From chapter 19 it is evident that Old Testament laws are not just for health and safety. They are full of symbolism. If a person is in contact with a dead body (which I presume would have some health risks), washing themselves with special water which has burnt up cow ashes in it surely doesn't do anything chemically to clean them or prevent disease from spreading. It is clearly a symbolic act of obedience.
If I wouldn't have read my footnote, I wouldn't have realized that 37 years passes before chapter 20.
Am I to understand that Moses was going to get to go into the promise land until he messed up by hitting a rock instead of speaking to it? Wow. You can do everything right for 40 years and be the most humble person on the planet and still a singe act of disobedience can cost you dearly.
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Moses was so committed to the people that he continued to intercede for them in prayer when they ridiculed him, wanted to overthrow him as leader, return to Egypt, etc. God repeatedly was ready to wipe out all of them and Moses saved them through his prayers and petitions from death, but there was still consequences. I think I would have given up on the people a long time ago and would have been striking rocks left and right in frustration. I need to trust God more and not let my emotions control me, but just walk in obedience. There is too high of a price to pay for disobedience, even though we can be forgiven, it doesn't take away the consequences.
ReplyDeleteJenn