Today’s passage: Numbers 15

Helpful thoughts:

• After Israel had just been disciplined by the Lord and told they would not enter the Promised Land for another forty years, they may have wondered if they’d ever get in.  Verse 2 answers that question.
  • Once they were in the land, there would be provisions they currently did not possess.  These additional provisions would change the contents of their prescribed worship and sacrifice.
• In the law and in these sacrifices, the Lord makes a distinction between sins committed unintentionally (or ignorantly) and sins committed with a “high hand” (knowingly and purposefully).
• The command from the Lord in verse 39, do not follow after your own heart (or eyes).
  • Jeremiah 17:9
  • Psalm 37:4
    • When we delight in the Lord and abide in His Word (John 15), the things our eyes and hearts value will come in line with what the Lord values.  When our hearts are in tune with His heart, we will be able to pursue our desires with joy and without regret.
• The color blue was used in the tabernacle curtains and the priests garments.  When the people saw the blue in their tassels, they were to remember whose they were and what their purpose was (Exodus 19:6).

Questions to consider:

1. How would the commands concerning how things would change in the Promised Land give hope and purpose to the people (even if the older generation would never see it themselves)?  How does hope in the future gracious promises of God give us purpose and resolve to persevere in the world today?
2. Can you think of any examples of unintentional sins today?  How would a person sin with a “high hand?”  How might our prayers of repentance sound differently if we were turning back to the Lord in either case?  How were both kinds of sins paid for in our case (Romans 6:10)?
3. In those days and in the surrounding cultures, tassels were only worn by higher-class people.  What would God’s command for everyone to where tassels have communicated concerning His people?  What have we been given under the New Covenant to remind us of our status in the family/kingdom (Romans 8:16-17)?

Today’s passage: Numbers 14

Helpful thoughts:

• The people had been brought a report of a land flowing with milk and honey.  They saw it’s fruits and heard about it’s beautiful regions.  They had been given a promise by Almighty God to give them this very land.  Yet, they wept.  They didn’t believe they could take the land.
  • In fact, in their emotional storm, they accused God of bringing them to the land to have them killed!
  • To finish off their rebellion, the people of Israel set out to choose new leaders to take them back to Egypt and they sought to stone the spies who encouraged them to trust the Lord and take the land.
  • Caleb and Joshua expressed their trust in God and their love for Israel when they spoke the truth to the people in verse 9, “Only do not rebel against the Lord.”
  • The Lord’s immediate verbal response to the rebellion of the people was expressed in a desire to destroy the nation and start over with Moses (As if Moses would become the new Abraham).
• The judgment of God against the people turned the fear of the people on its head (Verses 28-35)!
  • The things the people feared would happen, the Lord made it the opposite.
• Once the people realized their error, they impetuously sought to go take the land, and they suffered for it.
  • The people conveyed a worldly grief (2 Corinthians 7:9-11).  They thought all of this was about going in to conquer the land, when at it’s root level it was about believing and obeying God.
  • They disobeyed God in order to try to “undo” their disobedience to God, on their own terms.  This was not repentance.

Questions to consider:

1. What was the nature of Moses’ appeal to the Lord not to destroy the nation?  For whose glory and reputation was Moses concerned?  Based on what information did Moses make his appeal (Verse 18)?  How can the written Word of God fuel and inform our prayers?
2. What did the death of the spies who rebelled against God communicate to the people?  What must the people have known was true once the ten spies died and Caleb and Joshua remained alive and well in their sight?  What is “safer,” pursuing the directive will of God or doing what looks easier in disobedience to Him?
3. When we sin, are we supposed to “make it up to God?”  Can we earn our good standing back?  What had God provided for the people to be reconciled to Him in repentance?  When we sin today, to whom are we to look for our rescue, hope, and forgiveness…to be made right with God?  How has our sin been paid for?  What does trusting and resting in Christ and subsequent repentance look like?

Today’s passage: Numbers 13

Helpful thoughts:

• Israel is given a test.  God commands them to send spies into the land of Canaan.  But, God also confirms to the people, this is the land “I am giving to the people of Israel.”
• The twelve spies journeyed from the south end of the Promised Land all the way to the northern edge and back.
• There is a marked difference between the tone of the direct narrative in verses 21-24 and the spies’ reports in verses 28-29 and 32-33.

Questions to consider:

1. Compare and contrast the promise of God in verse 2 with the spies’ conclusion in verse 31.  What were these spies doing?  What didn’t they believe?  Or, in whom did they refuse to place their trust?
2. The fear that was building in the people caused a verbal commotion.  Their hearts were troubled.  What were their options to calm (Or quiet) their concerns?  How did Caleb try to “quiet” the people?
3. Had the nation trusted in the promise of God, what would their response have been?  What reason would they have had to move forward in confidence and rest of mind?  What worries might you maintaining (Holding on to) where a focus on the promises of God would allow you to release them?

Today’s passage: Numbers 12

Helpful thoughts:

• Moses’ pain in leadership grows more acute.  His own brother and sister complain against him (Or truly, against the Lord).
  • Miriam and Aaron spoke evil about Moses’ wife, but their statements about his wife were only a cover (A warm-up) for the true heart of the matter.  They wanted his power and prestige.
  • In the end of chapter 11, Moses refused to complain about shared authority within Israel when offered the chance by that young man.  Moses’ meekness is held in contrast to Miriam and Aaron’s hunger for power.
• The Lord made it clear, when Miriam and Aaron complained, they were complaining against the Lord himself.
  • Moses was faithful in all Israel.  He was also God’s chosen man.
  • The siblings’ problem was not with Moses, but with God.  They might have been jealous of Moses, but their complaint was against God alone.
• When Miriam was turned leprous, it appears Aaron thought Moses had brought it about (See the lower-case “l” in verse 11).
  • Moses evidenced his role (or the lack thereof) in pleading with the Lord for her healing.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the way Miriam and Aaron first approached Moses give us insight to the way people may talk when they have something critical to say?  What were they trying to do to bring Moses “down to earth” and elevate themselves?  How would asking questions be better than immediately getting defensive help if someone brings a complaint to you?
2. How does meekness impact a person’s ability to respond well when their leadership (or anything else) is questioned or attacked?  Who was really in charge of Israel?  Who is really in charge of the church?  Who is really in charge of everything?  What then is to be our role and goal in all that we do?
3. How does remaining under the authority of the Lord (Being his servant) free you up from taking complaints personally?  Who will always know the motives and the truth behind every action and word?  How did Moses evidence he had entrusted himself and his reputation to the Lord?

Today’s passage: Numbers 11

Helpful thoughts:

• The Lord rescued Israel from their slavery (At their request, Exodus 2:23-25).  He miraculously brought them out and brought them to safety.  He established them as a people and nation.  He gave them order and purpose and confirmed his covenant with them.  He forgave them when they almost immediately violated that covenant.  He prepared them to set out for the Promised Land…
  • “And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes.”
• The request for meat doesn’t appear to have been the problem.  Israel’s desire for Egypt was.  They wanted to go back, which was a rejection of God and all He had done.
• When God made the meat available, the greed in the people’s hearts was again revealed.  The name of the place where they buried those who died in the Lord’s plague was, “The grave of craving.”  The people knew why those had died.

Questions to consider:

1. How do you think the attitude of complaining spread all over the camp (The whole nation) of Israel?  How can grumbling and complaining become “contagious” and affect (Or infect) other people?  How can right thinking about who God is and what He has done for us help expel complaining attitudes in our hearts?
2. Compare this passage with Philippians 2:14-18?  What similarities do you see between Paul’s desire for the church and Moses’ desire for Israel?
3. Why did the young man think Moses would be unhappy with the reality of other men participating in his prophetic ministry?  When people possess power in leadership, do they tend to want to share it or accumulate it for themselves?  How is shared leadership profitable for everyone involved (Including the leaders)?

Today’ passage: Numbers 10

Helpful thoughts:

• In order to maintain order, God instructs Israel to blow trumpets to communicate the times to journey and times to gather.  These trumpet blows gave instructions to the people, and they functioned as prayers or worship to God:
  • “…that you may be remembered before the Lord your God.” (Verse 9)
  • “They shall be a reminder of you before your God.” (Verse 10)
• About a month after the first celebration of Passover (One year after leaving Egypt), it was time for the nation to move again.  This was their first movement after the completion of the tabernacle.
• It appears Reuel and Jethro (Exodus 3:1) are the same person, Moses’ father-in-law.  This would make Hobab Moses’ brother-in-law.  Apparently, others from their people went with Israel to the promised land as well (Judges 1:16).  The Kenites were most likely a group of people within the larger Midianite people.

Questions to consider:

1. It might be simple to think of Israel packing up their things and travelling three days journey, but what all would have been necessary for two million people to collect all their things and to journey on foot and with animals for three days?
2. How would the trumpets and Hobab’s help have been critical?  What could have easily have happened if two million people were trying to travel together without them?
3. In what way did Moses’ invitation to his brother-in-law evidence his faith in God?  What did Moses expect to see in Israel’s future?  What has God promised to us in His word and how can it keep us moving in our journey of life?

Today’s passage: Numbers 9

Helpful thoughts:

• A year after the Israelites were redeemed from their bondage, they celebrated the Passover for the first time outside of Egypt.  The events of this chapter happened in between what we read from chapters 7-8 and 1-4.
• All those who were “unclean” or away from the rest of the nation on a long journey (Unable to attend) were given the provision of celebrating the Passover one month after everyone else.
• God’s presence and leadership over the people of Israel was made visible through the cloud.  There was a continual opportunity for the people to know He was with them and for them to be obedient to the Lord, whether that meant going or staying put.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was the appeal by those who were presently “unclean” so appropriate and honored by the Lord?  What was their heart to do?  Why were they hesitant?  How did God honor their request?
2. What assurances do we have today that God is with us (Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 8:9-11)?
3. Why is the promise of God’s Word enough to communicate God’s presence with us?  How does the Word of God also fulfill the role of helping us know what to do (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Peter 1:20-21)?  In other words, why don’t we need a pillar of cloud or pillar of fire today?

Today’s passage: Numbers 8

Helpful thoughts:

• More information on the lampstand can be found in Exodus 25:31-40 and 37:17-24.
• The Levites were devoted to the Lord “in exchange” for all the firstborn in Israel.  They were “waved” before the Lord as an offering, giving themselves in service for Him.
• The Levite men were able to serve in carrying the articles of the tabernacle from the ages of 25-50.
  • The ages 25-30 may have been an apprenticeship time period (Numbers 4:23).
  • After the age of 50, men could continue to guard the temple and help others, but the task of carrying the articles of the tabernacle was given to the younger men.

Questions to consider:

1. What do we see as the big picture purpose of this chapter?  How was it helpful to Israel and the Levites?
2. In what way would the rest of the Levites have been a “gift” to Aaron and his sons/descendants (Verse 19)?  What did the Levites do that made the work of the tabernacle possible?
3. In what ways have you served within the church?  How does the service of every member make the whole body of Christ function and flourish (1 Corinthians 12:12-20)?

Today’s passage: Numbers 7

Helpful thoughts:

• The first several chapters in Numbers are not given in chronological order.  The beginning of Numbers is written in thematic order.  Now, in chapter 7, we go back to about a month before what we read in the beginning of the book to see how the nation of Israel came together to provide what was needed to establish the workings and worship of the tabernacle.
• The gifts came to the tabernacle on twelve successive days, one for each tribe.  All the gifts from each tribe were brought by their chief and all the gifts were identical.  Each tribe and all the tribes were communicating their shared responsibility and commitment to the worship of the Lord and, subsequently, provision for the Levites in their service.

Questions to consider:

1. Which tribe went first in these donations?  What are we continuing to learn about the place of this tribe in Israel?
2. With all that was given by the nation brought to the tabernacle, what does the end of the chapter show the people were receiving?  What was God graciously giving to the people?
3. Do we bring a bunch of gifts and offerings to the Lord to get Him to speak to us or to earn his blessing?  Or, did the Lord speak to us through His Word and therefore it is right to bring offerings and gifts?  How does having the right perspective keep our worship truly worship and not a bartering system?