Sunday, July 10, 2005
13:46
Today was the first lesson from Numbers. I thought Andrew was going to do it, but we managed not to connect with each other, or to get him connected with the notebook, due to a series of communication errors. First, I called Kyle and arranged to pick up the notebook from him at Greg's on Friday night. Then, Andrew called Kyle, found out I was going to do that, and figured I would bring the notebook to him once I got it (we live about three blocks apart). Then, Kyle forgot to bring the notebook to Greg's. Andrew was out of town on Saturday, and had been intending to prepare the lesson early Sunday morning. So he didn't answer his phone after I got the notebook Saturday afternoon.
Anyway, today was the first lesson in Numbers. The suggested chapters were 11 and 12, but we skimmed the ones before that and even read most of 9, which was about the first Passover celebration (after the one in Egypt). Chapter 11 is about manna and quail, while chapter 12 is about Aaron, Miriam, and leprosy. We talked about why it is wrong to complain against God, and the difference between complaining and asking for something. The kids were quick to say that we shouldn't complain because we shouldn't question God's plan, but one aspect they didn't think of right away is that our focus shouldn't be on current circumstances but on eternity. God never intended for the Israelites to be on a manna diet forever; the trip from Egypt to the promised land was probably just a few months. Instead of complaining about the journey, they ought to have been looking forward to the destination.
Anyway, today was the first lesson in Numbers. The suggested chapters were 11 and 12, but we skimmed the ones before that and even read most of 9, which was about the first Passover celebration (after the one in Egypt). Chapter 11 is about manna and quail, while chapter 12 is about Aaron, Miriam, and leprosy. We talked about why it is wrong to complain against God, and the difference between complaining and asking for something. The kids were quick to say that we shouldn't complain because we shouldn't question God's plan, but one aspect they didn't think of right away is that our focus shouldn't be on current circumstances but on eternity. God never intended for the Israelites to be on a manna diet forever; the trip from Egypt to the promised land was probably just a few months. Instead of complaining about the journey, they ought to have been looking forward to the destination.
# posted by Fibonacci @ 10.7.05 
