Numbers 31-33
Misunderstandings! Ever been misunderstood and frustrated?! It’s what happened to Moses and the people he led. The LORD told Moses to take vengeance on Midian. Among them Balaam was also killed with the sword, but the women were kept alive. This upset Moses! The women through Balaam’s counsel caused the Israelites to sin in baal worship. … Moses worked out a solution.
Then two of the tribes wanted to settle east of the Jordan River with their abundant livestock. This upset Moses again! How could their brothers go to war while they sat there?! After a lengthy response he heard their intended promise to cross over with them to help them fight and after return to their livestock and cities.
It can be frustrating to be misunderstood. That’s why it’s important to listen and be patient with others. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19
Lastly, let’s not skip over the AMAZING travel journal of chapter 33, and like my Bible geography teacher/husband would say, “It shows these are real places and a real God.” Many of these places are still called that to this day, and it’s from some 3,400 years ago! Pictured above on the left is an aerial view of the Jerusalem/Jericho area looking to the north of Israel with snow capped Mount Hermon on the northern tip. Did you know that there’s a ski resort up there with 14 ski runs and 5 chair lifts?! YES! One winter on the same weekend one of our boys was skiing up there with friends while the other was snorkeling in the Red Sea (on the southern tip)! Don’t misunderstand Israel, it’s a BEAUTIFUL place! 🙂
-Stephanie Schlegel
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Do you get angry when you’re misunderstood? How can you be quicker to listen to the person before responding in words and anger?
2. How do you clarify yourself? In anger? With patience? Kindly? Today, try to respond better to a misunderstanding, and ask God’s help to do so.
3. Have you ever kept a travel journal of the places you’ve been? What would people think if they found it 3,400 years later?! :0
Seek Grow Love 