Numbers 35-36

The sixth commandment of the decalogue, "You shall not murder" is clear and in conjunction with Numbers 35 in the context of cities of refuge unintentional killing is to be intentionally investigated because the death penalty for murder is a perfectly just response. Earlier this year in studying Genesis I was intrigued with the way that Eve and Leah cried out to the LORD thanking Him for helping them to bring a son into the world - God being the giver of life the marriage bed is barren without the LORD. In the same way as Job declared when his children and all his earthly possessions were stripped from him when he declared, "the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." God gives life and God takes life away in His timing for His purpose and glory. In all my ways and words I pray that my life honors my Creator acknowledging the giver of life - who am I that you are mindful of me O LORD? I thank you for the abundant life that you have given me, may I never take for granted the breath in my lungs, the light in my eyes or the life in my blood that you have given me. God you are good.

Psalm 8 (NIV) "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

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