"HOW TO GET WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE" is based
on the Book of Numbers written about 46
lifetimes ago in 1445 B.C.
Quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible and our
comments are in brackets.
God told Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the
Sinai Desert 14 months after the exodus from
Egypt to list by ancestral tribes, all men over
20 able to serve in the army. He said Aaron and
a list of leaders of ancestral tribes were to
assist. So they called the whole community
together and listed the men as the Lord
commanded.
The result was:
From descendants of Reuben 46500
" " " Simeon 59300
" " " Gad 45650
" " " Judah 74600
" " " Issachar 54400
" " " Zebulun 57400
" " " Ephraim 40500
" " " Manasseh 32200
" " " Benjamin 35400
" " " Dan 62700
" " " Asher 41500
" " " Napthali 53400
-----
A total of 603550
The descendants of the tribe of Levi weren't
counted. The Lord told Moses to appoint them to
be in charge of the Tabernacle and everything
belonging to it. This meant taking it down,
carrying it, setting it up, taking care of it,
and encamping around it so that wrath would not
fall on the Israelite community. Anyone else
going near it was to be put to death.
So at the centre of the camp was the Tabernacle.
Surrounding it were the Levite tents. Outside
this were all the other tents in tribal order.
The Israelites did exactly as the Lord commanded
Moses.
(Chapter 1)
The Lord gave Moses and Aaron these camping and
marching orders.
Tribes camping east of the Tabernacle and
setting out first, were:
Judah, Issachar and Zebulun - 186400
South and setting out second were:
Reuben, Simeon, Gad - 151450
Then came the Tent of Meeting and the Levites
who set out in the middle of the camps.
West and setting out third were:
Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin - 108100
North and setting out last were:
Dan, Asher and Napthali - 157500
So they camped and set out as the Lord commanded
Moses.
(Chapter 2)
At the time the Lord talked with Moses on Mt
Sinai, Aaron had four sons ordained to serve as
priests. Two fell dead for offering unauthorised
fire before the Lord, leaving Eleazar and
Ithamar.
The Lord told Moses to bring the tribe of Levi
to Aaron to assist him and that when He killed
all the firstborn of the Egyptians, He set apart
for Himself every firstborn in Israel. So the
Lord took the Levites instead of those firstborn
males.
Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath and Merari and
Moses counted all the males a month or more old
as commanded by the Lord.
Their campsites and responsibilities were:
7500 Gershonites camped west of the Tabernacle
being responsible for its care, the tent
and coverings, curtains, ropes etc.
8600 Kohathites camped south of the Tabernacle
being responsible for the care of the
Ark, table, lampstand, altars, sanctuary
articles, curtain etc.
6200 Merarites camped north of the Tabernacle
being responsible for Tabernacle and
courtyard frames, crossbars, posts,
bases, tent pegs, ropes etc.
Moses, Aaron and sons camped east in front of
the Tabernacle, being responsible for the care
of the sanctuary, anyone else approaching it
being put to death.
The Lord told Moses to count and list the names
of all the firstborn male Israelites a month old
or more, taking the Levites for the Lord in
their place. Likewise firstborn Levitical
livestock was taken in place of Israelite
livestock.
There were 273 more firstborn Israelites than
Levites. These were redeemed for 5 shekels each,
about 15.5 kilograms of silver, which was given
to Aaron and sons as commanded by the word of
the Lord.
(Chapter 3)
THE KOHATHITES:
The Lord told Moses and Aaron to take a census
of the male Kohathite Levites aged from 30 to
50. They carried the most holy things in the
Tent of Meeting after Aaron and sons had packed
them. But unauthorised touching or looking at
them meant death. So the Lord told Moses, Aaron
and sons to go into the sanctuary and assign
each man his work and what he had to carry.
Here is how Aaron and sons were to pack the most
holy things:
The Ark of the Testimony:
Cover with shielding curtain.
Cover this with hides of sea cows.
Spread cloth of solid blue over this.
Put carrying poles in place.
Table of the Presence:
Spread blue cloth.
Put on it plates, dishes, bowls, jars,
bread that is continually there to
remain on it.
Over this spread a scarlet cloth.
Cover all with sea cow hides.
Put poles in place.
Lampstand:
Cover with blue cloth including lamps,
wick trimmers, trays, jars.
Wrap all in covering of sea cow hides.
Put on carrying frame.
Gold Altar:
Spread blue cloth.
Cover with hides of sea cows.
Put poles in place.
Sanctuary Articles:
Wrap in blue cloth.
Cover with hides of sea cows.
Put on carrying frames.
Bronze Altar:
Remove ashes.
Spread purple cloth.
Place all utensils on it; firepans, meat
forks, shovels, sprinkling bowls.
Spread covering of sea cow hides over it.
Put poles in place.
Aaron's son Eleazar was responsible for the oil
for the light, fragrant incense, regular grain
offerings, anointing oil, the entire Tabernacle
and everything in it.
THE GERSHONITES:
The Lord told Moses to take a census of males
from 30 to 50 years of age. Their job was to
carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, Tent of
Meeting entrance and courtyard, the Tent of
Meeting, ropes and equipment, all under the
direction of Aaron and his sons.
THE MERARITES:
Males between 30 and 50 years were to be
counted. Their duty was to carry the frames of
the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
courtyard posts, bases, tent pegs, ropes and
equipment. Each man was assigned specific things
to carry under the direction of Ithamar son of
Aaron.
The result of the census taking was:
Kohathites - 2750
Gershonites - 2630
Merarites - 3200
So the total was 8580 men who came to do the
work of serving and carrying the Tent of
Meeting. At the Lord's command through Moses
each was assigned his work and told what to
carry.
(Chapter 4)
PURITY IN THE CAMP.
The Lord told Moses to command the Israelites to
send outside the camp anyone with infectious
skin diseases, discharges and ceremonial
uncleanness. The camp where God dwelt was not to
be defiled. They did as instructed.
RESTITUTION FOR WRONGS.
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites that
anyone wronging another is unfaithful to the
Lord, guilty and must confess that sin.
Restitution plus one fifth must be made to the
wronged person. If restitution can't be made to
a person, it belongs to the Lord, being given to
the priest along with a ram with which atonement
is made for him.
UNFAITHFUL WIVES.
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites that
if a wife is unfaithful or is so suspected:
He takes his wife to the priest with two
litres of barley flour for her. This
is a grain offering for jealousy, a
reminder offering to draw attention
to guilt.
Priest has her stand before the Lord.
He loosens her hair and puts the reminder
offering in her hand (for jealousy).
He holds the bitter water that brings a
curse (which he made from holy water
in clay jar plus dust from the
Tabernacle floor).
He puts the woman under an oath that if
she is pure she won't be harmed, if
impure, her abdomen will swell and her
thigh waste away.
She is to say Amen, so be it.
He writes these curses on a scroll and
washes them off into the bitter water.
He takes from her hands the grain offering
for jealousy and waves it before the
Lord.
He brings it to the altar, takes a handful
as a memorial offering and burns it on
the altar.
He has the woman drink the water.
If she has been unfaithful it will cause
bitter suffering and she will be
accursed among her people.
If not she will be cleared of guilt and be
able to have children.
The husband will be innocent of wrong
doing but the woman will bear the
consequences of her sin.
(Chapter 5)
THE NAZIRITE.
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites that
this is how to make a special vow of separation
to the Lord as a Nazirite, being holy to the
Lord until the period of separation and
consecration to the Lord is over:
Eat or drink nothing from the grapevine
and drink no fermented drink.
Not cut or shave the hair.
Not to go near a dead body.
If someone dies suddenly in his presence
thus defiling the hair he has
dedicated, he must:
Shave his head on the day of his
cleansing - the 7th day.
On day eight, bring two doves or
young pigeons to the priest at
the entrance to the Tent of
Meeting.
The priest offers one as a sin
offering, the other as a burnt
offering to make atonement for
him because he sinned by being
in the presence of a dead body.
Consecrate his head and dedicate himself
to the Lord for the period of his
separation.
Bring a year old lamb as a guilt offering.
Remember the previous days do not count
because he became defiled during his
separation.
When the period of separation is over he:
Is brought to the entrance to the Tent of
Meeting.
Presents his offerings to the Lord:
A yearling male lamb without
defect for a burnt offering.
A yearling ewe lamb without
defect for a sin offering.
A ram without defect for a
fellowship offering.
Grain offerings.
Drink offerings.
A basket of bread made without
yeast - cakes made of fine flour
mixed with oil, and wafers spread
with oil.
Has the priest present them before the
Lord as sin offerings and burnt
offerings, also the bread and
sacrifices the ram as a fellowship
offering to the Lord with its grain
and drink offering.
At the entrance of the Tent of Meeting
shaves off the hair he has
dedicated.
Puts it in the fire that is under the
sacrifice of the fellowship
offering.
Sees the priest take in his hands
a boiled shoulder of the ram, a
cake and wafer from the basket both
made without yeast and wave them
before the Lord as a wave offering.
These are holy and belong to the
priest.
After that he may drink wine, he has fulfilled
the vow he made to the Lord.
THE PRIESTLY BLESSING.
The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and sons to
bless the Israelites thus:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn His face toward you and
give you peace.
So they will put my name on the Israelites and I
will bless them.
(Chapter 6)
When Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle he
anointed and consecrated it and all its
furnishings. Then the tribal leaders presented
offerings. The Lord told Moses to accept them,
giving them to the Levites (except the
Kohathites who had to carry the holy things) for
use in the work of the Tent of Meeting as
required, under the direction of Ithamar,
Aaron's son.
The Lord had told Moses that each day one leader
was to bring his offering for the dedication of
the altar.
They did thus:
FROM JUDAH.
One silver plate filled with fine flour mixed
with oil as a grain offering - 1.5 kgms.
One silver sprinkling bowl filled as above -
.8 kgms.
One gold dish filled with incense - 110 gms.
One young bull, one ram, one male lamb one
year old for burnt offerings.
One male goat for a sin offering.
Two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five
male lambs one year old as a fellowship
offering.
The same offerings were brought by the tribes of
Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim,
Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Napthali.
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak
with the Lord he heard God's voice speaking to
him from between the two cherubim above the
atonement cover on the Ark of the Testimony. And
he spoke with Him.
(Chapter 7)
The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron to set up the
seven lamps to shine forward in front of the
lampstand. Aaron did so. The lampstand was made
exactly to the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.
The Lord told Moses to take the Levites and make
them ceremonially clean thus:
Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them.
Have them shave their whole bodies and wash
their clothes and so purify themselves.
Have them take a young bull with its grain
offering of fine flour mixed with oil.
Take a second young bull for a sin offering.
Bring the Levites to the front of the Tent of
Meeting and assemble the whole Israelite
community.
Bring the Levites before the Lord and have
the Israelites lay their hands on them.
Aaron is to present the Levites before the
Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites
so they may be ready to do the work of the
Lord.
After the Levites lay their hands on the
heads of the bulls, use one for a sin
offering and the other for a burnt offering
to make atonement for them.
After purifying the Levites and presenting
them as a wave offering they are to come
and do their work at the Tent of Meeting.
They are the Israelites who are to be
given wholly to me. I have taken them as
my own in place of the firstborn male
offspring of every Israelite woman.
I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and
sons to do the work at the Tent of Meeting for
the Israelites and to make atonement for them so
no plague will strike them when they go near
the sanctuary.
Moses, Aaron and the Israelite community did
with the Levites just as the Lord commanded
Moses.
Then the Levites came to do their work at the
Tent of Meeting supervised by Aaron and sons.
The Lord told Moses that Levites between the
ages of 25 and 50 could work at the Tent of
Meeting. They had to retire at 50, being allowed
to assist their brothers, but to do no work
themselves.
(Chapter 8)
The Lord told Moses to have the Israelites
celebrate the Passover thus:
At twilight on the fourteenth day of the
first month.
By eating the lamb with unleavened bread and
bitter herbs.
Leaving none 'til morning.
Not breaking any of its bones.
The Israelites did everything just as the Lord
commanded Moses. But some, ceremonially unclean
because of a dead body, asked Moses if they
could share the Passover. Moses asked the Lord
who said it was okay, also for Israelites to
celebrate it if away on a journey. But anyone
able to, but unwilling to share in it was to be
cut off from his people and bear the
consequences of his sin. Aliens were also
allowed to share according to its rules and
regulations.
The day the Tabernacle, the Tent of Testimony
was set up the cloud covered it. At night it
looked like fire. When the cloud lifted, whether
by day or night, the Israelites set out, when it
settled, they camped. So at the Lord's command
they set out and at the the Lord's command they
camped. They obeyed the Lord's order, in
accordance with His command through Moses.
(Chapter 9)
The Lord told Moses to make two silver trumpets
for Aaron's sons to blow thus:
Both blown = Whole community to assemble
before you at Tent of
Meeting.
One blown = Leaders only assemble.
One blast = Tribes on east set out.
Second blast = Tribes on south set out.
Both blown = Attack enemy in own land.
Then the Lord your God will
remember and rescue you.
Both blown = Rejoicing at feasts and
festivals over burnt and
fellowship offerings. I AM
THE LORD YOUR GOD.
On day 20 of the 2nd month of the 2nd year the
cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle of the
Testimony. They set out this first time at the
Lord's command through Moses.
Judah, Issachar and Zebulun went first. Then the
Tabernacle was taken down and the Gershonites
and Merarites who carried it set out. (See also
Chapter 2).
Reuben, Simeon and Gad followed. Then the
Kohathites carrying the holy things. The
Tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
Then came Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin,
followed by Dan, Asher and Napthali as the rear
guard.
Moses persuaded his father-in-law who knew the
lie of the land, to come with them,"for the Lord
has promised good things to Israel."
So they set out from the Mountain of the Lord
and travelled for three days. The Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord went before them to find
them a place of rest, and the cloud of the Lord
was over them by day.
When the Ark set out, Moses said,
Rise up, O Lord.
May your enemies be scattered;
May your foes fall before you.
Whenever it came to rest, he said,
Return O Lord,
To the countless thousands of Israel.
(Chapter 10)
The people complained of hardship. The Lord
heard and was angry. So fire from the Lord
consumed some on the outskirts of the camp. The
people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord
and the fire died down. So they named the place
Taberah which means burning.
The rabble with them (non-Israelites) began to
crave other food and again the Israelites
started wailing saying "If only we had meat to
eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt
without cost - also cucumbers, melons, leeks,
onions and garlic. But now we never see anything
but this manna!"
The manna was like coriander seed. When the dew
settled on the camp at night, the manna also
came down. They gathered and ground it, cooking
it in a pot or made cakes with it. It tasted
like something made with olive oil.
Moses heard the people wailing. The Lord became
exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He
asked the Lord:
Why bring this trouble on your servant?
How have I displeased you that you put the
burden of all these people on me?
Did I conceive and give them birth?
Why do you tell me to carry them like an
infant, to the promised land? I can't
carry them by myself, the burden is too
heavy.
If this is how you are going to treat me, put
me to death right now.
The Lord said to Moses:
Bring 70 elders to the Tent of Meeting.
I'll speak with you there and take of the
Spirit that is on you and put it on them.
They will help you carry the burden.
Tell the people to consecrate themselves in
preparation for to-morrow when you will
eat meat.
The Lord heard your complaining, so I'll give
you meat for a month until it comes out of
your nostrils and you loathe it.
This is because you have rejected the Lord,
who is among you, and have wailed, saying
Why did we ever leave Egypt?
But Moses said:
Here am I amongst 600,000 men on foot and you
say you will give them meat to eat for a
whole month!
Would all our flocks and herds or all the
fish in the sea be enough?
The Lord answered:
Is the Lord's arm too short?
You will now see if what I say will come
true.
So Moses went out and told the people what the
Lord had said. He had the 70 elders stand before
the tent. The Lord came down in the cloud and
spoke with him and took of the Spirit that was
on him and put it on the 70 elders. They then
prophesied, but they didn't do it again. The
same happened to two elders who had remained in
the camp. Joshua, Moses' aide since his youth,
asked Moses to stop them. But he replied, Are
you jealous for my sake? I wish all the Lord's
people were prophets and that the Lord would put
His Spirit on them.
A wind went out from the Lord and brought quail
down all around the camp to a depth of one metre
as far as a day's walk in any direction. The
people collected quail for a day and a half. But
while the meat was still between their teeth the
Lord's anger burned and He struck the people
with a severe plague. They named the place
"graves of craving" and moved on.
(Chapter 11)
Aaron and his sister Miriam began to talk
against Moses. Has the Lord spoken only through
Moses, they asked. Hasn't he also spoken through
us? (Moses was the most humble man on earth).
The Lord heard and at once told the three of
them to come out to the Tent of Meeting. The
Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and summoned
Aaron and his sister who both stepped forward.
Then God said:
I reveal myself in visions and dreams to my
prophets.
But this is not true of my servant Moses; he
is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face clearly, he
sees the form of the Lord.
Why then are you not afraid to speak against
my servant Moses?
The anger of the Lord burned against them and
He left them.
When the cloud lifted from above the tent
Miriam stood leprous.
Aaron said to Moses, Don't hold this sin
against us that we have so foolishly
committed.
So Moses cried to the Lord, O God, please
heal her.
The Lord replied, Confine her outside the
camp for 7 days.
After she came back the people moved on.
(Chapter 12)
The Lord told Moses to explore the land of
Canaan (the promised land) by sending one man
from each tribe. Among these were Caleb from the
tribe of Judah and Joshua from Ephraim.
He asked them to report on:
Whether the people were few or many, strong
or weak.
Whether the land was good or bad, fertile or
poor, with or without trees.
Fruit quality by bringing some back.
Whether the towns were fortified and walled
or unwalled.
They returned bearing a single cluster of grapes
with some pomegranates and figs carried on a
pole between two men and reported to Moses,
Aaron and the whole Israelite community:
The land flows with milk and honey.
But the people are powerful.
The cities are fortified and very large.
Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and
said, We should go up and take possession of the
land, for we can certainly do it.
But others who had gone with him said, We can't
attack those people; they are stronger than we
are. And they spread a bad report about the
land, exaggerating the size of the opposition
and saying, We seemed like grasshoppers in our
own eyes and theirs.
(Chapter 13)
All the community wept and grumbled against
Moses and Aaron saying:
If only we had died in Egypt or in the
desert.
Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only
to let us die by the sword?
Wouldn't it be better to return to Egypt?
We should choose a leader to go back.
Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the
whole Israelite assembly. Joshua and Caleb tore
their clothes and said to the entire assembly:
The land is exceedingly good.
If the Lord is pleased with us He will lead
us into that land and give it to us.
Do not rebel against the Lord.
Do not be afraid of the people of the land
because we will swallow them up. Their
protection is gone but the Lord is
with us.
But the whole assembly talked about stoning
them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the
Tent of Meeting. The Lord said to Moses:
How long will they treat me with contempt?
How long will they refuse to believe me in
spite of all the miraculous signs I've
performed?
I'll destroy them and make you a nation
greater and stronger than they.
Moses said to the Lord, The Egyptians and other
nations have heard:
By your power you brought these people out.
You are with these people.
You have been seen face to face.
Your cloud stays over them.
You go before them in a pillar of cloud by
day and fire by night.
But if you kill all of them at once the nations
will say, The Lord was not able to bring them
into the land He promised them so He slew them
in the desert. May the Lord's strength be
displayed, for you:
Are slow to anger.
Abounding in love to forgive sin and
rebellion but you
do not leave the guilty unpunished; He
punishes the children for the sin of the
fathers to the third and fourth
generation.
So in accordance with your great love forgive
the sin of these people, just as you have
pardoned them from the time they left Egypt 'til
now.
The Lord replied:
I've forgiven them as you asked, but as
surely as I live and as surely as the
glory of the Lord fills the earth -
Not one man who saw my glory and the
miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and
in the desert but who disobeyed,tested me
with contempt, will ever see the promised
land.
But because my servant Caleb has a different
spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I
will bring him and his descendants into
the land.
To-morrow return toward the desert.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
How long will this wicked community grumble
against me? So tell them:
As surely as I live I will do to these
the very things I heard you say.
Everyone counted in the census who is 20
years old or more and who grumbled against
me will die in this desert.
The only exception is Caleb and Joshua (which
shows God's foreknowledge that Moses and
Aaron would fail - see Chapter 20).
Your children you said would be taken in
plunder, I will bring in to enjoy the
land you rejected. But first they will be
shepherds here for 40 years, suffering for
your unfaithfulness until the last of your
bodies lies in the desert.
For 40 years, one for each of the 40 days you
explored the promised land you will suffer
for your sins and know what it is like to
have me against you.
I will surely do these things to this whole
wicked community which has banded together
against me. Here they will die.
The other 10 men sent to explore the land who
returned and made the whole community grumble,
were struck down and died of a plague before the
Lord.
Moses reported this to all the Israelites and
they:
Mourned bitterly.
Said they'd sinned,so early next morning went
up toward the high hill country saying, We
will go up to the place the Lord promised.
But Moses said:
Why disobey the Lord's command?
This will not succeed, the Lord is not with
you because you have turned away from Him.
You will fall by the sword.
But in their presumption they went up, though
neither Moses nor the Ark of the Lord's Covenant
moved from the camp. So they were attacked and
beaten down all the way to Hormah.
(Chapter 14)
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites,
After you enter the land I am giving you and you
present offerings made by fire:
The one who brings them shall present a grain
offering of 2 litres of fine flour mixed
with 1 litre of oil.
With each lamb 1 litre of wine as a drink
offering.
With a ram a grain offering of 4.5 litres of
fine flour mixed with 1.2 litres of oil
and 1.2 litres of wine as a drink
offering.
With a young bull a grain offering of
6.5 litres of fine flour mixed with
2 litres of oil and 2 litres of wine as a
drink offering.
The above applies to aliens living in the
land. The same laws apply to aliens as
Israelites.
When you eat of the food of the land, present
a cake from the first of your ground meal
as an offering from the threshing floor.
If you unintentionally fail to keep any of
these commands the Lord gave Moses without
the community being aware of it, they are
to offer a young bull as a burnt offering
with its grain and drink offering, and a
male goat for a sin offering. The priest
is to make atonement for the whole
Israelite community and the aliens living
with them and they will be forgiven.
But if just one person sins unintentionally,
he must bring a year old female goat for a
sin offering. The priest is to make
atonement and he will be forgiven. This
applies equally to native born Israelites
and aliens.
But anyone who sins defiantly blasphemes the
Lord and must be cut off from his people.
He has despised the Lord's word and broken
His commands. His guilt remains on him.
While the Israelites were in the desert, a man
was found gathering food on the Sabbath. Brought
to Moses he was put into custody because it was
not clear what should be done to him. The Lord
told Moses the whole assembly was to stone him
to death outside the camp.
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites to
put tassels on the corners of their garments
with a blue cord on each. They were to remind
them of all the commands of the Lord so that:
You may obey them
And not prostitute yourselves by going after
the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
And be consecrated to your God. I AM THE LORD
YOUR GOD WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGYPT TO
BE YOUR GOD. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.
(Chapter 15)
Korah, a descendant of Levi, Dathan, Abirim and
On, rose up against Moses with 250 well known
community leaders. They came as a group to
oppose Moses and Aaron and said:
The whole community is holy and the Lord is
with them.
Why do you set yourselves above the Lord's
assembly?
When Moses heard this he fell face down. He
said to Korah and his followers:
In the morning the Lord will show who belongs
to Him and is holy.
Take censers, put fire and incense in them
before the Lord.
The man the Lord chooses will be holy.
You Levites have gone too far.
Moses also said to Korah:
Listen you Levites! Isn't it enough that the
God of Israel separated you to do work at
the Lord's Tabernacle and to minister to
the community?
He has brought you and your fellow Levites
near Himself but now you are trying to get
the priesthood too.
You are opposing the Lord. Why grumble
against Aaron?
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram but they
refused to come. They said:
You brought us out of a land flowing with
milk and honey (Egypt where they were
slaves!) to kill us in the desert.
And now you also want to lord it over us.
Moreover you haven't brought us into a land
flowing with milk and honey or given us an
inheritance of fields and vineyards.
Moses became very angry and said to the Lord,
Don't accept their offering. I haven't taken
anything from them or wronged them.
When Korah and his 250 followers stood with
Moses and Aaron the next day with their censers
at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the
glory of the Lord appeared to the entire
assembly.
The Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate
themselves, so I can put an end to them at once.
But they fell face down and cried out, O God,
God of the spirits of all mankind will you be
angry with the entire assembly when only one man
sins? The Lord said to Moses, Say to the
assembly, move away from the tents of Korah,
Dathan and Abiram.
So Moses warned the assembly to move back from
their tents and not to touch anything belonging
to them or be swept away because of all their
sins. Then Moses said, This is how you'll know
the Lord has sent me to do all these things and
that it was not my idea. If they die a natural
death, the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord
opens the earth to swallow them alive into the
grave you'll know these men have treated the
Lord with contempt.
As soon as he had finished saying this the earth
split apart and swallowed them and closed over
them and they were gone from the community.
Fearing the same fate the Israelites around them
fled.
And fire came from the Lord and consumed the 250
men offering incense. The Lord told Moses to
have Aaron's son take the bronze censers out of
the smouldering remains and hammer them into
sheets to overlay the altar for they were
presented to the Lord and have become holy. This
was to remind the Israelites that only a
descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense
before the Lord, or become like Korah and his
followers.
Next day the whole Israelite community grumbled
against Moses and Aaron for killing the Lord's
people. But when they gathered in opposition to
Moses and Aaron and turned towards the Tent of
Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the
glory of the Lord appeared. Moses and Aaron went
to the front of the tent and the Lord said, Get
away from this assembly so I can put an end to
them at once.
Moses told Aaron to take his censer, put fire in
it and hurry to the assembly to make atonement
for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the
plague has started. So Aaron obeyed and ran into
the midst of the assembly. He stood between the
living and the dead and the plague stopped, but
14700 died, in addition to those who died
because of Korah. Then Moses and Aaron returned
to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
(Chapter 16)
The Lord told Moses to get a staff from each
leader of the tribes, writing each man's name on
his staff. Aaron's name was to go on the staff
of Levi. Then place them in the Tent of Meeting
in front of the Testimony where I meet with you.
The staff belonging to the man I choose will
sprout and I will rid myself of this constant
grumbling against you by the Israelites.
The result was that Aaron's staff not only
budded but produced almonds! Moses brought out
all the staffs. The leaders looked at them and
each took his own staff.
The Lord had Moses return Aaron's staff in front
of the Testimony to be kept as a sign to the
rebellious. He said, This will put an end to
their grumbling against me so they will not die.
The Israelites said to Moses, We will die. We
are all lost, anyone coming near the Tabernacle
of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?
(Chapter 17)
The Lord told Aaron. You and your sons bear
responsibility for offences against the
priesthood and with your father's family,
responsibility for offences against the
sanctuary. Fellow Levites are to assist you and
your sons when you minister before the Tent of
Testimony. But if they go near the furnishings
of the sanctuary or altar you and they will die.
You and they are responsible for the care of
the Tent of Meeting, no one else may come near.
You are responsible for the care of the
sanctuary and altar so wrath will not fall on
the Israelites again. Only you and your sons may
serve as priests for everything at the altar
and inside the curtain. I give you the service
of priesthood as a gift. Anyone else coming near
the sanctuary must be put to death.
The Lord said to Aaron, You are in charge of
offerings presented to me. I give them to you
and your sons as your regular share. Eat it as
something most holy. This also applies to wave
offerings and harvest first fruits. Ceremonially
clean members of your household may eat it.
The first offspring offered to the Lord are
yours. But firstborn sons and unclean animals,
when one month old, must be redeemed for 2
ounces of silver.
This doesn't apply to oxen, sheep or goats
which are holy offerings to the Lord. Their meat
is your family's regular share. This is an
everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for
both you and your offspring.
The Lord said to Aaron, You'll have no land
inheritance. I am your share and inheritance.
I give the Levites all the tithes for the work
they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.
Israelites must not go near it, if they do
they'll die. Levites bear responsibility for
offences against it. Levites have no
inheritance, instead give them the tithes. Of
these they must in turn tithe the Lord's
portion, the best and holiest, to Aaron. They
may eat the remainder anywhere as it is wages
for their work at the Tent of Meeting. By
presenting the best part, guilt and the defiling
of Israelites' holy offerings are avoided.
(Chapter 18)
The Lord told Moses and Aaron to provide ashes
for purification of unclean people in this way:
A red heifer without defect and which had
never been under a yoke was to be
slaughtered outside the camp in the
presence of Eleazar the priest.
Eleazar then puts its blood on his finger and
sprinkles it seven times towards the front
of the Tent of Meeting.
While watching, the heifer is burned and
Eleazar throws cedar wood, hyssop and
scarlet wool onto the fire.
The priest and man who burns the heifer must
wash clothes and selves, return to the
camp and be ceremonially unclean 'til
evening.
A man who is clean gathers ashes and puts in
ceremonially clean place outside the camp,
ready for use in the water of cleansing,
the purification from sin.
He then must wash his clothes and be unclean
'til evening.
Anyone touching a dead body is unclean for seven
days. He must purify himself with the water on
the 3rd and 7th days and then be clean again.
Failure to do this defiles the Lord's Tabernacle
and results in the person being cut off from
Israel.
If a person dies in a tent, anyone there or
entering is unclean for seven days. Any open
container is also unclean.
Anyone touching a dead person, bone or grave in
the open is unclean for seven days.
Purification for the above is thus:
The unclean person puts ashes from the burned
purification offering in a jar and pours
fresh water in them.
A ceremonially clean man takes hyssop, dips
it in the water and sprinkles tent,
furnishings and people there.
Likewise for any person touching a dead
person in the open,human bones or a grave.
On the 3rd and 7th days, the man who is
clean, is to sprinkle the unclean person
when he is purified.
The person being cleansed must wash his
clothes, bathe and that evening he is
clean.
Anyone not doing this remains unclean, and is
cut off from Israel.
The man doing the sprinkling must also wash
his clothes.
Anyone touching the water of cleansing is
unclean 'til evening.
Anything an unclean person touches is unclean
and anyone touching it is unclean 'til
evening. (Chapter 19)
(40 years had now passed since the exodus. Here
40 years earlier [Chapters 12, 13] they had
rebelled and failed the test of faith in God to
get them into the promised land. The penalty was
40 years wandering the desert. They had come
full circle. The promised land lies before them
again. Had they learned anything? Read on!).
The Israelites arrived at Kadesh but there was
no water. So the children of the rebellious
nation gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron
complaining that:
They'd have been better off dying with their
parents.
Moses had brought them into the desert to die
there.
They'd have been better off in Egypt with
plenty of food and water.
(40 years earlier their fathers, at the same
place had made the same complaint --
Exodus 17:7).
The Lord told Moses:
Take the staff from the Lord's Presence.
Gather the people.
Speak to that rock before their eyes and it
will pour out its water.
So Moses:
Took the staff.
Gathered the people and
Said, Listen you rebels, must we bring water
out of this rock?
Raised his arm and struck the rock twice with
his staff.
And water gushed out and the community and their
livestock drank.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
Because you did not trust in me enough to
honour me as holy in the sight of the
Israelites, you will not bring this
community into the land I give them.
(So Moses paid the price for allowing 40 years
of anger, exasperation and frustration to burst
forth. It showed:
Lack of trust in God. As if God's word alone
was insufficient and a good whack was
necessary.
Willingness to offend God's holiness by a
rash action.
Lack of respect for God's presence.
That the opportunity provided over 40 years
for him to draw closer to God had not been
taken. So his relationship had
deteriorated).
To get to the promised land they had to pass
through the territory of Edom. So Moses asked
permission but it was refused. (The Edomites
were descended from Esau the brother of Jacob -
see Genesis 36:1). So they moved on and camped
at Mount Hor. The Lord told Moses and Aaron that
Aaron would die there because they both had
rebelled when the rock was struck. On Mt Hor
Moses was to remove Aaron's garments, put them
on his son Eleazar, and Aaron was to die there.
Moses obeyed. They went up Mt Hor in the sight
of the whole community. Aaron died on top of the
mountain. Israel mourned when they heard of his
death.
(Chapter 20)
The Canaanites attacked, the Israelites asked
God's help. He listened to their plea and they
won.
Moving onward to the promised land the people
grew impatient and spoke against God and Moses:
Why bring us out of Egypt to die in this
desert?
There's no bread or water.
And we detest this miserable food (God's
manna).
So the Lord sent venomous snakes and many bitten
people died.
The people came to Moses and said, We have
sinned, pray the Lord to take these snakes away.
So Moses prayed.
The Lord said to Moses, Make a snake and put it
on a pole. Anyone bitten can look at it and
live. Moses did this and those looking lived.
Moving on, they came to Beer, the well where the
Lord said to Moses, Gather the people together
and I will give them water. Then Israel sang a
song of praise about this.
Moving on towards the promised land they asked
permission to pass through Ammonite territory.
They refused and attacked but Israel won and
settled in their land.
Then Og, King of Bashan attacked. The Lord said
to Moses, Don't fear, win as you did against the
Ammonites. This they did.
(Chapter 21)
The Moabites and Midianites were terrified
Israel would attack and destroy them next. So
Balak, King of Moab sent messengers with a
divination fee, to Balaam asking him to put a
curse on Israel. He said, I know those you bless
are blessed and vice versa.
Balaam asked the messengers to wait while he got
the Lord's answer. God told him not to go with
them nor curse them because they are blessed. So
Balaam told the messengers this. But Balak tried
again offering a bigger fee.
Balaam said, I can't go beyond the command of
the Lord my God. But I'll find out what else the
Lord will tell me. God told him to go but do
only what I tell you.
So he set off riding his donkey. But God was
very angry and His angel stood in the road to
oppose him. The donkey saw the angel with a
drawn sword and turned aside into a field.
Balaam beat her back onto the road. The angel
stood on a narrow path between two vineyards
with walls on both sides. The donkey squeezed
past and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
He beat her again. The angel moved ahead to a
narrow place where there was no room to turn. So
the donkey lay down. Balaam beat her. The Lord
opened the donkey's mouth and she said, Why have
you beaten me?
Balaam answered, You've made a fool of me. I'd
kill you if I had a sword. The donkey said, I'm
your donkey, you always ride me, have I been in
the habit of doing this to you? No, Balaam
answered.
Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, he saw the
angel, bowed low and fell face down. The angel
asked, Why beat the donkey? I came to oppose you
because your path is a reckless one. If the
donkey had not turned away I would have killed
you by now, but spared her.
Balaam said, I have sinned, I didn't realise you
were standing in the road. If you are displeased
I'll go back. The angel said, Go but speak only
what I tell you. Balak met him and asked him why
he hadn't come sooner and if it was because he
doubted he'd be paid. Balaam replied, I must
speak only what God puts in my mouth. So Balak
offered pagan sacrifices and took Balaam to
where he could see some of the Israelis.
(Chapter 22)
Balaam asked for 7 altars and 14 sacrifices.
Balak obliged. They each offered a bull and a
ram on each altar. Balaam told Balak to stay
beside his offering while he went off to a
barren height saying, Perhaps the Lord will come
to meet with me and I'll tell you the outcome.
God met him and told him to return to Balak with
this message. So he returned, found Balak still
standing beside his offering with all the
princes of Moab and said:
Balak brought and asked me to curse Israel.
How can I curse whom God hasn't cursed?
From the rocky peaks I see a people who live
apart, not considering themselves one of
the nations.
Who can number them?
Let me die the death of the righteous and may
my end be like theirs.
Balak asked, Why have you done this to me?
I brought you to curse my enemies but you've
done nothing but bless them. Balaam answered,
Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?
Balak asked him to try again where he could see
all Israel. The same routine followed and Balaam
returned to find Balak standing by his offering.
He asked, What did the Lord say? Balaam replied:
Listen Balak.
God is not a man that He should lie, nor a
son of man,that He should change His mind.
Does He speak and then not act?
Promise and not fulfill?
I am commanded to bless and I can't change
it.
No misfortune or misery is seen in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them; the shout
of the King is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt and
strengthened them.
No sorcery or divination will work against
them.
It will be said of them, See what God has
done.
They rise like a lioness that does not rest
'til it devours its prey.
Balak said, Neither bless nor curse them. Balaam
answered, Didn't I tell you I must do whatever
the Lord says.
Then (would you believe it!) Balak tried again.
Balak built 7 altars and offered 7 bulls and 7
rams as Balaam instructed.
(Chapter 23)
Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless
Israel so he did not resort to sorcery as at
other times. Looking to the desert he saw Israel
camped by tribes. The Spirit of the Lord came
upon him and he said:
I see clearly, hear God's words, see a vision
from the Almighty.
How beautiful are your tents and dwelling
places O Israel.
Like valleys spread out, gardens beside a
river.
Their kingdom will be exalted.
God brought them out of Egypt.
They devour hostile nations.
Like a lioness, who dares to rouse them?
May those who bless you be blessed and those
who curse you be cursed.
Balak angrily refused to pay him and ordered him
to leave.
Balaam reminded him he had told the second
messengers he could only say what the Lord
commands. But before going he warned Balak that:
He hears the words of God and has knowledge
of the Most High.
I see Him but not now.
A star will come out of Jacob, a sceptre will
rise in Israel (he is speaking about Jesus
Christ!).
Enemies will be conquered.
Israel will grow strong.
Then Balaam returned home and Balak went his own
way.
(Chapter 24)
Camped across the Jordan opposite Jericho
Israeli men indulged in sexual immorality with
Mohabite women and in pagan fertility Baal
worship.
The Lord's anger burned against them. He told
Moses to kill the leaders and expose them in
broad daylight before Him so His fierce anger
may turn away from Israel. Moses told Israel's
judges to do that.
While Moses and the whole assembly of Israel
were weeping at the Tent of Meeting an Israelite
man walked past with his Midianite woman and
took her to his tent. The priest Phineas,
Aaron's grandson, went to their tent and drove
his spear through the man and into the woman.
Then the plague against the Israelites stopped,
but 24000 had died.
The Lord told Moses, Phineas was as zealous as I
am for my honour, he has made atonement for, and
turned away my anger, from the Israelites. So
tell him I am making a covenant of peace with
him, a lasting priesthood for him and his
descendants.
The Lord told Moses to treat the Midianites as
enemies and kill them because they deceived
Israel into Baal worship. (It was the same
Balaam of Chapters 22 - 24 who advised this
deceit - see Chapter 31:16).
(Chapter 25)
After the plague the Lord told Moses and Eleazar
to take a census of the men 20 years or older
able to serve in the army. This was done on the
plains of Moab by the Jordan across from
Jericho.
The result was:
Reuben 43730
Simeon 22200
Gad 40500
Judah 76500
Issachar 64300
Zebulun 60500
Ephraim 32500
Manasseh 52700
Benjamin 45600
Dan 64400
Asher 53400
Napthali 45400
------
601730
The Lord told Moses that the promised land was
to be allocated by lot to the tribes according
to their size as above. Thus Judah would get the
biggest share and Simeon the least. Levites
totalled 23000 but, the Lord Himself being their
inheritance, they were not given land (see
Chapter 18:20).
Of these 601730, only Caleb and Joshua (see
Chapter 14:30) were included in the first census
(see Chapter 1). All the rest of the original
603550 had died as the Lord said they would
because they rebelled 40 years earlier and would
not exercise faith in God and enter the promised
land (see Chapter 14).
(Chapter 26)
Five daughters of a man with no sons who had
died in the desert, approached Moses, Eleazar
the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly
at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They
asked, Why should our father's name disappear
from his clan because he had no son? Give us
property among our father's relatives.
Moses brought their case before the Lord, He
agreed with their request and gave clear
instructions to cover such cases.
The Lord said to Moses, Go up this mountain and
see the land I have given the Israelites. Then
you'll be gathered to your people like Aaron was
because you both disobeyed and dishonoured me
(see Chapter 20).
Moses said to the Lord, May the Lord, the God of
the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over
this community who will lead them in and out so
the Lord's people won't be like sheep without a
shepherd.
So the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, a man in
whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
Have him stand before Eleazar the priest, the
entire assembly and commission him in their
presence. Give him some of your authority so the
whole Israelite community will obey him. He is
to stand before Eleazar the priest who will
obtain decisions for him by enquiring of the
Urim (sacred lots for casting to find God's will
in certain cases). At his command the entire
community will go out and come in.
Moses did as the Lord commanded.
(Chapter 27)
The Lord said to Moses, Command the Israelites
to give me:
DAILY OFFERINGS OF:
Two unblemished lambs a year old as a burnt
offering in the morning and at twilight,
together with -
A grain offering of 2 litres of fine flour
and 1 litre of olive oil.
A drink offering of 1 litre of fermented
drink with each lamb, poured out to the
Lord at the sanctuary.
SABBATH OFFERINGS OF:
Two unblemished lambs a year old with its
drink and grain offering of 4.5 litres of
fine flour and oil.
These are in addition to the regular daily
burnt and drink offerings.
MONTHLY OFFERINGS:
On the first day of each month offerings of:
Two young bulls, one ram and seven male
yearling lambs all unblemished.
Grain offerings of:
For bulls-6.5 litres of fine flour and oil.
For ram -4.5 " " " " " "
For lambs-2.25 " " " " " "
Drink offerings of:
For bulls- 2 litres of wine.
For ram - 1.3 " " "
For lambs- 1 litre of wine.
One male goat as a sin offering.
These are in addition to the regular daily
burnt and drink offerings.
PASSOVER:
On the fourteenth day of the first month, the
Lord's Passover begins consisting of:
On the 15th day, a sacred assembly and no
regular work.
For 7 days, unblemished burnt offerings of:
Two yearling bulls.
One ram.
Seven male lambs.
Grain offerings of:
For each bull-6 litres of fine flour & oil.
For the ram -4 " " " " " "
For the lambs-2 " " " " " "
A sin offering of one male goat.
For the 7 days bread without yeast is eaten.
On the 7th day hold a sacred assembly and do
no regular work.
The above is in addition to the regular
burnt and drink offerings.
FEAST OF WEEKS:
When offering the Lord new grain during the
Feast of Weeks:
Hold a solemn assembly and do no regular
work.
Present an unblemished burnt offering of:
Two young bulls.
One ram.
Seven male yearling lambs.
Grain offerings of:
For each bull-6 litres of fine flour & oil.
For the ram -4 " " " " " "
For the lambs-2 " " " " " "
A male goat to make atonement for you.
Drink offerings (see monthly offerings).
These are in addition to the regular daily
drink offerings.
(Chapter 28)
FEAST OF TRUMPETS:
On the first day of the 7th month hold a sacred
assembly and do no regular work. It's a day for
you to sound the trumpets. Prepare an
unblemished burnt offering of:
One young bull.
One ram.
7 yearling male lambs.
Grain offerings.
The same as for the Feast of Weeks.
A male goat as a sin offering to make
atonement for you.
These are in addition to the normal daily and
monthly offerings.
DAY OF ATONEMENT:
On the 10th day of the 7th month hold a sacred
assembly and do no work.
The offering is the same as the Feast of
Trumpets above.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES:
On the 15th day of the 7th month hold a sacred
assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a
Festival to the Lord for 7 days.
Present these offerings without defect:
First day:
13 young bulls.
2 rams.
14 yearling lambs.
Grain offerings are as for the Feast of
Weeks.
A male goat as a sin offering.
This is in addition to the normal daily
burnt, grain and drink offerings.
Second day:
As above but 12 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Third day:
As above but 11 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Fourth day:
As above but 10 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Fifth day:
As above but 9 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Sixth day:
As above but 8 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Seventh day:
As above but 7 bulls and drink offerings as
for monthly offerings.
Eighth day:
Hold a solemn assembly and do no regular
work. Present unblemished offerings of:
1 bull.
1 ram.
7 yearling male lambs.
Grain and drink offerings (see monthly
offerings).
A male goat as a sin offering.
All the above is in addition to the normal
daily burnt, grain and drink offerings.
All the above are in addition to what you
(personally) vow, and your freewill offerings.
Moses told the Israelites all the Lord commanded
him.
(Chapter 29)
Moses told the heads of the tribes of Israel
these commands of the Lord concerning vows:
When a man vows to the Lord or obligates
himself with a pledge he must not break his
word.
This applies to a young woman living with her
father who knows of the pledge and says
nothing.
If he forbids it none of her vows will
stand.
If she marries, the same applies because her
husband replaces her father. But if he
nullifies them some time after he hears
about them he is responsible for her guilt.
Vows taken by widowed or divorced women are
binding on them.
(Chapter 30)
The Lord said to Moses, Take vengeance on the
Midianites, then you'll be gathered to your
people.
So he sent 12000 men into battle, 1000 from each
tribe, along with Phineas, son of Eleazar the
priest (see Chapter 25). Phineas took articles
from the sanctuary and the trumpets for
signalling.
They defeated the Midianites and killed every
man including 5 kings and Balaam (see Chapter
22). They burned towns and camps and captured
women and children, taking herds and flocks and
goods as plunder.
Moses and Eleazar the priest went outside the
camp to meet them. Moses was angry with the
officers. Have you allowed the women to live? he
asked. They were the ones that followed Balaam's
advice and turned the Israelites away from the
Lord in what happened at Peor (see Chapter 25)
so that a plague struck the Lord's people.
Therefore:
Kill the boys and all women who have slept
with a man.
All who have killed or touched a dead person
must stay outside the camp 7 days.
On the 3rd and 7th days purify yourselves and
your captives.
Purify every garment and everything made of
leather, goat hair or wood.
Eleazar said to the soldiers:
God's law says gold, silver and anything
that can withstand fire must be put
through fire and then it will be clean.
But it must also be purified with the water
of cleansing.
Whatever cannot withstand fire must be put
through the water.
On the 7th day wash your clothes and you'll
be clean.
The Lord said to Moses, You, Eleazar the priest
and family heads are to count people and animals
captured. Half is for the soldiers and half for
the community. The Lord's tribute of the
soldiers' half is one in 500 and of the people's
share one in 50. The soldiers' tribute goes to
Eleazar the priest and the Israelites' tribute
goes to the Levites.
So Moses and Eleazar did as the Lord commanded
Moses.
The total plunder for distribution was:
675000 sheep.
72000 cattle.
61000 donkeys (including Balaam's famous
talking one?).
32000 women who have never slept with a man.
So the Lord's tribute was:
Sheep 675.
Cattle 72.
Donkeys 61.
Women 32.
The army officers went to Moses and said, We
didn't lose a single man; So, we bring as an
offering to the Lord the gold articles each of
us acquired to make atonement for ourselves
before the Lord.
Moses and Eleazar accepted the gold weighing
about 190 kilograms and brought it into the Tent
of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites
before the Lord.
(Chapter 31)
The Reubenites and Gadites asked Moses and
Eleazar and the community leaders if they could
settle on the east of the Jordan (i.e. not in
the promised land) because the land just
conquered was suitable for their herds.
Moses replied:
Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit
here?
Why do you discourage them from entering the
land the Lord has given them?
This is exactly why, 40 years ago, the
Lord's anger was aroused and not one of
those living then,except Joshua and Caleb
the only ones who followed the Lord whole
heartedly, are alive to-day.
And here you are a brood of sinners standing
in the place of your fathers and making the
Lord even more angry with Israel. If you
turn away from following Him, He will again
leave all this people in the desert and you
will be the cause of their destruction.
They replied:
All we want to do is secure sites for our
livestock, women and children and then arm
ourselves to go ahead of the Israelites
until we have brought them to their place.
We won't return home 'til every Israelite has
received his inheritance.
We won't receive any inheritance with them on
the other side of the Jordan because our
inheritance has come to us here on the east
side.
Moses replied:
If you will do this, then when the land is
subdued before the Lord, you may return and
this land will be your possession.
BUT IF YOU FAIL YOU WILL BE SINNING AGAINST
THE LORD; AND YOU MAY BE SURE THAT YOUR SIN
WILL FIND YOU OUT.
The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, We
your servants will do as our Lord commands.
Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the
priest, Joshua and the tribal heads:
If the Gadites and Reubenites,every man armed
for battle,cross the Jordan with you before
the Lord,then when the land is secured give
them from the land of Gilead as their
possession.
But if they don't, they must accept their
possession with you in Canaan.
The Gadites and Reubenites promised to do what
the Lord had said.
So Moses gave them, including the half tribe of
Manasseh, the land they wanted. They secured it
for their flocks and families preparatory to
crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land.
(Chapter 32)
All the campsites in the 40 year period from
leaving Egypt 'til arriving on the plains of
Moab across the Jordan from Jericho are listed
in Chapter 33.
There the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites
to:
Drive out the inhabitants of Canaan after
crossing the Jordan.
Destroy all the carved images and demolish
their high places.
Possess and settle in the land distributing
it by lot (see Chapter 26).
But if you don't drive them out, those
remaining will be barbs in your eyes and
thorns in your sides. And I will do to you
what I plan to do to them.
(Chapter 33)
The Lord told Moses where the boundaries of the
Promised Land would be (Chapter 34). It was for
the nine and a half remaining tribes as two and
a half were to settle east of the Jordan. It was
to be allocated by lot (Chapter 26). The Lord
told Moses that Eleazar, Joshua and leaders
listed from each tribe were to assign the
inheritance to the Israelites in the land of
Canaan.
(Chapter 34)
On the plains of Moab across the Jordan from
Jericho the Lord told Moses:
-Command the Israelites to give the Levites 48
towns to live in with surrounding pasture
lands from the inheritance the Israelites
will possess. Pasture lands were to extend
about 900 metres out from the town walls.
-They were to be allocated in proportion to
the inheritance of each tribe i.e. many towns
from a tribe with many and few from a tribe
with few.
-Six of these towns were designated cities of
refuge.
-Anyone accidentally killing another could
flee there from the blood avenger to get a
fair trial before the assembly according to
the Lord's regulations.
-If not guilty, the assembly must protect the
accused and send him back to the city of
refuge to which he fled. He must stay there
until the death of the high priest.
But if he left the city the avenger of blood
was free to kill him without being guilty of
murder.
-But anyone committing wilful murder could be
killed by the avenger of blood when he meets
him.
-The Lord's regulations were:
-Striking anyone with iron, stone or wood
resulting in death is murder.
-Maliciously shoving, hitting with his fist
or throwing something resulting in death
is murder.
-Anyone killing a person is to be put to
death as a murderer only on the testimony
of more than one witness.
-Proven murderers must be put to death.
There is no ransom for them.
-There's no ransom to allow anyone safe in
a city of refuge to return to his own land
before the death of the high priest.
-Bloodshed pollutes the land. The only
atonement is by the blood of the one
who shed it.
So don't defile the land where you live
and where I the Lord dwell among the
Israelites.
(Chapter 35)
In Chapter 27 provision was made for the
property of a man with no son to go to his
daughters.
But the question then arose that if they married
outside their tribe, tribal inheritance would
start changing.
So the Lord's command through Moses was that
marriage outside their clan in these cases was
forbidden.
The 5 daughters did as the Lord commanded.
(So instead of the characteristic rebellion and
defiance of God's Will, the book of Numbers ends
on a note of obedience),
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM THE BOOK OF
NUMBERS.
If ever there was a community set to change
world history for good, this was it. Descended
from Abraham who was blessed by God, they had
the mission of being a blessing to all nations.
Every tent faced God's tent. His physical
presence there was shown by a pillar of fire
by night and a cloud by day over the tent.It
was the first thing an Israelite saw each
morning as he emerged from his tent.
Camped alone in the desert they were free of
all materialistic distractions. God provided
their food.
Full details of how they were to relate to
God and each other were given by Him.
They had first hand experience of God's
miraculous saving power, His undeserved
favour (grace), His love. Because He had
opened the Red Sea, they had actually walked
the sea bed to safety then seen one of the
world's most powerful armies disappear
beneath the returning waves.
They had one of all history's greatest
leaders (second only to Jesus Christ).
So how come they "blew it?"
Because they had the same problem you and I
have -
SIN!
-That unerring human tendency to listen to
Satan's voice instead of God's.
That voice which lied to Eve that God:
-Did not have her best interests at heart.
-Was holding out on her.
-Did not REALLY love her.
-Was not trustworthy.
-Was not worth obeying.
That voice which Eve and Adam foolishly and
rebelliously listened to and acted upon so
casting themselves out of Eden's paradise
and away from their perfect relationship
with God.
Which leaves us all with self centred,
selfish natures which:
-Say "It makes more sense to do it my way
than yours God."
-Will not trust God 100% and therefore
will not obey Him.
-Are stamped with Satan's swastika, the
double cross.
And the only cure for Satan's double cross is
the single cross of Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, turn from your sin now. Cling to
Jesus Christ and what His cross means. That
sin's reward is death and Christ's love for you
made Him die for you.
Otherwise read Numbers and be warned (Chapter
1).
Obey God on life's journey. Stop and start at
His command. (Chapters 2 and 9).
God goes into meticulous detail and gives
detailed instructions to provide for you. He is
also pure and holy and to be treated with
respectful awe. (Chapter 3).
Uncleanness in your life must be dealt with and
purity restored. The same applies to the group
of believers you meet (church) with. To wrong
another is to be unfaithful to God.
Confession of this sin and restitution must
take place. Unfaithfulness in marriage is
serious and must be faced and set right
(Chapter 4).
Moses spent most of his life listening to and
obeying God's words, a normal relationship with
God. Yours is to be the same. (Chapter 7).
You are to take your relationship with the Lord
seriously and serve Him with care and diligence.
(Chapter 8).
The Passover reminded Israel of God's act of
love and grace in Egypt when He passed over
their homes which had blood sprinkled on the
doors preparatory to saving them through the Red
Sea. This pointed forward to the Last Supper
where broken bread symbolised Christ's body
broken for you and wine symbolised His blood
shed for you. You are to regularly eat bread and
drink in company with other believers as an act
of remembrance and commitment to Jesus Christ as
He commanded. (Chapter 9).
List all the blessings God has given you. Begin
each day by thanking Him for each of them. Then
any needs you may need to ask God about will be
in perspective. In short thank God for the
"doughnut" don't blame Him for the "hole." This
will keep you from an ungrateful complaining
attitude towards God.
And if, like Moses, you are diligently serving
the Lord and it all begins to seem too much, be
honest, tell God how you feel. Get it off your
chest.
But in any situation that seems impossible to
you remember God's words to Moses. "Is the
Lord's arm too short?" And stand by to see a
practical miracle that SHOULD deepen your faith
in Him.
Your heavenly Father has unlimited resources. He
is generous (quails a metre deep!). Ask
confident, big things according to His will.
Have an expectant faith in Him. (Chapter 11).
It's not easy being God's man. Moses had a face
to face relationship with God. But those he was
helping falsely abused him. His closest
associate spoke against him. And in line with
the words of Jesus Christ he prayed for his
enemies (Matthew 5:44) and saved them from God's
just punishment.
By God's enabling grace and the power of God the
Holy Spirit within you, you'll do the same.
(Chapter 12).
God keeps His word. If He says He will get you
into a Promised Land, He will. So essentially
the size of the opposition you meet on the way
is irrelevant. When you stand with Him and
there's no unconfessed sin to short circuit your
relationship, the power that runs the universe
is yours. The opposition is dead! Caleb and
Joshua knew this. It is called faith. But the
rest of the people had their eyes fixed on the
size of the opposition instead of on God. So
their own fear defeated them. The enemy didn't
have to fire a single shot! Don't make that
mistake or you'll spend years wandering in the
desert of your own fears instead of enjoying God
in the Promised Land He has for you.(Chapter 13)
The worst thing that can happen to you is to get
your own way. That's what judgment is. You have
the option of putting your hand in that of the
God who runs the universe or saying I can run
things better myself. And it's utterly
irrational and defies all logic, to choose your
way instead of His. But this the Israelites did,
except for Caleb and Joshua. And we all know the
outcome. Don't make that mistake! (Chapter 14).
Follow the Lord wholeheartedly, with 100%
commitment. And like Moses, pray and plead that
God might spare rebellious people and that they
might turn to Him before they destroy
themselves. (Chapter 14).
The result of sin, which is "thumbing your nose
at" God is always death (unless it is repented
of). It is disobeying God's words, laws and
commands. It is prostituting yourself by going
after the lusts of your own heart and eyes.
Ask God to turn the spotlight of His Holy Spirit
on your sin so you can be cleansed of it quickly
and keep your hand constantly and firmly in His.
(Chapter 15)
Be prepared for totally irrational complaints
against you by those you are trying to help,
even by supposed believers in the Lord. And with
the heart and mind of God Himself, exemplified
by Moses, intercede for these people. Ask that
before they get what they deserve they may
genuinely turn to God. (Chapter 16).
Remember that God IS WITH YOU in the midst of
the tribulation involved in letting Him rule
your life. He is not a far off spectator. He
SHARES your pain. And He acts to ease it.
(Chapter 17)
God is your Father. He is to be treated with
loving respect. He is holy and pure. He can have
nothing to do with sin. He is NOT an EASYGOING
mate who will overlook your sin. So confess and
be cleansed of it quickly. (Chapter 18)
Don't let the stupidity of those you are trying
to help get to you. Walk calmly, quietly and
constantly with your hand in your heavenly
Father's. Otherwise for years you may do a good
job for the Lord but "blow it" finally by
failing to continue to trust, obey and honour
Him. (Chapter 20)
Impatience, lack of faith and ingratitude always
brings God's judgment. Confess such sins quickly
to God. (Chapter 21)
Don't be surprised if God uses some of the most
unlikely people to accomplish His will. Balaam
was never a believer in God yet he (reluctantly)
listened to, and passed God's message on.
When God clearly gives you an answer don't
go back and ask Him the same question again.
That shows lack of faith and a desire not to do
His will. Balaam could have avoided a crushed
foot, being made a donkey of, a waste of
"professional services," and a bad debt if he
had just obeyed God's first word.
But for comic relief, Balaam and Balak are a
great pair!
Yet consider the great truths God spoke through
Balaam:
-Israel is recognised as a "set apart,"
distinctive or holy people. You must be so
recognised too.
-You can TRUST God's word, He never goes back
on it or says one thing and means another.
-God is with Israel, He is their King. (Balaam
was the first to say this in the Bible). It
will be said of them see what God has done.
The same applies to you.
-A star will come out of Jacob, a sceptre will
rise in Israel
God used this pagan sorcerer to proclaim
the coming of Jesus Christ!
Isn't your heavenly Father wonderful?! His
truth is and will be proclaimed and it will
prevail. (Chapters 22 - 24).
There are two great facts of life.
First that you can only escape spending eternity
in hell paying for your sins by turning to and
trusting in Jesus Christ.
Second that Satan will not cease trying to tempt
and harass you.
So his tactics must be recognised and dealt with
quickly and decisively.
And note that it was BALAAM Satan used to seduce
Israel into pagan worship in Chapter 25.
So beware, don't be gullible, remember the
words of Jesus Christ "Not everyone who says
to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but him only who DOES THE WILL OF MY
FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. (Matt. 7:21).
(Chapter 25)
You MUST know and OBEY your heavenly Father. His
love for you is boundless. At the same time, and
logically, it is a fearful thing to come under
His judgment. He said not one who rebelled
against Him would enter the Promised Land. Their
bones scattered across the desert testified that
He keeps His word. (Chapters 26 & 27).
Daily morning and evening, weekly, monthly and
annual sacrifices and festivals gave constant
reminders of the costliness of sin and the
discipline necessary to be cleansed from it. A
close walk with your hand in your heavenly
Father's is essential. But it doesn't "just
happen." You must exercise discipline and
obedience. (Chapters 28 & 29).
When you give your word keep it. (Chapter 30).
When God gives you a victory don't let it "go to
your head." Keep pure, give God the glory.
(Chapter 31).
Have a firm grasp of God's historical dealings
with His people. This way you avoid making the
same mistakes again. (Chapter 32).
For you there can be NO compromising. EVERYTHING
must be done according to His word and His Holy
Spirit. And the two ALWAYS agree. Doing things
99% God's way is NOT good enough. (Chapter 33).
God has a resting place for you,a place of peace
and security. Enter into that rest by faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ. (Chapter 34).
Wilful murderers deserve the death penalty.
Otherwise the land itself is defiled.
(Chapter 35)
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