Observations

Some random observations…

In Joshua 5, the Bible talks about how Joshua made sharp knives and circumcised all the Children of Israel. I have no idea how many men this was, but the Bible states he did so at the hill of foreskins – which seems to indicate quite a few. What struck me about this mass circumcision was not the shear numbers involved in this act, but the fact that there were so many uncircumcised. The very act God had used to seal His covenant between Himself and Abraham… the very act demonstrating God’s promise to Abraham’s descendents… the very act that embodied a specific covenant had been ignored and neglected for over 40 years!

What a sad picture of where the Israelites were in their relationship with their God and the One who had established His covenant with them, who had brought them out of slavery, who had performed so many miracles for them, etc… Astonishing!

I had forgotten, but the day after the Israelites entered into the Promised Land, the manna stopped… yet one more proof of God’s miraculous intervention in the Israelite’s affairs and in their preservation as a nation. After entering the Promised Land, never again would they eat of this miraculous food – spoken of by God as “angel’s meat.”

I’ve heard that the harmonic vibrations and frequencies of a group of people marching in step can cause structural damage and for this reason, troops of soldiers break step when crossing bridges and such – to keep from causing whatever structure from being destroyed by the power of their combined rhythm.

It seems to me God created this amazing coordination of frequencies and vibrations because He did command the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho for seven days, the seventh day consisting of encircling the city seven times and then shouting together along with the simultaneous blowing of trumpets.

Can you imagine the vibrations caused by over a million people marching in step without speaking a single word to detract from this impact? Can you imagine the stress to the walls caused on the seventh day as they did it seven times?! Can you imagine the ferocity and fervor in over a million voices as they gave utterance after six days of silence?! Wow!! I have to wonder if it was indeed the vibrations which weakened the wall and the impact of the sound waves which ultimately destroyed the city of Jericho. Granted, I do know this city was delivered into the hands of the Israelites by God and only through Him it was that they triumphed… but wouldn’t it be just like God to use some beautiful concoction of His creation to bring glory to His name? I think so.

I find it fascinating that Joshua’s curse, delivered in Chapter 6, verse 26, random though it seems at this point in history, would eventually come true. Not only that it came true, but that the Bible saw fit to document this curse from its inception and delivery to its actualization. Later on, the Bible describes how, indeed, the foundation of rebuilt Jericho was laid on the firstborn of the man who built it and how the gates were set up in his youngest (can’t recall the actual place, but do remember reading it).

A Fearful Leader

I have to wonder why Moses died and if, had he not disobeyed God, he would have lived much longer. The Bible says that when Moses died, he was 120 years old but his eyesight hadn’t deteriorated and his “natural force” had not abated.

When the time came for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land, the Lord took Moses up into the mountain where He revealed some more information to him. Having taken down all the information the Israelites would need in the generations to come, Moses transferred his spiritual authority to Joshua, the new leader of the Israelites.

I have to wonder, that in transferring this spiritual authority, Moses’ purpose on earth was finished and therefore his need to be alive. God had promised Moses that he would be able to see the Promised Land, although he would not be allowed to set foot in it. Also, God very clearly told Moses to go up into the mountain where he would deliver the final words God would speak through him, see the Promised Land, transfer leadership of the Israelites to Joshua, and die. He would not be coming back down the mountain.

It can also be inferred from the number of occurrences, that Joshua was not the most brave or bold or secure of men. Apparently, he was afraid to lead the Israelites (with good reason, I would argue) and fearful of what lay before them, even though he was one of the two spies who brought back a good report of the Promised Land.

Moses encouraged Joshua repeatedly to be strong and of good courage and after Moses was gone, God Himself encouraged Joshua to be strong and of good courage… that He would not leave him and would not forsake him, but would lead him and the Israelites into the land He had promised them so long ago; they would be a nation yet, God’s chosen people.

A pygarg, a chamois, a glede, an ossifrage, and a cormorant walk into a bar ...

What are a pygarg, chamois, coney, glede, ossifrage, and cormorant?
What does it mean to seethe (as in, thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk)?

In Deuteronomy 15:4, we have mention of a lack of poor, which upon inspection isn't contrary to Matthew 26:11 (For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.), as it refers only to the children of Israel.

And I started to seriously consider this.

Can you imagine a society built on this promise? They'd have no poor!
Can you imagine a nation with no poor?
Can you imagine a family, group, fellowship, or brotherhood, truly standing on the Lord's words and promises, claiming all the many wonders that God has clearly set aside for the children of Israel (and by proxy all earnest believers in Christ), and living in accordance with His commandments? No dissension, no strife, only love, and service!
Praise the Lord!

Also - there is an abundance propensity in the modern church, especially those fellowships built around public followings, like charismatic tele-pastors, which focus on the idea that you can lay hands on anything you desire. Abundance and prosperity are blessings, to be sure - but they have a purpose. That purpose is revealed in Deuteronomy 15:10 - Thou shalt surely given him [thy poor brother], and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
So abundance is intended to be used in blessing others with.

Another something I mentioned happened in Luke 8:43, with that woman who had an issue of blood twelve years. Of all the publicly known events a man and woman, as individuals, go through, the oddest has to be of which her disease was a magnification. The fact that she experienced it for such a prolonged state suggests a kind of anointed curse for her - to survive that long with that curse must have been unusually hard, experiencing a perpetual internal cleansing as it were - and to suffer for over a decade must have made her, much like so many of the people Jesus healed, a well known example of suffering that people just had to "take for granted".
So we have an archetypal sufferer, approach Jesus by faith (harder than most, probably had to push through more intensely than most to even touch the border of his garment because she was probably publicly shunned), and Jesus notices. Jesus is quite literally THRONGED by people, and he notices a small bleeding woman touching a small corner of his shirt. How much of a miracle is that?

Soon after, Jesus gives His disciples power and authority over devils and to cure diseases.
- What made then the right time to give His disciples that power and authority? Is it related to the fact that they could now enact their own healing, after seeing Jesus heal the woman with the dozen-year blood issue?
- Given its proximity, outside of the pointed mentioned in the last line, is there to be some implicit, or explicit, connection between the woman with a prior issue of blood twelve years and the power and authority over devils and to cure disease.
- What exactly is a disease? Is it defined the same in Greek as it is in English? Are there states or experiences we call diseases that the Greeks wouldn't, and thus aren't under this category?
- As an example - this likely includes leprosy. Does it include myopia? acne? Anything and everything ?
- Can we, as believers and followers of Christ, be deemed modern-day disciples, and thus able to lay claim on those promised premise of the power and authority over devils and the curing of diseases?
- Is the use of the word "cure" with respect to animals (as in to keep them) an intentional cultural misappropriation to reduce the efficacy of the church in the use of the word "cure" with respect to diseases?
diseases.

Psalm 71:7 "I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge" is, to my knowledge, David pouring out his heart to God. There has been an assumption in my life, that if one were to earnestly proclaim the Word as true in your life, it would be quite literally true. I believe it is one of the devices that God can use to increase your faith. If this assumption is true, I have to wonder if every verse of scripture applies to everyone. In particular this verse: Is every believer a wonder unto many?

Psalm 71:9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" is something I too am assuming is David sharing his thoughts and fears. Are we to assume that in old age, it is standard practice for God to cast us off - as if, because we're then weaker than we have been, we can't worship or praise Him as thoroughly, so it is worth less? What other edifying perspective can one bring to the table that would clarify this? What Holy-Sprit-inspired-paradigm can resolve this?

The end of this list of observations comes from Proverbs 12:5-7 ... which lists a few character associations of the righteous, as well as the wicked. The difference between those in Proverbs 12:5-7 and the earlier ones is that these seem to be retroactively descriptive ... as in, if you seek to have right thoughts, if you deliver those whose blood the wicked like in wait for, if your house stands, then the chances are you are righteous. You certainly can't guarantee, in and of yourself, that your house can stand, but you can certainly focus on right thinking and possibly be proactive when you notice others trying to pick on or do away with others - a kind of defending the weak.

How much of your own understanding of scripture comes from someone you respect, and not from reading the Word yourself?
How much of your appreciation of scripture comes from appreciating how righteous or anointed someone appears, instead of appreciation as administered by the Holy Spirit?
It is common, in these (I believe) end times, to trust in the perception of other learned men. I am not saying there is no place for such things ... but if your understanding and doctrine come from men, their perceptions, their writings, and THEIR walk in Christ, I would seriously consider setting aside some time to pray about having your OWN relationship.
I believe that each of us are called to have a personal connection with Christ - which is why I post. I'm sharing my stumbling meandering through the scripture because I claim it as a blessing to myself as well as anyone who reads it.

So that is today's call to action: Read scripture daily.
You can read the passages I reference above
You can read through one book a month, dwelling on the intricacies inherent in that book.
You can do a character study, pick one major character, and track his or her activities throughout scripture.
You can do a nation or region study, pick one major area, and track their references or uses throughout scripture.
You can do a journey study, and track exactly where various people traveled.
You can do a miracle study, evaluating where miracles happened, to whom, and how long they lasted.
You can do a promise study, evaluating all the various promises that God (or others) promise, whether they come to pass and (especially God) the list of conditions for each promise.
You can do a chronological study, comparing each character/nation/region's activities during certain time or reigns.
You can do a war study, whereby you pick a conflict, observe who was involved, what caused it, what resolved it, and what the winners and losers did.
You can do a base scripture study, which have overlap (like the first four new testament books) and track where they are the same and where they differ.

Whatever you do, my challenge is simple:
Adopt a daily habit of reading scripture. And if you pick one of the above, keep to that method, and likely your faith and relationship with God will grow.

A Promise is a Promise

The beginning of Deuteronomy is Moses telling his side of the story to the children of Israel. Sparing no feelings and mincing no words, he threads his way from when they were in Egypt and details every shortcoming and miserable attitude the Israelites had along the way.

Moses reminds them how they lashed out against him, against Aaron, against God. He reminds them of all the miracles God did for the Israelites, in preserving them time and time again through the most miraculous events: freedom, salvation from pharaoh’s army, manna from heaven, meat when they complained, constant water even if it had to be taken from a rock, clothes and shoes that never wore out…

The most important thing I noticed in my reading today was the countless number of times Moses (and sometimes Moses AND Aaron) had to flatten themselves before the Lord, crying out for Him not to destroy His people. Time and time again, God would have destroyed the Israelites, His chosen people, for their constancy and persistence in rebellion and complaining.

One of the most interesting facts about Moses’ recounting of their journeys up-to-date is what he told the children of Israel… God was not taking them into the Promised Land because of their righteousness. He was not honoring the uprightness of their hearts with this mind-boggling blessing. No. His purpose was simple…

The wickedness of the nations already dwelling in the Promised Land was so great before the Lord, that He brought the Israelites in so that they, by His power, could drive them out. Additionally, this would be the fulfillment of the promise He made so very long ago to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. The land would belong to the Israelites because of His word and not because of anything they had done to deserve it.

And God’s promise was still a promise… His people were chosen regardless.

Ageless Children, Silent "Virtue," and a Plea

Something occurred to me this morning as I read Deuteronomy 8:3-4, “…He [God]… fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know… Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”

True, the intent and purport of these postings is, in fact, to record details/nuances/epiphanies that emerge as a result of a daily Bible reading. Yet I never cease to be amazed at some of the things which emerge.

From the Old Testament comes this realization: the group of Israelites who went into the Promised Land had grown up in the wilderness. Okay, that’s not real interesting. How about this though? Remember how the Israelites murmured constantly against God and Moses about what they didn’t have? Remember how they longed for what they had had in Egypt and were constantly comparing their current situation to a now-seemingly-desirable slavery? They hated the manna, they wanted meat, they longed for the leeks and garlic, etc.

But what about the Israelites who went into the Promised Land? They would have little or no frame of reference by which to complain. The whole point of the wandering in the wilderness was so that those who had murmured against the Promised Land (and all along the way) would have died out. This new wave of Israelites were only children and most likely didn’t know anything more than their current existence; a dry and dusty trek being fed manna from heaven and the occasional water from the rock.

If any memories of Egypt existed, could it not be argued that they were indistinct enough not to affect the whole comparison mindset? Manna was normal. Water from the rock was normal. What are leeks and garlic anyway? And who needs meat? Interesting, no?

From the New Testament, we see the story of the woman of ill repute who honored and respected Jesus in the most personal and tender ways possible. I think what struck me the most during this reading was the fact that the Pharisee, whom Jesus was eating a meal with, did not bother to tell him what kind of woman was touching him.

This paragon of virtue who had invited this charismatic public figure into his house (for publicity’s sake or not, I have no idea) not only had let this woman into his house, but he KNEW what kind of woman she was. Perhaps it was one of the many games that were played on Jesus, trying to trap him in various awkward situations; it is not for me to say. Regardless of his motive, this man, knowing the unclean status Jesus would fall into just from being touched by the woman, did not say a word but watched, keeping everything inside himself, uttering no warning or word of protest. Again, interesting, huh?

And from Psalms I find passages which, upon reading, caused me to utter them with sincerity, truth, and desperation… “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God… But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered… out of the deep waters.” Psalm 69:1-3,13-14.

And There Were Giants...

Undoubtedly, the topic which captured me today was that of the giants that lived in the Promised Land. The sons of Anak, the Zamzummims of the Ammonites, Og the king of Bashan in the land of the giants.

From early in Genesis, the Bible mentions how the Sons of God came down to earth and had intercourse with the daughters of men, their offspring being giants which roamed the earth. The Bible mentions that Noah, the selected of God to survive the flood which would destroy the entire earth, was perfect in all his generations.

To me, this has always meant that he had no Nephilim in his bloodline; he was 100% human with absolutely no angel. According to a very interesting website I referred to during some research on this topic, the writer argued that because there were giants after the flood that a Nephilim MUST have survived the flood, possibly even stowing away on the ark.

My counter argument is this: Only Noah is touted to be perfect in all his generations. There is nothing mentioned about Noah’s wife, and therefore his sons, or his sons’ wives. In my mind, any of these other seven people could have carried the seeds/lineage of supernatural beings which surfaced after the flood.

There are a few mentions of giants prior to Deuteronomy, but once the Children of Israel arrive at the Promised Land, out pops the whole story as the many races of giants are mentioned. Based on God’s desire to wipe out a world infested with fallen angels, the women they defiled, and their half-human, half-angel offspring, it is understandable that He would also wish the remainder (living in the Promised Land) to be eradicated as well.

Not only this, but God had already given express instructions on how to eradicate them and every shred of their corrupt and unnatural culture.

In my brief research on this topic, I came across one of the most electrifying pieces of information ever. I am fascinated by the larger-than-life structures erected all around the world, many of which cannot be reconstructed using all of today’s technology and machinery. I speak of the monolithic structures of South America, of the colossal creations of ancient England, of my favorite wonder… the Pyramids at Giza, specifically the Great Pyramid.

Bereft of markings and indications of its creator, seeming to lack a reason for existing, loaded with astronomical and geophysical wonder and positioning, hinting at wonders and intense depth of knowledge of its creators, the Great Pyramid at Giza has baffled mankind from the moment of discovery.

To this day, we cannot figure out how to build such a wonder, much less who built it or why it was created. On the website I discovered, the author posited that the Nephilim were, in fact, the builders of these great structures, possessing the physical size and strength to maneuver those massive blocks into position.

Knowing what I’ve learned about the hidden knowledge within the Great Pyramid and coming from the point of view that it could have been built by these half-human, half-angel beings, is it not possible they may have carried a level of knowledge and information not all humans were privy to?

In some of the books of the Apocrypha and other ancient writings, the Nephilim are referred to as having knowledge which it was never meant for man to have. Because of their fall and subsequent breeding with human women, the knowledge they possessed became shared with mankind… The Book of Enoch tells how knowledge of warfare and all uses of metals was shared, along with the beautifying of the eyelids and costly stones and all coloring tinctures. Also how the people were taught enchantments and root-cutting, astrology, constellations, knowledge of the clouds, signs of the earth, signs of the sun, the course of the moon by the Nephilim.

Man fell in the Garden of Eden by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Could it not be that some of this knowledge was taught by these fallen angels? Might it not be that the fruit was but the first step in a history of learning that which was never meant for man to learn?

It is sad that the pursuit of knowledge was what separated man from God; that driving curiosity to know more and more…

Echoes of an Erased Past

It jumped out at me and grabbed my attention. So many times I’ve read this verse, yet now it struck me with a depth and level of profundity I had never before experienced. Numbers 33:52 set forth this mandate from God, “Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:”

Over the past week or so, I have watched several movies which interconnected on the plane of ancient Egypt, its history and rediscovery. One of the most amazing documentaries I watched was a BBC mini-series on the rediscovery of Egypt through its pharaohs, its architecture, and its writings and paintings.

Carter, financed by Lord Carnarvon, believed in the existence of an unrobed tomb; he searched his entire life to find the actual remains of Tutankhamen. Giovanni Belzoni struggled to understand Egypt from the perspective of architecture, statues, and artifacts, racing against his arch-nemesis, the ruthless trader Drovetti, to preserve them for posterity. Champolion sought to know the ancient Egyptians through their writings, translating the Rosetta Stone and unlocking the key to their world while seeking answers to his own search for the origins of mankind.

It wasn’t until I read this verse in the Bible that I realized the importance of God’s instructions written there. Without the people, the architecture and statuary, the writings and pictures, a civilization will be completely lost and forgotten. If none of these things remain, how will anyone ever piece that civilization back together again years hence?

I suppose it was my immersion in the importance the way a civilization records daily activities and sets them down in such a way as to be understood years down the road that made me to realize the utter horror that verse in Numbers describes.

God knew the importance of these three areas in the preservation of a people and culture. He also knew the inhabitants of the Promised Land were completely corrupt and evil in His sight, referring to this fact earlier in the Bible when He said the wickedness of the people was not yet complete.

God had once destroyed the entire world because man was continually evil and did no good; only one man was righteous enough to be chosen to repopulate the earth after its destruction… he with his wife, three sons and their wives.

Sodom and Gomorrah had been destroyed suddenly and so completely that only powdery ashes remain to this day in the midst of a completely unfertile piece of land. God would have saved the city if ten righteous people had been within it, but all the inhabitants were extremely wicked and had to be destroyed.

Now, here at the Promised Land, the wickedness of the inhabitants had come to full flower and God instructed the Children of Israel how exactly to remove them not just from the land, but from history itself. They were to drive out the people and remove them. They were to destroy all pictures, and I believe this includes any form of writing and engraving. They were to tear down all statuary and idols. They were to “quite pluck down” every shred of architecture.

The people, the culture, the civilization was to be completely obliterated, never to be remembered or reconstructed again. A very intense picture of what happens to a people who forgets their God and goes a whoring after others.