Bible Reading Plan

Category: Numbers

  • Numbers 27

    Numbers 27

    Read Numbers 27

    Zelophehad’s Daughters

    27 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward 2 and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meetingand said, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. 4 Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

    5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him,7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.

    8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

    Joshua to Succeed Moses

    12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Rangeand see the land I have given the Israelites. 13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

    15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

    18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

    22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

    Go Deeper

    In this chapter, we see two different narratives: one involving Zelophehad’s daughters and another involving Moses and Joshua. While both stories deal with the graciousness of the Lord (in Zelophehad’s daughters’ case, His sovereignty in providing them an inheritance), today we’re going to zoom in on the story of Moses’ leadership being passed to the next generation through Joshua. 

    Remember back in Numbers 20 when Moses disobeyed the Lord by hitting the rock for water, rather than speaking to it like the Lord instructed? Beginning in verse 12 we see the consequence of Moses’ disobedience begin to unfold and God’s graciousness highlighted. Verses 12-14 explain that Moses will not be able to enter into Canaan and how he will die after seeing the Promised Land from Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48-52). Moses’ reaction to God’s announcement of his death was quite admirable. 

    Wouldn’t you think Moses would be upset that he wouldn’t be able to lead his people into the land the Lord has promised? Instead, Moses prayed to the Lord. “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community… so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd” (v. 16-17).  We begin to understand that Moses truly sees Yahweh as sovereign by surrendering full control to Him when deciding who is to be appointed next to lead the Israelites.  

    The Lord’s response back to Moses is where we can deeply see the Lord’s graciousness. In verse 18, the Lord appoints Joshua. One of the most important qualifications of Joshua’s leadership is mentioned in this same verse, “a man who has the Spirit in him” (v. 18, CSB). The Lord then asks his servant Moses to appoint Joshua by laying his hands on him in front of the whole Israelite community. This is significant because the Lord desired for his people to see and follow the man whom he appointed to lead the next generation into the Promised Land.

    When reading today we can be reminded that the Lord is the true Good Shepherd. The Lord is the one who fulfills everything Moses was pleading for in verse 16 to lead the Israelites. Deuteronomy 31:8 reiterates this to us: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” The Lord was sovereign in preparing a way for the Israelites to enter into Canaan with a leader whom the Spirit of the Lord was in.

    Questions

    1. What do both of these narratives teach you about God? What do they teach you about humanity? 
    2. Where do you need to surrender control to fully allow the Lord to be the Good Shepherd of your life? 
    3. In what ways do you feel the Lord is preparing you to enter into a new season?

    Pray This

    Lord, I thank you that you are the Good Shepherd in my life. Thank you for all the ways you have gone before me and prepared a way to care for me, even if it is different than what I expected. Please reveal to me where I need to surrender control to see the plan you have been writing for me. In Jesus name, Amen. 

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  • Numbers 26

    Numbers 26

    Read Numbers 26

    The Second Census

    26 After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.”3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, 4 “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

    These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

    5 The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were:

    through Hanok, the Hanokite clan;

    through Pallu, the Palluite clan;

    6 through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;

    through Karmi, the Karmite clan.

    7 These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

    8 The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9 and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord. 10 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. 11 The line of Korah, however, did not die out.

    12 The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:

    through Nemuel, the Nemuelite clan;

    through Jamin, the Jaminite clan;

    through Jakin, the Jakinite clan;

    13 through Zerah, the Zerahite clan;

    through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.

    14 These were the clans of Simeon; those numbered were 22,200.

    15 The descendants of Gad by their clans were:

    through Zephon, the Zephonite clan;

    through Haggi, the Haggite clan;

    through Shuni, the Shunite clan;

    16 through Ozni, the Oznite clan;

    through Eri, the Erite clan;

    17 through Arodi, the Arodite clan;

    through Areli, the Arelite clan.

    18 These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500.

    19 Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.

    20 The descendants of Judah by their clans were:

    through Shelah, the Shelanite clan;

    through Perez, the Perezite clan;

    through Zerah, the Zerahite clan.

    21 The descendants of Perez were:

    through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;

    through Hamul, the Hamulite clan.

    22 These were the clans of Judah; those numbered were 76,500.

    23 The descendants of Issachar by their clans were:

    through Tola, the Tolaite clan;

    through Puah, the Puite clan;

    24 through Jashub, the Jashubite clan;

    through Shimron, the Shimronite clan.

    25 These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300.

    26 The descendants of Zebulun by their clans were:

    through Sered, the Seredite clan;

    through Elon, the Elonite clan;

    through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan.

    27 These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.

    28 The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:

    29 The descendants of Manasseh:

    through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead);

    through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.

    30 These were the descendants of Gilead:

    through Iezer, the Iezerite clan;

    through Helek, the Helekite clan;

    31 through Asriel, the Asrielite clan;

    through Shechem, the Shechemite clan;

    32 through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan;

    through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.

    33 (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.)

    34 These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.

    35 These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

    through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan;

    through Beker, the Bekerite clan;

    through Tahan, the Tahanite clan.

    36 These were the descendants of Shuthelah:

    through Eran, the Eranite clan.

    37 These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500.

    These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

    38 The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were:

    through Bela, the Belaite clan;

    through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan;

    through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan;

    39 through Shupham, the Shuphamite clan;

    through Hupham, the Huphamite clan.

    40 The descendants of Bela through Ard and Naaman were:

    through Ard, the Ardite clan;

    through Naaman, the Naamite clan.

    41 These were the clans of Benjamin; those numbered were 45,600.

    42 These were the descendants of Dan by their clans:

    through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan.

    These were the clans of Dan: 43 All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

    44 The descendants of Asher by their clans were:

    through Imnah, the Imnite clan;

    through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan;

    through Beriah, the Beriite clan;

    45 and through the descendants of Beriah:

    through Heber, the Heberite clan;

    through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan.

    46 (Asher had a daughter named Serah.)

    47 These were the clans of Asher; those numbered were 53,400.

    48 The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were:

    through Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan;

    through Guni, the Gunite clan;

    49 through Jezer, the Jezerite clan;

    through Shillem, the Shillemite clan.

    50 These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400.

    51 The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.

    52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. 54 To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. 55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. 56 Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

    57 These were the Levites who were counted by their clans:

    through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;

    through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;

    through Merari, the Merarite clan.

    58 These also were Levite clans:

    the Libnite clan,

    the Hebronite clan,

    the Mahlite clan,

    the Mushite clan,

    the Korahite clan.

    (Kohath was the forefather of Amram; 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam. 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihudied when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)

    62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritanceamong them.

    63 These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. 64 Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaronthe priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

    Go Deeper

    The chapter tells us about the census that Moses and the new high priest, Eleazar, took of the people of Israel and how God told them they were to divide territories once they entered the promised land. There can be a temptation to gloss over passages abouts censuses and genealogies in the Old Testament. The names are foreign and unknown to us and we can get bogged down in the lists and details. However, beneath the surface is a wealth of insight that allows us just a glimpse into the heart and mind of God. Each name is a nudge–a reminder of who He is and what He has accomplished.

    Let’s start at the end in verse 63: “These were those listed by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who listed the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jodan at Jericho.” This second census was taken after Israel had wandered in the desert for forty years. Forty years is a long time. While roaming because of their disbelief and disobedience, any number of things could have taken out the Israelites- harsh conditions, surrounding nations, disease, malnutrition, you name it. Instead, we see that the Israelite population has remained essentially the same size throughout its time of wandering.

    What mercy and kindness God extended to his people! Hidden beneath this list of names is a reminder that God keeps his promises. He promised in Genesis 26:4 that he would make Abraham’s descendants “as numerous as the starts in the sky,” and we see here that nothing, not even the Israelite’s disobedience, is going to prevent him from keeping that promise. Verse 64 tells us that no one from the first census taken before their time of wandering, except for Joshua and Caleb, was left to inherit the promised land. Rewind to Numbers 14 when the spies returned from exploring the land of Canaan, and only Joshua and Caleb were confident that the Lord could accomplish what He said He was going to.

    The Lord tells the people that no one besides these two “shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers” (v. 23). Now, forty years later, the Lord remembers the promise he made to these two faithful followers of his. In keeping with the promise, all of the wilderness generation has passed, yet Caleb and Joshua prepare to enter the promised land. The listing of the Israelites by tribe and number reveals to us the faithfulness and promise-keeping nature of our God!

    Questions

    1. What do you think God is wanting you to learn about his character from this chapter? Where do you see Him at work?
    2. What promises has God made to you that you can trust He will keep? If nothing specific comes to mind, start by looking at the promises he makes to us in scripture.
    3. How can you reflect on and thank God for the promises that He has already fulfilled in your life?

    Pray This

    God,

    Thank you that you are a promise-keeping God. Thank you that we never have to wonder if you will keep your promises to us because we see your faithfulness displayed in scripture. Thank you that you promise eternal life to those who trust in you and that we can know that you will keep that promise!

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  • Numbers 25

    Numbers 25

    Read Numbers 25

    Moab Seduces Israel

    25 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

    4 The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

    5 So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”

    6 Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

    10 The Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”

    14 The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

    16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them.18 They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incidentinvolving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident.”

     

    Go Deeper

    As we read this chapter, it is important to remember that God had just protected Israel against Balaam and Balak, and the Israelites’ actions in this chapter are an ungrateful response to His blessings. While Israel had sinned in many ways during the exodus, this was the first time they openly worshiped another god. This awoke the anger of the Lord and caused a plague that killed thousands (v. 9). As one commentary explains, “What an enemy set out to do but could never accomplish, Israel did to itself through disobedience.” This disobedience was so renowned that it is remembered and memorialized thousands of years later in Revelation 2 when the connection is drawn between Balaam’s unsuccessful attempts to curse Israel with the successful planting of temptation through idolatry and sexual immorality. When Balaam couldn’t curse Israel, he instead sent the Midianite women to tempt the men of Israel–and his plan worked.  

    God’s response was to instruct Moses to judge the sin openly, through execution of the offenders in broad daylight. We see in verses 6-8, however, that one righteous man was “zealous” for God’s honor and this zeal saved God’s people. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, witnessed an especially deliberate and provocative sin between an Israelite man and a Midianite woman in front of the tabernacle–a sin so blatant that it caused many to weep. Phinehas refused to accept this rebellion against God and killed them both with one spear. 

    Notice the language used in verse 11. Because Phinehas was “zealous for His honor”, the Lord made a covenant of peace with him and his family as well as provided atonement for the Israelites. The plague ended and lives were saved because of this one man’s zealous act for the Lord. There are similarities to be drawn with Jesus’s zealous anger and provision of atonement for the sins of many. But it is also important to note how the actions of one loyal man and his zeal for the honor of God make a big impact in his community.

    We observe sinful behavior in and around us on a daily basis. Do those acts stir a similar response in us? Do we have such zeal for God’s honor that we are willing to defend His authority? For us that could be something as simple as refusing to engage in inappropriate conversations or speaking out against con-men practices or teachings that do not align with God’s word. It might lead us to a place of discomfort with those close to us, but God has shown He can and will honor one righteous act—and that can make all the difference.

    Questions

    1. Would you consider yourself “zealous” in your defense of God’s honor? Why or why not?
    2. What do you think that looks like for you on a daily basis?
    3. What idols might you need to remove from your life in order to be less like the Israelite man and more like Phinehas?

    A Quote

    “Whereas it was Phinehas’ spear that pierced the sinners that made atonement for Israel, it was the nails and spear that pierced Jesus that made atonement for the sins of the whole world.” -Gordon Wenham

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  • Numbers 24

    Numbers 24

    Read Numbers 24

    24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:

    “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
        the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
    4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
        who sees a vision from the Almighty,
        who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

    5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
        your dwelling places, Israel!

    6 “Like valleys they spread out,
        like gardens beside a river,
    like aloes planted by the Lord,
        like cedars beside the waters.
    7 Water will flow from their buckets;
        their seed will have abundant water.

    “Their king will be greater than Agag;
        their kingdom will be exalted.

    8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
        they have the strength of a wild ox.
    They devour hostile nations
        and break their bones in pieces;
        with their arrows they pierce them.
    9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
        like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?

    “May those who bless you be blessed
        and those who curse you be cursed!”    10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands togetherand said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

    Balaam’s Fourth Message
    15 Then he spoke his message:

    “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
        the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
    16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
        who has knowledge from the Most High,
    who sees a vision from the Almighty,
        who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

    17 “I see him, but not now;
        I behold him, but not near.
    A star will come out of Jacob;
        a scepter will rise out of Israel.
    He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
        the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
    18 Edom will be conquered;
        Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
        but Israel will grow strong.
    19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
        and destroy the survivors of the city.”

    Balaam’s Fifth Message
    20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:

    “Amalek was first among the nations,
        but their end will be utter destruction.”


    Balaam’s Sixth Message

    21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
    “Your dwelling place is secure,
        your nest is set in a rock;
    22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
        when Ashur takes you captive.”


    Balaam’s Seventh Message

    23 Then he spoke his message:
    “Alas! Who can live when God does this?
    24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
    they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
        but they too will come to ruin.”
    25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

    Go Deeper

    Numbers 24 is the third chapter where we see and hear from the wicked prophet Balaam. As a reminder, King Balak of Moab wanted Balaam to curse the people of Israel in exchange for a reward. Balaam, unlike some who are considered to be “false prophets”, actually does hear from God. So while he’s not a false prophet, he is also not a righteous one. God, however, can use anyone or any means necessary to communicate His message when the timing is right and His words, through Balaam, are another example of that power and might on display. 

    This chapter begins with Balaam not resorting to sorcery or magic as he had previously, but instead he simply delivered the words that God wanted him to. As he began to speak, the text says that the Spirit of God came on him (v. 2) and he began to deliver a blessing over Israel. King Balak, infuriated by this blessing (which was the exact opposite of what he intended), sends him away in anger. Balaam stops to remind Balak that he can only say what God tells him to say (v. 13). 

    The chapter ends with Balaam delivering four more messages, including one about a star that would come out of Jacob and a scepter that would rise out of Israel (v. 17). Some scholars and early church writers (such as Justin Martyr, for example) believe this to be a reference to the coming Messiah who would ultimately free Israel from the spiritual bondage they were in. Multiple verses in the New Testament use similar language to back up this argument (Matthew 2:2, Hebrews 1:8, Revelation 19:15). This serves as another reminder to us that the entirety of scripture ultimately points to the brokenness of the world and our need for a Savior. 

    This chapter ends on an interesting note, as both Balaam and Balak go their separate ways. Pastor and commentator David Guzik says this in his Enduring Word commentary:

    “Undoubtedly, both were disappointed and perhaps angry, each because Israel had not been weakened spiritually and therefore made ready for defeat in battle. Balak wanted Israel defeated, and Balaam wanted Balak’s money, but each wanted Israel spiritually cursed–and God would not curse Israel.”

    As we’ll read in the days to come, Israel ultimately does compromise and rebel in a way that breaks God’s heart.

    Questions

    1. What stuck out to you on your first read through this chapter?
    2. Why do you believe God chose to speak through Balaam?
    3. What does this passage teach you about God? What does it teach you about humanity?

    Did You Know?

    Dr. Thomas Constable, a retired Dallas Theological Seminary professor, has this note on the references to Balaam in the New Testament:

    “New Testament writers referred to Balaam three times, and each time it was in connection with apostasy. Second Peter 2:15-16 refers to “the way of Balaam,” which is covetousness. Jude 11 speaks of “the error of Balaam,” which is thinking that one can sin with impunity. Revelation 2:14 refers to “the teaching of Balaam,” which is compromise with the world.”

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  • Numbers 23

    Numbers 23

    Read Numbers 23

    Balaam’s First Message

    23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

    3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

    4 God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

    5 The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

    6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. 7 Then Balaam spoke his message:

    “Balak brought me from Aram,
        the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.
    ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;
        come, denounce Israel.’
    8 How can I curse
        those whom God has not cursed?
    How can I denounce
        those whom the Lord has not denounced?
    9 From the rocky peaks I see them,
        from the heights I view them.
    I see a people who live apart
        and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
    10 Who can count the dust of Jacob
        or number even a fourth of Israel?
    Let me die the death of the righteous,
        and may my final end be like theirs!”

    11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

    12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

    Balaam’s Second Message

    13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

    15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”

    16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

    17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”

    18 Then he spoke his message:

    “Arise, Balak, and listen;
        hear me, son of Zippor.
    19 God is not human, that he should lie,
        not a human being, that he should change his mind.
    Does he speak and then not act?
        Does he promise and not fulfill?
    20 I have received a command to bless;
        he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

    21 “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
        no misery observed in Israel.
    The Lord their God is with them;
        the shout of the King is among them.
    22 God brought them out of Egypt;
        they have the strength of a wild ox.
    23 There is no divination against Jacob,
        no evil omens against Israel.
    It will now be said of Jacob
        and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
    24 The people rise like a lioness;
        they rouse themselves like a lion
    that does not rest till it devours its prey
        and drinks the blood of its victims.”

    25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

    26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”

    Balaam’s Third Message

    27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.

    29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

    Go Deeper

    God’s people are moving through the wilderness heading towards the Promised Land. As we saw through the census in Numbers 1, the Israelites are a large group of people. The natives of the land they were passing through were understandably intimidated by them. The Israelites have come across the Moabites, and in the previous chapter it says, “Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites” (22:3). The Moabites are led by a man named Balak, and Balak decides that they are going to conquer God’s people because they are a threat. 

    During this time, it was a pagan practice to find a diviner to curse the people before going into battle, just to make sure that the “gods” were in favor of them. Divination was similar to fortune-telling, and God prohibited the practice of it in Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10-13). So the Moabites’ goal was to curse Israel, then conquer them. Balak hires a diviner named Balaam to do just that. Balak sends men to hire Balaam, however the Lord appears to Balaam and tells him, “You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed” (22:12). Balak sends more messengers to increase the offer, and Balaam entertains this by going with them. As he was riding his donkey, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and spoke to him through the donkey. Balaam repents, and meets with Balak, the King of Moab.  

    Balaam tells Balak to build him seven altars, then sacrifices seven bulls and seven rams. Both the pagans and the Israelites regarded seven as a complete number. Balaam faithfully speaks the message that God gives him and instead blesses Israel in the form of an oracle. An oracle is a special revelation from God. The first oracle wasn’t super specific, but it did reveal that the Lord backed Israel over Moab. He is unable to curse someone that God has not cursed. Balak responds saying, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” (v. 11). Balaam replies stating, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” (v. 12). God’s presence is still with His people, and in the absence of Moses, He speaks to them through Balaam.  

    In the second oracle, Balaam speaks another blessing over Israel. He says, “There is no magic curse against Jacob and no divination against Israel” (v. 23). Balaam references different Abrahamic promises in this blessing. This story shows us that God can use anyone at any time to do anything. God used a pagan divination expert as an instrument of blessing on His people. God was working on behalf of the Israelites despite their failure and lack of faithfulness. Although it may seem like it, Balaam is not the hero of the story. Balaam eventually received his reward from Balak by instructing the Moabites on how to entice the Israelites to sin. The plan to curse and conquer Israel didn’t work, so the Balaam led them to compromise. We will read more about that in Numbers 25, and the consequences of their corruption. 

    Questions

    1. What stands out to you about this chapter? What questions do you have? 

    2. What does God using a pagan diviner and a talking donkey to pronounce blessing upon Israel teach you about His character?

    3. What is the problem with making anyone other than God the hero of the story?

    Keep Digging

    Check out this article from GotQuestions.org to learn more about Balaam! 

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  • Numbers 22

    Numbers 22

    Read Numbers 22

    Balak Summons Balaam

    22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

    2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

    4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”

    So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:

    “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

    7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

    8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

    9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

    10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

    12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”

    13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

    14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

    15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:

    “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”

    18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”

    20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

    Balaam’s Donkey

    21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

    24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

    26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

    29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

    30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

    “No,” he said.

    31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lordstanding in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

    32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

    34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

    35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

    36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

    38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

    39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him.41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.

    Go Deeper

    Numbers 22 is best known for the talking donkey, which is no surprise that it grabs attention. However, the account of Balaam offers so much more than a novelty act. We see how important it is to constantly seek God’s guidance.

    Chapter 22 opens with the Israelites camping in the plains of Moab after defeating the Canaanites and the Amorites. The Moabite king, Balak, is understandably nervous about having such a force hanging out in his territory, so he seeks supernatural help from a famous diviner: Balaam. A delegation of leaders went to Balaam asking for him to curse the Israelites but God directed him not to go, so Balaam refused and the delegation returned home empty-handed. Balak sent another group of even more prestigious leaders with an even greater reward offer to Balaam. This time, God permits Balaam to go with the leaders but instructs him to “Do only what I tell you.” The next morning, Balaam leaves, and we see that “God was very angry when he went”, sending an angel to stop him from making the journey. 

    This is where the story can get confusing. Why does God get angry with Balaam for going when He gave permission just the night before? At first glance, it can seem like God is being fickle here, but the rest of the story in this chapter illuminates the reason behind God’s anger. 

    God told Balaam to follow His instructions. To know what God wanted him to do, Balaam needed to listen for God’s guidance constantly. But we know that the diviner was not in tune with God and God knew this, too. Balaam did not see the angel God sent and did not take the hint from his donkey’s refusal to follow the path three times, because he was not listening to God. God had to physically alter the interaction of humans and animals with a talking donkey to get Balaam’s attention! 

    We, too, must constantly listen for God’s direction if we are to do what He tells us. Praying, reading the Bible, worshiping, Life Group accountability, ministry participation, and service help us stay attuned to God’s direction. We must also be ready to follow His lead, even if that means stopping, turning back, or going in a different direction.

    Questions

    1. Has there been a time when you followed your own path to find that God wanted to lead you elsewhere?
    2. Which distractions of your daily life divert your attention from listening to God’s guidance?
    3. In what way can you attune your ear to hear God’s guidance more clearly this week? Share this with your Life Group and ask for accountability.

    Listen Here

    The Bible Project digs into Balaam and some other parts of Numbers in this podcast episode.

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  • Numbers 21

    Numbers 21

    Read Numbers 21

    Arad Destroyed

    21 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” 3 The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

    The Bronze Snake

    4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against Godand against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

    6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinnedwhen we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

    8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

    The Journey to Moab

    10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 11 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 That is why the Book of the Warsof the Lord says:

    “. . . Zahab in Suphah and the ravines,
        the Arnon 15 and the slopes of the ravines
    that lead to the settlement of Ar
        and lie along the border of Moab.”

    16 From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

    17 Then Israel sang this song:

    “Spring up, O well!
        Sing about it,
    18 about the well that the princes dug,
        that the nobles of the people sank—
        the nobles with scepters and staffs.”

    Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.

    Defeat of Sihon and Og

    21 Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:

    22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

    23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. 24 Israel, however, put him to the swordand took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

    27 That is why the poets say:

    “Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
        let Sihon’s city be restored.

    28 “Fire went out from Heshbon,
        a blaze from the city of Sihon.
    It consumed Ar of Moab,
        the citizens of Arnon’s heights.
    29 Woe to you, Moab!
        You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!
    He has given up his sons as fugitives
        and his daughters as captives
        to Sihon king of the Amorites.

    30 “But we have overthrown them;
        Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.
    We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
        which extends to Medeba.”

    31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.

    32 After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there.33 Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.

    34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

    35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

    Go Deeper

    Sin has consequences. That is a theme we have seen in the book of Numbers (and really the entirety of Scripture). In the previous chapter, Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it as God had commanded him to do, and as a result faces the same consequence as the rest of the old generation. Moses is unable to enter into the Promised Land. He is not above sin, and God doesn’t need him to accomplish His purposes. Joshua will be the one to lead the people into the land of milk and honey (Numbers 27).  

    In Numbers 21, the people return to their discontentment and complaining. The people spoke against God and Moses saying, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” (v. 5). This was a big mistake! Their sin does not go unpunished and as a result, the Lord “sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died” (v. 6). However, the people repent and seek Moses as their intercessor to plead for God’s mercy towards them. We see the themes of sin, supplication, and salvation. The people disobey God, God displays righteous anger towards their disobedience, they seek a mediator, and God responds. 

    The Lord, in His great patience, provides the Israelites a way out. He tells Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived” (v. 8-9). The serpents used to discipline the people were fiery, representing the anger the Lord had for their rebellion. Those bitten by the living snakes were healed by a dead, reddish-colored snake. Looking at the snake required obedience and faith on the people’s part. It was not logical. It required a trust in God’s provision for their salvation and healing. 

    This story is referenced again in the book of John. In John 3, Jesus is having a conversation with a man named Nicodemus where he asks how someone can be born again. Jesus responds saying, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16). In the same way that the Israelites looked to the bronze serpent to find physical healing from their sin, we look to the cross of Christ to find spiritual healing from our sin. God provides a way for those who believe in faith.

    Questions

    1. Like the Israelites, when are you tempted to complain in your own life?  
    2. Where do you see God’s justice and mercy displayed in the chapter? 
    3. How does the bronze serpent point to Christ?

    Did You Know?

    The snake-entwined staff from this chapter in Numbers is known as the “Rod of Asclepius,” and it is the medical symbol we use today!

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  • Numbers 20

    Numbers 20

    Read Numbers 20

    Water From the Rock

    20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

    2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

    6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

    9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

    12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

    13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

    Edom Denies Israel Passage

    14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:

    “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardshipsthat have come on us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,16 but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angeland brought us out of Egypt.

    “Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

    18 But Edom answered:

    “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”

    19 The Israelites replied:

    “We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”

    20 Again they answered:

    “You may not pass through.”

    Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

    The Death of Aaron

    22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. 26 Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.”

    27 Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. 28 Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, 29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned for himthirty days.

    Go Deeper

    In Numbers 20 we see one of the most significant events in the Old Testament and in the life of Moses. Some might react with an “ouch” over God’s thoughts toward Moses’ actions at Kadesh that on the surface appear to be justified words of anger. Still in the wilderness of Zin, the Israelites stopped at Kadesh. God has repeatedly shown His faithfulness to and care for His wandering nation of Israel, yet they are grumbling to Moses and Aaron over the lack of water in their current camp spot. The Israelites return their familiar despair and complaining in verses 3-5, asking Moses why he had brought them to such a terrible place. Water supply was a serious concern, and Moses fell before the Lord in desperate prayer for the people. 

    God knew their plight and spoke to Moses in verse 8 saying, “Assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes that it may yield its water.” Once again, God planned to provide and care for His people. He wanted, through Moses’ words, to show His faithfulness to them by miraculously bringing water out of a rock!  Imagine watching water come from a rock and the encouragement this act of God would bring to the Israelites. 

    Moses followed the commands to the letter until his own frustrations at his people took over, and he struck the rock with his rod rather than speak to it. We know the sad result of Moses not entering the Promised Land. This might seem harsh, but the following lessons are there for us today.

    First, think of the times in our own lives where God has miraculously provided just what we needed in what seemed at the time impossible. We must never forget those faith building moments showing us that God is always on time. Further, it should humble us unto thanksgiving and worship for His good, righteous, and holy ways toward us. Sadly, Moses’ emotions caused him to forget that glory must only be given to God, and God alone for this miracle. We forget sometimes, too, and let our not so humble emotions carry us into places we must avoid. May we never play the rebel through our own anger and steal the glory of God.  

    Second, we can also easily forget God’s goodness and faithfulness in our own lives. His promises are all over scripture and we must be familiar with these and remember His last words in the final part of Matthew 28:20, “And, surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” At times, we will not be able to see water coming out of a rock for us when we think we need it the most. We have two choices: we can grumble toward God, or we can let our hearts more deeply trust Him and His ways leaning into the promise of His faithfulness. As we continue walking in faithful trust depending on Him to bring to pass what we need, He will bring the miracle of water out of our circumstantial rock in His perfect time. Then, we can give Him the glory He deserves knowing the miracle was of Him and not ourselves.

    Questions

    1. Are you in a Kadesh circumstances in your life? Are you grumbling toward God or others over it?
    2. What was the main conviction of God toward Moses and what made that so important to consider? Discuss this with your Life Group.
    3. What tools of the faith are you using to grow in trust waiting for God to work His good into your circumstance?

    A Quote

    Matthew Henry, a 17th century theologian said, “God is ever able to supply His people with what is mindful for them. But, Moses and Aaron took much of the glory of this work to themselves. They were to speak to the rock, not smote it. We must never become to ourselves wisdom or righteousness. Rebellion of the soul against its Savior is condemned in every page of scripture.”

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  • Numbers 19

    Numbers 19

    Read Numbers 19

    The Water of Cleansing

    19 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heiferwithout defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. 3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. 7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. 8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

    9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. 10 The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.

    11 “Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. 12 They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean. 13 If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse, they defile the Lord’s tabernacle. They must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean; their uncleanness remains on them.

    14 “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, 15 and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.

    16 “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

    17 “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. 18 Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinklethe tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death. 19 The man who is clean is to sprinkle those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them. Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean. 20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean. 21 This is a lasting ordinance for them.

    “The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening.22 Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.”

    Go Deeper

    This section of Numbers is filled with rebellion outside the Promised Land, and its subsequent consequences. Will God’s promises prevail in the midst of sin? Despite Israel’s rebellion and discontentment, there is hope. We know that the Bible is ultimately the story of God and His rescue plan through Jesus. All throughout the Old Testament, we see glimpses of this Savior and a “shadow of the good things that are coming” (Hebrews 10:1). B.B. Warfield, an American theologian, famously described the Old Testament as a “richly furnished room, dimly lit.”

    So, where do we see Christ in the book of Numbers? This chapter, and so many others, clearly point to Him. Numbers 19 is all about purification laws related to death. The purpose of this law was to remove the uncleanliness associated with death, especially after thousands perished as a result of Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16. The terms “clean” and “unclean” cover this chapter. 

    Touching dead bodies would make someone ceremonial unclean. As a reminder, when God gave the Israelites the law at Mount Sinai in the book of Exodus, there were three parts of the law: moral, civil, and ceremonial. The moral law addressed things that are morally good or bad, civil laws dealt with disputes between the Israelites and their daily affairs, and ceremonial laws were concerned with what made them “clean” or “unclean.” In Numbers 19, the Lord spoke to Moses giving them a ceremonial instruction saying, “Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke” (v. 2). A red heifer is a female cow that has never been pregnant. This type of animal would have been valuable and rare. This introduces to us a different, and very specific type of sacrifice than we have seen in the Old Testament. It specified the color red, it had to be female, it was to be slaughtered not sacrificed, it was to be killed outside the camp and not at the altar, and its blood was to be sprinkled seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 

    While the red heifer was being burnt, the priests were instructed to put cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet in the fire. All three together would produce ashes that were gathered and sprinkled in water to make for purification (v. 9). Each item had a purpose and pointed to a greater fulfillment in Christ. Many scholars say that the cross Jesus was crucified on was made of cedar. While He was on the cross, He was offered a drink from a hyssop branch. The veil that was torn in the temple when He died was scarlet. Jesus became unclean, not with sin but by taking our sin upon himself and dying on the cross for us.

    Like the red heifer, Jesus was “without blemish,” sacrificed outside Jerusalem or “outside the camp,” and its ashes cleansed people of their uncleanliness like Jesus cleanses us of our unrighteousness. Hebrews 13:11-12 says, “The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” He took on all our uncleanliness, so that we may be made clean. Even in Numbers, we see a picture that despite our sins like scarlet, God will make them white as snow. 

    Questions

    1. What stuck out to you on your first read through this chapter? 
    2. Why did God care so much about instructions like He gave in this chapter?
    3. Where else have you seen Christ in the book of Numbers?  

    Keep Digging

    Click here to read more about the significance of the red heifer in the Bible!

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  • Numbers 18

    Numbers 18

    Read Numbers 18

    Duties of Priests and Levites

    18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. 2 Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the tent of the covenant law. 3 They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die. 4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.

    5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting. 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

    Offerings for Priests and Levites

    8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share. 9 You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. 10 Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy.

    11 “This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially cleanmay eat it.

    12 “I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. 13 All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

    14 “Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. 15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lordis yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. 16 When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

    17 “But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Splash their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 18 Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. 19 Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

    20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritanceamong the Israelites.

    21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. 22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

    25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. 27 Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. 28 In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. 29 You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

    30 “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. 31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting. 32 By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

    Go Deeper

    In Numbers 18, we get to read about the Lord “gifting” the responsibilities of the priesthood to Aaron and his sons, as well as the offerings that go along with that. Although the Lord tells Aaron it is a gift (v. 7), at first glance, this responsibility does not really seem like something we would put on our Christmas list. Not only will Aaron die if he does something wrong, but if his sons do something wrong, Aaron and his sons will die. Here are two things we can glean from this.  

    First, we see that God cares about holiness and purity, but more than that he cares about His people. In verse 5 He says, “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.” He is a just God that must deal with unholiness, but he did not want His wrath to fall on His people.  

    God trusted Aaron and his family to protect the temple. That is a gift! Although it was a great responsibility, He knew Aaron was capable. This family was even rewarded for the work they did. In verse 21, God tells Aaron “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.” The best of the best of Israel was given to the Levites!  

    But why is this relevant now? It’s been awhile since we had to adhere to this Old Testament law (thanks to Jesus). It’s hard not to notice that we don’t have a priest we must give an offering to, and we don’t have the responsibility of protecting a holy Sanctuary. Oh wait–we do! First Peter 2:9 reads: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  

    We are the royal priesthood responsible for pursuing purity and holiness! And because there is not one sanctuary, but the Holy Spirit dwells in all of us as the new temple (1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9), we have this gift of responsibility too. Because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, we do not have to worry about adhering to the law perfectly or we will fall dead (like the Levites had to) and we get an even better inheritance than the best of the best of Israel! We get to live in eternity with God forever!

    Questions

    1.  Do you believe that God desires you to pursue holiness? Why or why not? 
    2. What is something you can do today to walk in my calling as part of a royal priesthood and protect the temple he created in me? 
    3. Is it your tendency to abuse grace by sinning without repentance or do you have a hard time accepting grace because you think your sin is too bad for God? Talk to your Life Group about this today!

    Keep Digging

    Father, 

    Thank you for sending your son Jesus to fulfill the law so I don’t have to. Thank you for showing me through numbers that you care about your people pursuing holiness. Thank you that if I trust in you, you give me the responsibility of being a part of a royal priesthood and an even better inheritance. Help me pursue purity today and confess it quickly when I don’t. Thank you that when I fall short, you have unending grace for me.

    Amen.

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