Numbers 1 – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

Day 54 of reading the Holy Bible in 365 days.

Matthew 12:22-50. Jesus continued to heal in secret, but the Pharisees said he did it by Beelzebub (lord of the flies). What did Jesus answer? “A Kingdom divided against itself will not stand.” Jesus also said “he that is not with me is against me.” There is no middle ground, and there is a sin that cannot be forgiven: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Continuing on Jesus said that the only sign given will be the sign of Jonah. Finally Jesus in a way rejected his own mother and brothers by pointing to his disciples, saying: “Here are my mother and brothers, for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”.

Numbers 1 consists of a listing of the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census. All the people from the twelve tribes were counted, except the Levites.

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes were to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

February 23: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Numbers 1 consists of a listing of the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census. All the people from the twelve tribes were counted, except the Levites.

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes were to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

February 23: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Numbers 1 consists of a listing of the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census. All the people from the twelve tribes were counted, except the Levites.

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes were to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

February 23, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are four chapters to read, ponder the significance of the resurrection in Matthew 28. The three first chapters in Numbers are interesting for historians.

February 23: Matthew 28, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 28 begins with Jesus being in the grave for the two adjoining sabbaths, the first day of unleavened bread followed by the normal sabbath, then there was an earthquake and the stone was rolled away. Jesus was no longer in the grave. The guards were bribed to tell the story that the disciples took the body, but two women, the two Marys met the resurrected Jesus. He told them to tell the remaining disciples that he was risen from the dead. The Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus giving the great commission: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes are to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

Numbers 3 lists the sons of Aaron and the Levites by clan.

Numbers 4 tells of the duties of the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites. Then these Levite clans are numbered.

February 22, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

February 22: Matthew 27, Numbers 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 27 depicts the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor; since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself and the thirty pieces of silver given him in exchange for the betrayal of Jesus was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tried to wiggle out of his role as a judge, his wife had warned him, so he came up with the idea to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom. Pilate chose Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chose Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesced to the mob and so Jesus was flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he was led away, but after the flogging Jesus was too weak to carry his own cross, so they forced Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus cross all the way to the place of the skull, and there Jesus was crucified together with two criminals. To identify Jesus they put an inscription on the top of the cross “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled during the crucifixion, and Jesus finally died on the cross. At that very moment the Temple veil was torn in two, from bottom to top and for the first time the holy of holiest was revealed. Jesus, now being dead was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone was rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb was sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Numbers 1 consists of a listing of the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census.

February 22, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, do it and contemplate.

February 22: Matthew 27, Numbers 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 27 depicts the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor, since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself, the thirty pieces of silver was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tries to wiggle out of the role as a judge, his wife had warned him, so he comes up with the idea to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom. Pilate chooses Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chooses Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesces to the mob and so Jesus is flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he is led away, but after the flogging Jesus is too weak to carry his own cross, so they force Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus cross all the way to the place of the skull, and there Jesus was crucified together with two criminals. To identify Jesus they put and inscription on the top of the cross “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled, and Jesus finally dies on the cross. At that very moment the Temple vail was torn in two, from bottom to top and for the first time the holy of holiest is revealed. Jesus, now being dead is taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone is rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb is sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Numbers 1 is by comparison simple, it just lists the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census.