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BOOK OF NUMBERS – LESSON THREE

(10:11-14:45)

        Nineteen days after the Book of Numbers begins, we have God lifting up the guiding cloud from the tabernacle as the Israel is being prepared to make their journey to the promised land (Num. 1:1; 10:11).  Complaints and disbelief characterize the people as they make their way to Kadesh after fourteen months camping at Mt. Sinai in the wilderness of Sinai,

I. The Journey Begins...

A. Jehovah directs the cloud to lift from above tabernacle as the people depart according to His direction through Moses (10:11-13).

B. Details of the march – Moses prays for the people of Israel (10:14-35).

1. Moses commands the orderly departure (v. 11-28).

2. Moses’ plea for Hobab to be their eyes as Israel travels the wilderness to their destination (v. 29-34, cf. Judges 1:16).

3. Moses’ prayer for Jehovah to rise up before them against their enemies, and bless them when the ark of the covenant leads the way and when it is set again to bless the multitude of Israel (v. 35-36).

C. Israelites along with mixed multitude complain of being taken from Egypt and feed on Manna in the wilderness after three days journey  (11:1-35)

1. Jehovah brings consuming fire upon complaining people (v.1-3)

2. Mixed multitude lust for flesh to eat, as Israel weeps as they remember the fish, melons, and vegetables they had in Egypt – have become tired of sustaining manna (v. 4-9)

3. Moses appeals to Jehovah for help due the burden God has placed solely upon his shoulders (10-15).

4. God’s remedy of Moses’ burden, and God’s death plague upon those who complained of no flesh – people die with quail between their lustful teeth (v. 16-34).

5. Israel journeys on to Hazeroth (v.35)

D. Aaron and Miriam complain about Moses’ leadership – Miriam punished with leprosy as God speaks on behalf of meek Moses, who prays for Miriam  (12;1-16)

1. Moses prays for Miriam (v.13)

2. Israel journeys on to wilderness of Paran (v. 16)

E. Twelve spies sent out to spy out the land of Canaan – return to Kadesh all report it  “flows with milk and honey” – proof of presentable “fruit,” but... (13:1-33)

1. Majority of the  spies with the eyes of flesh only see the barriers

2. Minority of the  spies – God’s spokesman, Caleb,  with the eyes of faith, sees their strong ability to overcome their perceived barriers of weakness .

F. Rebellion of the people of Israel because the ten spies gave a discouraging report  (14:1-45)

1. Discouraged people want a new leader – return to Egypt (v. 1-4)

2. Joshua and Caleb appeal to the people not to fear the inhabitants nor rebel against Jehovah who is with us and will give the land (v.5-10).

a. People seek to stone Joshua and Caleb

3. The intercession of Moses for his people whom Jehovah is ready to destroy – this generation (20 years and older)  will die in 38 more years of wandering and shall not enter into the promised land except Joshua, Caleb, and the little ones - plague of death comes upon the ten disbelieving spies (v.11-38).

4. Repentant, but presumptive people disobey Jehovah and suffer defeat at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites – Isreal beaten down even to Hormah as they try to take the land (v. 39-45).

QUESTIONS

1. How do the three family heads (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari) of Levi mesh together and join the other tribes of Israel in their departure from the wilderness of Sinai?

2. Was Moses manifesting lack of faith in Jehovah and His authoritative cloud when asking for Hobab’s help in traveling the wilderness unto the promised land?  

Did Hobab change his mind?

3. What is the difference between the people who spoke evil of Jehovah, those who complained about having only manna, and Moses who is complaining about the position God has placed him in?  

4. How does Moses manifest God-approving meekness?  

5. What distinguishes Caleb from the other spies who brought back an evil report regarding the promised land?

6. What characteristics of Jehovah come to the forefront in His response to a faithless and disobedient generation of His people in chapter 14?

7. What should we learn from Caleb’s “different spirit?”

8. What way were the people commanded as they depart into the wilderness?

9. What irony is present with God specifying that the little ones of the present murmuring generation will enter the land while they will not?

10. The people are to wander in the wilderness:

a. forty years

b. thirty-Eight more years

c. a and b

11. What happened to the 10 spies who caused the people to murmur?

12. What spirit in the hearts of the people did not bring victory to those with a mourning, diligent, and penitent spirit?  

BOOK OF NUMBERS – LESSON FOUR

(Chapters 15-20)

        As a generation of adult Israelites are condemned to thirty-eight more years of wandering in the wilderness, their children are growing to adulthood as they suffer the consequences of the sin of their fathers.  God is faithful to his promises, even in the face of disbelief, and prepares a new generation instructing them initially in chapter 15 of the sacrifices they will be offering when they enter the promised land (15:2,18)..Rebellion against the priesthood is met with God’s punishment, and His consequent reaffirming of the Aaronic priesthood (chapters 16-18).  Chapter 20 documents the death of Miriam and Aaron, while informing us of Moses’ failure  of not sanctifying God before people who are murmuring for the lack of water.  Sadly,  we learn in this lesson that Moses’ frustrated rashness will cost him entrance into the promised land.

I. The Wandering Transition in the Wilderness...

A. Sacrifices and offerings commanded – living holy lives  (15:1-41).

1. Supplementary grain and drink must also be offered  (v. 1-16)

2. Offerings of the first fruits upon inhabiting the land (v. 17-21)

3. Offerings for sins of omission (v. 22-29)

4. Regulations regarding defiant deliberate sins (v. 30-31)

5. Example of a law-breaker – violating the law of the sabbath (v. 32-36)

6. Fringed blue tassels on the bottom of garments – remembering the law    (v.37-41)

B. Rebellion of Korah and associates (16:1-50)

1. Murmuring against Moses and Aaron: They have lifted themselves above Israel as being set apart by God to lead God’s people (v. 1-40)

a. Korah, son of Izhar of Kohath of the tribe of Levi leads the rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

b. Dathan, Abiram, and On of the tribe of Reuben join other tribes to comprise 250 men in the rebellion.  

c. Moses challenges group to offer incense on their 250 censors to see whom God accepts as being set apart unto Him

d. God’s dramatic and sudden answer: ground opens to swallow up households and those standing close to the tents of the rebellious ones, while fire comes down to devour the 250 rebellious men.

e. The 250 censors dedicated to God - melted into covering plates for the altar –  a reminder that no stranger should offer incense that is not of the seed of Aaron.

2. Those who complain of the killing die by a plague – 14, 700 – plague stayed by Moses commanding Aaron to offer incense for the people  (v. 41-50).

C. Aaron’s rod buds, blossoms, and bears fruit – God’s vindication upon all rebels of Aaron’s priesthood (Chapter 17)

D. Divine reaffirmation of the Aaronic priesthood- duties and rights  of Priests and Levites (Chapter 18)

E. Ordinance of a red heifer being offered as a sin offering – ashes  combine creating water for impurity - ceremonial cleansing of the flesh (Chapter 19, cf. Heb. 9:13)

F. The end of the wandering – death of Miriam, and Aaron, and Moses’ failure to sanctify God before the people (Chapter 20).

1. The first month at the end of the 38- year wandering in the wilderness of Zin in Kadesh.

2. Moses, out of frustrated anger strikes the rock instead of obeying God to speak to the rock to bring forth water.

3. Moses and Aaron not allowed to bring God’s people into the promised land God has given to them

4. Gathering at Mt. Hor – Aaron dies being stripped of his priestly garments – placed upon Eleazar.

QUESTIONS:

1. What would be your mood if you were under 20 years olds and over 20 years old when hearing the words of Moses in chapter fifteen, verses 1-16?

2. The offerings under consideration in 15:1-16, considered:

a. Freewill or Votive offerings

b. Sin or Trespass offerings

c. Both

3. What relationship do you see with the animal  being sacrificed and the ingredients of the meal-offering and drink- offering offered with each animal ?

4. What “heave-offering” is being given in 15:17-21?

5. The sins being addressed in 15:22-26 are:

a. sins of commission

b. sins of omission

6. What contrasting attitudes or mindset are behind the sins committed in 15:27-31?

7. If the death penalty was clearly connected with violating the Sabbath day Law (Exodus 31:14), why was the man put in ward to consider his fate in 15:32-36?

8. What was the purpose for the blue tassels on the fringe of the garment worn by the people of Israel?

9. What was the complaint of Korah and his company of 250 men against Moses and Aaron?                      

10. How did Jehovah establish that Moses and Aaron were separated unto him and distinguished from the other Levites?

11. What happened to those who remained close to the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram?

                  

12. How did the 250 men who offered incense die?

13. What happened to the 250 censors?  What message did they convey?

14. Who were the people who suffered on this day of testing besides Korah, Dathan, and Abiram?

15. How did God vindicate the priesthood of Aaron?

16. Why does Jehovah go into detail to distinguish the ministry between the Priests and Levites as set apart from the stranger and the children of Israel ?

17.  What is the purpose of the offering of a red heifer?  How does the author of Hebrews use the red heifer as a contrast in Heb. 9:13-14?

18.  What will happen if a person who touches a dead body does not apply the water for impurity?

19. What month of what year did the people of Israel abide in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin?

20. Who died and was buried in Kadesh?

21. Why did Moses and Aaron fail to enter the promised land?

22. How did Moses reason with Edom when Moses asked to pass through their land?  

23. How does the Lord describe Aaron’s actions at the waters of Meribah?

24. What happened to Aaron in Mt. Hor of the border of Edom?