Musings on the Tough Life Questions

  Before Christ - All bodies went to grave - All souls went down to Hades/Sheol or to the pit, the realm of the unseen. - All spirits (breath) go back to God. Before the resurrection all men went to the same place.... Sheol, Hades, commonly referred to as the pit.  Christ went to Sheol when he died also.  Where was Sheol? It was in the Heart of the Earth (Matt 12:40)  Sheol/ Hades the unseen place in the heart of the earth commonly mistranslated as 'hell'.  But Heaven was Closed Before Christ  The way to heaven was not open. We could not follow Him there. "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" ( John 3:1 3 ) The good news is Christ raided Hades and with his ascension performed an Alcatraz styled jail break where now,.  He is the Resurrection and the Life.  You shall never Die (You would no longer go to Sheol).  Also (paradoxically), though you are dead, yet shall ...

Day 68,  March 9 Num. 33:1-49        Journeys of the Israelites from Egypt to Moab Num. 22:1-20        Balak summons Balaam to curse the Israelites Num. 33:1-49        Journeys of the Israelites from Egypt to Moab Num. 22:1-20        Balak summons Balaam to curse the Israelites Israel just defeated the Amorites under King Sihon who had himself conquered some of the lands from Ar the previous king of Maob. King Og (nasty sounding fellow) of Bashan was defeated  next.  You can see Israel growing in strength as a might nation, yet still had lessons to learn in being content in God.   Balak, the King of Moab and the elders of Moab began to be afraid and they enlist Balaam to prophesy against Israel. Let’s observe how an esteem prophet such as Balaam listened to God.  God explicitly told him not to go with the elders of Moab to curse Israel for they were blessed.   ...

In 1911 mummified remains were found by guano hunters in Lovelock Cave, a large rock shelter in Nevada’s Lake Lahontan region. According to legend, these skeletons belong to a cannibalistic tribe of red-haired giants. Known to the Paiute indians as the Si-Te-Cah, these cannibals were at war with the Paiute until a number of tribes came together and trapped the Si-Te-Cah in Lovelock Cave, started a fire and asphyxiated them. Post credit: Raven Day 67,  March 8 Num. 21:1-9 The destruction of Arad (Hormah) / The bronze serpent Num. 21:10-20 / Deut. 2:1-23 From the Red Sea to Moab Num. 21:21-32 / Deut. 2:24-37 The defeat of Sihon Num. 21:33-35 / Deut. 3:1-11 The defeat of Og Num. 21:1-9 The destruction of Arad (Hormah) / The bronze serpent Num 21:1-3 One positive experience. Finally. Israel made a vow to God that If He would deliver Arad and the Canaanites, who wanted to fight Israel and took some prisoners, into their hand, then they would utterly destroy their cities.  Well God ...

  Day 66,  March 7 1445-1407 BC Num. 16-17   Korah’s rebellion / The fruit of Aaron’s staff Num. 18:1-7  New responsibilities for priests and Levites Num. 20:1-13        Miriam’s death / The waters of Meribah: Moses and Aaron sin Num. 20:14-29      Edom refuses passage / Aaron’s death on Mount Hor Num. 16-17   Korah’s rebellion / The fruit of Aaron’s staff Num 16:1-3  Moses had another rebellion on his hands.  This time it was not from Miriam nor Aaron but from 250 leaders, who he previously selected from the Levites to adjudicate lower court cases, along with ring leaders, Korah, Dathan and Abiram.  Their case? All the congregation is holy.  Why do you Moses and Aaron assume they are above everyone else? You view yourselves too highly. Num 16:4-11 What was Moses’ reaction? He fell on his face.  This is an example of Moses’ meekness.  He did not rail or fight or defend himself.  Are we dev...

Day 65,  March 6 Num. 13 / Deut. 1:19-25 Moses sends twelve spies to Canaan / The spies’ report Num. 14 / Deut. 1:26-46 The Israelites rebel / Forty years of wandering begin Num. 13 / Deut. 1:19-25 Moses sends twelve spies to Canaan / The spies’ report Deut 1:19-21 It is only an 11 day journey to the promise land from Horeb and Mt. Sinai. Moses is recounting how they journeyed to Kadesh Barnea, to the mountains of the Amorites which God promised to them as a possession. Deut 1:22-25 According to Deut. account, it was the people who suggested sending out men to search out the land to understand which way they should go and what cities they would encounter.   It is interesting to me that God dwelling in the ark was the One who directed them through the wilderness. Why would they suddenly decide not to have God direct the way they should possess the land.  Well it shows that if a human wants to take some initiative in activation of the promises, God can accommoda...