Count Your Lucky Stars – Deuteronomy Chapter 1

“The Lord, your God, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance.” (Deuteronomy 1:10)

Questions: Why are the Israelites numbered like the stars when it is obvious that they are not as many as the stars? Why would someone want to be compared to a star? In  other places the Israelites are compared to grains of sand. What do you think is the difference? What would you rather be compared to? Why?

Ideas: Serve star fruit, fruit cut with a star cookie cutter, salami, tofu or veggies can all be cut in star shapes, or make star-shaped pasta.

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Journey On – Numbers Chapter 33

“These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moses and Aaron. Moses recorded their starting points for their journeys according to the word of God, and these were their journeys with their starting points.” (Numbers 33:1–2)

Questions: The Bible recounts the forty-two places that the people of Israel encamped during their exodus from Egypt to the land of Israel. Some of the stops are described in detail; others are just mentioned by name. Some make sense geographically; many make no sense at all. Why is this long recounting necessary at all? Is there value in remembering and recounting a journey that you took? What can it help you do?

Ideas: Energy bars, granola bars, ready-made trail mix, any other type of food items meant for traveling like dried fruit and nuts. You can also create a trail with raisins, chocolates, nuts, or fruit and recount every step of your journey as you eat.

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A Golden Opportunity – Numbers Chapter 31

“We wish to bring an offering to God. Every man who found a gold article – an anklet, a bracelet, a ring, an earring or a body ornament – to atone for our souls before God.” (Numbers 31:50)

Questions: Why do you think gold was chosen as the gift of choice? Why do you think that the Israelites thought that giving a piece of jewelry would atone for their souls? Would you have given something? Why and why not? What would you have given? What do you think is the proper way to atone for something?

Ideas: Decorate your table with gold – a gold tablecloth, gold napkins, gold paper goods and cutlery. You can also serve other golden foods: golden grahams, golden syrup, golden raisins, golden delicious apples, Rold Gold pretzels, Yukon Gold potatoes, honey, gold wrapped chocolates, Goldschlager, etc.

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Inherited Wisdom – Numbers Chapter 27

“The daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came forward, and his daughters’ names were Mahla, Noah, Hogla, Milca, and Tirza.” (Numbers 27:1)

Questions: Why do you think it was so important that the lineage of the daughters of Zelophehad is mentioned here? Do you think your lineage is important too? Why or why not? Why do you think the Bible mentions the names of all these women too? What might this say about the power of standing up for what you believe in? And about the importance of one’s inheritance?

Ideas: Capers are a bit of an acquired taste, but they go well on salad and with chicken and fish. Experiment a bit with this new flavor as a tribute to these remarkable women.

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The Voice of Wisdom – Numbers Chapter 22

“God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?’” (Numbers 22:28)

Questions: Would you like it if animals could talk? What do you think they would say? What animal would you most like to hear talk? Why? What statement do you think the Bible might be making here about how we should treat animals?

Ideas: Serve three bean salad, three different dishes of food at your table, serve food that comes from all different types of animals, or serve animal crackers, gummy worms and animal-shaped chicken cutlets. Use these animals as props at your table, give them a voice too.

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