September 10, 2008
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questions
This morning I will be out and about, so until I can post a new entry, I figured I would give you a few questions that I have had during my recent Bible readings. Maybe you would have an answer.
Deuteronomy 27:11-13 And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, 12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; 13 and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Nothing is random with God, so I am wondering why God chose the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin to speak blessings.
And Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali to speak the curses.
I suspect Levi – the priesthood (but they ultimately failed), Judah because Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, Joseph for he obeyed God and kept faith, But Issachar was sort of nameless and I am not certain about Benjamin and Simeon.
Inquiring minds wants to know. Do you have any ideas?
Last night I noticed something I never noticed before.
Joshua 4:8-9 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
I sort of only thought there were 12 stones – one per tribe set up on the land next to where the people camped – as a memorial. But there are 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests stood. So there were 24 stones. I wonder if they have been found, will be revealed soon. I entirely missed those 12 stones in the river. Any teachings on those?
Thanks, I will try to update later today.
Heather
Comments (24)
I think that is good to think.
I think by asking questions, it brings things out of us.
We search for answers…wanting to find out.
In most cases we can’t find the answers…It’s a mystery.
But in the long run…we can be drawn to God.
Keep your thinker thinking.
I believe that thinking is a good thing;
As long as it is GOOD thinking.
Have A Great Day!
Blessing to you.
@Journaling_Susan - LOL, I am chuckling at your humor in answering. Today it seems to be a day of humor. As I read of the crossing of the Jordan, I noticed that it “killed 2 birds with one stone,” Got the people across, but also put fear in the heart of the enemies. (Joshua 5), then after the circumcision when they were sore – done on the enemy side of the Jordan, God said to me, “sitting ducks” except that they were under God’s protection. I cracked up. Sometimes God makes me laugh in delight. He is soooo funny. Yet there is a seriousness there too. For God can use one situation to break apart many things, and sometimes when we are the most vulnerable is when He chooses to circumcise our hearts, making us aware of how much we need Him. And then He can Gilgal (roll) away so much more from our lives, for we are more open to Him.
Have a blessed day!
Heather
About the twelve stones, there were only twelve. here’s how it happened: God told Joshua to get twelve stones from the middle of the river, and to MAKE A PILE of those same stones where the priest stood. So the Children of Israel brought the stones to where they were supposed to be, and Joshua made a pile out of them. It is a great picture of the hierarchy that YHWH set up. He told His man “This is what you are to do.” So His man told the people “Bring me the stones so I can do this” then he does it. The entire nation was credited with the feat, but in reality, only 13 men participated: one from each tribe and Joshua.
Cowboy
Check out the last few chapters of Genesis where Jacob gives the blessings (and curses) to his sons. Its quite an eye opener. Also, I think if you check out the breakdown of which tribes went where in terms of territory, you’ll see the correlation. The cursing tribes were all left in the far north. It is really all about Geography. As for why these and not those… well, that’s more complicated. I don’t know that its a matter of God choosing so much as is it is God knowing man’s choices.
Regarding the twelve stones in the river – will they be revealed later? Perhaps they already have been. Perhaps just as there were 12 tribes of Israel there are 12 apostles of Christ. Just as one is discounted and another divided, Judas was discounted and his place divided. Just as Ephraim became greater, so Paul became greater. There are 24 elders at the throne in John’s vision. There are 24 stones associated with the crossing into the promised land. There are 12 gates to New Jerusalem and twelve precious stones mentioned in John’s vision. Perhaps somewhere in all of this you can find a starting point for the quest for your answer. ~_^
I have a lot of questions too, but I guess further study of the bible will answer some and others will never get answered. I’m sure you will find your answers. Have a great day and God Bless!
Heather, lol—I am surely not qualified to touch those hard questions. I am not ‘deep’ at all in Bible study. I did recall that Dan was one of the bad boys, and in Revelation Jospeph remplaces him as one of the 12 tribes. That is only one.
I am more basic and read for pleasure and application. I am still trying to figure out how to live the Christian life successfully. I see so many Xanga Christians here that are so spiritual and love Jesus so much that I wish I had what you have.
I don’t anything about the number of stones. I just thought they were like a memorial of God’s faithfulness and provision.
Good Questions—Wrong guy!! lol
Blessings
frank
@NVRSAD_DAY - I read in different moods, sometimes for pleasure, sometimes light. I guess it depends. What is important for me is to make sure that I am reading the Word each day, for if I don’t my day just doesn’t go right. You know, I love Jesus very much, but I suspect you do too. I too tell myself I wish I spent more time with Him, and I am not always so spiritual. God deals with me all the time about sins that I have to work on in my life. I get frustrated, impatient, murmur, prideful, lots of things. I do try to do better, but I mess up lots too.
Heather
@Rchick2006 - Yep, some are answered, others aren’t. But I like to read with an inquiring mind. One day I was wondering where a particular passage was that supported what I was reading and I turned back to Genesis where I knew where the passage was, and God brought me to the exact page and verse. He is so good.
Heather
@FKIProfessor - Thanks! That makes sense for the Northern Kingdom sinned and had no good kings, whereas the Southern Kingdom had some good kings. I thought it might be that, so I will check out the geographic distribution.
And yes, what you are suggesting regarding the stones makes sense. I also had an idea that water, symbol of the Word of God, and the stones are buried in the Word. But I also thought that maybe the stones on the earth could be destroyed, but people may not notice the ones in the water, and it would be revealed one day as confirmation of the Word. Also living water, flowing, and the stones are in that. I am speculating, but I love it that God grabs my interest. I always love this section of the Word because it encorages me how God rolls away our sins in Gilgal. Isn’t it interesting that they cross the Jordan, then get circumcised – where they are vulnerable to the enemy BUT for God.
Heather
@wondering04 - Thanks for sharing Heather. God bless you.
Frank
I’m kind of clueless here. *scratches head* I think heather’s last comment about the stones in the water – is a good speculation.
Economics is good. I almost missed a deadline last week. Oops! I didn’t know the deadline would be so soon. But I did it! our professor is kind of offtopic a lot and not as organized. Thanks for your comment. It’s wonderful encouragement. I love how you always blog about the stuff you’re studying. It inspires me to study too. The Bible. =)
Admittedly, the depth of your inquiry is beyond my current knowledge.
Sigh….ok, now you’ve given me some more things to keep me awake…..LOL
@brokenbindings2 - LOL, sorry, I guess I have an inquiring mind.
Heather
Great post i love finding out so many new things that the bible has to teach us sometime i can read the same passage and God shows me a different message in it He is so amazing i don’t know what i do with out him in my life
GOD BLESS,
SANDY
I don’t have answers, but I am continually amazed at what little bits of information I miss when I read the Bible. Just two Sundays ago the pastor was going over the scene at the Garden of Gethsemane. The soldiers came in and surrounded Jesus. For some reason I have always missed the fact that when Jesus first spoke and said, “I am He” the soldiers all fell backwards as if struck! How amazing is that?! Maybe we just tend to read things and skip over in our minds thinking that we know the story. Just thought it was worth mentioning. I was shaking my head at myself during the sermon. – Rachel
@Aslans_daughter - I am smiling because I know what you mean. Before I got saved I figured why do these Christians keep reading the Bible – read it once and move on. Never did I realize the depth of knowledge available in the Word of God.
Heather
@cleaner2 - You are right, God is awesome and no matter where I am in the Word of God, God always finds something new to show me, or uses the scriptures to point out things to me that I need to work on in myself.
Heather
@Aloysius_son - beyond mine too, lol. But that is what is so neat about the Word of God, so much to know, it is never a boring read.
Heather
@shieldmaiden4x - Glad you didn’t miss that deadline! Professors are not as forgiving as those high school teachers. Hoping your studies are going well. I am glad you like my sharing what I am learning. I am so blessed to have awesome teachers, and it just makes the Word of God come alive.
Heather
@cowboy_christian - I still read it as 24 stones. The people picked up the stones and put them on the land THEN Joshua put 12 stones by the priest’s feet.
Heather
@wondering04 -
You could be right at that. we know that there were many such piles of stones for remembering.
Cowboy
judah is always interesting to me. why him? he was the one to initiate that they kill joseph. But he also was the one to repent most when he realizes how distraught his Dad was. Change of heart. And then, he was willing to sacrifice. interesting. don’t know about 24! always something new! what a living Book! love ya
@FKIProfessor - FKI Professor was correct – I finally found a map that detailed where the tribes of Israel settled and except for Issachar, the tribes who pronounced the curses were in the Northern Kingdom – and that Kingdom produced no kings who did right in the sight of God, so God knew that. Awesome!
Heather