Today’s passage: Numbers 25

Helpful thoughts:

• On the heels of reading about God’s intervention to protect Israel from the cursing of her enemies, we read of Israel worshipping other gods and committing other sinful acts against the one true God.
• Because the Israelite who brought the Midianite princess home to marry was a tribal head, there is evidence of an attempt to merge the people groups (A politically uniting marriage).  This was a full scale rebellion against God.
  • That the man brought this woman home “in the sight of” Moses and all the people means it was sin done “with a high hand.”  They knew exactly what they were doing and they wanted everyone to see it.  They were making a statement.
• Phinehas quick action halted a plague that had already killed 24,000 people.  Halting plagues of judgment ran in his family (Numbers 16:46-50).  The priestly line existed to intercede for the people with God.
  • What might have looked like a rash, hasty and even cruel action was in truth the very thing that prevented thousands more from perishing.
  • God is holy and just.  He hates sin.  We greatly err when we take his grace and longsuffering for granted.

Questions to consider:

1. What aspects of this narrative are truly shocking?  What was Israel doing?  How did God respond?  What did it take to stop the rebellion and God’s judgment?  How many people died?
2. Had Phineas been scared to hurt that family’s feelings, what would have happened to the rest of Israel (In theory)?  While we haven’t been told to throw a spear through the bodies of people who are in sin (Don’t do that!), what has God commanded us to do (Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:15-16)?
3. The previous generation of Israel all died in the wilderness because of their unbelief and refusal to follow God.  Was the generation who was about to enter the Promised Land superior to their parents?  Why did they “get in” (Deuteronomy 9:5)?  What inheritance has God promised to you once your “journey” is done?  Upon whose goodness and faithfulness is that promised based (John 14:1-6)?

Today’s passage: Numbers 24

Helpful thoughts:

• After the first two oracles blessed Israel (Against the wishes of his employer) Balaam chose not to repeat the same events that appeared to lead to God’s blessings.  It didn’t matter.  God didn’t need Balaam to do anything to bless Israel.  God is in control.
  • In verse 9, the Abrahamic blessing is repeated (Genesis 12:3) now over 400 years after God originally communicate it to Abraham.
  • The recounting of this blessing on Israel was a warning from God to Balaam and Balak, to curse Israel was to bring a curse on yourself.
• Balaam’s fourth oracle appears to speak of the victories during the Davidic kingdom to come hundreds of years later.
• The final three prophetic promises in verses 20-24 give Israel assurances her new neighbors will not be victorious.   Threatening powers in the region would fall.  God was with Israel.

Questions to consider:

1. From our perspective historically, God’s promise to Abraham and his promise communicated through Balaam might feel pretty close.  What can remembering that these promises were communicated over 400 years apart help us to learn about the faithfulness of God?
2. What prevented Balak and Balaam from being able to curse Israel as they wanted?  If God wants to bring something about, is there any way to prevent Him?
3. What is God’s ultimate plan for His people (Revelation 21:1-8)?  How does one know they have this eternal life (1 John 5:11-12)?  How can seeing our place in God’s grand narrative help us to live with purpose and joy?

Today’s passage: Numbers 23

Helpful thoughts:

• Balak secured for himself a false prophet for hire in order to curse Israel.  His hopes were to hear good news (From his perspective) from deity, to bring about Israel’s downfall and encourage his people against them.
• In today’s passage, we see the first two attempts at cursing Israel fail.
  • God will not allow Balaam to curse Israel.
  • What God has said He would do, He was going to do (Verse 19).
• Giving evidence to his ignorance of the Lord, Balak seeks a second and third location for potential cursing…as if God would think differently, or speak differently in a different location with more offerings.

Questions to consider:

1. What are we able to learn about God in this passage?  How was His power displayed (Even over those who do not believe in Him)?  How were His former promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob featured in Balaam’s blessings?  How would the recounting of His former promises give hope for the fulfilment of His present promises?
2. How did Balak and Balaam give evidence to their ignorance concerning the true nature of God?  What were they trying to accomplish?  What did they think they could do with “the gods” to bring about their desired ends?
3. How is God different than all the gods mankind has created throughout history?  Why is He to be reverenced, heard, and obeyed?  How does this truth make the gospel that much sweeter?

Today’s passage: Numbers 22

Helpful thoughts:

• After seeing what Israel did to his neighbors (Or, what God did to his neighbors through Israel) the king of Moab was rightly afraid.  He needed whatever help he could get.  He went the supernatural route.
• Balaam was not historically known as a devout follower of Yahweh.  He gives evidence even in this narrative that he was in it for the money.  God tested him and proved this to be true.
  • If God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through a phony money-hungry false prophet too!
• Regardless of the nature of Balaam, what God evidenced in this narrative was that He had determined to bless Israel and give them the land.  No human (Or even any supernatural power) could possibly thwart His plan.  God is sovereign over all!

Questions to consider:

1. What evidences are there in this chapter that Balaam was continually trying to score a big payday?  What kind of prophet was he?  How did others speaking with him prove they were well aware of that fact?
2. Why were Balaam’s and Balak’s efforts to curse Israel doomed to fail?
3. What does God do when He makes a promise and chooses to bless (Isaiah 14:24)?  How can the promises and blessings of God for the church help encourage you to pursue excellence for His glory today?

Today’s passage: Numbers 21

Helpful thoughts:

• Today’s chapter begins and ends with military victories for Israel.
  • The victory in verses 1-3 are in the same place Israel had been defeated after the spies gave the bad report and the nation doubted God’s promise to take them into the land.  The time of their wandering in the wilderness was coming to a close.
  • The victories toward the end of the chapter (Verses 21-35) detail the beginning of Israel’s capture of land and settling in cities.  These territories are all east of the Jordan River.
• In the midst of all this victory, Israel complains.
  • The death brought about through the bites of these snakes was a judgment against Israel’s sin.  If the people looked at the bronze serpent, which had been lifted up, they would be spared of the judgment.
  • Jesus compared himself with the bronze serpent (John 3:14-15).  We deserve the righteous judgment of God because of our sin.  All those who “look” to Jesus in faith will be spared!

Questions to consider:

1. What are your thoughts concerning the complaints of Israel in the wilderness?  Why are they frustrating?  How does our perspective cause us to see their complaining and fair-weather approach to God?
2. In what ways are we tempted to do the same thing (Even falling at times)?  How would we think about our own reactions (Or grumblings) if we were able to look back on our own lives with the big picture of history and God’s redemption in mind?
3. What does it mean to “look” to Jesus and live?  How does simply “looking” affirm the truth that we are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Christ alone and not by our own works?

Today’s passage: Numbers 20

Helpful thoughts:

• The deaths of Miriam and Aaron (Moses’ siblings) bookend this chapter.  Aaron’s role as High Priest had to be passed on to his son (Hebrews 7:23-25).
• God commanded Moses to speak to the rock, instead Moses struck the rock twice in anger.  This was disobedience.
  • God had displayed His presence and the need to be struck to provide for His people in Exodus 17:1-7.
  • The rock did not need to be struck a second time.  The first time was sufficient to provide what the people needed.
  • The rock pictured Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
• This is truly a painful passage.  And it is a passage that points us to our reason for hope.  There is much to grieve about.  Yet in it all, God remains faithful.
  • Israel did not make it into the Promised Land because their leader Moses was faithful (He failed too!).  Israel made it into the Promised Land exactly when God said they would because God is faithful!

Questions to consider:

1. Again, the people audibly grumbled against Moses, but who were they complaining against in reality?  With the big picture of who God is in mind, why is it always right to “do all things without grumbling and disputing?” (Philippians 2:14-15)
2. In what way was the striking of the rock a picture of Jesus?  How was Jesus “struck” to provide for our greatest need?  How was the command to only strike the rock once a picture of the sufficiency of Christ’s suffering at the cross?
3. As amazing as the life of Moses was, why isn’t he the hero of Israel’s story?  How does this passage remind us of who is really bringing everything together?  Why is God the hero and how does this truth help us to read and understand the whole Bible more clearly?

Today’s passage: Numbers 19

Helpful thoughts:

• With the Priests and Levites assigned and organized, the laws for the cleanness of the people to approach the Lord at the tabernacle for worship needed to be covered.
• The killing and burning of the red heifer (along with the cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet yarn provided the Priests and Levites with all the ash they would need for the year to produce the cleansing water for the ceremonial act of cleansing the people for worship.
• Israel was to take their worship seriously.  That which God considered to be unclean was to be heeded and kept apart from His holy place.
  • Through the shed blood of Christ, we now have access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16)!

Questions to consider:

1. What things are mentioned in this passage that particularly made people “unclean” in a way that required this kind of cleansing?  What would the associations be between sin, the curse, and what was considered “unclean?”
2. What would the requirements for washing (beyond the ceremonial sprinkling) have helped the people to do after being in contact with dead corpses?  How would that have been a blessing to the whole nation as they gathered for worship (out in the wilderness) in that time?
3. What seems to be a difference between “uncleanness” and sin?  Was it a sin to become unclean in this way?  How might it even have been sinful (Or at least unhelpful) to refuse to become unclean when someone in your family perished?

Today’s passage: Numbers 18

Helpful thoughts:

• After the confirmation of God’s selection of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood and the tribe of Levi for the work of the tabernacle, God gives specific instruction and lays out the means of provision for these families.
  • Another evidence of God’s setting apart of Aaron is that God chose to speak directly to Aaron to communicate these instructions.  All of Israel was hearing the word of the Lord through Moses.  To Aaron, the Lord (At this time) spoke directly.
• The Levites did not share in the land inheritances in Israel.  Their inheritance was the Lord, their service to the Lord and the provisions their service brought (According to the rules in this chapter).
  • Through their ministries, the Priests and Levites provided for themselves and their families.
  • This necessitated their ongoing service, teaching and the faithfulness of God’s people to worship and give.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways was the seriousness of God’s regulations still conveyed in these instructions?  What family alone were to serve in the Most Holy Place?  Who all would see consequences if any other Levite violated that order?  How was this mutual accountability a sign that the Levites were all in this together even though their roles were different?
2. If the Levites stopped serving and teaching, if the priests stopped offering sacrifices, if the people stopped bringing their offerings and tithes to the tabernacle, what would have happened to the priesthood, the Levitical “inheritance” and the nation of Israel?  (What did happen?)
3. What is the nature of the faithfulness of our Great High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-28)?  Why is it important that every member of the church do their part in worship, service and giving?  Not just for church staff, but for the whole body?

Today’s passage: Numbers 17

Helpful thoughts:

• On the heels of the challenge and rebellion of Korah and his followers, God provides additional evidence of His choice of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood.
• The staffs representing all the tribes of Israel and a staff for Aaron were placed before the Ark overnight.  Aaron’s staff alone miraculously budded and fully bloomed, yielding almonds.
• After seeing this miraculous evidence, the people (For now) are convinced and humbled.
  • This positive evidence was proceeded by the negative evidence of God’s judgment against those who rebelled (Numbers 16).  God’s choice was clear.  His will had been revealed.  It was up to the people to obey.

Questions to consider:

1. If another person were to have sought the office of the priesthood, who would they be rebelling against (Verse 10)?  How would their jealousy have robbed them of joy in following the Lord in the ways He had appointed for them?
2. What would seeing the staff of Aaron before the testimony remind the people of?  Why would it cause their grumblings to cease?
3. How does verse 13 ring true for all who have sinned against our holy and just God?  What is ultimately His answer (Romans 10:9-13)?