76 - Only one for the Job

Moses blesses Joshua before the High Priest.

Chareen's Thoughts

• Moses has died.  He is the only prophet that the LORD knew face to face. [None equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, And in all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12
• All of Israel morned for 30 days.
• Joshua was now the new leader of Israel and he had been fulled of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him; so the Israelites listened to him.
• Psalm 78:12-66 , Psalm 105:16-45 , Psalm 106:1-33 , Psalm 135 sums up the history of Israel to this point. 

¹PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!^(A)

    ²Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]?

    ³Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who observe justice [treating others fairly] and who do right and are in right standing with God at all times.

    ⁴[Earnestly] remember me, O Lord, when You favor Your people! O visit me also when You deliver them, and grant me Your salvation!-- (Psalm 106:1-4)
 ¹PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, O you servants of the Lord!

    ²You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,

    ³Praise the Lord! For the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for He is gracious and lovely!

⁵For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.

    ⁶Whatever the Lord pleases, that has He done in the heavens and on earth, in the seas and all deeps--

    ⁷Who causes the vapors to arise from the ends of the earth, Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings the wind out of His storehouses;  (Psalm 135)

Today's reading finished with these words which really blessed my heart:
 When God called Joshua to lead the nation He did not ask him to be another Moses. Leading Israel out was a task for a Moses, leading Israel in was a task for a Joshua.  Joshua could not be Moses, nor Moses Joshua. You too, have a place in God's eternal scheme of things, but you can only fit into it as you are yourself. (Cover to Cover Day 76 page 346)
 Romans 12:4-6 For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;

So always remember be true to yourself and whom the Lord has made you to be.

Blessings
Chareen

75 - Moses dies

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Lord clearly states his judgement for sin and His deliverance.
• Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, in the time when their foot shall slide; for the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom comes speedily.
• Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me; I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand.
• Deuteronomy 32:46-47 He said to them, Set your [minds and] hearts on all the words which I command you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be watchful to do all the words of this law. For it is not an empty and worthless trifle for you; it is your [very] life. By it you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.
• Deuteronomy 32:48-49 And the Lord said to Moses that same day, Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.
• Before Moses departed he pronounced a blessing over each tribe. 
• Psalm 91:1-16
  ¹HE WHO ^[a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].    ²I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
      ³For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
      ⁴[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
      ⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
      ⁶Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
      ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
      ⁸Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
      ⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,^{(A)
      10}There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
      ¹¹For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
      ¹²They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.^{(B)
      13}You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.^{(C)
      14}Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
      ¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
      ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
  
• Such a beautiful Psalm that reminds me of His faithfulness IF I follow Him.
• The Lord told Moses to go to Mount Nebo to view the promised land.
• Moses viewed the land and then the Lord burried him. Moses was 120 years old.

Blessings
Chareen

From Wikipedia: Mount Nebo (Arabic: جبل نيبو‎, Jabal Nibu. Hebrew: הַר נְבוֹ‎, Har Nevo, ) is an elevated ridge that is approximately 817 meters (2680 feet) above sea level, in Jordan. The view from the summit provides a panorama of the Holy Land and, to the north, a more limited one of the valley of the River Jordan. The West Bank city of Jericho is usually visible from the summit, as is Jerusalem on a very clear day.

Mount Nebo, view to north east

Deuteronomy 32:48-49 And the Lord said to Moses that same day, Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.

A view of the Dead Sea from atop Mount Nebo, Jordan.

Mount Nebo, seen from east at a distance of 1.4 km

75 - Moses goes to be with the Lord

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 32,33,34

Numbers27: 12-14

Psalm 91

Deuteronomy 32: 19-43. Moses continues to recite the words of this song to the entire assembly of Israel this containing the judgement of sins and God's deliverance. 35... Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay In time their foot will slip for their day of disaster is near and their doom is coming quickly. 36...The Lord will indeed vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone... 39. See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from My hand...40. I raise My hand to heaven and declare; As surely as I live forever.

Deuteronomy 33 is Moses final words to the 12 tribes of Israel it was a blessing...Verse 1. This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death. And so Moses spoke his blessings over them.

Psalm 91 (KJV)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust...

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence...

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler...

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;...

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday...

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come night thee...

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked...

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;...

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling...

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways...

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone...

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet...Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name...

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him...

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Beautiful promise from our Heavenly Father. Amen.

Deuteronomy 34: 5-7 And so Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, as the Lord had said...He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is. Moses was 120 years old hen he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him.

This was a man after God's own heart, a man that served the Lord faithfully to the very end, a man with high standards of living who walked in faith and trusted the Lord with his footsteps right to the very end of his days until he came face to face in glory with Him.

It's been a beautiful journey with Moses and the Israelites and a lot learnt! Looking forward to the next journey with Joshua.

Blessings

Kathleen.

74 - Mose last words to Israel

Moses annoints Joshua before the assembly

Chareen's Thoughts

• He reminds Israel that WHEN they turn back to the Lord love and follow Him then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you. Deut 30:3-4 There is ALWAYS a blessing to be had when we follow the ways of our Lord.
• And the Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6 
• And the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, of your cattle, of your land, for good; for the Lord will again delight in prospering you, as He took delight in your fathers, If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being. Deuteronomy 30:9-10 
• [If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land into which you go to possess.Deuteronomy 30:16 
• And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days,... Deuteronomy 30:20 
• Moses asked the Lord for a new shepherd to lead the people and the Lord appointed Joshua to lead and the High Priest to be the go between Joshua and the Lord. Numbers 27:15-23
• And Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong, courageous, and firm, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to possess it. It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm] Deuteronomy 31:7-8 
• Moses then wrote down the final law and gave it to the priests. The Lord prophesied the apostasy of the people when they entered the new land.
• Moses wrote and read a song to the assembly before the Lord.

³For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God.

    ⁴He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He. Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Blessings
Chareen

74 - Moses time comes to a close as leader of the Israelites

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 30,31,32

Numbers 36:13 & 27: 15-23

This must have been a very sad time for the Israelites and the priests knowing that Moses will soon be going home to be with the Lord. It must have been a form of mourning. I bet Moses being at the age of 120 must have been very tired too but he still found the time to sit and tell the Israelites what will happen to them and they need to choose between the blessings and curses.

Deuteronomy 30: 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses: therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.

Deuteronomy 30: 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Moses also tells them this...Deut: 31: 8 It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will (march) with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; (let there be no cowardice or flinching, but) fear not, neither become broken (in spirit) (depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm.

9. And Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

Moses takes Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him and lays his hands on him to take over his possition as leader of the Israelites,

The Lord tells Moses to tell these words to all Israel. I am now 120 years old; I can no longer act as your leader. The Lord has also told me I won't cross the Jordan and the Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you, and Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord said.

Deut: 31; 6 For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 32: 1-18 Song of Moses. Beautifully written and was recited aloud every single word to the entire assembly of Israel.

Revelations 1;11, 17b-18 Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches;;; I am the First and the Last, and the living One. I was dead, but look - I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Blessings

66 - He is God, the faithful God

Chareen's Thoughts

• Moses explains to the people that IF they worship idols and follow wrong paths they will be expelled from the land and will seek God but not find Him. He warns that only in their distress will they return to the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 4:31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them.
• Deuteronomy 4:39 Know, recognize, and understand therefore this day and turn your [mind and] heart to it that the Lord is God in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath; there is no other.
• Moses repeated the Ten Commandments to the people.
• Moses reminded them of the fear of the Lord and seeing and hearing Him because He was so great.
• The Lord said to them in Deuteronomy 5:32-33: Therefore you people shall be watchful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess.
• Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ...the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. 
•  God gave them specific reasons to obey the statutes and ordinances and told them how to explain it to their children when their children asked why ?? Deuteronomy 6:24-25 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to [reverently] fear the Lord our God for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. And it will be accounted as righteousness (conformity to God's will in word, thought, and action) for us if we are watchful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.
• They are warned not to intermarry because this will turn their sons and daughters away from God. They were to destroy ALL the highplaces.
• Deuteronomy 7:9-10 Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, And repays those who hate Him to their face, by destroying them; He will not be slack to him who hates Him, but will requite him to his face.

Blessings
Chareen

66 - You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is NO OTHER BESIDES HIM!

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 4,5,6 7

Deut 4: 40 Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments, which I command you this day, that is may go well with you and your children after you and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you forever.

This could not be clearer for us as it is written here today. Keep God's word in your heart and walk in them as it is a lamp to your feet and a light to your pathway.

Our guide lines given to us from God are the Ten commandments. 10 most basic ones but a very clear guide line for us to follow. Exodus 20 & Deut: 5: 6-20,22 The Lord spoke these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly from the fire, cloud, and thick darkness on the mountian; He added nothing more. He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

Deut: 6: 5-9 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your entire being and with all your might...And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be in your own minds and hearts...You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up... And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes...And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates...13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him and swear by His name.

Deut 7: 1-11 9...Know recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God. the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations...And repays those who hate him to their face, by destroying them.

Blessings

Kathleen.

65 - Teach the word to your children!

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers 35,36

Deuteronomy 1,4,19

In today's reading God gives the law in regarding murder and cities of refuge appointed for people to flee to when crimes are committed accidentally. God protects His loved ones, this you can see from reading scriptures Numbers 35:9-34 and Deuteronomy 4: 41-49

In Numbers 36: 1-12 Inheritance law is reviewed and here God tells Moses that the inheritance of land is to stay within the tribes and not to be separated.

One of my favourite books of the Bible is Deuteronomy and God is very specific here in our daily living.

The most important order is to teach our children! Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed, and guard your life diligently,lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. TEACH THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.

Deut: 4: 2 you shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Deut 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deut4: 13 And He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, the Ten commandments, and He wrote them on two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you the statutes and precepts, that you might do them in the land which you are going over to possess

One very important scripture is Do not erect or worship, bow down to any foreign objects in your land you to possess. We wonder why things are going wrong in our countries/ Look around you at the different idols and things people are erecting in their countries. We are told DON'T DO THIS!!

Food for thought!

Blessings

Kathleen.

65 - God is our Refuge

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Israelites were handed very detailed and specific law pertaining to accidental death and murder.
• Before the people even entered the Land of Promise Moses designated three cities of refuge.  How good it is to know that God is our refuge and strength that we can hide in Him.
• More law is given pertaining murder and three more cities of refuge.
• The laws pertaining the inheritance of land are clarrified to the people.
• Before Moses dies he spends time recapping the history of Israel and encourages them to walk a life of obedience before their Lord God.

 As I read Moses exhortation to the Jewish people I was struck by the depth of his wisdom and insight. He says to them:  

Therefore take good heed to yourselves, since you saw no form of Him on the day the Lord spoke to you on Horeb out of the midst of the fire, Beware lest you become corrupt by making for yourselves [to worship] a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, or of any winged fowl that flies in the air, The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, or of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth. And beware lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens, and when you see the sun, moon, and stars, even all the host of the heavens, you be drawn away and worship them and serve them, things which the Lord your God has allotted to all nations under the whole heaven.Deut 4:15-19  

 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.Deut 4:9

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

God gave the Israelites cities of refuge but God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

May you be blessed today as I have been in knowing how great our God is.
Blessings
Chareen

64 - your God shall fight for you.

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading started with a recap of the first allotment of land which was parceled out to the tribes of: Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Mannasseh.
• Before the Israelites crossed the Jorday the Lord gave them specific instructions about destroying ALL the idols and demolishing the high places (these are the temples etc) in their new land.  They were to drive out of the land all the tribes the Lord told them to and take full possession of the land.  The land was to be divided by lot and the size decided by the size of the tribe inheriting the land.
• And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your own eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings [Sihon and Og]; so shall the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are going over [the Jordan]. You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:21-22
• Oh how my heart grieved as I read about Moses pleading with God to see the promised land. My heart is comforted in knowing that Moses saw the fulfillment of the Messaih and stood in the promised land with the Lord.
• God told Moses to go to the top of Pisgah and look out over the land and commision Joshua to take his place.
• The Lord gave the Israelites specific boundries to the land that He was giving them as an inheritance.
• The Lord is the one who chose the men to divide the land among the tribes of Israel.
• The Levites did not inherit land because the Lord was their portion, however the Lord did promise them cities to live in.

 It's amazing how the Lord prepared the people and instructed them before they even crossed the Jordan. You can see His character of orderliness. He promised to fight for Joshua and the Israelites.  As a parent I know that feeling of wanting to stand for your children.  Our God is so very very good.
Blessings
Chareen.

64 - Don't be afraid of them, for the Lord your God fights for you!

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers 33,34,35

Deuteronomy 3

Joshua 12,13

The readings from today is the preparation of the tribes to enter into Canaan.

One of the most important instructions given to Moses from God was...

The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Tell the Israelites; When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and demolish all their high places. You are to take possession of the land before you, and settle in it because I have given you the land to posses. You are to receive the land as an inheritance by lot according to your clans.

You will receive an inheritance according to your ancestral tribes.

BUT IF YOU DON'T DRIVE THEM OUT the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. And what I had planned to do to them, I will do to you.

Boundaries are given Numbers 34: 1-15

Men chosen to divide the land Numbers 34; 16-29 Moses was instructed to take one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

Cities promised to the Levites.

Each tribes is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it receives. The total number of cities you give the Levites will be 48, along with their pasture land.

Blessings.

59 - You have lacked nothing

The Brazen Serpent
by James Tissot

Chareen's Thoughts:

• The Israelites are instructed to pass through the land the Lord had given to Esau as an inheritance.  He is quite specific about what they may or may not do. 
• Look at this beautiful verse that is a testomy of the Lords faithfulness to His people:
  For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. Deuteronomy 2:7  
• Once again the people became impatient and spoke against the Lord asking WHY ?  As a consequence of their descent the Lord sent a plague of snakes and many died.  The people then repented of their sin and the Lord instructed Moses to make a snake image and mount it on a pole so when anyone was bitten they could look on it and be healed. Moses did as the Lord commanded. 
• The congregation traveled to Oboth and Lye-Abarim and north through Moab.
• For 38 years the Israelites traveled from Kadesh-barnea until they crossed the Zered Valley.
• Why did they have to travel this long ? : ...until the whole generation of the men of war had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. Moreover the hand of the Lord was against them to exterminate them from the midst of the camp, until they were all gone Deuteronomy 2:14-15 The Lord is faithful to His word.
• The Lord instructed Israel was not to fight the Ammonites because their land was an inheritance to the descendants of Lot.
• The first land given as a possession to Israel was the land of Sihon.
• The second land given as a possession was from Og king of Bashan.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may [a]not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! John 3:14-15

Blessings
Chareen 

Brazen Serpent Monument
Mount Nebo (Jordan)

For Further reading:

•  Lifted Up on Chritianity Today.
• Caduceus medical symbol over at Ancient Sculpture
• Caduceus over at Wikipedia
• Medical Iconography over at University of Virginia.
• Caduceus Sculpture Plaque over at Ancient Sculpture Gallery.
• Nehushtan over at Wikipedia
• Mount Nebo, Jordan over at Atlas Tours.

59 - The Lord your God has been with you and you have lacked nothing!

Kathleen's thoughts

Caduceus medical symbol

Deuteronomy 2,3
Numbers 21,33
The Biblical days and today is no difference. The people in the wilderness were always grumbling and never satisfied. God was with them supplying all their needs and even witnessed the presence of God being among them and today we also always grumbling about what we have and what we don't have. We are never satisfied. God dwelled amongst them in the wilderness for 40 years feeding them giving them water.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmuring and disputing:

Deuteronomy 2:7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing.

Have you ever wondered why there is a snake in the symbol of the medical symbol we see today but then when you investigate where it suppose to have originated from the Greek The Rod of Asclepius The Greek god of medicine and healing, he used only one snake on a staff. It is here that we see how stories from generations to generation is passed down and it takes one man to twist it to become demonic this is a good link for you to read. Rod of Asclepius.

The photo on this page is a medical symbol used mostly around the world.
Below is the truth about the bronze rod and the snake symbol.

Numbers 21: 5-9
God - when the Israelites were speaking against him He got angry and sent poisonous snakes amongst the people and it bit them so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said we have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you, Intercede with the Lord so that He will take the snakes away from us and this Moses did.

The Lord then told Moses to make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover. So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.

This reading is also about the Israelites walking to the land God had promised.

Blessings

56 - Wondering in the desert

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers14,15,16

Deuteronomy 1

Psalm 90: 1-7

Because of the conspiracy against the Lord they were cursed that generation by not entering into the land that God promised them They will die in the wilderness and only Joshua and Caleb and their generation who obeyed the Lord's commands will enter into the land that the Lord promised them.

The Israelites were overcome with grief and tried to rectify their mistakes but there repentance was too late.

Psalm 90 a beautiful Psalm to read. Verse 12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

I just love Numbers 15: 38 - 41

Speak to the Israelites and tell them that through out their generations they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the Lord's commands and obey them and not become unfaithful by following your own heart and your own eyes. This way you will remember and obey all My commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God"

Blessings

56 - Tassels a sign of Seperation

40 years based on 40 days of exploration
Map from 1871 click to enlarge

Chareen's Thoughts

• The consequence of Israel's sin of unbelief was death and one year for each day they explored the promised land. Numbers 14:31-38
• Only Joshua and Caleb survived of the men who went to Canaan because they followed the Lord completely. 
• Psalm 90:1-17 is the earliest psalm.
• There were more instructions for offerings once the Israelites entered their promised land.
• As a sign of separation the Israelites were to make tassels for the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner.  These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the LORD'S commands and obey them and not become unfaithful by following your own heart and your own eyes. This way you will remember and obey  all My commands and be holy to your God. Numbers 15:38-40
• The consequence of work on a Sabbath was death by stoning.

As I read all about the tassels and the colour I gained a better understanding for branding.  I love christian clothing and jewellery.

What are some of your favourite items that remind you of your Lords love and that you are to be set apart ?
Blessings
Chareen

For Further reading:

Quoated from Wikipedia: The tzitzit ("knotted fringes") of the tallit ("[prayer] shawl") are connected to the 613 commandments by interpretation: principal Torah commentator Rashi bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (Hebrew: ציצת (Biblical), ציצית, in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totalling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzit reminds its wearer of all Torah commandments.

• Everyone has their time in the Wilderness
• 1871 Map
• Strike two and you're out of the Promised Land.
• 
  

55 - Unbelief had shut them out.

Chareen's Thoughts

The Grapes of Canaan

• Todays reading is from Numbers 13, 14, 33,  Deuteronomy 1, 
• What a sad day turning back from Canaan must have been for the Israelite camp. 
• 40 days were spent scouting the land the Lord was giving the Israelites.
• Two out of the twelve gave a good report and ten poured feared into the hearts and minds of the people.
• Israel grumbled in fear and despondency based on the negative report.  They did not base their decision on the past experience with God who stood before them they turned their eyes to people.
• Then Israel declared their unbelief and wanted to return to bondage in Egypt.  God became angry and wanted to destroy them.  
• Moses reminded God His reputation is at stake.  Moses declares: And now, I pray You, let the power of my Lord be great, as You have promised, saying, The Lord is long-suffering and slow to anger, and abundant in mercy and loving-kindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I pray You, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your mercy and loving-kindness, just as You have forgiven [them] from Egypt until now. Numbers 14:17-19
• The Lord pardoned the people but they still had to live with the consequence of their sin. All those who had seen His deliverance in Egypt and His glory were not to see the promised land.
•  Only Joshua and Caleb were excepted in this declaration. 

So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out]. Hebrews 3:19 I wonder how many "promised lands" I have missed out on because my unbelief has shut me out.

Blessings
Chareen

55 - Generation cursed to die in wilderness.

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers 13,14,33

Deuteronomy 1,

When you read these chapters I find it so hard in trying to understand the Israelites and their grumbles and unbelief. After all the signs and wonders of God that they had seen with their own eyes they still threw temper tantrums and moaned and unbelief - a never satisfied generation that caused their whole generation of not entering into the promised land. God diverted them back into the wilderness through dissatisfaction. The only people will see it was Caleb who had a different spirit and has followed the Lord completely, the Lord said I will bring him into the land where he has gone and his descendants will inherit it.

The beautiful scriptures here to me are Numbers 14: 17 19 So now may my Lord's power be magnified just as You have spoken; The Lord is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, forgiving wrongdoing and rebellion, But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children to the third and fourth generation. Please pardon the wrongdoing of this people in keeping with the greatness of Your faithful love, just as You have forgiven them from Egypt until now.

Hebrews 3:19-4:1

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear so that none of you should miss it.

Blessings

54 - Clouds lead them!

Kathleen's thoughts today

Exodus 40

Numbers 10,11,12

The military divisions of the camp of Judah with their banner set out first. The tabernacle was then taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting the tabernacle.

The Kohathites then set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival

Clouds lead them... The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not taken up,k they did not set out until the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel through all the stages of their journey.

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say. Arise, Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and those who hate You flee from Your presence...When it came to rest, he would say Return Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.

Moses questions God about all the work that had to be done and the Lord said to Moses "Is the Lord's power limited. Moses recruited 70 men to take the work load off his shoulders just as God ordered. God then took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders as the Spirit rested on them they Prophesied.

Miriam and Aaron Criticize Moses and the Lord heard them and then summoned all three of them to come out to tent of meeting. The Lord told Aaron and Miriam this...

Listen to what I say If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household. I SPEAK WITH HIM DIRECTLY OPENLY, AND NOT IN RIDDLES; HE SEE THE FORM OF THE LORD.

Blessings