In the last post I had just started Genesis, and since then we have completed (as a school) Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. They were all altered assignments, as for all three we didn't have a normal amount of time to due them (a normal amount being about a week). We did Numbers and Leviticus in about a 10 day span, which was pretty grueling. Numbers especially. As a whole, the books themselves have been awesome, but they are quite exhausting, and I am looking forward to finishing Deuteronomy later this week, so there will be a bit of a break from the big books for a while.
So something practical that I can share from the work I've been doing is how all of them, in different ways, explain the aspects of who God is, who man is, and how that works together in the relationship between man and God. The books themselves show a progression in what God is doing, as Genesis shows God making a people, Exodus shows God freeing a people, Leviticus shows God separating a people, and Numbers shows God leading a people. So over the books you really get a sense that God is a personal God, that he is continually working for the salvation and relationship with his people (ultimately being fulfilled in Jesus).
So while God is doing all the amazing stuff, you see a brutally sad glimpse into the brokenness and depravity of man. The sins of people continually grow and grow into an ever more shockingly way, which allows you to understand why the people need God, why we need God. Humans are naturally selfish, while God is naturally giving.
All of this leads into an interesting display of the relationship between man and God. Numbers is perhaps best served for this, because rather than one or two people dealing with God at a time, it is an entire nation that he is working with in getting them to the promised land. The generosity, provision, and protection of God are seen all over that book, as he constantly forgives the people for turning from him. And when he ultimately does judge them, even though a generation dies, ultimately his people still do receive their promise.
I'm doing a terrible job at explaining what is going on in the books, so my best recommendation would be to read them for yourselves, and then ask any questions you may have. My mind is a bit mush right now.
Anyway, life is good, it goes on. I'm pretty tired, but I guess that's normal. As far as prayer requests, please pray for continued endurance and wisdom, as I keep pushing into the Word, and trying to find what it has to say.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joshua Miller
