Good Bye

I'm sorry I have to close this blog. I am now busy that I don't have the time to write about what I read in the Bible. But don't worry, I still have time to read and reflect on what I read in the Bible.

Deuteronomy 12

"Do not worship the LORD your God in the way that these people worship their gods.
Deu 12:4


God is to be worship in spirit and truth. Our God is a jealous. His jealousy is not the jealousy of a scorned lover; the Lord’s jealousy is the jealousy of a God who keeps his covenant. God continually seeks to remind me to keep his words in my heart, not to serve other masters but to serve the God alone.

I was listening to today’s sermon and I was reminded of how I sometimes forget to check motivations for serving God. I sometimes forget to ask myself, “is this really for God or is this for me?”

I have thought of shutting this blog down because I have not been posting for a long time. I am ashamed to admit but it’s easier to write about negative things than to tell of how God answers my prayers and how I sometimes receive blessings that I haven’t even asked for. God has continued to bless me even though I sometimes forget to acknowledge him for all His goodness.

Deuteronomy 11

Remember these commands and cherish them. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.
Deut. 11:18-19

Moses reminded the Israelites of teaching the Lord’s commandment to their children.


"Today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse--- a blessing, if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; but a curse, if you disobey these commands and turn away to worship other gods that you have never worshiped before.
Deu 11:26-28

Moses was telling the Israelites what God had done for them. How the Lord had freed them from Egypt, all the miracles God had done for them in the wilderness. Moses also reminded the Israelites what happened to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab of the tribe of Reuben. How they were swallowed by the earth because they had been disrespectful to the Lord.

Here the choice was given to the Israelites either to obey and receive blessings or to disobey and receive a curse. Here the freedom of a person to choose is emphasized, the freedom given by God to choose right and wrong, the freedom to be accountable for every free action, the freewill of humanity.

Deuteronomy 10

Deu 10:17 The LORD your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty, and he is to be obeyed. He does not show partiality, and he does not accept bribes.

God does not accept bribe.

We received salvation by grace through faith alone. When we do work for the Lord, we do so out of love, out of gratitude. It is because our faith grows and as our faith grows we become strong, we give more. We do not work for our salvation because Christ died for us and his blood is enough to cover our sins. We do not work for our salvation because we are not in a position to ask something from God, we receive only what He has given, what Christ has given-his life. We cannot work for our salvation for we are justified only by our faith.

Deuteronomy 9

"After the LORD your God has driven them out for you, do not say to yourselves that he brought you in to possess this land because you deserved it. No, the LORD is going to drive these people out for you because they are wicked. It is not because you are good and do what is right that the LORD is letting you take their land. He will drive them out because they are wicked and because he intends to keep the promise that he made to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You can be sure that the LORD is not giving you this fertile land because you deserve it. No, you are a stubborn people. "Never forget how you made the LORD your God angry in the desert. From the day that you left Egypt until the day you arrived here, you have rebelled against him.
Deu 9:4-7

Since when did I receive something form God that I truly I deserved?

I remember a pastor (or is it a teacher) defining grace as getting something that you do not deserve.

Listening to pastors and preachers preach about law versus grace, I, in my mind developed this understanding that the law is a device for the salvation of the Israelites. It’s like a state law where if one got convicted of a crime, punished for it and after serving that punishment he/she is cleared of the crime. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. The relationship of God with the Israelites shows more of his grace. How many times have the Israelites angered God and how many times have God forgiven them?

The law reveals sin but, I think, the most important thing that the law has done and is doing is to reveal grace. Getting something you do not deserve like mercy, salvation, blessings and even trials.

And I prayed, 'Sovereign LORD, don't destroy your own people, the people you rescued and brought out of Egypt by your great strength and power. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and do not pay any attention to the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of this people. Otherwise, the Egyptians will say that you were unable to take your people into the land that you had promised them. They will say that you took your people out into the desert to kill them, because you hated them.
After all, these are the people whom you chose to be your own and whom you brought out of Egypt by your great power and might.'

Deut. 9:26-29

Deuteronomy 7-8

Deuteronomy 8


"Obey faithfully all the laws that I have given you today, so that you may live, increase in number, and occupy the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors. Remember how the LORD your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands. He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the LORD says.

Deuteronomy 8:1-3

I was talking with one of my church co-worker who together with her husband is the junior church ministers, and she told me that she has applied for a job as a call center agent. I was depressed because this husband and wife team has started a very good discipleship program for the juniors in the church, and the first thing that came into my mind is what will happen to their ministry?

Another church worker, this time the youth minister, I later found out tried to apply for a job as a call center agent too. They are also a husband and wife team ministering to the youth in our church. I was loosing a little sleep with the idea of two church workers working as a call agent centers. Call center agents work graveyard shift and it would be difficult for them to work in the church on their rest days because their bodies will want to catch up on sleep.

I am praying that God will provide for these people the way he had provided for the Israelites. I pray and believe that God will supply the needs of these people.

This is the challenge facing our church today.

And after reading this chapter, the message is clear, as it was in the old testament that God will provideas long as we do our part.







Deuteronomy 7


Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands, but he will not hesitate to punish those who hate him.

Deu 7:9-10

God has given to the Israelites the defeat of the seven nations. God also reminded the Israelites against idolatry and intermarrying with the pagans. The Israelites are a chosen people and that God will keep his covenants with them. Obedience is rewarded and disobedience punished.

"Israel, remember this! The LORD ---and the LORD alone---is our God.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today.
Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are
away, when you are resting and when you are working. Deu 6:4-7


"Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mat 22:36 -37

Deutoronomy 5

'The LORD our God showed us his greatness and his glory when we heard him speak from the fire! Today we have seen that it is possible for people to continue to live, even though God has spoken to them. But why should we risk death again? That terrible fire will destroy us. We are sure to die if we hear the LORD our God speak again.
Has any human being ever lived after hearing the living God speak from a fire?
Go back, Moses, and listen to everything that the LORD our God says. Then return and tell us what he said to you. We will listen and obey.'
"When the LORD heard this, he said to me, 'I have heard what these people said, and they are right.

Deu 5:24-28

Deuteronomy 4

There you will look for the LORD your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him. When you are in trouble and all those things happen to you, then you will finally turn to the LORD and obey him. He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors.

"Search the past, the time before you were born, all the way back to the time when God created human beings on the earth. Search the entire earth. Has anything as great as this ever happened before? Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?

Deu 4:29-32

Deuteronomy 3

'Sovereign LORD, I know that you have shown me only the beginning of the great and wonderful things you are going to do. There is no god in heaven or on earth who can do the mighty things that you have done! Deu 3:24

With God’s help the Israelites defeated the King of Bashan, Og. The defeated kingdom is then divided to the two tribes and a half. God only allowed Moses to see the Land; he is not allowed to enter it.

Instead, he said, 'That's enough! Don't mention this again!

Go to the peak of Mount Pisgah and look to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west. Look carefully at what you see, because you will never go across the Jordan.
Give Joshua his instructions. Strengthen his determination, because he will lead the people across to occupy the land that you see.' Deu 3:27-28

Deuteronomy 2

"Remember how the LORD your God has blessed you in everything that you have done. He has taken care of you as you wandered through this vast desert. He has been with you these forty years, and you have had everything you needed. Deu 2:7


This is God’s reminder to the Israelites as they pass other kingdoms and territories. It is a reminder for the Israelites not to make war for plunder.

Deutoronomy 1

The LORD your God will lead you, and he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt and in the desert. You saw how he brought you safely all the way to this place, just as a father would carry his son.' But in spite of what I said, you still would not trust the LORD, even though he always went ahead of you to find a place for you to camp. To show you the way, he went in front of you in a pillar of fire by night and in a pillar of cloud by day. Deu 1:30 -33


Lord, forgive me for my faithlessness
For sometimes doubting your will
Like the Israelites,
I sometimes question you, Oh Lord

Forgive me Lord for doubting
That you will not give burden that I cannot carry
That it is you who will fight for me
And it is you who will find a camp for me
When I grew tired and weary

Forgive me Lord for doubting you
For doubting your guidance
For doubting that in times of troubles
You are my pillar of fire that will guide me at night
At day, You are my pillar of cloud
That will hide me from my enemies

Forgive me Lord, forgive me
For doubting that you are the Sovereign Lord
The Lord of my life.
Amen.

Numbers 36

These are the rules and regulations that the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho.

Num 36:13


Here ends my readings on the book of Numbers. Though I tried to keep my re-readings of the Bible daily, unfortunately and admittedly busi-ness and I admit laziness overcomes me most of the times. This my second time to reread the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation and like the first time I did it, it’s proving to be a challenge especially with these O.T. books which deals mostly with rituals, rules, traditions, genealogies, histories and even genocide. It’s not fun reading these books but it has its moments.

1. The story of the exploration of Canaan by the twelve spies. A good story on minority report (not the movie of course).
2. The quail from the Lord. An ironic story.
3. The mutiny of Korah, Ditham and Abiram.
4. The Budding of Aaron’s staff. This is a good story on leadership. Those who challenged the leadership of the priesthood were silenced when they saw how the Lord made Aaron’s staff blossomed and fruit.
5. Balaam’s donkey.

These stories blessed me.

NUmbers 34-35

Choose six cities, three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.

Num 35:13-15

The Lord commanded Moses and the Israelites to choose six cities of refuge. Here those who have committed manslaughter and murder may flee for temporary refuge from avengers until trials.

NUmbers 33

Chronicles of Israel’s Journey.

There in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho the LORD gave Moses
the following instructions for Israel: "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land. Destroy all their stone and metal idols and all their places of worship. Occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving it to you. Divide the land among the various tribes and clans by drawing lots, giving a large piece of property to a large clan and a small one to a small clan. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those that are left will be as troublesome as splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will fight against you.

If you do not drive them out, I will destroy you, as I planned to destroy them."

Num 33:50- 56

Numbers 32

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

Num 32:1-7

The children of Reuben and Gad found a fertile land and they asked Moses if they could settle there. Moses was angered because he though that they would desert their brothers in their quest and fight for the Promised Land. Moses made these tribes to give their vow to the Lord to fight for their brother Israelites before he gave them permission to settle there.

NUmbers 31

And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Num 31:15 -17

God has ordered Moses to kill the Midianite women. This is understandable because the Midianite women seduced the men of Israel. The virgin children were spared.

Numbers 30

Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Number 26-27

Numbers 26

Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron took a census of Israel.

Numbers 27

Num 27:12 The LORD said to Moses, "One day you will go up into the Abarim Mountains, and from there you will see the land I am giving the Israelites.
Num 27:13 After you have seen it, you will die, just like your brother Aaron,
Num 27:14 because both of you disobeyed me at Meribah near the town of Kadesh in the Zin Desert. When the Israelites insulted me there, you didn't believe in my holy power."
Num 27:15 Moses replied,
Num 27:16 "You are the LORD God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel.
Num 27:17 Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd."
Num 27:18 The LORD answered, "Joshua son of Nun can do the job. Place your hands on him to show that he is the one to take your place.
Num 27:19 Then go with him and have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the Israelites. Appoint Joshua as their new leader
Num 27:20 and tell them they must now obey him, just as they obey you.
Num 27:21 But Joshua must depend on Eleazar to find out from me what I want him to do as he leads Israel into battle."
Num 27:22 Moses followed the LORD's instructions and took Joshua to Eleazar and the people,
Num 27:23 then he placed his hands on Joshua and appointed him Israel's leader.


Moses was still alive but he was already praying for the rightful successor. God gave Joshua as his successor so that when Moses dies Israel will not scatter like a sheep without a shepherd.

Numbers 25

Num 25:6 Later, Moses and the people were at the sacred tent, crying, when one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman to meet his family.
Num 25:7 Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, saw the couple and left the crowd. He found a spear
Num 25:8 and followed the man into his tent, where he ran the spear through the man and into the woman's stomach. The LORD immediately stopped punishing Israel with a deadly disease,
Num 25:9 but twenty-four thousand Israelites had already died.


The Israelite man blatantly disobeyed the order against idolatry and sexual immorality when he brought a Midianite woman into his tent. He brought not only punishment to himself nut to the whole of Israelite, so Phinehas did what the Lord had commanded.