Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2: My Lord, I'm not an eloquent man.
Speaker 3: I've always been slow of speech and tongue. How can
Speaker 3: I speak with this feeble mouth of mine.
Speaker 4: Your brother Aaron walks among the people. He is an
Speaker 4: orator of skill and a man of the people. I
Speaker 4: have already instructed him to meet you. When he sees you,
Speaker 4: it will please his heart. You shall speak to him,
Speaker 4: and he shall proclaim on your behalf. I shall command you,
Speaker 4: and you shall command him. He shall be your mouth,
Speaker 4: and you shall be like a god to him.
Speaker 5: Pace Lord, please show me what I show me what
Speaker 5: I can do to atone for the people.
Speaker 6: Help me guide them. Shouldn't they turn away from mer sin?
Speaker 6: There has to be another way.
Speaker 5: Please show me.
Speaker 7: The Lord has confirmed that Aaron, son of Amram, a
Speaker 7: descendant of Levi himself, is the high Priest of Israel.
Speaker 7: Let no one doubt the Lord's.
Speaker 2: Choice, for he has spoken through this definitive sign.
Speaker 4: Moses has kept us from anything good.
Speaker 6: He would have us wandering the desert until we all die.
Speaker 1: And just like our parents, after years of wandering the
Speaker 1: desert waiting for the faithless to pass, this new generation
Speaker 1: dared to echo the same ungrateful complaints of their forbears.
Speaker 4: You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the
Speaker 4: source the rock while they want, and it will yield
Speaker 4: its water.
Speaker 3: Listen, he rebels, must erin, and I bring water out
Speaker 3: of this rock for you. We will show you where
Speaker 3: true authority lies.
Speaker 1: Anger surged unchecked through Moses, finally unleashed. As he spoke
Speaker 1: with ferocity to the ungrateful crowd. He raised his hand
Speaker 1: and struck the rock with the sprouted staff.
Speaker 4: You understand. You understand that you did not trust me
Speaker 4: to demonstrate mine holiness in the sight of all Israel.
Speaker 4: You took it upon yourself. You acted accordingly to your
Speaker 4: own authority. Because of this act of rebellion, neither of
Speaker 4: you will bring this assembly into the land I have
Speaker 4: given them.
Speaker 8: When your own brother bars the way, where do you turn? Sell, oh,
Speaker 8: my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel.
Speaker 8: A'my l extein with it, international Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
Speaker 8: and welcome to the Chosen people. Our people stand on
Speaker 8: the edge of Edome. The road has been long marked
Speaker 8: by rebellion and miracles alike. From the bitter waters of
Speaker 8: murray Bah, where we question the Lord's provision to the
Speaker 8: brink of yet another challenge, Moses sends a message to
Speaker 8: our brothers in Edome, asking for a simple passage through
Speaker 8: their land. No harm to their fields, no theft from
Speaker 8: their wells, just a step closer to the promised land.
Speaker 8: But Edome refuses.
Speaker 1: What will we do?
Speaker 8: And the path forward is blocked when even family turns
Speaker 8: us away? What does it mean to be turned away
Speaker 8: by your own brother? This is not a story of
Speaker 8: nations at war. This is a story of family. Esau
Speaker 8: and Jacob, Edome and Israel, the descendants of a shared ancestor,
Speaker 8: now on opposite sides. And the question that I find
Speaker 8: myself asking is what lies at the heart of Edom's refusal? Fear, mistrust,
Speaker 8: and beneath it all may be something deeper. The story
Speaker 8: of two brothers, one who stole a blessing and the
Speaker 8: other who lived with the loss. And now Edom, made
Speaker 8: up of ESA's descendants, refuses to forgive.
Speaker 1: The King of Edom stroked his wiry beard and bellied laugh.
Speaker 3: Now Ah, read it again.
Speaker 1: The chiefs and advisers roared in response, eager to hear
Speaker 1: the Israelite leaders please once more Ishamar Aaron's youngest son
Speaker 1: stood before them, biting his cheek to keep from showing
Speaker 1: his humiliation. This was an utter disgrace. Beside him, Girshl, Moses'
Speaker 1: eldest son, nudged him with a warning glance. They couldn't
Speaker 1: afford to provoke these men, no matter how taunting their words,
Speaker 1: for they had no authority to start a war. Neither
Speaker 1: wanted to become the first casualties of such a conflict.
Speaker 1: Ihamar took a steadying breath, cleared his throat, and began
Speaker 1: to read again.
Speaker 9: We will go on the main road, and if we
Speaker 9: or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price.
Speaker 4: There will be no problem. Only let us ah.
Speaker 2: No, no, read the first letter again.
Speaker 7: That's my favorite. Oh oh ah no, it's tuggled by heartstrings.
Speaker 2: Tug God, that make me weep with brother affection for
Speaker 2: your kids' hardships.
Speaker 1: Isthamar stared incredulously at the king. Gersham nudged him again
Speaker 1: and shot him a threatening look. If Amar shuffled the
Speaker 1: parchment in his hands and found the initial message they
Speaker 1: had been sent to deliver on their first visit to Edom.
Speaker 9: This is what your brother Israel says, You know, all
Speaker 9: the hardships that have overtaken us.
Speaker 6: Our ancestors suffered slavery in Egypt.
Speaker 9: He cried out to the lord, and he heard our
Speaker 9: plea and brought us out of Egypt. We are in Ketdish,
Speaker 9: on the border of your territory. Please let us travel.
Speaker 10: Through your land.
Speaker 9: We won't travel through any field or vineyard, or drink
Speaker 9: any well water.
Speaker 2: You will travel the King's highway.
Speaker 4: We won't turn to the right or the left.
Speaker 7: Until we've traveled through your territory.
Speaker 6: There you have it.
Speaker 1: That was the first message.
Speaker 6: Again.
Speaker 2: Watch your tone, priest, and speaking to a king.
Speaker 7: We won't turn to the right of the left until
Speaker 7: we've traveled through your territory.
Speaker 9: Please, your highness, you've heard our message. Now will you
Speaker 9: allow us to return to our fathers.
Speaker 1: The King of Edom sat back on his throne and
Speaker 1: abruptly stopped laughing. Ishamo didn't know what to make of
Speaker 1: this maniac. For Edom, I said, crowned King, he was
Speaker 1: a madman. Ishamar shifted uneasily on his feet, but held
Speaker 1: his ground. He could feel gersh On doing the same
Speaker 1: beside him.
Speaker 7: You've asked for safe passage through my legs and offered.
Speaker 2: To hey, when I want to know his name? Why
Speaker 2: why now? And answer me this?
Speaker 7: How is it that you're claim ownership Cain? Would you
Speaker 7: strip it from its current bonents? Your measly pause.
Speaker 2: I've never touched the soils of Canaan, yet it's somehow
Speaker 2: your own land. You based this on the promise of
Speaker 2: a long did patriar.
Speaker 7: You know we come from Abraham, as will we come
Speaker 7: from Esau, but you don't see me piercing everywhere and
Speaker 7: claiming it's mine, just like your.
Speaker 2: Ancestors, Jacob, you coming in to take whatever you want.
Speaker 2: Why should we share our kingdom with you? That was
Speaker 2: not rhetorical, Priest answer me.
Speaker 1: Isamar flinched at the harshness of the King's tone, but
Speaker 1: knew he had to respond, even if it meant inviting
Speaker 1: more mockery. Returning after their initial rejection had been a mistake,
Speaker 1: but Moses had insisted. Ihamar suspected Moses was desperate to
Speaker 1: regain the people's trust after the near rebellion before drawing
Speaker 1: water from the rock, but he would not reveal that
Speaker 1: weakness to the king.
Speaker 6: Yes, you're hoping we get on your kingship and pass
Speaker 6: safely through your lands on our way north to Canaan.
Speaker 7: But Cadan lies directly north of you, where your people
Speaker 7: are camped.
Speaker 2: Now, priest edam is east?
Speaker 7: Or did you never learn to read mats?
Speaker 6: In Egypt?
Speaker 1: The king knew about their devastating defeat at the hands
Speaker 1: of both the Canaanites and the Amalekites thirty eight years ago.
Speaker 1: He knew that was the reason they feared to go
Speaker 1: due north into Canaan, the reason they were seeking an
Speaker 1: indirect route. But he was going to make him say it.
Speaker 11: You know why, oh I do. The conquest is off
Speaker 11: to a splendid start. What'd you say one defeat sets
Speaker 11: your people back thirty eight years?
Speaker 7: Oh, you'll be conquerors in no time, just not by
Speaker 7: way of edom. Go now deliver my response to Moses.
Speaker 7: Your people may not travel.
Speaker 6: Through our country.
Speaker 7: If you do, we'll gut you like the pigs you
Speaker 7: refuse to eat.
Speaker 1: Moses drummed his gnarled fingers over the maps spread across
Speaker 1: the table in his tent, surrounded by his war council.
Speaker 1: Beside him were Aaron and the new generation of leaders,
Speaker 1: Eliezza and Ithamar, Aaron's sons representing the priestly Order. Gersham
Speaker 1: and Eliezza, moses sons representing civil leadership, and Joshua, his
Speaker 1: most trusted aid. Ithamar and Gersham had just returned from
Speaker 1: their meeting with the King and recited the full dismissive message.
Speaker 1: Ithamar was still ranting about how poorly it went.
Speaker 6: It was a complete waste of time.
Speaker 9: Time he never had any intention of helping us.
Speaker 1: His brother Elieza took a deep breath and responded to
Speaker 1: his outburst, trying to calm him down.
Speaker 5: Peace, brother, what's done is done. There's nothing we can
Speaker 5: do about it. Now, we must find a different way forward.
Speaker 1: If Amara was still fuming and Elieza was trying desperately
Speaker 1: to keep the peace. Moses frowned at his brother in
Speaker 1: the corner, but Aaron barely even looked up at his
Speaker 1: sons arguing in front of their war council. Joshua broke
Speaker 1: the tense silence at Moses' words.
Speaker 6: We must find another way north. Thank you, Joshua. Yes
Speaker 6: to the matter at hand.
Speaker 5: What if we were to attempt the King's road? Caravans
Speaker 5: and even militaries take that road all the time. I
Speaker 5: don't understand why we are the exception. It's simply because
Speaker 5: we asked.
Speaker 1: Loath to be left out. Ithamar was quick with a
Speaker 1: response and an eye roll at his brother's question.
Speaker 9: The Edamites already told us in no uncertain terms, they
Speaker 9: would meet us in battle.
Speaker 1: Joshua, the emerging tactician among them, inserted his knowledge of
Speaker 1: the surrounding terrain.
Speaker 6: The entrance to the King's road from here is through
Speaker 6: a narrow pass in those mountains. They would have been
Speaker 6: able to defend it and rout us quite easily if
Speaker 6: we had attempted to do so. Edam is wise to
Speaker 6: be suspicious of us. Edam is not foolish. They know.
Speaker 6: Even if we reimbursed them for their losses, it would
Speaker 6: not be enough to replenish what they lost before the
Speaker 6: harvest season.
Speaker 1: Moses eyed Aaron again in the corner of the tent,
Speaker 1: wondering if he would engage, but he remained despondent. It
Speaker 1: had been a month since Miriam passed, and then only
Speaker 1: a few weeks since the Lord had made his devastating judgment.
Speaker 1: Moses and Aaron would not enter the promised land, but
Speaker 1: the other men around this table would. Moses would make
Speaker 1: sure of it and prepare them in whatever way he could.
Speaker 5: I had hoped that hearing our plight and drawing on
Speaker 5: our shared lineage with Esol's descendants would sway their minds.
Speaker 6: We will find a different way, Lord Moses.
Speaker 1: A commotion outside the tent drew the men's attention. A
Speaker 1: moment later, a messenger burst into the tent. It was
Speaker 1: the Edomites. Their army of over five hundred had been
Speaker 1: spotted at a distance. They were stalled at the boundary,
Speaker 1: holding fast and ready for battle. The men all sprang
Speaker 1: to their feet, and all eyes went to Moses to
Speaker 1: determine what they should do next. Joshua interjected before Moses
Speaker 1: had a chance to think of a response to.
Speaker 6: Caleb of trad Judah, to pull our men back at
Speaker 6: the pair defense, a pull for orders, and spread the
Speaker 6: word for the shepherds to bring the flocks and clothes.
Speaker 1: The messenger ran off to do as he was told.
Speaker 1: Moses looked at Joshua in surprise. He had truly become
Speaker 1: a confident and capable leader.
Speaker 6: That's not jumped any conclusions. I would bet they're posturing themselves.
Speaker 6: Want to reinforce the message they sent back with Imar.
Speaker 1: Geesham Ifamar frowned. He was not so sure.
Speaker 6: What if they decide to march forward, would then then
Speaker 6: we handle it. But I've studied edom. They've got soldiers, sure,
Speaker 6: but they're no warriors. The focus is the tolls, keeping
Speaker 6: their stretch of the King's Highway in check, not campaigns.
Speaker 6: But the right move would push them back easily.
Speaker 1: If themar and Elieza both looked to Joshua, surprised at
Speaker 1: the confidence with which he had spoken. Gone was the
Speaker 1: attendant to Moses who kept to the shadows. Here was
Speaker 1: a general of war. Moses eyebrows rose in approval. This
Speaker 1: was the man he selected all those years ago to
Speaker 1: lead that very first battle. This was perhaps why Joshua continued,
Speaker 1: unaware of the newfound respect that was growing on his
Speaker 1: captive audience's faces.
Speaker 6: But the real question is if we engage them in
Speaker 6: battle and press north, do we want to be fighting
Speaker 6: a war on two fronts. This is not a wise
Speaker 6: course of action. We should not engage.
Speaker 1: Aaron, who had been silent throughout their entire meeting, surprised
Speaker 1: Moses further by finally speaking up.
Speaker 5: Joshua is right.
Speaker 1: Everyone in the tent was silent. The aged Aaron propped
Speaker 1: himself up and raised a finger to them. His voice, steady,
Speaker 1: filled with conviction.
Speaker 5: Eden is not our enemy, but if we treat them
Speaker 5: like one, then we will have a catastrophe on our hands.
Speaker 5: Answer me, this, did the Lord promise us victory over Aden?
Speaker 1: Everyone shook their heads.
Speaker 5: And why bother marching? If our God hasn't called, we
Speaker 5: shall remain.
Speaker 1: Joshua's assessment was correct Edam's army remained on the border
Speaker 1: and watched as Israel packed up an edge slowly northward
Speaker 1: along the Atharim Road. Aaron had faithfully overseen the transportation
Speaker 1: of the tabernacle. He was careful to instruct Elieza in
Speaker 1: everything he did, knowing that it would all fall to
Speaker 1: him one day. One day, very soon, Aaron feared. The
Speaker 1: failure at Kadesh after Miriam's death had been a blow.
Speaker 1: Aaron had experienced failure before, but somehow the finality of
Speaker 1: this consequence was something he could just not shake. Aaron
Speaker 1: was not ashamed to admit he was lost in grief
Speaker 1: over it in the days that followed. But then the
Speaker 1: most miraculous thing happened. He found acceptance. He sensed his
Speaker 1: time was drawing near and his duty would be finished
Speaker 1: at last. Aaron knew the generation who would take the
Speaker 1: promised Land would need to have more heart and vigor
Speaker 1: than Aaron possessed at his age. He was tired. When
Speaker 1: he was released from the task of taking the Promised
Speaker 1: Land with Israel, he was finally able to embrace it,
Speaker 1: and as he embraced the bone deep weariness, acceptance came.
Speaker 1: At last. Aaron would soon rest. Moses had not yet
Speaker 1: accepted it. Aaron chuckled to himself.
Speaker 12: No, No, Moses is nowhere near acceptance. He refuses to
Speaker 12: acknowledge that our duty draws to a close. Every minute
Speaker 12: that passes brings us closer to rest.
Speaker 1: Rather than acceptance, Aaron instead watched his brother double down
Speaker 1: on preper rations and plans to move Israel forward into
Speaker 1: conquest as quickly as possible, as if the moment of
Speaker 1: their deaths was drawing nearer every second, which Aaron chuckled again,
Speaker 1: was not wrong.
Speaker 10: Moses fierce the time we have left, and rushes around
Speaker 10: in urgency and hurry, burdening himself with a standard will
Speaker 10: simply never meet.
Speaker 6: When will he realize We've done enough? We did all
Speaker 6: we could do. It was not enough, but God is enough.
Speaker 1: We never had to be, And so Aaron watched Moses
Speaker 1: watching him out of the corner of his eye, knowing
Speaker 1: that Moses didn't understand his aloofness, but he would in time.
Speaker 1: Aaron had accepted his fate and would rather spend time
Speaker 1: preparing his sons for their roles in Israel's future. That morning,
Speaker 1: on their trek north, Aaron saw it and knew. As
Speaker 1: the hours marched forward, its peak grew, and soon they
Speaker 1: were in the shadow of the mountain. Aaron stared up
Speaker 1: at it and sighed the views from the top would
Speaker 1: be stunning. Aaron beheld the country of Edom and the
Speaker 1: vast wilderness of Zin, the land that had become his
Speaker 1: home these last forty years. He smirked and nodded his head.
Speaker 1: It was as good a place as any to die.
Speaker 1: Aaron felt at peace over the next day, almost as
Speaker 1: if he was experiencing the events outside of his own body.
Speaker 1: But Aaron was not afraid. The Lord came upon him
Speaker 1: and Moses and told Moses what Aaron already knew. He
Speaker 1: was going to die on the mountain before them. They
Speaker 1: were to take Elieza to the top and symbolically transfer
Speaker 1: Aaron's priestly power to him. The inauguration of Israel's next generation,
Speaker 1: the generation that would take up the promise. Aaron found
Speaker 1: he did not know what to say to his son
Speaker 1: or his brother in these final moments. There were so
Speaker 1: many things to say, so instead of forcing something profound
Speaker 1: or strained, Aaron enjoyed the comforting silence found in walking
Speaker 1: with the ones he loved. When they reached the summit
Speaker 1: of the mountain, Moses helped Aaron remove his priestly garments. Together,
Speaker 1: they helped Eliza don the tunic, the ephod, and the
Speaker 1: robes equipped with the breastplate and all the insignia, and
Speaker 1: tied the sash about his waist. Finally, Aaron lifted the
Speaker 1: turban fixed with the holy diadem, proclaiming the words wholly
Speaker 1: to the Lord off his own head. As he held
Speaker 1: it before him, he felt the weight of the office
Speaker 1: melt away. Elieza bowed his head for his father, and
Speaker 1: Aaron placed it on him. Aaron looked at his empty
Speaker 1: hands and plain clothes and realized he had nothing else
Speaker 1: to give his son. His eyes brimmed with tears as
Speaker 1: he beheld the man his son had become. No not
Speaker 1: a man, a high priest, a man set apart for
Speaker 1: the Lord a man to guide and purify Israel, so
Speaker 1: that she would be a people who would be worthy
Speaker 1: of the calling of God, so that they might become
Speaker 1: a holy priesthood themselves. One day Aaron smiled through his
Speaker 1: tears and found he did have a few words left
Speaker 1: to say. He gave his son the only thing he
Speaker 1: still possess'd his blessing, and he spoke the blessing he
Speaker 1: had been taught to speak over Israel so long ago.
Speaker 5: May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the
Speaker 5: Lord make his face shine upon you.
Speaker 6: And be gracious unto you.
Speaker 5: Made the Lord look at you with favor, and give
Speaker 5: you peace.
Speaker 6: My son.
Speaker 1: Aaron's breaths became less laboured and more steady. As he
Speaker 1: sat on that hill, the sun's harsh rays became mild
Speaker 1: against the whistling wind. Aaron looked away from his brother
Speaker 1: and son and tilted his cheek upward. It is time,
Speaker 1: he leaned back and closed his eyes. Memories flashed before
Speaker 1: his weary eyes. Images of holding Moses, that fateful knight.
Speaker 1: Pharaoh's men came, Images of his father standing between him
Speaker 1: and the soldiers, Images of a lifetime under the toil
Speaker 1: of slavery, Images of the Lord performing wonders to free them.
Speaker 1: Aaron saw his moments of great faith and tragic failures
Speaker 1: rush around him, and then, as clear as the sunset
Speaker 1: casts skating before him, Aaron could see the future, a
Speaker 1: nation set apart by the Lord, a free people, a
Speaker 1: redeemed people had chosen people. Then, with a warm embrace
Speaker 1: and a gentle nudge forward, Aaron was ushered into eternity.
Speaker 1: Moses buried his brother on the top of Mount how
Speaker 1: and when he was finished, he made his way back
Speaker 1: down the mountain with Elieza, the new High Priest of Israel.
Speaker 1: The people had mourned Aaron for thirty days, and once
Speaker 1: their mourning was over, they continued their journey north along
Speaker 1: the Athim Road, following the border of the country of Edom,
Speaker 1: aiming to end up on the southeast corner of the
Speaker 1: Salt Sea. Once they got there, Canaan would lie directly
Speaker 1: to the west. If they were bold enough to enter,
Speaker 1: or if they should venture further east, they could try
Speaker 1: and skirt their way between the borders of Edom and Moab.
Speaker 1: The way was treacherous. They would have to go up
Speaker 1: and around the Salt Sea and enter Canaan from the
Speaker 1: north the Aradites had captured some of their men and
Speaker 1: were holding them hostage. Moses once again found himself debating
Speaker 1: diplomacy and war strategy, with Israel's next generation becoming a
Speaker 1: welcome and growing influence in their council meetings. Joshua suggested
Speaker 1: a plan.
Speaker 6: We have to assume if Edam knows were on the move,
Speaker 6: all our enemies will we have a bigger army. We
Speaker 6: moved slowly. This was a preemptive strike, maybe even at
Speaker 6: the treent like edom a Rod knows that we are
Speaker 6: not at war with anyone. But yet they attack us
Speaker 6: and take prisoners. Perhaps they mean to taunt us or
Speaker 6: scare us from entering their territory again, or.
Speaker 9: Or do they mean to finish where they started thirty
Speaker 9: eight years ago?
Speaker 1: Well, technically we started it.
Speaker 6: Perhaps we should prepare ourselves for war.
Speaker 1: They seem intent our phyllising in either way. Eliza cut
Speaker 1: in decisively and interrupted his brother.
Speaker 5: Enough with your cynicism, I Mar, it's not helpful, And Joshua,
Speaker 5: there will be more battles to come.
Speaker 6: This one was a skirmish.
Speaker 1: Moses looked up at Eliza, his new high priest, standing
Speaker 1: at his full height before them. A new found assurance
Speaker 1: had settled in him.
Speaker 5: If we want to be haunted by our past and fine.
Speaker 6: Let it be our teacher. Why did the campaign against
Speaker 6: the Canaanites fail?
Speaker 5: Why were we crushed against the walls of a rod
Speaker 5: Our forefathers went without the presence.
Speaker 6: Of the Lord?
Speaker 5: I remember the ark of the cousin had sat idle
Speaker 5: in Kadesh. Will They ventured up without a second thought.
Speaker 5: No one thought to pray and ask the Lord to
Speaker 5: be with them, thought about anything but the fear, and
Speaker 5: that is why they failed.
Speaker 1: Eliza had their attention with that. No one challenged him,
Speaker 1: not even Moses. It seemed that Aaron had prepared him
Speaker 1: well for the office. Bolstered by that confidence, Elieza laid
Speaker 1: out his plan.
Speaker 6: I propose we changed that. Joshua.
Speaker 5: Draw up your plans and make the changes you need
Speaker 5: to our defenses. But first, let us pray us the
Speaker 5: Lord to be with us, and let us go a
Speaker 5: step further. And remember the warnings he gave about conquering
Speaker 5: the land of Canaan. We must make a holy vow.
Speaker 5: If the Lord should hand our enemy over to us,
Speaker 5: we must completely destroy their city. No half measures.
Speaker 6: We cannot allow ourselves to be led astray or tempted
Speaker 6: to follow their ways. Now let us go.
Speaker 5: Let us go and defeat our enemies and win back
Speaker 5: our captives.
Speaker 1: Beaming with a proof and paternal pride, Moses rallied the
Speaker 1: men to whom it is. The men in the tent
Speaker 1: patted Eliezer on the back and said to his instructions.
Speaker 1: The people enthusiastically accepted the vow to destroy Arad Shaud.
Speaker 1: The Lord handed over to them. Joshua arranged the army
Speaker 1: and made the battle plans for their attack. The chosen people,
Speaker 1: led by their fearless commander Joshua, marched against their enemies.
Speaker 1: All the posturing and threats would end here. Joshua wanted
Speaker 1: a decisive declaration that the children of Israel were not
Speaker 1: to be trifled with. They marched, they ran, and they
Speaker 1: fought tooth and nail to the very end. The Lord
Speaker 1: was before them, his arms strong against the Aradites and Edomites.
Speaker 1: Moses sagged in relief to hear they had won finally
Speaker 1: a victory at long last. Perhaps this truly was the
Speaker 1: start of a new beginning for Israel.
Speaker 8: Edom refuses to forget, and that is the tragedy to
Speaker 8: carry the weight of an old wound and let it
Speaker 8: shape your future, and borrow your brother from the path.
Speaker 8: How often do we cling to old grievances, letting the
Speaker 8: past dictate the present. But in the story of Israel
Speaker 8: and Eddome, we see that to turn away from forgiveness
Speaker 8: is to turn away from healing. Now, let's talk about Aaron,
Speaker 8: the priest, the mediator, the one who stood between the
Speaker 8: people and God. The Bible tells us when the whole
Speaker 8: community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned
Speaker 8: for him for thirty days. But why didn't the Bible
Speaker 8: say the whole community mourned for Aarin, every single person.
Speaker 8: The Bible doesn't say that about anybody else. Well, the
Speaker 8: great Sage hill El said, be of the disciples of Aaron,
Speaker 8: loving peace, pursuing peace, and drawing people closer to the Torah.
Speaker 8: The Bible and Jewish tradition actually shares examples of how
Speaker 8: Aaron pursued peace. You see, when Aaron saw people in dispute,
Speaker 8: he would go to each one separately, without the other
Speaker 8: one knowing, and say to each one, see how your fellow,
Speaker 8: your friend regrets and feels terrible about having wronged you.
Speaker 8: He asked me to come to you so that you
Speaker 8: would forgive him, and then the next time the two
Speaker 8: people met, they would embrace and hug and cry and
Speaker 8: be happy and apologize. This is why every single person
Speaker 8: warned the death of Aaron, because he was a genuine
Speaker 8: peacemaker between people in dispute, even between husband and wife.
Speaker 8: And even today we see how precious shalom peace is
Speaker 8: to the chosen people. Now, Aaron's death comes at the
Speaker 8: border of Edom, at the very place where Israel was rejected.
Speaker 8: What does it say about our journey that this is
Speaker 8: where Aaron's story ends. Perhaps it's a reminder that no
Speaker 8: leader is eternal, that even the greatest among us must
Speaker 8: pass the torch. Erin's death signals a transition, not just
Speaker 8: for him, but for all of Israel. The generation of
Speaker 8: the wilderness is fading and the new generation is rising.
Speaker 8: The priestly garments are passed from father to son, from
Speaker 8: one era to the next. Aaron's death is not just
Speaker 8: the death of a man. It's the closing of a chapter. Aarin,
Speaker 8: like Moses, will never set foot in the Promised Land.
Speaker 8: His journey is complete, and yet Israel must continue. Israel,
Speaker 8: fresh from the loss of Erin, is suddenly attacked by
Speaker 8: the Canaanites. There's no pause, no time to mourn. It
Speaker 8: feels almost unfair, but the Bible rarely gives us neat
Speaker 8: convenient timelines. Life is rarely tidy, and God's word reflects
Speaker 8: that truth. What stands out here is that God grants
Speaker 8: Israel victory not in the moment of strength, but in
Speaker 8: a moment of weakness. Psalm one seven puts it beautifully.
Speaker 8: His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
Speaker 8: nor his delight in the legs of the warrior. The
Speaker 8: Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their
Speaker 8: hope in his unfailing love. Israel doesn't win because they
Speaker 8: are strong, when because they cry out to God, and
Speaker 8: in their obedience he delivers them. It's a reminder that
Speaker 8: God is with us wherever we stand. Whether we stand
Speaker 8: tall or feel utterly fragile, we just need to stand
Speaker 8: with God. In fact, it's often in our weakest moments
Speaker 8: that His presence becomes the clearest. I'm often inspired by
Speaker 8: the words of Dietrich Bonhaffer, Christian pastor who supported his
Speaker 8: brothers and sisters and was executed by the Nazis because
Speaker 8: of it. Pastor Bonhaffer touched on what we've been talking
Speaker 8: about today when he wrote, God does not give us
Speaker 8: everything we want, but he does fulfill his promises, leading
Speaker 8: us along the best and straightest paths to himself. Victory
Speaker 8: comes not from our own power, but from our trust
Speaker 8: in Gods.
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