Geert Lovink on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:03:52 +0100 (CET)


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Re: <nettime> Thanksgiving - 2009


Question: "Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land?"

Answer: In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, "Take the staff, and you  
and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that  
rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring  
water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock  
can drink." Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses' response: "So Moses took  
the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. He and  
Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses  
said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this  
rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his  
staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank."  
Numbers 20:12 gives us the Lord's response, "But the LORD said to  
Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me  
as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this  
community into the land I give them."

What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord?  
First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded  
Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his  
staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water.  
Notice how in verse 10 Moses said, "must we (referring to Moses and  
Aaron) bring you water out of this rock." Moses took credit for the  
miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses did  
this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct  
disobedience could not go unpunished. Moses’ punishment was that he  
would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).


On 27 Nov 2009, at 3:57 AM, Newmedia@aol.com wrote:

> Folks:
>
> Yes.  The end is near.
>
> Ray Kurweil is dying. Falling apart.
>
> Know this.  Life is now.
 <...>


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