I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

    If you put up security for a stranger’s debt, you should figure on paying it back yourself. Guaranteeing another person’s debt is a risk that is likely to cost you.

    We may suffer when God chooses to correct us for our errors, but He will raise a banner for us to rally around. If we fear God and gather to His call, He will provide us with the support we need to overcome our troubles. With God’s help we will overcome our troubles and do mighty things.

    Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem each year for Passover. When Jesus was twelve He stayed behind in Jerusalem when His parents headed home. When they returned to Jerusalem it took them three days to find Him. When they did find Him He was in the Temple among the religious teachers, listening and asking questions. When Jesus’ mother faulted Him because they had searched all over, He asked her why they had to search? Did they not know He would be about His Father’s business? Which raises the question which we must ask ourselves. When others are looking for us, will they find us about our Father’s business? And, do they know to look for us doing our Father’s business?

    As a result of some of the men of Israel having relations with women of Moab and worshiping Moab’s gods, there had been a plague among the people of Israel. When the plague was over God told Moses to once more conduct a census of the men of fighting age among the Israelites. When they had finished the count, the number was a little over 600,000 men. This number was very close to the same as the number of fighting men in the census Moses had taken when they were at Mt. Sinai, 40 years earlier. This census was taken for the same reason the census was taken at Mt. Sinai, in order to organize the fighting men for the invasion of the Promised Land. After the first census, the people of Israel were afraid to invade. This time, God had shaped this generation to do His will. Have we allowed ourselves to be shaped to do God’s will?