Journaling: Numbers 30-33

God expects us to keep our vows of celibacy (e.g. during betrothal, special fasts of celibacy, remain a virgin/unmarried/become a eunuch): 1) even if they are a “thoughtless utterance” of our lips (i.e. we weren’t thinking when we made them – 30:1-2 w/6), 2) unless they are made by women w/o consent of their betrothed/husbands or fathers (in the case of un-betrothed younger women still at home; e.g. daughter in the home vows to God to never get married but remain financially dependent on her father/parents) (30:3-16, 5 and 13; 1Co 7:5, 36-38).Like prostitution, female celibacy can encourage (rather than remove) sexual immorality (25:1-3 w/30:3-16).Overreactions are not remedies (25:1-3 w/30:6-16).The removal of sinful influences – not good things (used sinfully), is the prescribed way to get rid of sin (30:3-16 w/31:1-20, 16-18; e.g. taking a kid’s cell phone b/c they are guilty of doing sinful things w/it).God’s anointed (or ordained) pastors/priests (i.e. the pastor-teachers – Eph 4:11b) are to receive the lion’s share of compensation in comparison to those serving as Levites/full-time ruling elders (i.e. pastors – Eph 4:11a) (31:21-47 [1 clan] w/26:57-58 [8 clans] = about 1/3 less per Levite clan versus Eleazar the priest; See Num 18; 1Ti 5:17-18 – “double honor” = two-parts price [which can mean 2/3 – or 2 out of 3 equal parts]; 1Co 6:20).Great deliverance or blessings (31:48-49) should prompt us to give generous free-will offerings to God (i.e. giving that is above/beyond our tithe)(31:50-54).Great leaders never allow their people to put other things before their primary obligations to God and His people (32:1-42, 28-30).God expects us to make the accommodations necessary to fulfill our obligations to God and His people w/o burdening or complaining to the covenant community (32:16-27).Cowardliness is contagious and has been known to create great collateral damage (32:6-15).Your sin will find you out (32:23).Remembering our failures are as important to staying the course as remembering God’s faithfulness to staying the course (33:1-49 = The significance of the various locations mentioned: they are the places of Israel rebellion; 1Co 10:1-11).Taking possession of God’s promises means: 1) removing compromise in all areas of our lives (33:50-53; 2Ti 2:19-21; Heb 12:1), 2) practicing equity toward those in the covenant community (33:54).Compromise – especially when it comes to those we choose to associate with, means: 1) we will experience “trouble” from them (33:55), 2) we will experience God’s trouble against them (33:56; 2Jo 1:9-11).