March 22 – Moral Authority for Warfare

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Numbers 33:40-35:34
Luke 5:12-28
Psalm 65:1-13
Proverbs 11:23

Numbers 33:52 — Why do the Israelites have the moral authority to engage in offensive warfare? Verse 53 gives the reason: because the Creator of the land, people, and law has given it to Israel. He made (and therefore has the right to possess, use, and dispose of) the place they dwell, the inhabitants, and the rules of the game. If the LORD is not the Creator of the earth, man, and law, there is no moral authority to displace another people group under norms of reciprocity. But if the LORD is the Creator of the earth, He can give land to whomever He desires. If He is the Creator of man, He can give orders to whomever He desires. If He is the Creator of law, He can give judgment whenever He desires. And if He’s the Creator of moral authority, how can you argue that the Creator of moral authority is immoral?

Numbers 34:2 — The same Creator who owns the entire earth set borders for His people. This is an interesting concept to ponder.

Numbers 35:30 — While this may seem dry, this is actually the “Criminal Procedure” of Israel. Today’s criminal procedure is much more complex.

Today’s events in Luke occur in the city of Capernaum, right on the Sea of Galilee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/upyernoz/2996887011/

Luke 5:16 — Interesting contrast to the “televangelists” of today.

Psalm 65:7 — This is an interesting prophecy of David. A few hundred years later God would calm the Mediterranean, and a thousand years later Jesus would calm the Sea of Galilee (Jonah 1:15 and Matthew 8:26).

Proverbs 11:23 — An interesting parallel to Job 23:10.

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