To Be Wiser than an Ass

Reading:   Numbers 22

I am going to put the story of Balaam and the ass into a modern retelling to better emphasize the uniqueness of the event...

There once was an impartial newspaper man, we shall call him Phillip, who lived in a growing frontier town and was very wise and respected by all.  He was well known for his articles and editorial commentary and seemed capable of swaying the must stubborn of men to his point of view. One day he was approached by members of the town council and they impressed upon him the great service he would be providing the community if he were to become mayor.  Phillip was intrigued by the offer as he had often thought of running for office but never had the means to do so.  Hesitantly he asked how he could obtain such an honor.  The men explained that the esteemed office could easily be his, they could garauntee it, but he would have to grant them one small favor.  Phillip asked what the favor was and the councilmen explained that the mayorship would be his if he were to simply defame a little known religious sect that was moving into the region.  Phillip knew nothing of the sect and agreed to sleep on the request and answer the men in the morning..

That night, Phillip had a wondrous vision that showed him the many good works, past, present and future, of the new religious sect and how magnificent his city would become with these good people as part of it.  He was also, in no uncertain terms, advised that he should not write a negative review of these people but embrace them and buoy them up as they were blessed.  When the council-members returned on the following day, Phillip refused there offer - unable to go against that which he had seen.  

The councilmen, having been sent by the Governor, returned and delivered the bad news.  The Governor was not deterred and sent his most decorated Generals to bargain with Phillip again.  Phillip met the Generals, discovered their plea and explained that he could not go against his own visions unless the mayoral seat and a lifetime of wealth were both agreed to by the Governor.  This was a most outrageous request but the Generals did not balk and Phillip was racked with his decision.  He asked them to wait a day so that he might ponder and the Generals agreed.   

Again, Phillip had a vision, just like the first and was charged not to defame the people but bless them; however, he was only to do so if the men returned a third time.  The following day, Phillip rose early, and without hesitation, prepped his horse and proceeded on to visit the Governor.

Along the way, Phillip's horse abruptly stopped and turned toward a different route.  He briskly smacked the horse and forced it back to the road.  Once on the correct path, the horse again turned away, and did so with such a quick movement that Phillip fell and bruised his leg.  He remounted the horse and roughly hit the animal again.  With stern determination, Phillip forced the animal back to the path a third time; but as the horse came to the crossroads it simply stopped in its tracks and layed down.  Phillip was furious and smacked the horse a third time.

Frustrated, the horse reared back its head and exclaimed, "Master, why do you keep hitting me!"

Phillip, not a bit surprised by the intelligent utterance of the horse, matter-of-factly, responded, "You are embarrassing me!  I have an appointment to keep and you have willfully hindered my progression.  Now, arise and get onward!"

The horse retorted, still speaking plainly and without any awe from Phillip, "I have been your loyal steed for all these years and have never done anything to hurt you or give you cause to berate me and yet today I am beaten thrice - do you not see that I am protecting you?"

Phillip was exceedingly confused, looked up, and was granted the gift of sight that his horse had been blessed with.  Before him, standing directly in the path where the horse had turned twice and now lay prostrate in the dirt, was an angel of God.  The angel held a menacing expression on his face and an equally menacing sword in his hand.  Phillip suddenly realized that the angel was prepared to kill him and that the horse had indeed protected him, three times.  In great humility, Phillip bowed before the angel, and prostrated himself in the dirt beside the horse.

That is essentially the story of Balaam and the ass.  Not perfectly parallel but sufficiently close to make comparison.  Balaam was a prophet of sorts, skilled in curses and was hired to curse the approaching Israelites.  He refused originally because of communication with God that highlighted the Israelites and crowned them as a blessed people; however, his nonchalant request for vast riches was not outrightly refused and it tantalized Balaam enough that, despite another vision from God, he decided to proceed forth and meet with Balak, the money man behind the offer. Balaam traveled on his donkey to address Balak and beat the animal three times as it turned from the path.  The donkey plainly spoke but Balaam, blinded by his lust for riches, ignored the miracle and urged the donkey to press forward.  Finally, Balaam's eyes were opened and he saw the angel before him...

NUMBERS 22:32-33

32    And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 

33    And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 

I think the key point here is that the ass had seen the angel before Balaam and that the ass would have been preserved whereas Balaam would have surely been killed.  Balaam had a vision of immense importance and had twice communicated with God but, clouded by his lust for riches and the honor of men, he could not see the angel.  The lesson being; whatever gifts, talents, and abilities we may possess, they do us no good if we are blinded by the many wiles of pride.

You are no wiser than an ass when pride consumes you!

~Kipling

Open Your Eyes

Reading:   Numbers 21

I'm trying not to get hung up on the obvious biblical stories so that I can shine the light on new lessons to be learned; but this one is a classic and I simply can't ignore it.  The Israelites began to murmur about their hardships again (lack of food and water etc.) and spoke lowly of God and Moses.  This time, however, there was no conversation between God and Moses where Moses tried to dissuade God from harsh retribution - God simply acted by sending forth poisonous snakes to plague the people with deathly bites.  Some of the folks understood what they had brought upon themselves and asked Moses for forgiveness and help.  The meek and humble Moses approached God...

NUMBERS 21:8-9

8    And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 

9    And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Make a snake and put it on a staff, hold it up where all can see, and those that look will be healed.  Easy enough, right, guess not...some, ignorantly, still refused to look.  So stubborn and caught up in their own selfishness and anger that the simplest of tasks - opening your eyes and looking - was ignored and death followed.

Carl B. Cook, of the Seventy, said this (2011 October General Conference, Saturday afternoon
session):

Why is it a challenge to consistently look up in our lives? Perhaps we lack the faith that such a simple act can solve our problems. For example, when the children of Israel were bitten by poisonous serpents, Moses was commanded to raise up a brass serpent on a pole. The brass serpent represented Christ. Those who looked up at the serpent, as admonished by the prophet, were healed. (See Numbers 21:8-9.) But many others failed to look up, and they perished. (See 1 Nephi 17:41.) 

The prophet Alma (74 years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ) prophesied of the coming Savior and reflected on the lesson of Moses and the fiery serpents (Alma 33:21-22)...

21    O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?  

22    If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.  

Don't be slothful!  For the Israelites, it was a simple act of looking up at the standard and they would be healed.  For us, it's as simple as looking toward our standard, Jesus, and we too can find healing, forgiveness, even assistance for whatever our needs might be.

It's ridiculous to think that a dying person would refuse to look at a standard, if there was even the slightest possibility of staying death, and yet, they did?  It truly is unfathomable!  Even the most skeptic of persons today would agree that such a refusal to look would have been utterly asinine; still, we are in the same predicament today with the same asinine, unfathomable, and ridiculous refusals to look.  Our Savior offers healing, forgiveness, and all that we need if we but look to him.  Why then are there so many around us suffering in sin and darkness with the Savior right there in front of them.  They refuse to believe, refuse to look, refuse to exercise the smallest degree of faith, refuse to allow  the possibility that this might all be true, it is sad - they, we, suffer without relief because of our stubbornness.

Wake up people!  Don't be slothful!  Open your eyes and see!

Here are the lyrics to a favorite song of mine called Opened.  The song was written by Tom Shear and is performed by his group Assemblage 23.   Lyrical meaning is obviously subjective; however, for the purposes of this blog, the lyrics are a perfect example of someone opening their eyes and seeing, really seeing, the redeeming value of our Savior and finally, the lies and whispers of Satan that had him held captive...

This day has altered my perception

I'll never see things quite the same

All that I knew was misconception

But all of that's about to change

I opened my eyes today

The world looked so bright and strange

Now I see with clarity

I won't be your casualty

If trust is merely for convenience

Does it mean anything at all?

Your change of character makes no sense

Your bitter actions make you small

I opened my eyes today

The world looked so bright and strange

Now I see with clarity

I won't be your casualty

Greed is the hunger deep inside you

You're burning bridges left and right

I won't allow you to treat upon me

I won't go down without a fight

I opened my eyes today

The world looked so bright and strange

Now I see with clarity

I won't be your casualty

"All that I knew was misconception," I love that line and it is so true. So often we are truly deceived and forget the faith and testimony that has become part of us. It's important to constantly remind ourselves, keep our eyes open, and as always, refrain from being slothful!

~Kipling

Water from Stone

Reading:   Numbers 20

Thirst plagued the Israelites and they began to murmur (surprise surprise) So The Lord advised Moses to go forth and illicit water from a stone.  Moses, a little upset at the childish behavior of the people, stood before the rock and, with a little attitude (remember that Moses is Mr. Meekness so this is quite a significant act coming from him)...

Numbers 20:10-12

10    And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 

 11    And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12    And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 

In his moment of outrageous outburst (barely a peep), Moses accepted a portion of God's power by claiming, "...must we," as if the miracles wrought by God were also, to a degree, his doing.  This was not appropriate and I believe Moses immediately understood his error.  When it came time to perform the miracle, Moses tapped the stone twice with the rod before the water rushed forth (verse 11). Why did he tap it twice instead of once?  He had a doubt.  Because he misspoke, Moses hesitated on the miracle and a conscientious concern crept in.  The water still flowed forth but God had to make it clear that not only had Moses forgotten him but that he showed irreverent doubt as well (verse 12).

There is an important lesson to be understood here, we are the conduit, the power is God's.  Miracles are wrought through the power of God and we merely facilitate the miracle through our faith and willingness to act in God's name.

 ~Kipling

Be Not an Open Vessel

Reading:   Numbers 19

What does it mean to be an open vessel within proximity of death and possible disease?  Now, for certain, this scriptural lesson was meant in the literal sense, a warning for the combat of plague and infectious disease, but I can't help but allow my imagination to grip and squeeze theses verses...

NUMBERS 19:14-15

14    This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. 

15    And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. 

Why is this? Airborne pathogens, that is why, the floating unseen demons that ride the waves of ambiance to touch every corner and contaminate every surface - abounding in liquids.  If you had a drink with no cover in the presence of death, the drink would then carry the very DNA of death.  A covered drink, however, would not be subject to the same contaminants and would remain pure and consumable.

Turning that same lesson to humanity makes for a fun analogy - so, having been a bouncer for several years, I can easily attest to the seedy, unwholesome, sex crazed atmosphere of bars/clubs/ concerts and the like; however, it was my job and was the means by which I provided for my young family.  Here is the perfect example for my analogy...I had no choice, I could not quit the job and yet it was, on many occasions, a place I should not have been.  How did I, as a living vessel, avoid the wiles of my surroundings.  It's all about the lid people!  My lid was my wife, my children, the family I had created, my testimony of God, my faith, the wisdom I had gained from life experience, and above all, my own determination to be different - stronger than my surroundings!

Now, my lid wasn't always screwed on as tight as it should've been and there were days that I had to fight off the infection of my surroundings more strenuously than others but, for the most part, I kept my lid on tight and those experiences have made me who I am today.

The difference lies wholly in choice.  I did not attend these places for the same reasons as the patrons; it was my profession.  The environment, from a toxic perspective, was made by the hundreds of souls there for the enticements of alcohol, drugs, sex, pride, and money - each with its own levels of infection, whoredom, and enslavement.  Yet, if I unscrewed my lid just a little, believing I was strong enough to withstand, the infection would seep in and eventually burn me out.

I see it much like the doctor who puts on a mask and walks into surgery determined to rid some poor soul of infection by placing himself in the line of fire, or a fireman putting on his mask and walking into a building that everyone else is fleeing.  I could go on but essentially if these professionals opened their masks just a bit, unscrewed their lids, the killing disease and suffocating smoke would seep in and plant their seeds of destruction!

This is a great topic!  I feel like I have just scratched the surface and want to continue on but sadly must end.  I'm going to add this to my growing list of eventual books though because there has got to be some incredible stories of people rising above their surroundings because of the lids which kept their vessels clean...look for it!

~Kipling

Worthy Inheritance

Reading:   Numbers 18:8-32

I can't understand the whole idea of inheritance because it has never been a concept I could personally relate to.  Not that there aren't things possessed by my parents that I would greatly appreciate but primarily because I would miss my parents more than any sum of money or thing of value could replace.  I do hope, that as a parent, I have raised my children to appreciate me more than my stuff (remains to be seen).  It is hard then, for me to comprehend the loss of an inheritance but I'm sure it is, and has been, a devastating prospect to those bent on such things.

NUMBERS 18:20

20 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 

Okay, so if I were a Levite and privy to all the lands and possessions had by cousins in other tribes, yeah, I might question my value somewhat. Ah, but then discovering that my portion of inheritance lay within God, well, I might find myself a little puffed up and prideful at times.  Now, given that the majority of Israelites were so quick to turn away from the numerous miracles wrought by God, maybe there was a spiteful concern that their inheritance was not tangible but I refuse to believe the larger portion of Levites didn't see the value in their new inheritance - they had to, right?

~Kipling

Refuse Not the Faithful

Reading:   Numbers 18:1-7

It's hard to imagine any sin or iniquity associated with holy office so when I came across a verse that seemed to claim exactly that, well, a curious concern blossomed and I had to investigate...

NUMBERS 18:1

1 And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

What does it mean to "...bear the iniquity of the sanctuary?" My thoughts seem to gravitate toward the importance of protection.  Bearing the responsibility of protection over the tabernacle was an immense undertaking - the priceless artifacts and value of the tabernacle was imeasureable in that it was a needed tool for the washing away of sin and if it were defiled or destroyed there would be no other means of cleansing ones soul.  So, if it were destroyed or removed from functionality for any reason, the responsible party, they that were tasked with protection of the sanctuary, would have to bear the iniquity of its loss.

In regards to "...[bearing] the iniquity of your priesthood," again, if we understand that with great power brings great responsibility, it is simple to deduce that holding the priesthood power and refusing or ignoring promptings to use it would incur consequence.  When someone is in need of a blessing, for whatever purpose, it behooves all with priesthood authority to willingly offer or accept the responsibilty of delivering the desired blessing; denying the needs of the faithful is an open act of defiance toward God.  Could you imagine an entire priesthood body openly refusing to prepare, bless, and serve the sacrament, absolutely not, it would be an open act of refusing others the blessings of the atonement - unheard of - equally so would be refusing to bless someone in their time of need, a sure form of iniquity in the eyes of God.

~Kipling

Can't Teach an Old Dog

Reading:   Numbers 16-17

This is great!  The Israelites have quite frustrated me as a reader because they continually, despite all the wonders, find cause for murmuring.  Here we find another example of God showing forth immense power and the Israelites simply refusing to acknowledge the hand of deity and blaming man.  It's almost laughable, no, it is laughable and I did laugh.  It's just that after awhile, one can't help but want, even hope for, a stern reaction from God to slap the masses around a bit.  I mean if a person is summarily stoned to death for picking up sticks or cursing how then are a group of people not dealt with in like manner for refusing to acknowledge the hand of God?

Back to the comical story of the day; a group of Israelites decide that Moses, Aaron, and the chosen elders of Israel have too much on their plate and that they, men of renown, should be given voice over the people as well.  The men, 250 strong, are invited to join Moses and Aaron at the tabernacle where Moses has proclaimed that God will select his chosen ones.  Now at this point don't you think these idiots might have second thoughts...they don't...these mean are so self-important that they tempt God and appear before the people.  Moses proclaims that he is the chosen one, not of his own will but by the will of God.  He then warns the people to depart from the presence of those men who have acted wickedly and not just to avoid them but to stay clear of their possessions also...

NUMBERS 16:31-33

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

So the ground opened up and swallowed the wicked people along with all of their possessions.  Wait, that isn't the incredible part.  Keep in mind that the ground opening up is a very visual and obvious event, but to open up in a specific location, just enough to engulf all the possessions and families of a particular group of people, well, that is even more specific, more visual, and ridiculously obvious.  So, can you guess how the brilliant Isralite onlookers responded - wait for it, wait...here comes the kicker...

NUMBERS 16:41

41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord. 

Tell me that is not the most asinine thing ever?  What kind of blinders did these people wear?  Or maybe that was it, they were all literally blind!  Well, the nice thing is that God did not threaten this time or allow a moment of pleading from Moses, no discussion, no time for debate, He released a plague amongst the threatening congregation and when all was said and done, 14,700 people died.

That was a decent slap on the face and I do hope it worked but I doubt the Israelites will sit back in awe too long before finding something else to whine about - too bad.

~Kipling

Sticks & Stones

Reading:   Numbers 15

Today, like the instance of blasphemy (see A Literal Stoning), we find another example of extreme punishment for a paltry disobedience.  It is hard to accept, in terms of "a punishment equal to the crime" but again, the people had no history other than slavery and a harsh action was the only recourse for teaching obedience.

NUMBERS 15:32-36

32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 

33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 

35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses. 

There had to be weeping and wailing and I'd image it wasn't easy for the people to carry out such a brutal punishment, especially in cases like this, but the crime, as written, was an offense against God and could not be dealt with lightly. Still, I'm not sure that the sentence of death was teaching anything but bitterness and, in some of the people, an intense desire to rebel.  

Need to know, I guess, and I do not need to know at this time...


~Kipling

A Grand Wager

Reading:   Numbers 14

Yesterday I guessed that the Israelites would start murmuring again after scouts expressed concern about the giant Canaanites they were about to encounter, well, I was right, in fact there was a faction of the people who began preparations for a return to Egypt and their happy existence as slaves.  I also wondered if Moses would ever just give up on the ignorant Israelites and simply walk away but concluded that was highly unlikely.  I was right on that account too but the funny thing is, God was fed up, check out His response...

NUMBERS 14:11-12

11    And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? 

12    I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. 

Now, if it were me, "Great, do it!  I'm done with them too, burn 'em out!" I am sure that the majority of elders in the council of seventy echoed that sentiment (maybe not Eldad and Medad but the others); Moses, not so much, he just pressed on in his faith and belief that the people would come around, again, and all would be fine in time - unbelievable!

I've come to the conclusion that it was not all the fault of ignorance and feeble-mindedness among the Israelites but in fact a grand wager between God and Satan, much like the instance of Job, only this time it is wagered over Moses and carried out in the action of the Israelites.  God believed nothing could make Moses waver in his faith and Satan used every means possible to prove God wrong.  Got to go with the Moses odds on this one...

Okay, maybe not, but seriously, the Israelites have become really obnoxious in their constant murmuring and The Lord did tempt Moses by giving him the option to start over.  Moses resisted time and again and, much to the delight of God, stood up straight and confronted his people again, wholly believing they would return in faith - awesome!

~Kipling

A New Impasse

Reading:   Numbers 13

Moses sent forth a scouting party to determine the best route of travel and the reports were frightening for all that heard them...

NUMBERS 13:32-33

32    And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 

33    And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. 

"Aaaa! We haven't a chance - the inhabitants of the land are giants and we are but grasshoppers in their eyes...we will surely die!"  Uh oh, sounds like we are in for another round of murmuring amongst the Israelites.  I truly am in awe at their ridiculous ignorance.  Seriously, how many miracles have these people seen?  How many perilous, no chance, situations have these people been up against and yet survived by the obvious hand of God?  Again and again, round and round we go...

Was there ever a point, do you think, that Moses was fed up, shook his head in disgusted disbelief, and for the faintest of moments thought, "I'm done, take them Lord - I need some rest!"

Probably not, which is why he was chosen for the role, right - bless him!

~Kipling

Amplification Through Meekness

Reading:   Numbers 12

Moses, of all men, was intensely humble and meek, these attributes made him the mightiest of men.  I say this simply because it is true and pointed out in scripture after scripture...

NUMBERS 12:3

3    (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

Why was this verse written and more so, why was it written as a parenthetical statement?  Aaron and Miriam, the older siblings of Moses, in a moment of most selfish inquiry, questioned whether they too had the power of prophesy and wondered why it was that Moses always spoke to The Lord.  Prior to God's response, we the reader are reminded, in a parenthetical aside, that Moses is the meekest of men  and to keep that in mind as we try to emulate his character.  Obviously Aaron and Miriam were rebuked (Miriam was punished with leprosy for a week) but the real lesson here is in the statement of Moses and his meekness.

Neal A. Maxwell hammers this point squarely with his April, 1985, Sunday afternoon talk, Willing to Submit:

 As the Lord communicates with the meek and submissive, fewer decibels are required, and more nuances are received. Even the most meek, like Moses (see Num. 12:3), learn overwhelming things they "never had supposed." (Moses 1:10.) But it is only the meek mind which can be so shown and so stretched-not those, as Isaiah wrote, who "are wise in their own eyes." (Isa. 5:21; see also 2 Ne. 9:29 and 2 Ne. 15:21.) 

 God's counsel aligns us and conjoins us with the great realities of the universe; whereas sin empties, isolates, and separates us, confining us to the solitary cell of selfishness. Hence the lonely crowd in hell. 

 Spiritual submissiveness means, instead, community and communion as the mind and the heart become settled. We then spend much less time deciding, and much more time serving; otherwise, the more hesitation, the less inspiration. 

 Yielding one's heart to God signals the last stage in our spiritual development. Only then are we beginning to be fully useful to God! How can we sincerely pray to be an instrument in His hands if the instrument seeks to do the instructing? 

"Hence the lonely crowd in hell," I love that bit!

~Kipling

Eldad and Medad

Reading:   Numbers 11

Another great unsung biblical story is found hidden in the verses of chapter eleven; it is the oft forgotten tale of Eldad and Medad, the reluctant elders.  It all began with Moses who had become overwhelmed with his office and plead with God to lighten his load.  The Lord responded by commanding Moses to select seventy elders from amongst the people.  The selected elders would be set apart to assist Moses, God, and ultimately the Israelites, in the great task of prophecy and judgement.  Moses did as he was commanded and the selected elders gathered together at the tabernacle where each began to prophecy through the power of God.

Now there were two men, Eldad and Medad, most likely brothers, who were selected as elders but did not gather with the others at the tabernacle.  There is no record of why these men weren't in attendance,  but some believe that they simply did not receive the invitation to join as they were out of reach, on a journey or something.  Others believe that they did receive the invitation to join but did not feel worthy to accept such a calling, because of their humility, and simply chose not to attend.  Either way, they were chosen and could not escape the calling.  So, as the story goes, while all the other elders met in counsel at the tabernacle, prophesying and such, these two guys began prophesying in the camp were they stood - exercising the calling they felt inadequate to accept.  Their humility not only elevated them to the calling of elder but also earned them specific notice within scripture (they were the only two, of the seventy, specifically named).

That brings us to the scriptures of note, keep in mind that the story of Eldad and Medad is a mere seven verses long but nonetheless vital...

NUMBERS 11:27-29

27    And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 

28    And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 

29    And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! 

So Joshua counseled with Moses to swiftly end this highly irregular and unsanctioned prophesying - I don't believe it was because he felt Eldad and Medad were acting under false authority but more so because they were practicing in the camp and not within the hallowed gathering of elders at the tabernacle.  Moses teaches a great lesson in his response, "...Enviest thou for my sake?" Meaning, "...Do you believe only I can receive prophesy at any time or place? Not so...and, Joshua, dear Joshua, I am certainly not jealous of others, who in righteousness, receive such guidance.  Let them receive, let all receive! How great would it be if all these people magnified there callings, walked in righteousness, and glorified God - how light my burden would be!"

Moses, as our prophet and apostles today, want all of us to receive the spirit of God.  They want us all to live righteously and humbly testify, with the power of God coursing through our very beings, of the power and sanctity of our faith and belief in the redeeming grace of our savior.

Eldad and Medad were humble men, unwilling to accept their callings as elders, but they could not escape the story of their lives, the paths of righteousness they had already walked, the examples they had already set, the Lord needed them and they were found.

~Kipling

Trumpet: God's Chosen Instrument

Reading:   Numbers 10

An instrument of warning, of calling, a mouthpiece of gathering, and a tool of great announcement, this is the grand design and purpose of the trumpet - God's chosen instrument.

NUMBERS 10:2

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 

The entire body of chapter ten contains direction for the use of trumpets.  It's interesting because, like some of the other instructions, it seems as though this chapter could be omitted, like maybe this bit could have been figured out; but, to keep with the idea that these people have been slaves for hundreds of years and need direction in every aspect of life, well, I guess it's understandable.

The thing I find real attachment too is the idea of the trumpet being God's instrument.  Every great warning comes with the sound of trumpets.  Moroni stands atop every temple with a golden trumpet at his lips, ready to sound the call of assembly.  There are many examples of trumpet use throughout the scriptures including revelations of things to come in the future.  The trumpet is a big deal!  Why have I jus now understood this...ah well, at least I've made the discovery right?  And maybe, just maybe, I've helped one or two of you to also see the importance of this celestial instrument - the trumpet!

...I was done with this blog but didn't post it (still having problems with my blog access) so I am adding a bit more.  During some down time, I started looking up stuff about trumpets (still engaged in the subject) and, in my fumbling, I discovered I very appropriate conference talk from Durrel A. Woolsey, October 1995, Sunday afternoon session.  The entire talk is fascinating and a wake up call for action because it lays out all the strategies that Satan employs daily against us and, more importantly, it clearly states that the trumpet call is sounding now and has been blaring for some time.  Anyway, here is a snippet but I highly recommend that you read the whole address, A Strategy for War

The battle lines have been drawn since Adam: evil versus righteousness. In this the final dispensation and in preparation for the Millennium, the forces of evil have intensified and united under the powerful influences of Satan. On the opposite side of the line, the kingdom of God is clearly sounding the trumpet of righteousness, as perhaps never before. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on the offensive in the declaration of good to be good and evil to be evil. 

Quite an enticing opening, right, yes, go then and read on...

~Kipling

What is Your Cloud?

Reading:   Numbers 9

In this chapter we witness the action of the cloud on the tabernacle by day and the light of fire on it by night.  Also, we see the cloud as compass for the Israelites, guiding them as to when they should travel and where they should go.

NUMBERS 9:21-22

21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 

22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. 

The cloud acted as a visual depiction of Gods command, "Come, follow me."  There was no need for discussion or debate amongst the people because the cloud was right in front of them, guiding them, they followed without concern for "why know" or "where are we going"; actually, there was probably a lot of concern, debate, whining, and complaining but the cloud still moved and the people still followed.

Like the Israelites, we too must give ourselves to the prompting guidance of our Savior and follow despite our misgivings.  There is a great paragraph from Matthew Henry on this point...

 The particular regard we ought to have to God in all our ways. In our affections and actions we must follow the direction of his word and Spirit; all the motions of our souls must be guided by the divine will; at the commandment of the Lord our hearts should always move and rest; in all our affairs we must follow Providence, reconciling ourselves to all its disposals, and bringing our mind to our condition, whatever it is. The people of Israel, having the cloud for their guide, were eased of the trouble of holding councils of war, to consider when and whither they should march, which might have occasioned strifes and debates among them: nor needed they to send spies before to inform them of the posture of the country, or pioneers to clear the way, or officers to mark out their camp; the pillar of cloud did all this for them: and those that by faith commit their works to the Lord, though they are bound to the prudent use of means, yet may in like manner be easy in the expectation of the event.

It's a simple matter of faith...trust in the compass...follow the guidance of our spiritual leaders and the burning of our hearts and our path will not lead us astray.

~Kipling

Levites Revisited, Again

Reading:   Numbers 8

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!*

*And my sincerest apologies to all the pagans out there who would like to see St. Patrick burned at a stake for what he did to their Celtic ancestors...

In this chapter the Levites are set apart as a gift to Aaron and the priests.  They are, again, claimed as God's in place of the firstborn of all man and beast and are given the task of tending to the temporal disposition of the tabernacle (carrying it, setting it up, protecting it, etc.).

NUMBERS 8:19

19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. 

Don't know what else to say on this one today...kind of at a loss...

~Kipling

Twelve Golden Spoons

Reading:   Numbers 7:12-89

Continuing on with the tabernacle offerings from each Prince of Israel, as delivered in the covered wagons.  One part of the offering, each prince offered the exact same items, was a golden spoonful of incense.  I find this perplexing as I'm not sure how to undestand the physics of this offering?  I mean was the spoon positioned in such a way that it held a heaping mound of incense without spilling a smidge or are we talking about a different kind of spoon with an entirely different approach to carrying?

NUMBERS 7:86

86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

I have looked through several pages of images trying to decipher what exactly the spoon might be and I have come to the conclusion that the spoon is most likely what is considered a boat today.  Most of the images consisted of an incense burner, a boat, and a spoon.  The spoon is very small and housed within the boat which is a little cup-like dish with a lid.  The boat fits inside the incense burner which has vents for the incense to breath and burn and a long chain for priests to swing the burner back and forth as they walk down the center aisle...

Side Note:  In reference to the swinging incense burner, I can't help but recall a scene in the film, Keeping the Faith, where Edward Norton is a catholic priest and Ben Stiller is a Jewish Rabbi; anyway, there is a scene where Norton is walking down the aisle swinging an incense burner back and forth.  He eventually swings it a little wide and whacks a guy in the head - great scene!

Anyway, I'd venture to say that the actually spoon, which by-the-way weighed about as a much as a cup of raisins (approximately 140 ounces or 10 shekels), was something akin to a boat or cup-like dish with a lid and more than likely had a long stem by which to carry the item when lit.  I may be wrong but you get the idea and can formulate your own mental picture.

~Kipling

Covered Wagons

Reading:   Numbers 7:1-11

The tabernacle is finally complete, along with all the rites, ceremonies, and laws pertaining to its use.  At the dedication of the tabernacle, each prince of Israel brings forth an offering, with the exception of the Levites whose offering was "...that they should bear upon their shoulders [the burden of the tabernacle]."

NUMBERS 7:3

3 And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 

There was a lot more involved in the offering process but this verse was sufficient for my needs because it plainly discloses the use of covered wagons.  How awesome is that?  Covered wagons, that's right, COVERED WAGONS!  I'm sorry but I think that is so cool...millennia before my pioneer ancestors crossed the plains in covered wagons, the princes of Israel brought forth their treasures and offerings to God in covered wagons.  What a great parallel experience.  Just as each prince of Israel brought forth family treasures as an offering to God, so too did the princes of our church bring forth their treasures (their families and irreplaceables) to the Salt Lake valley in order to worship the same everlasting God.  I just think that is an absolute awesome parallel! Well done you descendants of Israel, pioneer ancestors, and all you Amish folks for keeping the covered wagon alive today!

~Kipling

A Vow is a Vow is a Vow

Reading:   Numbers 6

Today I'm doing a little light-hearted dissection of a verse that made me laugh...

NUMBERS 6:2

2    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: 

I love the expression, "...to vow a vow," I find it quite comical though I am quite aware that humor has no place in any type of vow.  My day was a bit sour-going but the vow a vow a vow was enough to make me smile and forget my foolish woes.  I know it's silly but why must we read the Bible with the air of solemnity?  I did not want to read today but found a moment and somehow overcame the frustration and doubt.  I read and -BOOM- I discovered some joy and happiness in the most unlikely place.

Now to explain what a "Nazarite" is so that the vow might be understood in a little more light, more so than the simple notation, "...to separate themselves unto The Lord."

The Nazarites were devoted to the Lord during the time of their Nazariteship, and, it is probable, spent much of their time in the study of the law, in acts of devotion, and instructing others. An air of piety was thereby put upon them, and upon their whole conversation. They were separated from common persons and common things. Those that are consecrated to God must not be conformed to this world. They distinguished themselves, not only from others, but from what they themselves were before and after. They separated themselves by vowing a vow. Every Israelite was bound by the divine law to love God with all his heart, but the Nazarites by their own act and deed bound themselves to some religious observances, as fruits and expressions of that love, which other Israelites were not bound to. Some such there were, whose spirits God stirred up to be in their day the ornaments of the church, the standard-bearers of religion, and patterns of piety. It is spoken of as a great favour to their nation that God raised up of their young men for Nazarites (Amos 2:11)... 

~Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

I think that sums it up nicely. Thank you, Mr. Henry, for being there yet again.

~Kipling

The Jealousy Cocktail

Reading:   Numbers 5:5-31

The largest portion of this chapter deals with adultery and the trial of woman who are suspected of the crime.  When a husband believes his wife has been unfaithful and his heart and mind are racked with the evils of jealousy, he was required to bring forth his wife, along with a few other items, and a jealousy offering would be prepared.  Ultimately the woman would be offered a bitter drink that was prepared for her of the jealousy offering and she was required to drink it. If she refused and admitted her crime she would be immediately divorced and lose her dowry but if she agreed...

NUMBERS 5:27-28

27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 

28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 

So if a woman drank the jealousy cocktail and was guilty, her stomach would swell and her thigh rot and she would become cursed among the people.  Okay, slightly brutal, harsh even, but what if the woman were innocent, "...then she shall be free, and conceive seed."  Hold up, not sure that is a consolation, what about the evils of jealousy and the idiot husband who falsely accused her, nothing?  He isn't punished at all for false accusations and publicly embarrassing his innocent wife?  No, nothing - ridiculous!  The innocent woman on the other hand is set free (not really though because she is given back to a jealous husband and then required to lay with the accusatory punk in order to conceive - not freedom in my book).

I'm honestly getting a little tired of the male chauvinism in the Old Testament.  It literally seems as though woman were merely tools of men for the purpose of child bearing and rearing.   Even the strong biblical females seem to get lost in the over abundance of multiple wives - for me anyway.  I do hope and believe there is a higher law in place here and that God has a greater vision and plan for women because the constant lesser-than-man undertones are getting quite enervative.

In this chapter, a simple reference to a meaningful punishment for falsely jealous husbands would do wonders for the laws of Moses.  Here is my humble suggestion, a little tweaking of verse 28:

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be set free of the jealous husband, and shall be wed and conceive seed of a greater man.

Wouldn't that be a just reward for false jealousy...to lose your wife and watch her marry a man much greater than you and then bear children of that man...talk about flaming the fire of jealousy, such a man would surely die.

You know what, maybe that is what the verse is saying.  I truly believe God is a just God and would not have a woman return to such a jealous man.  So, by the term, "...she shall be free," it is quite possible that "free" means released from the bonds of matrimony.  Perception is everything and understanding that a woman caught in such a marriage would be a captive of sorts then freedom would mean escape from the caustic marriage.  And the idea that she, "...shall conceive seed," can then mean she does find love, a better stronger love, and conceives in that happy union, right, of course right - perception my friends!

~Kipling

Dealing with the Dead

Reading:   Numbers 5:1-4

Snuck in four verses under the wire today and found another reference to the impurity of the dead...

NUMBERS 5:2-3

2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: 

3 Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. 

Obviously, for medical reasons, it is wise to avoid contact with others if you are a leper or assist a leper in any way.  This precaution is for contagion purposes and is likewise the case for anyone with an issue (meaning a flow of infection, blood, etc., something "issuing" forth from the body).  So it stands to reason that a similar precaution should be set forth for anyone that deals with the dead.  Instead of listing numerous ways in which it is safe to deal with the dead, based on cause of death, it is easier to blanket the subject with the encompassing rule of "all."  If you touch the body of a deceased person you are defiled and must not join the company of others until you are deemed clean, without disease.

Again, as pointed out in Medical Ignorance Exposed, this is a medical precaution set up way before the clinical understanding of infection and is a fantastic lesson in the true power of God.  Millennia before infection and contagion are truly understood, God sets up a system by which quarantine is instituted to avoid such plagues - simply awesome!

~Kipling

Don't Touch That!

Reading:   Numbers 4

The tabernacle was of course the most sacred of vessels and held artifacts of the most high order, with that in mind it was not good to lay eyes on or touch any of these most high artifacts because of their sacred nature - death would come immediately to those that did.  So the sons of Kohath, the Levites set apart to move the tabernacle artifacts, were given a most hazardous task and entrusted their very lives to the priests that covered the most holy things...

Numbers 4:18-20

18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: 

19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things. Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: 

20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die. 

Essentially, the transport had to be very regimented and extremely particular in order and execution.  Aaron and the other anointed priests had to take great care to cover each item and then direct the sons of Kohath as to what was ready for transport, where it was, how to handle the item, and where to move it.  If anything was inappropriately handled, instant death would have been a result, not by the hand of man but the promise of God.  Yes extreme, but necessary to instill reverance and awe in the power of God.

When reverence and awe for God becomes a powerful motivator in man it also leads ultimately to personal strength in the form of faith.  With faith, mountains can be moved, and miracles performed.  The extreme sentence of death for anyone who touched or laid eyes upon the holy things of the tabernacle was paramount for the growth of the Israelites, especially the Levites as they were the ones chosen to handle the artifacts.

~Kipling

Why the Levites?

Reading:   Numbers 3

Why the Levites?

NUMBERS 3:12-13

12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 

13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord. 

I have spent some time on this one because I really wanted to understand the choice.  Why, of all the tribes, did God choose the Levites?  For the greatest while I was strictly bent on the idea that the Levites had received the birthright reserved for the firstborn because of righteousness and the ultimate folly of the tribes above them (Reubenites and Simeonites). There still is something to that theory but no definitive point where Simeon or the Simeonites could have lost their place in line for the birthright.  Yes, there was the slaughter of men after the defilement of Dinah (Gen 34) but that was a crime conducted by both Simeon and Levi and would exclude Levi from the birthright as well.  As for the rightful heir, the literal firstborn, Reuben, it is feasible that he lost the birthright for himself and his progeny after taking his father's wife to bed (Gen 49:3-4) but to extend a punishment through   centuries of descendants is quite unlikely.  The idea, then, of the birthright being lost by Reuben and Simeon and settling upon Levi and his progeny is still interesting but not likely.

Another possibility is the straight up blood relation of Moses and Aaron as members of the Levite tribe.  The priests of the tabernacle were all direct descendants of Aaron and therefore all of his family had to be directly involved with and near the tabernacle.  The family and extended family of Moses would also want to be near the tabernacle as that is where Moses would spend the majority of his time.  So, considering the familial relationship of Moses and Aaron to the Levite people, it is possible that, for logistical purposes, the Levites were chosen to fill the role of tabernacle custodians to better accommodate there brethren.

The problem with my theories and research was my inability to think outside of the box - I continually pressed the idea of why God had chosen these people over the others and repeatedly found speed bumps obstructing my theoretical progression.  Finally I came across a blog that discussed the Levites willingness to choose God and a lightbulb brightened in my mind.  I had been looking at it all wrong.  It wasn't necessarily that God chose the Levites but a reciprocal effect of the Levites first choosing God!  When Moses descended from Mt. Sinai (Ex 32:19-29) to find the people worshipping and dancing before a golden calf he stood before them and asked, "Who is on the Lord's side?"  Without further explanation there was an immediate stirring and response within the congregation, "...And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto [Moses]."  By choosing The Lord, the sons of Levi were then given the task of taking up the sword against their brethren and slaying all those that danced before the calf.  They did as they were required and consecrated themselves to The Lord, an act that ultimately blessed them.

By choosing The Lord, the Levites, in turn, were blessed by The Lord and taken as His, not to be counted among the Israelites.  They were exempted from war, not that they weren't capable, but had earned the right of peace having chosen God and conducted a warlike act within the Israelites by God's decree.  They, and their children, were blessed for choosing God.

Why did God choose the Levites as His?  The Levites chose Him!

~Kipling

A Military Census

Reading:   Numbers 1-2

Moses undertakes an accounting of all the Israelite males over twenty.  A hierarchy is setup within the twelve tribes of Israel and each tribe is given a specific place of dwelling and an operational function to perform within the societal structure of the people.  The interesting bit for me was the fact that the Levites were not to be counted in the census as they were chosen to watch over the tabernacle, dwell around it, and perform the requisite functions needed for its operation...

NUMBERS 1:49-50, 53

49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 

50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 

53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. 

That's all fine and good but why were they not counted in the census?  Well, I can't say for sure and could not find the clear answer in my limited search; but, I think it was primarily because the Levites were to be counted only by God, as they were God's appointed and not to be counted among the tribes of man.  The Levites were given a holy task and required to live and dwell within the midst of the tribes and were thereby, literally, surrounded by the tribes, the legions, the armies of men whose foremost task was to protect the tabernacle.  The Levites were part of the tabernacle, the most holy place, and therefore belonged to The Lord and need not be counted.

Also, the census only counted men over twenty (603,550), a considerable military force and another reason why the Levites were not counted - they were to work among holy things and leave warring to the general populous.

~Kipling

The Dichotomy of Choice

Reading:   Leviticus 26-27

The majority of Leviticus has been about the many laws Moses received for the governing of the Israelites while attending God at Mount Sinai. The closing two chapters of the book seal up these laws with a grand promise of what shall happen in obedience and also what is in store for disobedience...

LEVITICUS 26:3, 6-8, 15-17

3    If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 

6    And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 

7    And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 

8    And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 

15    And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 

16    I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 

17    And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 

Which do you prefer?  I love a good underdog story so, for me, the idea of four of my closest friends and I giving chase to a hundred, is quite appealing; whereas running away without even the threat of a pursuer, well, not part of my physical make-up.  I choose the former!

~Kipling

Swelling of the Heart

Reading:   Leviticus 25

Taking care of each other in times of need Is a constant theme throughout the scriptures and here it is boldly stated again.  Keep in mind that when God speaks of "brother" He is not restricting our required charity to blood relations.  It is clear that by "brother" He means any downtrodden soul, "stranger," or "sojourner," that needs assistance...

LEVITICUS 25:35-37

35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

The word "usury" is another way of saying, "debt."  So we are not, in our charitable acts, to expect or accept any form of payment.  We are also not to provide any type of increase to those we assist with expected repayment; a loan for example.  If we want to aid our brethren with increase, wether a financial stipend, clothing, or what-have-you, it should be done without the caveat of repayment.

Angela and I have never had the financial security to help others in their poverty, in fact we have been the impoverished quite often and have had to humble ourselves to ask for assistance.  However, we have always had an open door for those in need.  Many a refugee from life has lived under our roof and sat at our table.  Just as we have been sheltered and fed from family and friends in our desperate hours, we too have never closed our door or pantry to those in need.  Our home has been somewhat chaotic at times because of our willingness to share and on occasion our children have felt a bit put-out but I have never regretted sharing our home.  Yes, we have had some that have taken advantage of our open hospitality; still, we are a stronger family, a closer family, because of our unselfishness despite those few disagreeable moments.

Quite often I have come home from a hard day and found several unfamiliar faces partaking of a meal my sweet wife has prepared.  Sometimes I barely get a portion of the food and wish I had more but I have found her willingness to cook and provide for all a very attractive quality and simply smile.  "Sorry," she will say in a whisper as I am handed whatever might be left, if anything, but I find myself filled by her charitable service and can only laugh and shake off her concern for my well being.  It's these little actions that have endeared her to me:

"I've invited so-and-so to eat, hope you don't mind."

"So-and-so is going to stay with us for a few weeks/months - is that okay?"

"Please don't eat any of this pie/cake/cookies/lasagna/etc, I made it for so-on-so who is struggling with something or other."

"I know we can't afford it but I just bought some glasses for so-and-so..."

The list goes on and on and she questions her beauty?  I do love her so and absolutely believe that my children are learning a lesson from her example that cannot be quantified.  I have seen each of them do something for another that can only be attributed to the way we have raised them and pray they will always hold dearly to those values.

Charity is not a badge or honor that can be displayed - it is a swelling of the heart that strengthens the soul.

~Kipling

A Literal Stoning

Reading:   Leviticus 24

Okay, I have to explain the title because it is very clever and I would be devistated if no one caught it (you should it is not really that clever).  So a man does, literally, get stoned in the this chapter (rocks not drugs) but the clever part is that he gets this rudimentary form of punishment for something he said, a literal remark.  The word literal taking on two meanings...whatever, I thought it quite clever...don't judge me!

Back to business, in this chapter more laws are put in place and others are reiterated to strengthen belief.  A couple of interesting notes:

1. The laws were for all man, not just the Israelites.  So if a stranger stole an ox from an Israelite he had to replace that ox just as surly as if the transgression were reversed.
2. There would be only one manner of law and no other law should take precedent over the law brought forth by God through Moses. 

Right, so to put these laws into literal affect, Moses sent some people to deal with a stranger (not an Israelite), who had reportedly cursed the name of the Lord while wandering outside of town...

LEVITICUS 24:23

23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. 

How is that for an in-your-face example of keeping the Lord's name in the most highest of regard.  Probably sent a clear message don't you think?  The thing I like the most about this account is not that the Israelites followed through with the law, but, that they did as the Lord commanded, not Moses, Moses was merely the mouthpiece.  Yes, Moses laid out the task before them but the verse is clear in its last sentence that they, "...did as The Lord commanded Moses."  It does not say, "...they did as Moses commanded."  The Israelites clearly understood that Moses had a direct line of communication with God and, without asking, knew a directive from Moses was in fact a directive from God.

~Kipling