Dead Men Walking

Deuteronomy 2:1-23

Moses continues his history lesson.  So, if you recall, we started back through the wilderness.  We were headed to the Red Sea doing our best to avoid Seir.  Finally God said, you've put it off long enough, turn this camp north- we're going through Esau country.  They'll be afraid of you, but don't take advantage of the situation. Don't start any fights- you are not getting their land.  This is their's. Don't even help yourself to food and drink- whatever you get, pay for.  I've blessed you for 40 years, you don't need their stuff to survive.

So we passed on through- and then God gave me a very similar message- you'll be coming up on land belonging to Lot's people, don't harass them or take any of their land either.  I've given this land to them. Then God sent us across the Zered Valley.

Once we crossed the valley, 38 years had passed and all the fighting men had died.  At this point we finally reached the Moabites God spoke to me about and we passed on through.

At first glance this seems to be God pouring salt on the wound.  Look here are some people living in a land I've given them.  Notice how they aren't wandering.  OK, you've looked long enough- get back to walking.  In four more decades I'll give you another taste of some people I blessed.  They won't be you, but you can watch and remember how you messed up...before you start walking again.

But taking a step back, and taking into account the timing of Moses' retelling, perhaps Moses is saying- look people, now is not the time to give up.  We've been walking for ages- and look, God rewarded these people, He's about to reward us too!  

What's harder to come to peace with, though, is the perspective of these warriors who literally walked until they died.  What motivation would have kept them going?  Why not just leave the group to make the remaining Israelites able to enter the holy land sooner?  What kind of resentment would have existed from the generation that followed.

The truth is, if we had to pay for the sins of the generation that came before us, we'd never enter the promised land.  And the same would be true for the generation that follows us.  Without grace, none of us would ever make it home.

And I Was Just Minding My Own Business

Deuteronomy 1:26-46

Moses continues his impersonation of an eight-year-old trying to talk his way out of trouble with his parents. Lots of finger pointing, not much blame acceptance.

He picks up his retelling after the spies come back and report on the worth of the land.  He says, remember how you grumbled?  You claimed that God hated you and that this proposed invasion was some elaborate set-up to get you all killed, which makes so much sense since He rescued you from Egyptian slavery and all. You thought the enemy was too strong and their cities were impenetrable.  You whined like someone had stolen your pacifier.

Once again, I had to serve as the voice of reason.  Don't be a-feared, I said.  You won't be going alone- God is on your side.  Remember how He fought for you in Egypt?

But you would have none of it.  When God caught wind of it, He was none too pleased.  He said of this whole group- only Caleb and Joshua will enter this land I have prepared for you to receive... and your kids who are too little to know right from wrong.

And I said...and Moses too, right?  But because of YOU God was angry at me as well.  God said, nope- you won't get there, Moses.  Turn this group around and head to the Red Sea.  So, thanks a lot Israelites. You pretty much ruined my life. 

Suddenly you got all "oh no we have sinned" annoyingly repentant.  We'll fight them, God, you moaned. Once you realized all that you had lost and what your future would be you decided to risk the war.  So you suited up for battle but God let me know that wasn't the smartest move.

Tell them not to go because I will not be with them... and without Me, it will not be pretty.  But you thought He was bluffing.  So you went up, and got smacked around like Michael Spinx fighting Mike Tyson.  91 seconds later you were running back to camp crying to God, wondering why He had forsaken you.

Moses removes himself from any blame here.  No mention of his ego getting too big, no mention of his feelings of self-importance, no mention of anything other than guilt by association.  I think we cope this way too, I'll let myself off the hook, I may be serving the time, but I didn't really do the crime.

I'm also interested in how the Christian world seems to take away this "With God on Our Side" message and apply it in strange ways.  Yes, all can be accomplished with God, but the assumption (particularly with war scenarios) that God has chosen you over your enemies is a bit egocentric and short-sighted.  Unlike with the Israelites, we are all God's children.  God is not a chip to be used to manipulate world events.  ...and I'm thinking that despite the implied bloodshed here, killing is not something that God wants on His side.

And without that direct voice of God thing going on like the Israelites have, we may be much better off not assuming that war is something God is advocating.  And certainly not assume that we are invincible because we think we are right.

Perhaps the most troubling part of this story is God's utter disowning of His people.  You don't trust Me?  Fine, I'm done.  Good luck- but actually even good luck won't help you much.  Thankfully this is a pre-Jesus tale, and consequently things work a little differently on the retribution side of things. 

I Spy

Deuteronomy 1:19-25

The reminiscing continues.  Moses rushes through the wilderness wandering to get to Kadesh Barnea.  He tells them,  Remember I instructed you check out this Amorite land... or land that is soon to be ex-Amorite land?  Go get it- God has already told you to claim it- what are you waiting for?  Get some swagger on, there's no reason to be worried, don't be discouraged either.

Then you talked to each other and come up to me and said- Ummm, Moses?  What say we send some spies to go ahead and map out our best plan of attack?  They can check things out and come back and report to us.

That sounded kosher to me, so I hand-picked a dozen of you with all twelve tribes represented.  When they came back, they said, "Yeah, this land is something special.  We're all for ending this whole wandering business. I mean, check out this fruit!"

This feels like more from the Greatest Hits of the Israelites collection.  There doesn't seem to be much different nuance in this retelling.  Moses also seems to be framing this in a self-serving way- especially for someone about to be left behind.

But I think we all tend to frame narratives this way.  We tend to make ourselves the center, inflate our own importance and downplay embarrassing shortcomings.  Even God's spokespeople aren't immune from the human tendency to sculpt their own public images.

The Birth of Political Campaigns

Deuteronomy 1: 9-18

Moses continues his spiel.  He's hosting "A Very Special This is Your Life."  - Hey Israelites, remember when you had all these kids- like a ton- like so many that it became impossible for me to actually lead you by myself anymore?  That was pretty cool- and I hope you keep procreating like rabbits, I hope God keeps on blessing you like that.  But as I said, you are all too large a group to be controlled by one little Moses, so I told you to choose some of your best men- smart, compassionate and respected fellas, and I'll put them over you.  

You might recall your thoughtful and articulate response, "Great idea!"

After  I rolled my eyes, I appointed the leaders you brought me.  I told them- You will be your tribe's Judge Judy.  Whenever there's a problem, it'll be your job to hear the dispute and to judge fairly.  I don't care if you're judging between two Israelites or and Israelite and a foreigner- still be fair.  And by fair, I mean impartial.  

Don't be intimidated. Don't be afraid of the people you may have to bring judgment against. Don't be worried that you'll mess up.  You will be speaking on behalf of God, so you have a pretty good ally on your side.  Pretty, pretty good.  

And if something comes along that's too hard for you to figure out, bring it by- I'll be happy to take those cases.  After all, I'm Moses. 

It seems Moses here is recapping the recent oral history of the people as historians of this time were want to do.  This chapter seems to serve a dual purpose- it refreshes the Israelites on their people's history (since the history books were a little tough to come by) and catches up readers as well (last week on God's Law and Order...)

I'm glad to see the emphasis on treating the non-Israelite fairly.  Even in a culture where membership (and specifically here genetic membership) is everything, God emphasizes fair treatment to people not in the club- an idea too often neglected by God's people today.

Back in Time

Deuteronomy 1:1-8

So when we last met our Israelite friends, the land was finally their's.  Years of wandering aimlessly at last resulted in the fulfillment of a promise made many years before.  However, perhaps hungry to land his sequel deal (part V's are murder to sell), Moses decides to pick the tale up not where Numbers ends, but back following chapter 21...before the land was their's.

In case you don't recall that discussion from back in August of 2011, here it is: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2011/08/all-that-jahaz-numbers-21-21-35-and.html

In this section, Israel has settled into the luxuries of mountainside living...or have at least rested for what God deems as long enough.  So He tells them, alright fellas, it's time to go get this land that I promised you.  Go get it while the getting's good.  He might have added- hurry before someone does something stupid and you have to wander some more.

The lack of chronology is odd to me- it's almost like this is the deleted scenes section you access on the menu after you've watched the movie... and you understand why it got cut.

But I guess reading about this event twice is much less arduous than having to live through the escapade.  So in the spirit of watching ESPN classic...Go Israel!

Thou Shalt Inbreed

Numbers 36

Some of the representatives of the clan of Gilead came to Moses all concerned.  There had been some dispute about the inheritance of Zelophehad- we talked about it a while back.  In case you don't remember, here it is: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2012/06/susan-b.html

Anyhow, since the daughters were given the inheritance, the concern was that if these women went on to marry outside the clan, then the inheritance wouldn't be equal.  Whichever tribe married in would by default pick up extra land.

God says that this is a good point and decrees that these women can only marry within the clan. In fact, this is to be the case for any women inheriting land.   Zelophehad's daughters agree and decide to marry their cousins.  I'm not sure which is more puzzling- the fact that the land staying in the clan was more important than who these women married, or the fact that this story ends the book of Numbers.  Moses isn't so great at narrative structure.

I'm struggling to find what to take away here.  Maybe that God takes His promises seriously.  He didn't want the land to leave the people he promised it to.  Maybe that even when life is less than fair, God's people still follow.  Maybe that the 21st century isn't such a bad time to live?  Regardless, Numbers ends with this odd tale perhaps reminding us that God's will is complex, and not always easy to explain.

Tom Petty's Greatest Hits: Refugee, Don't Come Around Here No More, and I Won't Back Down

Numbers 35: 6-34

So when distributing the land to the Levites, six of the 48 cities given to them are to be cities of refuge.  These 48 cities are to be taken from the other clans proportionately...those with more cities give more to the 48, those with fewer giver fewer.

These cities of refuge seem to be safe havens for people accused of murder but claim their innocence.  If you murder someone accidentally (or I suppose if you're just the wrong guy) you can skip town for one of these cities of refuge until after you stand trial.  If the death is avenged while you are in one of these cities- the avenger is a murderer.  If however, you sneak out of refuge town, the avenger can kill with you no penalty.  The avenger is given a license to kill, so to speak.

When you make it to the city of refuge, you must remain there until the death of the high priest... and remembering the life span of folks in this era, this could be hundreds of years.  You can't leave for any reason, even if Bob Dylan plays in the neighboring town- stay put or you're fair game... even if you're innocent.

This section also lists what constitutes murder: death by metal object, death by stone-striking, death by wooden object, shoving with forethought, throwing something at someone with forethought, and angry fist striking.  If it results in death, you are a murderer and are to be avenged.  But if you throw something accidentally, or didn't know someone was beneath the big rock you rolled over the cliff; if you didn't intend harm- head for the city of refuge.  Apparently you run there when it happens, and if found innocent, you return there until the death of the high priest.

Interesting that even if innocent, you are still sentenced to one of these cities until things cool down.  I'm guessing these cities weren't exactly cultural hot spots.  People who lived here were likely considered shady or at best irresponsible and often your fate may not have been your own doing.

Also, you can't buy your way out.  If you are a murderer, you are to be put to death, no matter how much you'd pay.  If you are isolated in a city of refuge, you are stuck there until the high priest dies, no matter how much you'd pay.

It might be easy to read this passage as pro-death penalty (which within it's context it clearly is).  God says if you murder, you are to be murdered.  God sets up a means of justice to be served.  However, this passage seems to be set up as a contrast to the system of grace set to come later through Jesus.

You used to do this, but with Jesus, let those not guilty throw the first stone.  You used to do this, but with Jesus, God says leave vengeance to me.  You used to do this, but with Jesus, we realize that we are all living in cities of refuge even though we are guilty, grateful for the pardon, knowing that we deserve a worse fate.

Numbers 35:1-5 Cow Town

Cow Town

Numbers 35:1-5

Short passage where God tells Moses that even though they weren't awarded an inheritance, the tribes are to dedicate land for the Levites; land for their homes and land for their cattle to graze upon. If I remember right, the Levites wouldn't have been fighting, but as the conduit to God, it is certainly in the best interest of the Israelites to make sure their needs are provided for.

Perhaps this is God's way of creating precedence.  His spokespeople, his clergy, should be taken care of by the people they serve.  It's easy to be jaded about the employment of church workers- be skeptical about the hours kept and the work they do and as a result we often expect them to do more than their share since, after all, they're getting paid for it (and to be honest, we aren't always thrilled about that either).  

These priests, these servants, served functions that I would never envy.  They dealt with bloody carnage in the context of sacrifice, they were responsible for duties for the most powerful boss in existence.  They earned their "pay".  

While modern day "Levites" may deal with less blood and gore, they deal with the muck created by the Christians they serve.  They learn things about us that they often wish they could un-know.  They pray for us, minister to us, and work to bring us closer to God.  They may not wear leather aprons, but they often get no less bloody.  God's work, indeed.

A Surveyor's Favorite Passage

A Surveyor's Favorite Passage

Numbers 34

Here God spells out the boundaries of the promised land to Moses and tells him to use lots to determine which tribe gets what.  The land is to be distributed between the 9 1/2 tribes planning on living in Canaan since Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh opted to get their land before getting there. God also assigns leaders from each tribe to help distribute ownership within the tribes.

God seems cool with the choice of those tribes to opt out of Canaan, which seems a little odd when considering His reaction in earlier chapters when His followers wanted to pass on the reward He had promised.  Perhaps the key here is that these tribes didn't give up on God, and they still did their part helping claim Canaan for the rest of the wanderers.

This passage may be really interesting if you're into geography.  I'm not.  But it does once again emphasize that even if promises are a long time coming, God fulfills them in the end.

Israelite Mapquest

Israelite Mapquest

Numbers 33

This chapter contains a rehashing of the travel plans of the wanderings from the day they left captivity until right before they got the promised land.  Moses references a few pertinent highlights- the Egyptians burying their firstborn as they march out of town, no water at Rephidim, the death of Aaron at Mount Hor, and finally the arrival at Moab.  

At this point God tells Moses that they are to drive out ALL of the residents and destroy all the idols and high places.  I'm assuming high places are worship centers or display venues for the idols.  They are to distribute the land by lot.  No whining, fate determines which piece of land your clan gets.  The size of the land though is determined by the size of the group who is to live there.  

God warns that if they don't drive everybody out, those who remain will be "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides".  And that He will do to the Israelites what He planned on doing to the Canaanite stragglers.

This is a harsh warning.  Mess up here and you will become My enemy.  Perhaps the subtext here is that the only way you can mess up is to no follow through, to not accept My will as your own, to not do what I say.  It's not a question of success, but instead of willingness to see this through to the end.  And perhaps that's what God asks of us.  Not unfailing success, but a submission of our own will to His.

The actual act, though, is a bit disconcerting.  Here God commands a lack of mercy to be the shield the Israelites are to stand behind.  No one remains.  I guess at least He's demanding evacuation and not extermination.

Regardless, here we see God about to follow through on His promise- something we should take as evidence that promises to us will also one day be delivered.

The Sins of the Fathers

Numbers 32

So as the Israelites continue their trek to the promised land, the Reubenites and Gadites see all their livestock and all the sweet land for grazing all around them and so they ask for a conference with Moses.

Look, Moe, we get that this land of milk and honey is great and all- but look at this land right here.  We're simple folks with simple needs and simple cows.  We're happy right here.  What say we don't cross the Jordan but just take this land as our inheritance?

Moses gets a little irate.  Hey, dummies- don't you remember when your parents played this game?  They discouraged the Israelites from entering the promised land- and God was none too pleased.  In fact, He had them on extended march duty until that entire generation died.  If you pull these shenanigans, you're likely to cause the same thing to happen again.  Besides, why should all of the rest of the Israelites go to war while you stay here with your livestock.  That's bull.

Well versed in the art of negotiation, they countered.  What if we build pens and such for our animals, fortify some cities for our wives and children- and then put on the armor and get to conquering.  We'll even lead the way to the promised land...just give us THIS land to come back to instead of land in Canaan.

Moses thinks about it and says.  Ok, it's a deal- but if you don't follow through you'll be sinning against God.

This is a weird exchange to me.  First off, wouldn't this tick God off?  I've been promising you this amazing gift for years and years- and now, when we're right on the verge of getting it, you're settling for this?  Why do they think they know better than God what land is right for them?

Second, does this mean more land for the other Israelites?  If so, I'll bet they were all for the arrangements.  Sure, go build your pens, we'll wait right here and dream of our acres to come.

Finally, Moses tells Eleazar and Joshua the situation and adds- they can have this land unless they don't come with us to fight in which case, make them stay in Canaan. Huh?  So this wondrous gift is now a punishment if they don't follow through?  And it also punishes the folks who do fight by giving them less land?  

For me, the take away lesson is to avoid negotiating with God.  His promises are better than what you will concoct on your own.  He can reward beyond what you can imagine.

However, I don't remember how this turns out, so I could be wrong.

Booty for the Israelites: Numbers 31: 25-54

So the battle is done and spoils are divided.  Here God commands much less than the traditional tithe- in fact the soldiers are told to give .2% of what they plundered.  The Israelites were to give 2%.

Maybe God here is rewarding their courage in following Him into what would seem like a perilous situation.  Whatever the reason, they strike it rich. The nation took in hundreds of thousands of sheep, thousands of cattle and donkeys- and thousands of virgins.

And while we commonly hear criticism of Muslim fascination with a reward of virgins for their most valiant, here is a piece of our own history chronicling the same from the pen of Moses.

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the condoned use of people as slaves, as objects, as less than human.  Some of my disdain is certainly cultural, but all the same- we're a long way from love your enemies here.