April 25: Numbers 9-11, Psalm 43, Romans 4

Numbers 9-11  Ch. 9 is about the first keeping of the Passover.  As with any first run through a ritual, there arise questions.  What about people who can't keep the Passover because there has been a death in their family?  Moses says (9:9): "Wait, so that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.  They are to keep it later, when they are no longer unclean.    Aliens who wish to do so may also keep the Passover, following the same rules (9:14)
In Ch. 10, the Israelites set off again, and the text has descriptions of how the pillar of cloud and fire signals a move, and how special silver trumpets are to be blown so that the Levites can properly pack up the Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 11 is one of the most important chapters in the Book of Numbers.  It gives a colorful description of the foods the Israelites left behind in Egypt.  The honeymoon is over, and they are tired of manna.  Moses is frustrated at the complaining, feeling caught between God and the people (11:10 and following).  He finally says: "If this is the way you are going to treat me put me to death at once--if I have found favor in your sight--and do not let me see my misery." (11:15)
So this is where Moses learns about the importance of sharing leadership.  The LORD gives his spirit to the 70 elders appointed to help Moses lead.  This is one of the readings that traditionally is part of ordinations.  "Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!" says Moses.
Finally, this chapter has a very insightful commentary on craving.  God sends quails since the people wanted meat.  So many quails that it was overwhelming.  "But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was consumed…" things were falling apart, and the people were consumed by a plague.  Psalm 78 is a commentary on the way the people's cravings couldn't be satisfied,  esp. 78:26-32.

Psalm 43  This is the second half of a single psalm that actually began in Ps. 42.  I'm not sure why they were separated into two psalms.  Note how the refrain of 43:5 is a repetition of the refrain in 42:5 and 11.

Romans 4  Paul writes about the example of Abraham who trusted in God and was deemed righteous. Paul says we are all like Abraham in that respect.

If you are making a list of Paul's technical vocabulary, you will see many familiar words:
Flesh (4:1)
Justified (4:2)
Works (4:2,5,6)
Boasting (4:2)*
believing (4:3,18) *
reckoning (4:3,9,10,11) *
righteousness (4:3,9,11, 13) *
Faith (4:9,11,12,13,19,20)
Law (4:13,14,15
Grace (4:16

Remember that in Greek, "believing" and "faith" have the same root form.
Note that 4:20 speaks of "distrust" but a less elegant translation, connecting this word, too, to the same root, would be "disbelief"
And the idea of "faith reckoned to someone as righteousness" appears and receives further explanation in vss. 20-25.