Study Desk

For them, I will remember the agreement with their ancestors. I brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt so that I could become their God. The other nations saw these things. I am the Lord ."

"I destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt. At that time I chose all the firstborn from every family in Israel to be mine in a special way. That included all the firstborn men and animals. But now I am choosing the Levites to take their place. Now they will be my special servants. I, the Lord , give this command!"

I am the Lord . I will take the Levites instead of all the firstborn men and boys of Israel. I will also take the animals from the Levites instead of taking all the firstborn animals from the other people in Israel."

Whether they are a man or a woman, send them away so that the camp where I am living among you will not be made unclean."

The Israelites will give me the Levites. They will belong to me. In the past I told every Israelite family to give me their firstborn son. But now I am taking the Levites in place of these firstborn sons from the other families in Israel.

Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. This will be a special way for your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I am the Lord your God."

He asked the Lord , "Why did you bring this trouble on me? I am your servant. What did I do wrong? What did I do to upset you? Why did you give me responsibility over all these people?

You know that I am not the father of all these people. You know that I did not give birth to them. But I must take care of them, like a nurse carrying a baby in her arms. Why do you force me to do this? Why do you force me to carry them to the land that you promised to our fathers?

But Moses answered, "Are you afraid the people will think that I am not the leader now? I wish that all the Lord 's people were able to prophesy. I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on all of them!"

"I am the Lord , and I have spoken. And I promise that I will do these things to all these evil people. They have come together against me. So they will all die here in this desert."

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: I am giving you a land to be your home. When you enter that land,

"Tell the Israelites this: I am taking you to another land.

I am the Lord your God. I am the one who brought you out of Egypt. I did this to be your God. I am the Lord your God."

But, Aaron, only you and your sons may serve as priests. You are the only ones who can go near the altar or behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place. I am giving you a gift—your service as a priest. Anyone else who tries to come too close must be killed."

The Lord also said to Aaron, "You will not get any of the land. And you will not own anything that the other people own. I myself will be yours. The Israelites will get the land that I promised, but I am my gift to you.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. You did not show the Israelites that the power to make the water came from me. So you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them."

But the donkey said to Balaam, "Look, I am your donkey. You have ridden me for so many years. And you know that I have never done this to you before!" "That is true," Balaam said.

Then the Lord 's angel asked Balaam, "Why did you hit your donkey three times? I am the one who came to stop you. But just in time,

Then Balaam said to the Lord 's angel, "I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road. If I am doing wrong, I will go back home."

Balaam answered, "Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words God tells me to say."