Day 34: Numbers 17-20

I have been falling way behind and falling victim to temptations and distractions, but now I am trying to come back, read, blog, and move onward. Please pray for me as I continue.

Summaries:
The Israelites grumble against God for slaying the people who disobeyed, and God tells Moses and Aaron to leave so he can destroy the community, and as God is destroying, Moses tells Aaron to incense the community to make atonement for them, and this stops God's wrath. God has each tribe to bring forth a staff, and the one that blossoms will be God's choice, and Aaron's staff (the Levite staff) blooms (17). God reminds Aaron that he and his sons and the Levites are responsible for the sanctuary, and they are dedicated to the Lord, and he details the amounts of the sacrifices of which the priests may partake. The people are to give a tithe to the Levites, and of that, the Levites must tithe a portion to the Lord (18). A clean red heifer is to be led out of the camp, slaughtered, and burned, and the ashes are to be gathered and used to the cleansing of people who are made unclean because of the body of a deceased person (19). Miriam dies, and people complain about lack of water, so God tells Aaron and Moses to strike the rock and make water flow, and they strike it twice, showing their uncertainty, and though water comes, Moses and Aaron are punished for their lack of faith by not being allowed to enter the land that they are leading the Israelites to. Israel wishes to pass through Edom without harm, but they do not allow, so the Israelites take a detour. Aaron is take up to God, and his garments and responsibility is passed on to his son Eleazar (20).

Reflections:
I am always moved when Moses and Aaron or anyone else are able to intercede for the people with God. It's not that they necessarily change God's mind, but are proven worthy of his love, in a sense. It shows the power of prayer, and makes me think of how much our priests must be praying for all of us.

The part about the red heifer was very confusing, though I found this quote and footnote/quote to be very interesting:
-Numbers 19:17 - "For anyone who is thus unclean, ashes from the sin offering shall be put in a vessel, and spring water shall be poured on them..."
-Footnote, a quote from Hebrews 9:13f - "If...the sprinkled ashes of a heifer sanctify the unclean unto the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ... cleanse your conscience from dead works?"

Quotes:
Numbers 18:7 - "I give you the priesthood as a gift."