Amen=Confirming Agreement

 

Deuteronomy 27:14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:
15 “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 “‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

After several more chapters reviewing the Law of God, the people get to the confirmation of the law, summarized in the statements above. Accepting the covenant meant accepting the curses of disobedience. It's like those legal documents you sign then initial every statement, then sign again at the end. It is legally binding, serious stuff. May we take our vows to God seriously.

Protecting the Defenseless.

Deuteronomy 22:25 “But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. 26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor, 27 because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her.

After repeating many of the laws found in Exodus with the wilderness wanderings, we come to this section.  After living for decades in close proximity in Egypt, and then the tent city of the wilderness wanderings, the people were going to have space and more privacy. There were many good things about that, but it also meant less accountability.  Men need to be held accountable for their actions.  Women needed the protection by society.  Whenever anyone is allowed to bully others to get what they want, society must step in and protect, or eventually all will suffer.  Added to that is the fact that the man to whom this woman was betrothed had been violated and the tendency for revenge was real. That also would disturb the society as a whole. Have we learned these lessons?

Never Too Far...

 

Deuteronomy 14:24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there, 25 then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses 26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.

As soon as God begins to give us instructions, our impulse is to say: "What if...?"  God had said He would establish the place for His worship. But what if someone's part of the promised land was far away from that place?  God foresees our excuses and complaints and makes a way for them.  He knows the objections we will come up with to not worship Him: too far, no parking, hard pews, long sermons, "all they want is your money...". God knows and hears it all.  He is always here, waiting and deserving to be worshipped.  What excuses do we really have?

Worshipping God's Way

Deuteronomy 12:26 But the holy things that are due from you, and your vow offerings, you shall take, and you shall go to the place that the Lord will choose, 27 and offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but the flesh you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.

When the people entered into the land, not only were they to be picky about who or what they worshipped, but where and how they did so. They were not to worship any of the idols, and they were not to worship the way the pagan peoples had. The blood was not to be drunk or eaten, but poured out before God. God was also going to designate the place. At the present it would be at the tabernacle, and He would designate some specific cities and eventually the temple at Jerusalem, but it was not to be on every and any mountain or hill like the pagans did.  When Jesus told the woman at the well it was not so much the place as it was the way - in spirit and in truth - He was not saying God did not care about where. The place is not so important in itself as much as it is that it is where and how God wants. He wants us to worship with obedience hearts, not self-focus and self-determination. He wants us to worship with His people, not in our own little world. He deserves to be worshipped how He wants. Is worship all about you or about Him? 

The Hour of Decision...

Deuteronomy 11:26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known... 31 For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you. And when you possess it and live in it, 32 you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.

The verses that precede this last paragraph of the chapter are one long challenge to love and serve God in the promised land.  Having laid out all of the past events of the exodus and wilderness wanderings, both good and evil, God calls on them to set a course not just on their geographical goal, but their spiritual goal. As they go in, will they take seriously the covenant commitments they have made to serve Him alone? They had left behind a whole host of false gods in Egypt; a whole new set of them lie ahead in Canaan.  The temptation would not cease.  Would their obedience? Will ours? 

Not So Righteous...

Deuteronomy 9:25 “So I lay prostrate before the Lord for these forty days and forty nights, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. 26 And I prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, 28 lest the land from which you brought us say, “Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.” 29 For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.’

As God continues to speak through Moses as the people prepare to enter the promised land, he reminds them that they are not to start thinking God had given them the land because they were so righteous. He pulls out one glaring example: the golden calf. It was a big one, as Moses ended up in prayer and fasting for forty days interceding for them. They had behaved far from righteous. It was the testimony of God's name that was the key point.  Moses did not want Egypt to think God had failed to deliver them into the land.  Rather, it was His grace and mercy that got them there. It's still His grace and mercy that is at work in us - not our own righteousness.

Since You Are Chosen...

Deuteronomy 7:25 The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction.

Having reminded the people of what God had done for them, God had Moses move on into what they needed to do, and not do, when they were given the promised land. They would inherit cities and lands and whatever was left behind by the previous residents of the land. That included their idols.  They would find all kinds made up of all materials: some base, some precious metals.  Their attitude towards them was to be the same: get rid of them. Don't collect them, put them into the closet, or be enamored by their beauty. They were to be removed and destroyed. We are often oblivious to how much destruction these seemingly harmless things bring into our lives.  Since He has chosen us we do not need them and should not want them.

Remember the Reverence...

Deuteronomy 5:23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

As Moses continues to recount God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, he reminds them of the appearance God made to them on Mt. Sinai when giving the Ten Commandments.  Though most the people there would not remember, those who had been young children at that time still would. It was the most overwhelming memory they would have: God speaking to them from the burning mountain. They were to remember the reverence they had and rekindle it as they entered the promised land.  What are the times you have sensed God speaking to you? How did they move you? How can they move you again? 

When.. and If...

Deuteronomy 4:25 “When you father children and children's children, and have grown old in the land, and you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. 28 And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 

After all the things Moses saw in God delivering his people, bringing them through the wilderness and to the promised land, he was still a realist.  He knew our tendency to forget and wander.  In the great call to obedience found earlier in this chapter, he also looks to the future, calling the mountains around them to serve as witnesses to their promises of obedience. The mountains would be there long after Moses was gone to call them to remembrance of their vows when they disobeyed. They would also be there to remember God's promise that if they would seek Him once again, they would find Him. He would still be there waiting. And He still Is.

Given a Glimpse...

 Deuteronomy 3:23 “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ 26 But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. 

As God has Moses recite the history of the exodus and wilderness wanderings, he does not leave out his own failures. He had lost it at the rock, hitting it and demanding water. He made it about him instead of God.  As a result, he was not going to enter the land.  He begged God to let him just go in and see, but instead God gave him just a glimpse from a distance. Sometimes God gives us promises and goals that He wants to accomplish and we work towards them and see so much progress, but not total fulfillment. It is not that God has been unfaithful. What is important is that we ultimately end up with Him. Even a glimpse is worth the following. 

An Example So Far...

Deuteronomy 2:26 “So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, 27 ‘Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink. Only let me pass through on foot, 29 as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is giving to us.’ 30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.

As Moses continues to recall recent history as an encouragement for the people of Israel to move forward into the promised land, he recalled the resistance they had met along the way: peoples who did not want to assist them in obeying God's command. The point here is that God took care of them. Those who got in the way during the wilderness wanderings ended up giving their territory to the tribes who chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan.  In the same way, there would be resistance when they crossed the Jordan. No one was going to give up their home without a fight, but God would fight for them, if they obeyed Him. This was an example of how they were to take the land: obey His command, trust Him for victory, and seem Him keep His promises. We can trust Him to do the same in our lives, just as He has done so far.

Learn and Leave

Deuteronomy 1:26 “Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. 27 And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

By the end of the book of Numbers, we had seen enough names and lists to make the head spin as God gave instructions for entering the promised land.  Now it is time to enter. But before doing so, God has the people take one big glance backwards to see their complaining and disobedience.  God did not give them all of these struggles and roadblocks because He hated them. They brought them upon themselves by not trusting Him and obeying His commands. It was now time for them to learn from these experiences and leave their complaining and disobedience behind.  How often do we wrongly view our struggles as God being against us and doubting His love for us?  How much more are they because of our disobeying and failing to trust Him?

A Place for Safety and Justice

Numbers 35:25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. 28 For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. 

The cities of refuge in scripture are an interesting and often misunderstood topic in scripture. They were not just for anyone for any reason at any time. They were focused on keeping society focused on justice and not revenge. They were not just a home base you could go to playing tag. This was serious stuff. The manslayer who fled there could not just run and hide then do whatever he wanted. Justice had to be served and society had to act. That is the only way everyone will feel safe.

More Names; A Tough Job

Numbers 34:19 These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20 Of the tribe of the people of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud. 21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. 22 Of the tribe of the people of Dan a chief, Bukki the son of Jogli. 23 Of the people of Joseph: of the tribe of the people of Manasseh a chief, Hanniel the son of Ephod. 24 And of the tribe of the people of Ephraim a chief, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25 Of the tribe of the people of Zebulun a chief, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. 26 Of the tribe of the people of Issachar a chief, Paltiel the son of Azzan. 27 And of the tribe of the people of Asher a chief, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. 28 Of the tribe of the people of Naphtali a chief, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.” 29 These are the men whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance for the people of Israel in the land of Canaan.

Once again we are faced not with a lot of numbers, but names. These men had in unenviable task of dividing the Promised land into parts and parcels for the tribes and clans within them. The risk for envy would be great. How do you choose and who do you choose? Thankfully they had leading them Joshua and Eliazer the priest, and above them God, but this was not small responsibility, as "unspiritual" as is may seem. May we be thankful for those willing to do so.

Learn from Where You've Been...

Numbers 33:6 And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah. 17 And they set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. 18 And they set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19 And they set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez. 20 And they set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah. 21 And they set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22 And they set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. 23 And they set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. 24 And they set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25 And they set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. 26 And they set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

Almost to be feared as much as pronouncing the lists of names in Numbers is the fear of having to read all of these places.  But, once again, they are important, as they represent where the people had been on their wilderness wanderings. With those places came memories, good and bad, of what they had learned along the way.  In the context of this chapter, they were to remember all the pagan nations they had encountered along the way and make sure to drive them out, lest their influence bring them down.  We learn from the past to look to the future and walk in obedience. 

Doing Their Part a Different Way.

Numbers 32:23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.” 25 And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben said to Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead, 27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord orders.”

Because of the victories Israel won early, two of the tribes of Israel were satisfied with the land they saw (and with good reason) before even crossing the Jordan. The Jordan valley and the "highway" to the east had very desirable qualities. But they still had a responsibility to help the other tribes acquire their allotted territory. In exchange for early settlement, they had to agree to more travel from home, leaving their families behind while going on for battle.  It was a trade-off which was agreeable to all. Sometimes we can (and should) come to agreements with one another for all to move forward - in the family, in the church, and in all areas of life.  Are you willing to do this kind of exchange, or only do things your way?

Equitable, Not Equal

Numbers 31:25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “Take the count of the plunder that was taken, both of man and of beast, you and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers' houses of the congregation, 27 and divide the plunder into two parts between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation. 28 And levy for the Lord a tribute from the men of war who went out to battle, one out of five hundred, of the people and of the oxen and of the donkeys and of the flocks. 29 Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to the Lord. 30 And from the people of Israel's half you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the people, of the oxen, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the cattle, and give them to the Levites who keep guard over the tabernacle of the Lord.”

God had Moses spend several chapters on all the problems the Midianites gave Israel, trying to keep them from entering the promised land.  In this chapter He had them go in and take back reparations. What we notice here is that when they were divided up first the Levites, God's servants received theirs, to remind the people that ultimately God provides all. Then, those warriors who went out and actually did the work received a greater portion. In other words, God did what was equitable, not equal. So often we fall into the cry of the world that everything and everyone should receive "equal", when what is really fair and just is equity.  What are you whining about?

How to Remember...

Numbers 29:26 “On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 27 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 28 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

As God gave the people of Israel all these instructions about special days to commemorate, He came to one which was much more than one day: the Day of Atonement, followed by the Feast of Tabernacles. This was to help them remember their need for forgiveness as well as God's provision for them during the wilderness wanderings.  God did not want them to forget their need to constantly come back to Him, nor all the experiences of their journey, with their failures and His faithfulness.  We, like they are prone to forget. 

How to Celebrate!

 Numbers 28:26 “On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 27 but offer a burnt offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; 30 with one male goat, to make atonement for you. 31 Besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering. See that they are without blemish.

Every culture has its celebrations. Some have many days throughout the year that they commemorate which have accumulated over the centuries.  God had brought His people out of bondage so they could worship and celebrate. This chapter discusses the daily, weekly (sabbath), monthly, and annual sacrifices and celebrations. Every day is a day to worship God and celebrate his blessings, but every week, month, and year there are special times and ways to do so. We have done so this past week with our celebration of the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. God has provided our salvation and life eternal. May we learn and remember to celebrate well.

Not another Census!

 Numbers 26:26 The sons of Zebulun, according to their clans: of Sered, the clan of the Seredites; of Elon, the clan of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the clans of the Zebulunites as they were listed, 60,500.

When reading through the Bible together, one of people's greatest fears are genealogies and censuses. All those long names unlike names we have today, and how to pronounce them! But they are there for a reason. This one was taken just before entering the promised land. After listing all twelve tribes Moses notes that no one was on this list that was on the list before the wilderness wanderings (except two), and to note the changes in size of the tribes, which would affect the size of their lots in the promised land. Most did not have a big change, but one did have quite a decrease (quite possibly due to their sin during the false teaching of Balaam covered in the previous chapters.) At any rate, changes had taken place and needed to be noted.  The past would influence the future. So it does today. 

All That the Lord Says...

Numbers 23:25 And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” 26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” 27 And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. 29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

We saw yesterday Balaam's persistence to go where God kept throwing roadblocks in his way. Finally, he was able to hear, but he did not listen very well.  The same was true of Balak who had hired him to curse God's people. He did everything possible to make the right setting for Balaam, but three times (once before and once after this one) Balaam's prophecy went against Balak and for God's people. How often do we try to find loopholes, other ways, to not listen to God? 

Do You Hear Me Now?!?

 Numbers 22:24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Balaam had it in his heart and mind to speak against God's people as they moved toward the promised land.  He should have known better, but he was set on this course of action.  Three times God' tried to stop him, and three times Balaam took it out on the donkey.  That number three of course is repeated often in scripture to show God is done waiting.  Peter had three opportunities to proclaim Christ in the courtyard when Jesus was being tried.  How slow we are to give up our ways.  Sometimes God has to throw all sorts of obstacles in our way.  We hit a brick wall. He is talking to us, but we just won't listen. We take it out on other people, even on God.  He is speaking. Do you hear Him now?

A Temporary Base...

Numbers 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 

After a couple more interruptions in their trip due to disobedience, Israel came to the Amorites, requesting safe passage through their land. This was not where they wanted to stay nor did they want to take anything.  That wasn't good enough for Sihon; he wanted to show his strength, so he attacked. This was not a wise move and Israel, used to camping out, ended up using the capital as a "motel." This left them in control of a stopping point on the King's Highway, but this was not where they were to stay. They were still heading for the Promised Land. 

Passing On...

Numbers 20:22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, 24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

Aaron had been with Moses throughout this eventful journey. He was not just a sidekick; he and his heirs carried the burden to representing God's people and their sins before Him. But now it was time for him to pass off the scene and his ministry to be passed on to his sons. This was God's plan, planned and prepared for, but also appropriately mourned.  The nation would not move on for a month.  They wept not for their inconvenience, but the loss of his leadership and his inability to see the Promised Land. Do we know how and why to mourn?