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This blog is a place to foster further discussion between individuals at CPC. As we encounter new information and ideas, we all take time to process through what our response is. Often, when we have the opportunity to engage with each other during this processing, we find our ideas enriched and expanded.
Friday, March 4, 2011
March 4 -
Readings can be accessed in full by clicking on the links below:
I love seeing seeming paradoxes or ironies in Scripture; surprises that reveal God's grace. The snake on a stick makes me think of: * the forbidden practice of image-making (Ex 20:4) vs. the instruction to make an image here * the golden calf vs. the bronze serpent * The serpent of the death (Gen 3) vs. the serpent of deliverance (Num 21) * The despised bread (Num 21:5) -> the bread of life (John 6) * Lifting up the snake -> Lifting up the Son (John 3:14)
The Song of the well: Numbers 21:16 records the Lord saying to Moses, "Gather the people together, so that I may give them water."
I can't tell from the context (or from the study notes) whether God said this at this time, or whether it is referring to an earlier time when the people had come to this well. I looked back at Exodus 17 to compare the place names. In Numbers 21 they are at Beer and seem to have moved away from the rock in Numbers 20. In Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 is it named Massah or Meribah. There's may be more to the places that I am missing, but this well in Numbers 21 answers the question of Exodus 17 - "Is the Lord among us or not?" The people's response = celebration!
High Point -> Low Point -> High Point: I am struck this morning by the juxtaposition of Numbers 23/24 with Numbers 25. Balaam's oracles of 23 and 24 stress God's love and care for his people, his presence with them, and promise a coming King. Numbers 25 reveals his people yoked with the Moabites, already worshipping Baal. And Phinehas...he turns back God's wrath, becomes a perpetual priest, jealous for his God, atonement is made. It's all grace.
Grace in Numbers 21
ReplyDeleteI love seeing seeming paradoxes or ironies in Scripture; surprises that reveal God's grace. The snake on a stick makes me think of:
* the forbidden practice of image-making (Ex 20:4) vs. the instruction to make an image here
* the golden calf vs. the bronze serpent
* The serpent of the death (Gen 3) vs. the serpent of deliverance (Num 21)
* The despised bread (Num 21:5) -> the bread of life (John 6)
* Lifting up the snake -> Lifting up the Son (John 3:14)
The Song of the well:
Numbers 21:16 records the Lord saying to Moses, "Gather the people together, so that I may give them water."
I can't tell from the context (or from the study notes) whether God said this at this time, or whether it is referring to an earlier time when the people had come to this well. I looked back at Exodus 17 to compare the place names. In Numbers 21 they are at Beer and seem to have moved away from the rock in Numbers 20. In Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 is it named Massah or Meribah. There's may be more to the places that I am missing, but this well in Numbers 21 answers the question of Exodus 17 - "Is the Lord among us or not?" The people's response = celebration!
High Point -> Low Point -> High Point: I am struck this morning by the juxtaposition of Numbers 23/24 with Numbers 25. Balaam's oracles of 23 and 24 stress God's love and care for his people, his presence with them, and promise a coming King. Numbers 25 reveals his people yoked with the Moabites, already worshipping Baal. And Phinehas...he turns back God's wrath, becomes a perpetual priest, jealous for his God, atonement is made. It's all grace.
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