Day 75: Right Relationship With God

Today we read Numbers 27-28, Deuteronomy 28, and Psalm 112. In this story, there are two accounts of right relationship with God. First the daughters of Zelophehad who were “right” in their request for the inheritance God promised and Joshua, or in Hebrew, Y'shua (Hebrew: ישוע), the next leader of Israel who was filled with the spirit. This story describes his relationship with God in the Hebrew word 'urim’ which means to be or give light, to shine. The word is connected to truth and receiving God’s prophecy; it is the opposite of darkness. This is interesting because the Ancient Greek name Jesus, was actually derived from the Aramaic and Greek forms of Yeshua/Y’shua - in English, Joshua. The story in Deuteronomy paints this vivid illustration of a life without God where His hand, His breath, His voice does not interfere in the self-exile Israel, they/we initiate when they/we choose our own way over Him and His ways. Every time I read it, I feel this discomfort and softening of my heart and will to God’s way. I think American’s, like me, who love the concept of freedom, struggle with the idea of taking that freedom and yielding it to Him, not to die or end, but to thrive under His leadership.

Resources:

Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/

Adrian Reynolds (2023) A Numbers Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/numbers/#section-14 

Credits:

Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.