Deut 9-20

9.
God guides Israel/us to great victories over impossibly strong enemies/situations, and to possess readily made cities/farms. He goes ahead of us to bring down the enemies/situation and to guarantee success.

10.
What does the Lord require of us?
- to fear/respect Him
- to walk in His ways
- to love Him
- to serve Him with all our heart and with all our soul
- to keep His commandments

11.
The repeated command is to love the Lord (v.1, 13, 22), keep His charge/statutes/judgments/commandments (v.1, 8, 22, 27, 32), to walk in His ways (v.22), to cleave unto Him (v.22), and to serve Him with all our heart and soul (v.13).

In return, we will be strong possessors (v.8, 31) and dwellers (v.9, 21) of the promised fruitful land. The Lord personally takes care of this land (v. 12). He constantly observes it (v.12), and continuously blesses it with rain, fruitfulness, produce, and greenery (v.14, 15). He will defeat stronger enemies for us (v.23), wherever we tread upon will be ours (v.24), and no one can stand before us (v.25).

12.
Blood is sacred- it is life.
But in the Holy Communion, we drink Jesus’ blood and attain life.

13.
We are often curious to know about our unknown future, and there are professionals whose predictions might come true and whom we may be eager to consult. However, God doesn’t want us to listen to these people since these are tests to see whether we love the Lord with all our heart and soul. In the case of prophets, we have to discern whether they are true or false. One way is by evaluating whether they bring people to God or encourages them to backslide.

Again, we are told to do what is right in Lord’s eyes (v.18), to walk after the Lord (v.4), to fear Him (v.4), to keep His commandments (v.4, 18), obey His voice (v.4, 18), serve Him (v.4), and cleave unto Him (v.4).

14.
Even though there are commandments to follow, we are not the slaves but the children of the Lord (v.1). And since we have been chosen to be a peculiar people to the Lord (v.2) and are exalted over all others of this world (v.2), we should be holy (v.2, 21).

The ‘clean flesh’ suggested for consumption have a logical background- these are healthy, whilst the others (if consumed constantly) are not and some are endangered.

We should also tithe/give constantly.

15.
At the end of seven years, we are to forgive every debt. We should help the poor/the needy, especially the poor in the family, and give with a cheerful heart (v.10): then the Lord will bless us in all our works and in everything that we put our hands upon. Again, we must carefully listen to God’s voice (v.5), observe and do all the commandments (v.5), if we want great blessings (v.4, 6), the ability to lend but not to borrow (v.7), and reign over nations with none to reign over us (v.8).

16.
We should give only according to our ability.
We shouldn’t respect person or accept gifts, for gifts makes us blind and perverse.
We should be just.
We are not to have idols- which may be local gods, individuals, or even concepts such as money, wealth, property, gold…

17.
Whatever we give to God must be pure.
God points out that kings are especially likely to be tempted by immorality (v.17), riches (1.17), and pride (v.20). But the reign and continuity of a kingdom will be assured only if these leaders revere the commandments and follow it carefully.

18.
God expects us to be perfect. Again, we are told to shun divination, observing ‘auspicious’ times, witchcraft, enchantment, charms, spirits, wizards, and necromancers.

We can detect false prophets by seeing if what they predict doesn’t happen in the future.

19.
Another repeat which indicates how important it is to keep the commandments (v.9), to love the Lord (v.9), and to walk in His ways (v.9).

20.
We shouldn’t be afraid or faint/tremble/terrified when we/our family go out to battle and observe the enemy’s horses, chariots, and strong army- for the Lord is with us and fights for us so that we will be saved.

God also advocates conservation and sustainable felling! (v. 19-20)

Numbers 30, 32, 34; Deuteronomy 1-4

30.
There is a stress on the seriousness we should give to our vows to God.

32.
Following the Lord should be done wholeheartedly: this is exactly why Caleb and Joshua were blessed and were invested with God’s power, authority, and the land.

34.
Although God had given a certain inheritance to the Israelites, they never possessed it to the full extent, even during the Age of the Kings. Our inheritance is the promised eternal inheritance which can never perish, spoil, or fade.

Deuteronomy

1.
God faithfully keeps His promises. He had promised the land to the fathers, and not only does He do it, He has also multiplied them. Because of His faithfulness and integrity, we shouldn’t fear, neither be discouraged.

God is just. In fact, He tells the Israelites not to be respecters of persons, and that the large and the small should be treated equally.

In the case of the Israelites, God guided them through the wilderness, just like a father taking care of his son. He went before them, showing the way and finding the perfect and comfortable places to pitch their tents. Even in the wilderness, the Israelites lacked nothing because of God, who had also blessed the works of their hands. Yet, they repeatedly disobeyed and rebelled against God and His advices, with disastrous consequences. The fact remains that God knows the best way and we should obey Him wholeheartedly.

Sometimes, God’s will includes fighting with enemies- but we do so with His obvious encouragement, and thus we should never be discouraged or fearful. But in the Israelites’ dealings with the people of Seir, God advises them not to meddle with them and not to covet their lands, but to buy food and drink.

2.
We might expect a bed of roses with God on our side. It’s a far cry from that. We may expect to make friends and have people rejoice upon seeing us. But there are many who fear and tremble, and thus might try to sting us.

3.
Even when we have fearsome enemies and daunting problems, we needn’t fear- for the Lord will take care of us! This advice is given to Joshua who is told not to fear his mighty opponents, but to realise that the Lord will fight for them.
Now, having God fighting for us doesn’t mean sitting on an armchair and relaxing while He did the fighting- no, Joshua fought and the Lord worked His power through him.

4.
We are a chosen and great nation- for we have God close to us, we have the authority to call upon Him at any time, and we follow righteous commandments instituted by God.

Life (both physical and eternal) and the ability to possess and sustain blessings are ensured by following God’s commandments, taking care of our soul, and cleaving to Him. We shouldn’t amend the commandments according to our whims and fancies. God’s word is wisdom and understanding.

We shouldn’t make and worship graven images. Although this might not be generally applicable in the literal sense in the western world, this also means that we shouldn’t worship the modern graven images such as wealth, fame, power, and the like.

God has brought us out of the captivity of sin so that we will worship Him and claim inheritance. He has constantly appeared in our life so that we will believe in Him. If we seek the Lord, with all our heart and with all our soul, we will find Him. Even in times of trouble and persecution, if we remain obedient and turn to God (instead of turning to solutions which the human mind would ordinarily devise), He being merciful, will not forsake or destroy us, or forget the promise which He made to us. He is with us, so that we can overcome our problems and claim our rightful inheritance.

Numbers 21-29

21.

We always find the Israelites grumbling against God and Moses, especially during unsavoury stints in deserts, valleys, and wastelands. Although our lives may not feature such physical/geographical areas, we do have emotional/spiritual times of depression, troubles, unproductivity and separation from God.

In this chapter, the Israelites grumble and God sends fiery serpents which bites and kills many. When the people admitted their sins and asked for forgiveness, Moses intercedes for them. God commands him to make a fiery serpent (of brass) and hang it on a pole so that if anyone bitten by the snakes looks at it, they will live. The onus was on the people to look up at the brass serpent and claim healing. Jesus too was crucified for our sins (the fiery serpent of brass on the pole is symbolic of sin being nailed to the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion) - he died and resurrected. We should look at him, accept this sacrifice, and believe in him. We did not ask God for this, but He had mercy on us.

God gives them water to quench their thirst during their tough times in the desert- as for us, we should drink from the eternal waters which won’t make us thirsty ever again.

Despite God being with them, the Israelites had to go through problems. But God helped them to deal with it. Whoever came to fight against them were defeated.

This chapter refers to two (presumably lost?) books: book of the wars of the Lord (v. 14) and proverbs (v. 27).

22.

Balaam doesn’t seem to be a false prophet- for his divination was from God. However, he demanded fees for divination (v. 7) and is condemned in the NT for loving the wages of wickedness (2 Peter 2:15) and rushing for profit (Jude v.11). When the elders visited Balaam, he obeys God who tells him not to go. When the princes visit him with more rewards, God tells him to go with them if they come to call him. Nonetheless, Balaam gets up in the morning and leaves. Perhaps he misinterpreted God’s message, or maybe he thought that he was permitted to leave. In any case, God was angry with him since he left without being invited.

The faithful ass sees the angel standing against them and tries to deviate, and is treated badly by Balaam. This animal could see something which wise Balaam couldn’t.

The angel seems to be angry at the ill-treatment of the ass too! God does love animals!

Are we like Balaam when our determined plans meet obstacles? Are these posed by God because He doesn’t want us to take that route? Or is it an hindrance by the devil which we need to surmount? Pray!

23.

God’s words never change- neither does His blessings. No enchantment or divination will happen against us because God is with us.

24.

Balaam used to seek/practice enchantments/sorcery (which certainly doesn’t come from the Lord), but he decides not to do this against the Israelites since the Lord is with them. Thus Balaam conveys the Lord’s blessings, ‘Israel shall be like peaceful valleys, well-watered gardens, well-watered trees, and strong as unicorn’. He also prophesises about Jesus- the star coming out of Jacob, a scepter rising out of Israel, and a ruler coming out of Jacob.

25.

The Israelites again become unfaithful. They worshipped other Gods and were sexually depraved.

27.

Zelophehad’s daughters stood up for their rights. Thus, we too should courageously stand up and claim what’s ours. Instead of pooh-paahing their requests, Moses gave this true weightage.

Joshua is appointed as a shepherd of the flock, an authority given by God since he is willing, eager to serve Him, and an appropriate example to the flock.

Daniel 1

The book of Daniel begins with the historical account of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieging Jerusalem during the 3rd year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. After vanquishing Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar plundered the Temple of Jerusalem, and took the vessels to Shinar.

However, the Babylonian also authorised Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to select healthy, well favoured, and clever Israeli children, with the aim of teaching them the science and language of the Chaldeans. Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego) were four such special Israeli children taken to Babylon. Since they were to be fed with the king’s own food and wine, Daniel requested his guardians to provide them with pulses and water. Obviously, his guardians were reluctant since they did not want the children to look emaciated, but at the end of ten days, they looked much fairer and fatter after their undefiled diet of pulses and water.

God blessed these four children with knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and they were ten times more competent than all the magicians and astrologers. Daniel also had the special gift of understanding visions and dreams.

Thoughts on Genesis 43-50

43- 44
It was quite heartless of the brothers to leave Simeon in the prison, whilst they enjoyed the food which they brought from Egypt!

45
Joseph’s faith in God is paramount: he firmly believes that all his troubles had a purpose, i.e, God sent him to Egypt so that he can preserve the life of the 12 tribes. So, God’s purpose might have walks in the deserts, incarceration, starvation, calumny, but then, the one who stays firm in the Lord gets a great reward, as in the case of Joseph, who practically became the ruler of Egypt. It also struck me that Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey, was not spared from the famine. So, even famine can strike paradise.

47
Joseph’s management of the famine clearly indicates that he has a MBA summa cum laude from the best Management school in the world! Jokes apart, evidently God gave him the wisdom to deal with this crisis effectively- often, such situations only incites the general public to rebel against authority. However, Joseph’s preparations before the famine, and his steps during the famine, ensured that the Pharaoh effectively controlled all Egypt.

50
As Joseph explains, his brothers’ callous behaviour (in selling him as a slave) was converted by God into something good- an action by which Israel survived the famine. However, it seems odd that Joseph was able to bury Jacob in the family grave, but couldn’t do so in his own case but entrusts his descendants with the task of taking his body back.