people of Israel. It was right to take the two most godly and prominent leaders of the nation to direct this essential and controversial duty.” (Guzik)

What are the first words usually spoken by a child regarding their toys?

Mine!

So without saying an inheritance would be “potentially divisive - even explosive”!

That’s what sin has done to this world! 

Have you ever been left an inheritance?

Did you handle it in a Godly manner?

Blessings 

Numbers 34:13-15 Portion in Heaven

 13So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes. 14For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance. 15These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

Portion in Heaven 

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

“34:1-15 Canaan was of small extent; as it is here bounded, it is but about 160 miles in length, and about 50 in breadth; yet this was the country promised to the father of the faithful, and the possession of the seed of Israel. This was that little spot of ground, in which alone, for many ages, God was known. This was the vineyard of the Lord, the garden enclosed; but as it is with gardens and vineyards, the narrowness of the space was made up by the fruitfulness of the soil. Though the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, yet few know him, and serve him; but those few are happy, because fruitful to God. Also, see how little a share of the world God gives to his own people. Those who have their portion in heaven, have reason to be content with a small pittance of this earth. Yet a little that a righteous man has, having it from the love of God, and with his blessing, is far better and more comfortable than the riches of many wicked.”

Do you know the Lord and do you have your portion in heaven?

Blessings 

Jesus, Take The Lead.

 The other afternoon while out walking we heard the familiar squawking of Canadian Geese overhead. I stopped to watch them as last week when I saw some, they were headed north and I commented they were heading the wrong way for the time of the year. 

At first this group seemed to be headed in the right direction, south. But as we stood with our heads back looking almost directly up, we realized they were actually doing circles! It was kind of funny to watch. They looked more like a flock of vultures circling a carcass then geese trying to head south for the winter. Why would they do that? What was wrong? I wondered aloud if that’s why there was so much squawking going on. “Hey George, your going the wrong way” “Would someone else PLEASE get up there and take the lead?” Maybe the lead goose had an injury of some type. Maybe it was just tired and wanted another to take the lead. 

How many times I have felt like that goose. Going in circles. Trying to fly wounded. Exhausted, just wanting someone else to take the lead. 

Isaiah 40: 28Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary;

His understanding is beyond searching out.

29He gives power to the faint

and increases the strength of the weak.

30Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall.

31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength;

they will mount up with wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not faint.

Numbers 34:6-12 Your Land

 6Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.

7Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, 8and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, 9continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

10And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, 11then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth. 12Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.

This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”

Your Land

Reminds me of a song!

Blessings 

https://youtu.be/X1QBSsYNSfM

Numbers 34:1-5 Borders

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

3Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, 4cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, 5where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.

Borders

A nation without borders isn’t a nation!

“Israel was going to have to take control of the Promised Land by conquest; they would have to drive out the Canaanites to take possession. Yet, they should never consider that the land was given to them because they earned it. It was given to them by God as an inheritance. Inheritances are freely given, not earned.” (Guzik)

Blessings 

“The map shows the area that Israel controlled at that time. It almost matched the boundaries of the land that God had promised. Gaza was not taken from the Philistines in Solomon’s day, and the land of the Canaanites promised to Abraham included the coastal strip all the way to Sidon – the city of Canaan’s first-born son.
[1 Chronicles 1:13, Genesis 10:19]

Areas of Moab, Ammon and Edom, east of the Dead Sea, were occupied by King Solomon but were not part of the Promised Land. This is part of modern-day Jordan.”

https://www.differentspirit.org/articles/boundaries.php

Numbers 33:54-56 Corruption

 54And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.

55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle. 56And then I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.”

Corruption 

“This became true of Israel’s history. They did not fully drive out the Canaanites, and though they possessed the land, the corruption of the Canaanites continued among Israel until eventually God allowed Israel to be driven out of the land in exile.” (Guzik)

Reread verse 55, when Israel became a nation in 1947 what didn’t they do? 

Follow the Lords advice in this verse and allowed the inhabitants to become barbs and corrupt their nation.

We as Christians must also be careful with the church because this is a warning to the church also! If we allow todays culture to become part of the church it will also be corrupted, and some have!

Blessings 

Read Revelation 2:18-29 (The Corrupt Church)

Numbers 33:50-53 Judgement

  50On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses, 51“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

53You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

Judgement 

“God had a unique role for the nation of Israel in regard to the people of Canaan. He used them as an unique instrument of judgment against the Canaanites.”

“This unique purpose explains why Israel was commanded not only to defeat them militarily, but to erase the remains of the idolatrous culture. Modern archaeology has documented the corrupt and demonic worship practices of the Canaanites. They were truly a culture ripe for the judgment of God.” (Guzik)

What were the Canaanites sacrificing? Their babies!

How many of you believe our nation is under judgement? Look around and what do you see? Our government, our culture, the corrupt demonic practices and abortion are ripe for the judgement of God.

Please pray for us all!

Blessings 

Numbers 33:16-49 Camping Trip

 16They set out from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.

17They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

18They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

19They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.

20They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.

21They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.

22They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

23They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

24They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

25They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

26They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

27They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.

28They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.

29They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

30They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

31They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.

32They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.

33They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

34They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

35They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.

36They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

37They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom. 

38At the LORD’s command, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor and died there on the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt. 

39Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

40Now the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming. 

41And the Israelites set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

42They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

43They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.

44They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim on the border of Moab.

45They set out from Iyime and camped at Dibon-gad.

46They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.

47They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarimf facing Nebo.

48They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

49And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim. 

Camping Trip

Have you ever gone camping and couldn’t wait to get home for one reason or another? In these verses the Israelites went camping for some 38 years because the generation of unbelief were to die off in the wilderness before the next generation could possess the promised land!

“The listing of Israel’s encampments comes rapidly; more than 30 place-names are given in quick succession. During this time, there was a lot of activity for the people of Israel - but no progress. They weren’t coming any closer to the Promised Land and would not come closer until the generation of unbelief had passed away.” (Guzik)

Blessings 

Numbers 33:5-15 Journeys

 Numbers 33:5-15 Journeys

5The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
6They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.
7They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped near Migdol.
8They set out from Pi-hahirothb and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah. 9They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.
10They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.c
11They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.d
12They set out from the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
13They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
14They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15They set out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Journeys
“This portion of the journey took them more than a year, but most of the time was not spent traveling, but in receiving the law at Mount Sinai.” (Guzik)

Why so long? They were walking, upwards of 2.2 million people with their belongings.
But this was just the beginning of their Journeys and because of sin the Lord will add 40 years to their “wandering in the wilderness”.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. -". ― R Zaccharias
Blessings

Numbers 33:1-4 In Full View

 1These are the (42) journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:

3On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.

In Full View

“Though they were slaves, they did not have to shrink out of Egypt; God gave them the boldness to leave as conquerors, not as escaping slaves.” 

“The plagues the LORD brought upon Egypt were not randomly chosen; they were specifically intended to humble the people and rebuke their belief in the bizarre and demonic Egyptian deities.” (Guzik)

Likewise, when Jesus returns it will be in Full View of the whole world!

Blessings 

Numbers 32:34-42 Capture and Built Up

 34And the Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks.

37The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt.

39The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair.c 42And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Capture and Built Up

The Lord was with them, blessed them and He allowed the Gadites, Reubenites and Manasseh to drive out, capture and “built up” the land.

Blessings