Numbers

The Book of Numbers

Chapter 1: The Census of Israel

Summary

God tells Moses to take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and their ancestral houses, counting the names of every male one by one. Males 20 years and older are to serve in Israel's army. A man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel is to be with Moses and lead/head up his ancestral house in the army. Israel's army consisted of:

46,500 registered for the tribe of Reuben
59,300 registered for the tribe of Simeon
45,650 registered for the tribe of Gad
74,600 registered for the tribe of Judah
54,400 registered for the tribe of Issachar
57,400 registered for the tribe of Zebulun
40,500 registered for the tribe of Ephraim
32,200 registered for the tribe of Manasseh
35,400 registered for the tribe of Benjamin
62,700 registered for the tribe of Dan
41,500 registered for the tribe of Asher
53,400 registered for the tribe of Naphtali
603,550 total registered in the Israelite Army

The Levite tribe was the only tribe of Israel not registered in the Israelite Army. Instead, they were appointed to oversee the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. The Israelites were to camp according to their military divisions.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 1:1-4 - The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt:“Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and their ancestral houses, counting the names of every male one by one. You and Aaron are to register those who are 20 years old or more by their military divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.A man from each tribe is to be with you, each one the head of his ancestral house.

Numbers 1:45-46 - So all the Israelites 20 years old or more, everyone who could serve in Israel’s army, were registered by their ancestral houses. All those registered numbered 603,550.

Numbers 1:48-50 - For the Lord had told Moses: "Do not register or take a census of the tribe of Levi with the other Israelites. Appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They are to transport the tabernacle and all its articles, take care of it, and camp around it.

Numbers 1:52-54 - “The Israelites are to camp by their military divisions, each man with his encampment and under his banner. The Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community.” The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Thoughts on the Text

The first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch (meaning "five books"), were written by Moses. They identified in the Scripture as the Law. Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch. From Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, "In the Book of Numbers we see the children of Israel depart from Mount Sinai and march to Kadesh-barnea.. After their failure at Kadesh-barnea, they began to wander until that generation died in the wilderness. The years of wandering were a veritable saga of suffering, a trek of tragedy, and a story of straying. "Pilgrim's Progress" is an apt theme for this book."

The lessons that the children of Israel learn in this book are lessons that we have to learn today as well. This is the reason God recorded this history for us past, present, and future. Romans 15:4 states, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

We see here in the first chapter of Numbers that God wants to build Israel into a fighting force to be reckoned with. God wants Israel to be strong and capable of going to war because that is exactly what will happen when Israel wanders in the wilderness, and when they inevitably go into the Promised Land to take the land that God has promised them. As slaves in the land of Egypt, God fought for the Israelites. Now that they have been brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, they are to fight their enemies. Similar to the Israelites, as Christians today, we have to be ready for spiritual warfare. We have to fight off temptations on a daily basis. The bible says in Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Be ready for war! God calls us to this warfare everyday. We must be equipped or we will fall.

The purpose of the census besides forming an Israelite Army was to determine the tribes of Israel. The census determined who belonged to which of the 12 tribes of Israel. It gave each individual in Israel an identity in a particular tribe. Likewise, in the present day, it is important for us to know what tribe we belong to today. Do we belong to the tribe of Christ? Are we truly Christians? Galatians 3:26 says, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." The Bible states in Galatians 3:29, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Therefore, when we are saved, we become part of the tribe of Jesus; we belong to one of the twelve tribes of Israel; Judah which contains the lineage which leads to the birth of Jesus!

Chapter 2: Organization of the Camps

Summary

God tells Moses and Aaron how the camps of the different tribes of Israel are to be laid out around the tent of meeting. The Israelites camped by their respective banners and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral house. The tabernacle was put in the center of the Israelite camp. The Levites camped around and attended the Tabernacle. On the east side of the tabernacle, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun set up their camp. On the south side of the tabernacle, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad set up their camp. On the West side of the tabernacle, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin set up their camp. On the north side of the tabernacle, Dan, Ashur, and Naphtali set up their camp.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 2:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral houses. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:"
Numbers 2:17 - The tent of meeting is to move out with the Levites’ camp, which is in the middle of the camps. They are to move out just as they camp, each in his place, with their banners.
Numbers 2:32-34 - These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral houses. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550. But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral house.

Thoughts on the Text

We find here in this chapter how God instructs all the tribes of Israel to camp. They are all instructed to set up camp around the tabernacle. Three tribes are camped around each directional heading of the tabernacle for a total of 12 tribes, and the tribe of Levi camped in the center attending the tabernacle itself. The children of Israel were made to camp in an orderly way. Each family in each tribe knew where it belonged in that tribe.
J Vernon McGee states in his commentary on Numbers, "Just so, Christian warfare is not carried on in the realm of doubts and fears but in the clear light of a sure salvation. Our enemies today are the world, the flesh, and the devil. My friend, they will overcome you if you are not sure of your salvation."
Every person in the church of the Lord has a God-appointed place. All service in the church is directed by the Holy Spirit. We are told that by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. When you were put into the body, you were put in as a member. When God puts you into that body, He puts you there to serve. Every believer has a gift. You have a gift. The exercise of that gift is your Christian service. Just as the Israelites found their place around the tabernacle, we as Christians need to find our place in the church. Based on our talents and gifts, how can we serve in the best way possible. God will lead us to find out how to serve. We should do what God has called us to do!

Chapter 3: Aaron's Sons and the Levites, The Levitical Census, and Redemption of the Firstborn

Summary

Aaron's sons were Nadaab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died because they disobeyed God's direct order as priests. Ithamar and Eleazar marry and have children. Also, the line of priests can be traced back to them. The Levites are assigned to Aaron and his two remaining sons to help with the duties related to the tent of meeting. Levi was Jacob's third born son. Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Clans originated from each of Levi's sons based on the children and wives that they had.

Gershon's sons: Libni and Shimei
Kohath's Sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel
Merari's sons: Mahli and Mushi
The clans of Levites became known henceforth as:

Libnite and Shimeite clan from Gershon
Amramite, Izharite, Hebronite, and Uzzielite clans from Kohath
Mahlite and Mushite clans from Merari

There were 22, 000 Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron registered. God also tells Moses to register every firstborn male of the Israelites one month old or more. The total Israelite first born males were 22,273. The Levites were taken to serve all off Israel as the tent of meeting and tabernacle keepers. They had many priestly duties. The Levites can be likened to a sacrifice as they are responsible for redeeming people and the atonement of sins. As a result, God commanded that there be a redemption price for the number of first born Israelite males greater than the whole Levite clan. The was 273 more firstborn Israelites than the males of the Levite clan. This had a redemption price of 1365 shekels. This "redemption price" money went to Aaron and his sons in order for them to carry out their priestly duties.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 3:1-3 - These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.
Numbers 3:5-8 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.
Numbers 3:11-13 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me, because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal. They are Mine; I am Yahweh.”
Numbers 3:14-15 - The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: “Register the Levites by their ancestral houses and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more.”
Numbers 3:39 - The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron registered by their clans at the Lord’s command was 22,000.
Numbers 3:49-51 - So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the ones redeemed by the Levites. He collected the money from the firstborn Israelites: 1,365 shekels measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. He gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the Lord, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Thoughts on the Text

Chapter 3 of Numbers gives us a look at the tribe of Levi and their purpose. This is the tribe that had the oversight of the Lord's tabernacle. Although they were not included in the first census, a census is taken of them separately so that they may be assigned to a definite position in the camp. The Levites are to assist the high priest Aaron in whatever he needs. Likewise, we are given to the High Priest, Jesus Christ, to do whatever he needs us to do. Jesus can use each one of us in miraculous ways to spread the gospel and good news of the Bible to the far reaches of the earth. God will make us into what he wants us to be!
Numbers 3:11-13 tells us why the Levites belong to the Lord. God consecrated every firstborn son of the Israelites to himself after He struck down all the firstborn males in Egypt. In place of the Firstborn children from each tribe, God simply chose to consecrate the whole Levite tribe to himself.
There were three families in the tribe of Levi. These three families came from Levi's three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Each of these families are to serve the tabernacle in different ways. The Bible specifically states what each family of Levi is to do.
Interesting fact from J. Vernon McGee: "The tabernacle was always set with the door to the east. Aaron and Moses with their families camped before the door of the tabernacle on the east side!" Could this be a foreshadowing of the rising Son of God who would become the savior of the world? The great High Priest, Jesus Christ, would come one day, just like the sun rises in the east!
J Vernon McGee states, "So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel and found there were 22,273 males from a month old and upward who were the firstborn. This meant there were 273 more firstborn males than there were Levites; so this additional number was to be redeemed with five shekels apiece, and this was to be given to Aaron and his sons."

Chapter 4: Duties of the Kohathites, Duties of the Gershonites, Duties of the Merarites, and Census of the Levites

Summary

Moses Aaron and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and ancestral houses. The Levite men were registered from 30 years old to 50 years old. Theses men were to do the assigned work at the tent of meeting along with transporting it and all its furnishings. The total Levite men registered numbered 8,580; 2,750 from the Kohathite clan, 2,630 from the Gershonite clan, and 3,200 from the Merarite clan.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 4:1-4 - The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses, men from 30 years old to 50 years old—everyone who is qualified to do work at the tent of meeting. “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects."

Numbers 4:21-23 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and their clans. Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting."

Numbers 4:29-30 - As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans and their ancestral houses. Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting.

Numbers 4:46-49 - Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and their ancestral houses, from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting it. Their registered men numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "The three families of the tribe of Levi had service to perform about the tabernacle. This chapter tells us who is to serve, what was the order of their service, and how many there were in the tribe who served." The Levites were to serve from the age of 30 to the age of 50 years old.

According to the scriptures, the only one who ever saw the articles that belonged in the Holy of Holies--the ark and the mercy seat--were Aaron and his sons. These articles were carefully covered by Aaron and his sons before the Kohathites came to carry them. If the Kohathites saw or touched these items, they would die.

The Merarites carried the heavy articles, the pillars and the boards and the bars; the Kohathites carried the articles of furniture; the Gershonites had the easiest job of carrying the curtains and coverings and cords.

Moses and Aaron depended on the will of God before they moved the Israelite camp. According to Dr. McGee, "They watched to see if the pillar of cloud lifted from off the tabernacle. If it lifted, it meant that they were to march. If it did not lift, it meant that they were to stay in camp that day. Moses and Aaron simply had to watch and follow the leading that the Spirit of God gave them, for that pillar of cloud represented the Spirit of God." Today, we should be led by the same Spirit of God. We aren't going to see a visible cloud, most likely, but the Spirit is within us. If we listen to God's Holy Spirit, we will know what we should and should not do. God will lead our way just as He led the Israelites thru the wilderness and into the Promised Land. Romans 8:14 victoriously states, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, they are the sons of God."

Mr. McGee states, "As each Levite had his assignment, just so, every Christian has a gift and a job God wants him to do. I believe God will reward you for doing what He wants you to do. We are not to do what we choose to do, but we are to exercise the gifts that He has given us."

Our jobs for the Lord are all equally important. Maybe someone is called to be a preacher; another person is called to be a missionary; another person is called to be a choir member; another person is called to be a Sunday school teacher; another person is called to be a greeter; another person is called to maintain the grounds of the church; another person is called to attend and be a member of the church. We should remember that God is not going to reward you for the amount of work you have done, but for your faithfulness in doing that which He has called you to do. The job the Lord has given you to do is very important to Him. Again, all our jobs have meaning and are all equally important!

Chapter 5: Isolation of the Unclean, Compensation for Wrongdoing, and the Jealousy Ritual

Summary

God tells the Israelites to send out all of the people with various diseases so that they will not defile the camp where they all dwell. God tells the Israelites: When a man or woman commits any sin against another, that person acts unfaithfully toward the Lord and is guilty. The person is to confess the sin he has committed, and he is to pay compensation to make atonement for his sins. God tells the Israelites that if a man's wife commits adultery or if a husband has reason to believe that his wife has committed adultery, he is to bring his wife to the priest and make a grain offering of jealousy to the Lord. The priest performs a water ritual to determine if the woman is guilty or not.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 5:1-2 - The Lord instructed Moses: “Command the Israelites to send away anyone from the camp who is afflicted with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, or anyone who is defiled because of a corpse.

Numbers 5:5-7 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: When a man or woman commits any sin against another, that person acts unfaithfully toward the Lord and is guilty. The person is to confess the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give it to the individual he has wronged.

Numbers 5:29-31 - This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority, or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he becomes jealous of his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the Lord, and the priest will apply this entire ritual to her. The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear the consequences of her guilt.

Thoughts on the Text

Chapters 5-8 of Numbers contains instructions concerning cleansing of the Israelite camp. The Israelites need to be cleansed because they are serving a holy God that expects them to follow His commands and be holy as well. We need to recognize that if we are going to walk with God, if we are going to have fellowship with Him, there must be a cleansing of our lives. God will not bless us nor will He walk with us when we are living in conscious sin.

The people with disease were to be put outside of the Israelite camp. There was a very practical reason for this. God did not want the disease to spread within the Israelite camp. God orders a quarantine to stop possibility of contamination. Again, the camp was not to be defiled because God dwelt in the midst of the camp.

We see in this chapter that when you sin against someone you are also sinning against God. One should ask forgiveness from the one who they have wronged and they should also ask forgiveness from God. Also, they are to offer restitution for the wrong that they have done. J. Vernon McGee states, "Repentance, therefore, is more than simply saying, "I'm sorry." A relationship between God and the individual cannot be made sweet until the relationship is made right between the individuals...[Repentance] is making things right by making restitution to the individual who has been injured."

The last part of this chapter in Number explains the jealousy ritual. If a husband was jealous of his wife and had reason to believe she committed adultery, he was to take her before the priest to perform the jealousy ritual. The priest would prepare a bitter water, and make the woman in question drink the water. The water was a curse to the woman who committed adultery. If the water caused her belly to swell and her thigh to rot, she was to be a curse among her people. If she was not defiled, but was clean, then she should be free.

J Vernon McGee states in his commentary, "If a man really loves a woman, he is jealous of her, and the same thing would be true of a woman who loves a man. This is the way God is jealous. He loves us, and He wants our live in return. He is jealous of us! He doesn't want us to give our time and our affection to the things of this world." In this chapter God is very clear on this matter of fidelity to the marriage vow. Once married to someone, the couple becomes one flesh. This marriage bond is supposed to last for a lifetime. Marriage is that serious, and it is a command of God.

Chapter 6: The Nazirite Vow and the Priestly Blessing

Summary

When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the Lord, he is to abstain from wine and beer. Other stipulations of the Nazirite vow are listed in this chapter. At the end of the chapter, God tells Moses to tell Aaron and his sons how to bless the Israelites.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 6:1-3 - The Lord instructed Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the Lord, he is to abstain from wine and beer.
Numbers 6:5-8 - You must not cut his hair throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He must be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the Lord; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the Lord. He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, because the hair consecrated to his God is on his head. He is holy to the Lord during the time of consecration.
Numbers 6:21 - This is the ritual of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord for his consecration, in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfill whatever vow he makes in keeping with the ritual for his consecration.
Numbers 6:22-27 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

May Yahweh bless you and protect you;

may Yahweh make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

may Yahweh look with favor on you
and give you peace.

In this way they will pronounce My name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Thoughts on the Text

For the most part, this chapter deals with the voluntary vow of the Nazirite. Any man or woman of Israel that wanted to become a Nazirite could do so. They could take the vow for a certain period of time or for a lifetime. God did not command this vow. This was a way for a man or woman from Israel to have a closer walk with God.
Three things forbidden when an Israelite takes the Nazirite vow:

He was not to drink any wine or alcohol.

He was not to shave his head

He was not to defile himself by touching a dead body

We should find joy, not in drinking alcohol or some other substance, but in the things of God. We should find happiness in studying the Word of God, in prayer, in fellowshipping with other believers, in helping those in need and other charities, and in following the commands of our Lord and Savior. Do we find joy in the things of the Lord, or do we find our joy in acting like the world? We need to seriously ask ourselves this question. If we answer yes to the latter, then our hearts may not be right with Christ. We should ask God to change our hearts, so that we can live joyfully to serve the Lord. We should come to God with empty hands, offering nothing but ourselves to Him--our devotion, our worship, our love, our service, and our time. Christ must have top priority in your life. You must find your satisfaction and joy in Him.
From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "You see, the world is the place of death. I think one can say that death is the deepest mark that is on this world today. Death is the seal of a sin-cursed earth. It is the judgment which God pronounced. It was because of sin that death came into the world. In order to deal with death, sin must be dealt with, because the wages of sin is death."
Only God can make us joyful and give us rest. The Bible states in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” God will bless us if we are faithful to Him and to the promise we make to Him.
In the last part of this chapter we come to the priestly blessing. In this blessing we find the Trinity in the Old Testament. Dr. McGee states, "God the Father is the source of all blessing. The Lord Jesus is the One who makes His face to shine upon us. The Holy Spirit lifts up His countenance upon us and gives us peace. This is the only way we can come to God and experience the peace of God. He is the One who makes these things real to our hearts."

Chapter 7: Offerings from the Leaders

Summary

On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. Then, the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral houses, presented an offering before the Lord. These offerings were given to the Levites and were to be used to do work in the tent of meeting. The 12 leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 7:1-5 - On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. After he anointed and consecrated these things, the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral houses, presented an offering. They were the tribal leaders who supervised the registration. They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts and 12 oxen, a cart from every two leaders and an ox from each one, and presented them in front of the tabernacle. The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each division according to their service.”

Numbers 7:10 - The leaders also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed. The leaders presented their offerings in front of the altar.

Numbers 7:84-88 - This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver dishes, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold bowls. Each silver dish weighed 3¼ pounds, and each basin 1¾ pounds. The total weight of the silver articles was 60 pounds measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. The 12 gold bowls full of incense each weighed four ounces measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold bowls was three pounds. All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled 12 bulls, 12 rams, and 12 male lambs a year old, with their grain offerings, and 12 male goats for the sin offering. All the livestock for the fellowship sacrifice totaled 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male breeding goats, and 60 male lambs a year old. This was the dedication gift for the altar after it was anointed.

Numbers 7:89 - When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him that way.

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter in the book of Numbers enumerates all of the offerings the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel give to the Tent of Meeting after it had been consecrated and anointed. As far as I can tell, each of the 12 leaders gave the exact same gift to the tent of meeting. Each leader brought an identical offering before the Lord. Read the chapter to see exactly what each offering was. Dr. McGee states in his commentary, "...the Spirit of God recorded very carefully and in detail what each one brought. Each man is listed here by name, and , as far as I know, this is all he ever did for the Lord. This whole long chapter is about these men and what they gave to the Lord. Even a spoonful of incense was recorded." We can come to the conclusion from this chapter that the Lord records what we give and do for Him. If we don't do anything, God records that. If we do all kinds of things for the Lord, God records everything down to the minute details. It's almost like God has a scorecard in heaven! God keeps score. Jesus knows how much you give to Him, and He knows how much you keep for yourself.
If God keeps score of our gifts and works, then I can almost guarantee that God will reward us for what we do while on this Earth.
This is one of the longest chapters in the Bible, and it is certainly one of the most monotonous chapters. God put it there for a purpose, however. It could be that all the tribes offered the same gift to the Lord. Likewise, each individual person can only offer God the same thing as every one else. We can only turn over our hearts and lives to the Lord. We have nothing else to offer to the Lord, but our heart and soul. Like I said previously, after we are saved, it could be that God records the good deeds we do for the kingdom of God. This is to be determined whenever we get to heaven. Praise the Lord for the ultimate offering...God gave His one and only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son. That whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." Hallelujah and Amen!

Chapter 8: The Lighting in the Tabernacle and Consecration of the Levites

Summary

God tells Moses to tell Aaron how to set up the lamps in the tabernacle. The seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand. The Lord tells Moses to prepare the Levites for their priestly duties by a ceremonial cleansing. The Levites are made to give a grain offering, a sin offering, and a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for their sins. The Israelites set the Levites apart by presenting them before the Lord as a presentation offering, so that they may perform the Lord's work. Afterward, the Levites can do their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. Each Levite is to begin work and retire from work in the tabernacle at the age of 25 and 50 years old, respectively.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 8:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.”
Numbers 8:5-6 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them.
Numbers 8:20-22 - Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community did this to the Levites. The Israelites did everything to them the Lord commanded Moses regarding the Levites. The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them before the Lord as a presentation offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to ceremonially cleanse them. After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. So they did to them as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites.
Numbers 8:23-25 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “In regard to the Levites: From 25 years old or more, a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting. But at 50 years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve.

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter begins with instructions for lighting the lampstand in the Holy Place. The chapter continues with instructions for the cleansing of the Levites in preparation for the wilderness march. Those who were going to follow God and serve Him had to be clean.
According to J. Vernon McGee, the lampstand "...is the most perfect picture of Christ that we find in the tabernacle. The lighted lamps represent the Holy Spirit who reveals the beauty of Christ. The lampstand is symbolic of Christ who sent the Holy Spirit into the world. The Spirit of God takes the things of Christ and shows them to us." This is a reminder that all we do must be done in the light of the presence of Christ. Furthermore, "the important thing for the child of God today is not how you walk, but where you walk. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). You see, the light and the laver are placed together here. When you walk in the light, you see that there is imperfection in your life Then you go to the laver to remove it, which symbolizes the confession of your sins."
This chapter reveals a key truth: if God is going to use you on this earth, then He'll have to clean you of your sin. Therefore, before serving God, you must confess your sins. We may even have certain habits that we need to get rid of because they are hurting our testimony for the Lord. We must walk in the light of the Word of God!
The Levites were ceremonially cleansed by:

sprinkled with the water of purifying
they were to shave all of their hair
they were to wash their clothes to make themselves clean
they were to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering

Chapter 9: The Second Passover and Guidance by the Cloud

Summary

Moses tells the Israelites as the Lord commanded to observe the Passover. God also tells Moses other statues and ordinances they are to follow relating to the Passover. Also, God guides the Israelites by a cloud he places over the tabernacle. No matter the timeframe, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out and wander in the wilderness until the cloud once again appeared over the tabernacle.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 9:1-3 - In the first month of the second year after their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord told Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: “The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time. You must observe it at its appointed time on the fourteenth day of this month at twilight; you are to observe it according to all its statutes and ordinances.”
Numbers 9:10-12 - “Tell the Israelites: When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a corpse or is on a distant journey, he may still observe the Passover to the Lord. Such people are to observe it in the second month, on the fourteenth day at twilight. They are to eat the animal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.
Numbers 9:13 - “But the man who is ceremonially clean, is not on a journey, and yet fails to observe the Passover is to be cut off from his people, because he did not present the Lord’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.
Numbers 9:15-18 - On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and it appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. It remained that way continuously: the cloud would cover it, appearing like fire at night. Whenever the cloud was lifted up above the tent, the Israelites would set out; at the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites camped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at the Lord’s command they camped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they camped.

Thoughts on the Text

Israel was to celebrate the Passover while they were in the wilderness. At this point in time, the Israelites have been wandering in the wilderness for 1 year. They observe Passover in the first month of the second year after they were rescued from Egypt. In this chapter there were a couple men who were unclean because they were in the presence of a corpse. They came to Moses to solve the dilemma. Should they or should they not observe Passover? Moses takes the question directly to God (We should do the same, and take our questions to the Word of God for answers). God said these men should observe Passover. They should celebrate it one month after everyone else has celebrated Passover. God answered these men's question. God will answer our questions as well. We should not be bashful, but take all of our concerns to God for answers.
The cloud that appeared over the tabernacle is also known as the Shekinah glory. This cloud of glory set the Israelites apart from every people group. God literally guided the Israelites day by day, month by month, and year by year. The Israelites were God's chosen people! They had the visible presence of God with them at all times. In Romans 9:4-5, Paul writes, "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen."
We should remember that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Jesus should lead our every step and decision. Christians follow the ways of Christ! Today, we don't have the Shekinah glory leading us on a daily basis. However, Jesus Christ left behind the Holy Spirit which indwells in all Christians. This Spirit does the same thing as the Shekinah glory. It leads and guides our every step.

Chapter 10: Two Silver Trumpets and from Sinai to Paran

Summary

God tells Moses to make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community and signal the Israelite camps to set out. God tells the various meanings related to different trumpet blasts; what a trumpet blast signals the people to do. The cloud moves from Mt. Sinai in the second month during the second year of their stay in the Sinai area. The cloud stops in the wilderness of Paran. The Israelites follow the cloud and set up camp there. The Bible states the various leaders and military divisions within all the tribes of Israel. Moses invites Hobab, son of Moses' father-in-law, Reuel aka Jethro, the Midianite to come with the Israelites as they travel through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Hobab declines the offer and goes to the land of his relatives. The Israelites travel on with the Ark of the Covenant.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 10:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community and have the camps set out."

Numbers 10:9-10 - When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be delivered from your enemies. You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am Yahweh your God.

Numbers 10:11-13 - During the second year, in the second month on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted up above the tabernacle of the testimony. The Israelites traveled on from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from one place to the next until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran. They set out for the first time according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

Numbers 10:29-30 - Moses said to Hobab, son of Moses’ father-in-lawReuel the Midianite: “We’re setting out for the place the Lord promised: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”But he replied to him, “I don’t want to go. Instead, I will go to my own land and my relatives.”

Numbers 10:35-36 - Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say: Arise, Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and those who hate You flee from Your presence.When it came to rest, he would say: Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter gives the last preparation for the wilderness march: Israel is to make to silver trumpets in order to signal the Israelites to set out from the camp. The trumpet blasts have many more meanings, some of which are described in this chapter. The wilderness march from Sinai begins in verse 11 of this chapter. They have been at Sinai for about one year receiving the Law from God. Now it is time for the Israelites to head back out into the wilderness. They probably didn't know at that time that they would be wandering in the wilderness for another 39 years! The ark of the covenant leads the wilderness march. Also, Christ leads His church through the wilderness of this world. The ark is a picture of Jesus Christ.

In a way, Moses questions the guiding hand of the Lord in this chapter. Moses wants Hobab to be their guide in the wilderness. God, on the other hand, specifically stated that the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night will be their guide and lead the Israelites in the right direction. This could be a lack of faith on Moses' part. Even though Hobab knew the land that the Israelites were in, there is no way that he knew what God had in store for Israel or where God wanted the Israelites to go. Hobab would not have been a great guide at all. This is similar to Christians listening to the so-called experts about various life situations instead of first turning to the Word of God and praying to the Lord for help and guidance in life. To often, like Moses, we rely on others, more so than relying on God. We should grow in the faith and eventually rely on God completely! God knows what is best for us, and God has a perfect plan for our life, if only we trust and obey Him!

In this chapter we find that Moses had a ritual prayer that he recited every morning and every evening when they were on the wilderness march.

Chapter 11: Complaints about Hardship, Complaints about Food, Seventy Elders Anointed, and Quail in the Camp

Summary

The mixed multitude that are traveling with the Israelites along with the Israelites start complaining about their hardships and a lack of food, namely meat, within the camp. The Lord has been providing manna from heaven ever since the Israelites began their trek into the wilderness. However, this manna from heaven does not satisfy them. After hearing these complaints, the Lord provides more manna from heaven and anoints 70 elders to look after the People. God does this to take some of the burden of leadership off the shoulders of Moses. God tells the Israelites to purify themselves and He gives them more than enough quail to eat for a whole month.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 11:1 - Now the people began complaining openly before[a] the Lord about hardship. When the Lord heard, His anger burned, and fire from the Lord blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
Numbers 11:4-6 - Contemptible peopleamong them had a strong craving for other food. The Israelites cried again and said, “Who will feed us meat? We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone;there’s nothing to look at but this manna!”
Numbers 11:16-17 - The Lord answered Moses, “Bring Me 70 men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you. Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.
Numbers 11:23 - The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited? You will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”
Numbers 11:31-32 - A wind sent by the Lord came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped them at the camp all around, three fee off the ground, about a day’s journey in every direction. The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail—the one who took the least gathered 50 bushels^[m]—and they spread them out all around the camp.

Thoughts on the Text

Chapters 11 and 12 of Numbers deals with the Israelite journey from Sinai to Kadesh. We find that when problems arise during the wandering, the people fell to murmuring and complaining. In this chapter, we see the people complain about lack of meat and various hardships of travel. God is displeased with our groaning and complaining. We should try our best not to complain no matter what happens in our life. When a problem arises, instead of complaining, we should try to solve or alleviate the problem. We should call on God for help to overcome our problems. We should not complain to God because of our problems. Believe it or not, God wants us to be happy, joyful Christians!

The primary people who were responsible for the complaining were the mixed multitudes traveling with the Israelites. These were the people who were Israelite mixed with Egyptian or some other people group. They did not belong to any particular tribe of Israel. This is similar to Christians today who go to church and declare that they have been saved by faith thru grace in Jesus Christ, but during the work week they live like the rest o the world. These people want the benefit of salvation, but at the same to they want the jolly folly of the sinner's nature found in the world. Are they truly born again? Maybe, maybe not, but nonetheless, they are a mixed multitude and the cause of many problems within the church.

We find that the people of Israel complained so much that Moses was fed up with it. He could no longer deal with such childish behavior. Moses turns to God for help, and he complains a little bit as well. Moses states in verses 14-15 of this chapter, "I can’t carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. If You are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now. If You are pleased with me, don’t let me see my misery anymore.” Moses would rather die than deal with all these complaining people all by himself. So, the Lord provide Moses with 70 elders of Israel who help bear his burden of leadership. Later, these elders become the Sanhedrin. This is the same group of people who later have Jesus Crucified on the Cross.

From "Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee;" "We are to make our requests known unto God with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), because we know that God is going to hear and answer our prayer. Most of the time God will say no to our prayer, which is the very best answer. Sometimes we pray for things that aren't the best for us. If we beg and complain, God may answer our prayer but give us leanness in our soul."

Moses questions God about how he is going to give the Israelites enough quail to feed them. God says that He is going to do it! We never need to ask the Lord how He is going to do something after He says He will do it. He will do it, and He doesn't need your how and my how. He does it the way He wants to do it. God fulfills His promises!

Chapter 12: Miriam and Aaron Rebel

Summary

Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he married a Cushite (or Ethiopian) woman. They were also mad because God spoke directly to Moses instead of them. God settles the dispute. God tells the three of them to come out to the tent of meeting. God descends upon them in a pillar of cloud. He explains to them that he speaks to them in dreams, but with Moses He speaks directly. God was angry at them because speaking against Moses is speaking against God indirectly because God gave Moses authority. God puts a skin disease on Miriam. Aaron and Moses cry out for God to heal her. She is put outside the camp, heals in seven days and is allowed to rejoin the Israelites. Afterward, the people leave Hazeroth to camp in the wilderness of Paran.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 12:1-3 - Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). They said, “Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?” And the Lord heard it. Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
Numbers 12:6-9 - He said: “Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household. I speak with him directly, openly, and not is riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?" The Lord's anger burned against them, and He left.
Numbers 12:10 - As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased
Numbers 12:15-16 - So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

Thoughts on the Text

J Vernon McGee states in his commentary, "I do not think this wife was Zipporah, the daughter of the prriest of Midian--she would be a Midianite. The last we hear of Zipporah is when her father brought her to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exod. 18:2). Did she return home with her father? Was she dead? Who is this Ethiopian or Cushite wife? Scripture is silent. All we can say is that this appears to be a second wife. The point here is that Miriam used this marriage as a pretext to protest the authority of Moses."
The Bible states that Moses was the a very humble man; more so than any man on the face of the earth. The Bible calls Moses meek. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is being obedient to God and doing His will. In this scripture God says that He eleccts all the prophets of Israel. Even so, God says Moses is greater than these prophets. Moses is faithful in all the Lord's house. God deals with Moses differently than any other prophet. God speaks with Moses directly. Moses has authority from God. As such, no one should question the authority of Moses because doing so is like questioning God. The only other prophet who will exceed the authority of Moses is that of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God placed Moses in a very high position. Who was Aaron and Miriam to question one of God's right hand men? This is why God's angered burned against Aaron and Miriam, and Miriam is judged with a skin disease because of her rebellion.
Even though Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses, Moses still had a loving heart to pray for the very people who were rebelling against him. This is once again similar to Jesus Christ while on the Cross. Jesus said, "forgive them (the people crucifying him) for they know not what they do." Jesus had the ultimate love, but here we also see that Moses had a tremendous love as well.

Chapter 13: Scouting Out Canaan and Report about Canaan

Summary

12 leaders from the 12 tribes of Israel leave the wilderness of Paran ad scout the land of Canaan for resources and strategic advantage. The land of Canaan will hopefully one day be the Promised Land according to the Covenant God established with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. After 40 days of scouting, they return back to Moses for a report of what they have seen. Caleb brings back a report to Moses that they can certainly conquer the land of Canaan. Other men give a negative report, saying that the men in Canaan are giants and stronger than the Israelites.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 13:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.”
Numbers 13:18-20 - See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications? Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.” It was the season for the first ripe grapes.
Numbers 13:26-28 - The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there.
Numbers 13:32 - So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size.

Thoughts on the Text

J Vernon McGee states in his commentary, "This chapter includes the cause of their sending spies, the choice of the spies, the commission of the spies, the conduct of the spies, the spies' confirmation of the facts, and the two interpretations of those facts--a majority and a minority report." "It was not God's idea to send spies into the land. The sending in of the spies denoted a weakness and a ear on the part of the people. There was a fear that maybe they wouldn't be able to take the land. It was so easy for them to rationalize and decide on spies as a matter of wisdom." Their act of spying on the land reveals a lack of faith on the Israelite's part. They should have simply went into the land and claimed it just as God instructed.

This reveals that in our Christian walk, there are times when we have to step out on faith. We can't second guess ourselves and psyche ourselves out. We have to commit! Psalm 37:5 states, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." We need to trust God completely with our lives. Not doing show, reveals a lack of faith on our part.

In this chapter we find out about Hoshea the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim. This man will be known as Joshua!

The spies go throughout all the land of Canaan. The thoroughly search the entire Promised Land, and they know where certain people groups are living. The Bible says, "We also saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” When they bring back their report, they tell Moses that the Promised Land is indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. Theis is the land they are to claim by covenant right.

Key Lesson: When you are afraid and you have lost your faith, difficulties and problems are magnified. They become greater than they really are.

They only two people who gave a positive report to go in and claim the Promised Land right there and then was Caleb and Joshua. These two men of God thought that the Israelite's were fully capable of going in a claiming the land with their numbers and the hand of God.

Chapter 14: Israel's Refusal to Enter Canaan, God's Judgment of Israel's Rebellion, and Israel Routed

Summary

Because of the negative report coming back from the land of Canaan, the Israelites panic and want to return to the land of Egypt. They are afraid that they will die by the sword. Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua plead with the Israelites to remain on course and do as the Lord instructs. Just as the Israelites are about to stone Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua, the glory of the Lord appears to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting. God says that the rebelling Israelites will never get to the promised land. God will allow Caleb to inherit the Promised Land along with his descendants. The Rebelling Israelites are sentenced to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years. God does this to all the rebelling Israelites. All of the older generation will die in the wilderness before they make it to the Promised Land. Some of the Israelites realize they are wrong and try to enter the Promised Land even though God has told them to go back towards the Red Sea. The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of Canaan attacked this stray group of Israelites and route them as far as Hormah.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 14:1-4 - Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Numbers 14:5-10 -

Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.
Numbers 14:21-24 - Yet as surely as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me, will ever see the land I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have despised Me will see it. But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it.

Thoughts on the Text

Israel refuses to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief in God. Hebrews 3:16-19 states, "For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it really all who came out of Egypt under Moses? And who was He provoked with for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And who did He swear to that they would not enter His rest, if not those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." The only two that brought back a positive report from the 40 day scout was Caleb and Joshua. They were the only two of that generation of Israelites who would be able to enter the Promised Land. Everyone else who was age 20 or older at the time of the census would not enter the Promised Land. They were all sentenced to die in the wilderness because of their unbelief.
In his commentary, J Vernon McGee states, "As God brought these children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and did put them in the Promised Land, so God will complete the plan He had for you when He saved you. And He will complete the plan He is working on now for the entire earth, because the time is coming when the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."
The Israelites fall under judgment for their disbelief. God tells them that they will wander in the wilderness for forty years--one year for each day the spies were in the land. Also, the Bible mentions that the ten spies who brought the bad report of the land of Canaan and led in the rebellion died of a plague.
Thought of the day: Many times we want to go our own way instead of God's way. God will punish until we finally listen, submit, and do what He commands. There can be no victory when there is no submission to the will of God.

Chapter 15: Laws About Offerings, Sabbath Violation, and Tassels for Remembrance

Summary

In This chapter, God presents more laws about different sacrificial offerings including burnt offerings. The same law and the same ordinances apply to both the Israelites and the foreign residents who reside with them. God has a man put to death for working on the Sabbath Day. Last, God has the Israelites put blue tassels on the corners of their garments to serve as a remembrance to be faithful and obey the Lord's commands.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 15:1-5 - The Lord instructed Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land I am giving you to settle in, and you make a fire offering to the Lord from the herd or flock—either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow, or as a freewill offering, or at your appointed festivals—to produce a pleasing aroma for the Lord, the one presenting his offering to the Lord must also present a grain offering of two quarts of fine flour mixed with a quartof oil. Prepare a quart of wine as a drink offering with the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb.
Numbers 15:15-16 - The assembly is to have the same statute for^[j] both you and the foreign resident as a permanent statute throughout your generations. You and the foreigner will be alike before the Lord. The same law and the same ordinance will apply to both you and the foreigner who resides with you.”
Numbers 15:30-31 - “But the person who acts defiantly,whether native or foreign resident, blasphemes the Lord. That person is to be cut off from his people. He will certainly be cut off, because he has despised the Lord’s word and broken His command; his guilt remains on him.”
Numbers 15:37-41 - The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the Lord’s commands and obey them and not become unfaithful by following your own heart and your own eyes. This way you will remember and obey all My commands and be holy to your God. I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am Yahweh your God.”

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "My friend, we need to be extremely careful whether we are moving by faith or by presumption. Somewhere between these two is the will of God. It is important to spend time waiting upon the Lord to find out what is His will...Now we enter that division of the Book of Numbers from chapter 15 to 25, which I call "Faltering, Fumbling, and Fussing through the Wilderness." At Kadesh-barnea, God has turned them back into the wilderness. Walking is turned to wandering; marching is turned to murmuring; witnessing is turned to wailing; warring is turned to wobbling; singing is turned to sighing; ad working is turned to wishing."
The years that the children of Israel are wandering in the wilderness are wasted years. In the Bible, there is not even a detailed account of events in the wilderness. They simply wandered around for 40 years.
As sinful people, we can delay God's blessings, but we cannot destroy God's purpose! When God says that something will come to pass, you can be sure that it has already or will come to pass in His program.
The life we live on Sunday, should be the same life we live throughout the rest of the week. God should be at the center of our life every day of the week. We should not have two-split personalities, worshipping God one day and acting like the world the next.
We are not lost because we are ignorant of the Gospel. We are lost because we are all sinners by birth. So, we need to ask forgiveness for both our intentional and unintentional sin. In the Old Testament times, both of these types of sin had to have a sacrificial offering to the Lord. On the bright side, Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost, and all men are lost. Being lost is man's natural state. God finding us and saving us is pure love and grace!
In this chapter a man is stoned to death for working on the Sabbath. This man broke one of the Ten Commandments. The death penalty was given for breaking any of the Ten Commandments. This should be an eye opener for us. We should strive our best to not break the Ten Commandments, but we will still break them. We cannot fulfill the Law. We are worthy of the death penalty for our sins. we need to see this to understand what it means that the Lord Jesus Christ died our death for us.
The last part of this chapter talks about tassels for remembrance. The Israelites were to put a blue tassel on the corners of their garments. These tassels would serve as a remembrance to follow the Lord's commands and lead a holy, righteous life. What an outstanding idea from God! We should do the same thing in our life today. It is vital that we keep God's commands in our minds at all times. If we can remember what God told us not to do, it is less likely that we will indulge in a sinful lifestyle. We are only human, so a reminder to do good is important. Maybe we can read scriptures or a prayer book when we wake up in the morning. We can text another brother and sister in Christ and uplift them with the Word. We can carry our Bible's with us wherever we go. We need to pray often, and ask for God's help not to sin. Like the Israelites, we can wear some article of clothing or jewelry that reminds us to follow the Word of God. Let us incorporate some of these ideas into our life, so we can live a more holy life for the Lord.

Chapter 16: Korah Incites Rebellion

Summary

Korah and 250 prominent Israelite men came together against Moses and Aaron. They wondered and rebelled because God had appointed Moses and Aaron as leaders over the people of Israel. Furthermore, these men complain about their situation in the wilderness. As punishment for their disobedience, God causes the ground to open and all Korah's people are consumed. Also, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting incense unauthorized to the Lord. The people of Israel continue to complain saying that Korah, his family, and the 250 leader's deaths isn't fair. God allows a plague to fall upon the naysayers. Aaron presents a fire offering to the Lord to make atonement for the victims of the plague. The plague is halted, but nonetheless, 14,700 Israelites die from the plague.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 16:1-3 - Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took 250 prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses. They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far!Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Numbers 16:32-35 - The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled because they thought, “The earth may swallow us too!”Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense.

Numbers 16:41-42 - The next day the entire Israelite community complained about Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!” When the community assembled against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the tent of meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the Lord’s glory appeared.

Numbers 16:47-49 - So Aaron took his firepan as Moses had ordered, ran into the middle of the assembly, and saw that the plague had begun among the people. After he added incense, he made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was halted. But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who died because of the Korah incident.

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter deals with the murmuring, complaining, and rebellion of the people of Israel. They have already complained in the past and in this chapter there are two more episodes of rebellion and complaints. This rebellion is led by Korah, a very prominent Levite. Associated with him were 250 leaders of the assembly who were also men of authority. The root trouble in this chapter was the jealousy of Korah. All authority is God-given, but Korah did not like that God gave the authority to Moses and Aaron. He wanted to have authority.

We are a part of the body of Christ. Everyone has a specific gift that the body needs to function. Many of these gifts go unnoticed, but all parts of the body are equally important. We should be content with the part of the body that God made us to fill. We should not become jealous of another part of the body of Christ. This is what Korah did. He was not satisfied with the position he filled in the Israelite community.

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "It is a terrible thing for a man or group of men to disobey God and His divinely appointed leaders. It is a terrible thing to set up a little system of worship and so divide the people of God. God must deal with this kind of rebellion, nd He must judge it...It is awesome to see the way God judged them. Because they attempted to divide the people, God judges them in the same way in which they had sinned. He divides the people to separate them from Korah and his group, and then He divides the earth and it closes upon them."

Galatians 6:6 states, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." God judges the very same way in which the man sins!

After Korah is swallowed up by the earth, many people of Israel charge Moses and Aaron with murdering the rebels. They didn't do it, however, God did it. The man they rebelled against is the very man who saved them. Aaron and Moses stood between them and God, and they were able to halt the plague from spreading anymore than it did. Likewise, the very One whom the human family crucified on the cross is the One who saves us. He stands between God and the sinner. Jesus is there to save us from our own sin and rebellion towards God.

Chapter 17: Aaron's Staff Chosen

Summary

God tells Moses to gather 12 staffs from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. God will choose one of the staffs and the staff of the man He chooses will sprout. Aaron's staff was chosen. His staff sprouted, formed buds, blossomed, and produced almonds! This staff was to be kept in front of the testimony as a sign for the rebels that God is in control. If they disobey the Lord again, they will die. The Israelites fall into a confusion. They know that they are lost, but they don't know whether or not they will perish.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 17:1-5 -The Lord instructed Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and take one staff from them for each ancestral house, 12 staffs from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff. Write Aaron’s name on Levi’s staff, because there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral house. Then place them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony where I meet with you. The staff of the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the Israelites’ complaints that they have been making about you.”
Numbers 17:8, 10 - The next day Moses entered the tent of the testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, formed buds, blossomed, and produced almonds!...The Lord told Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels, so that you may put an end to their complaints before Me, or else they will die.”
Numbers 17:12-13 - Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we’re perishing! We’re lost; we’re all lost! Anyone who comes near the Lord’s tabernacle will die. Will we all perish?”

Thoughts on the Text

After the rebellion of the previous chapter, God is going to confirm the priesthood of Aaron and establish the fact that he is the high priest. He will establish this by resurrection! If you recall, the children of Israel were murmuring against Aaron saying that he was not the only one who could represent them before God. God wants to give the authority back to Aaron and quell this upheaval.
God tells the prince or leaders of each of the 12 tribes to bring a staff to the tabernacle. All of these staffs are dead wood including Aaron's. The staffs are left in the tabernacle overnight, and the next day, Moses goes into the tabernacle to find that Aaron's dead staff brought forth buds, blossoms, and fruit of almonds. This is a form of resurrection. God brought the staff back from the dead and made it produce like a tree planted in the ground.
From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "The priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ rests upon the fact of His resurrection. We are told very frankly in the seventh chapter of Hebrews that If He were here on earth, He would not be a priest. He did not come from the priestly tribe of Levi. His resurrection made Him a priest. Then it tells us that not every man becomes a priest. "And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron" (Heb. 5:4). Aaron was God's called priest. The evidence was the budded rod--the resurrection. The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and He became our High Priest. He has an unchangeable priesthood and so "...he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).
Later we find that the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded were preserved inside the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle.

Chapter 18: Provision for the Priesthood and Support for the Priests and Levites

Summary

The Levites are responsible for performing duties relating to all the offerings at the tent of meeting. The Levites are given the work of the priesthood and all its duties related to the tent of meeting. God also provides support for the priests and Levites. A portion of the holy offerings of the Israelites will be provisions for the Levites. The Levites will receive a tenth of all the offerings. The contributions of the Israelite gifts also belongs to the Levites. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord belongs to the Levites. The Levites are also told that they will not have an inheritance in the Promised Land; The tenth of the offerings going to the Levites will be their inheritance. The Levites are to offer a tenth of the tenth of the contribution offerings to the Lord. This will be their tithe to the Lord in essence.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 18:1-4 - The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your ancestral house will be responsible for sin against the sanctuary. You and your sons will be responsible for sin involving your priesthood. But also bring your relatives with you from the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, so they may join you and assist you and your sons in front of the tent of the testimony. They are to perform duties for you and for the whole tent. They must not come near the sanctuary equipment or the altar; otherwise, both they and you will die. They are to join you and guard the tent of meeting, doing all the work at the tent, but no unauthorized person may come near you.
Numbers 18:7 - But you and your sons will carry out your priestly responsibilities for everything concerning the altar and for what is inside the veil, and you will do that work. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but an unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary will be put to death.”
Numbers 18:8 - Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Look, I have put you in charge of the contributions brought to Me. As for all the holy offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.
Numbers 18:13 - The first fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, belong to you. Every clean person in your house may eat them.
Numbers 18:14 - Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord belongs to you
Numbers 18:20-21 - The Lord told Aaron, “You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. “Look, I have given the Levites every tenth in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the tent of meeting.
Numbers 18:25-27 - The Lord instructed Moses, “Speak to the Levites and tell them: When you receive from the Israelites the tenth that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the Lord—a tenth of the tenth. Your offering will be credited to you as if it were your grain from the threshing floor or the full harvest from the winepress.

Thoughts on the Text

God starts out this chapter by telling the Levites that they are responsible for sin against the sanctuary and sin involving the priesthood. The Levites are men of the cloth. They are God's chosen priests. It is especially important for all of the Levites to walk in humility, since they do have such an important and holy responsibility.
God points out that Aaron and his sons are in charge of the sanctuary, the vessels of the sanctuary, and the altar. The God goes into great detail about the part of the sacrificial offerings that belongs to the priesthood.
Aaron and all the Levites would have no inheritance in the actual Promised Land. All the other tribes will receive a portion of the land. God, Himself, was to be the Levite's inheritance. God provides support for the Levites, and God expects the modern day church to support its pastor and other church personnel. The Levites could not do the duties associated with the tabernacle, offerings, and priesthood and tend a farm or do some other job at the same time. Their job was the priesthood. Therefore, all their needs should be provided for by the other tribes of Israel. The same goes for the modern church, and those people that run the church. Otherwise, the church will suffer and most likely fall apart. As such, the Levites must look to God for their support. The Levites are to live by faith.
Thought from J Vernon McGee: "Although you and I do not live under the Mosaic system, I believe it furnishes great principles by which we are to live. They are road maps for us to help us out in these questionable areas."
We get from this chapter a final lesson. Not only are the church members supposed to tithe and support the church workers, such as the pastor. The church workers should also give a tithe from the tithe to the church as well. All members of the body should give to the body. This is exactly what God instructs the Levites to do. The Levites are to give a tenth of a tenth of the tithe and offerings that they receive from the people of Israel. This is the road map we should follow today at church!

Chapter 19: Purification Ritual

Summary

This chapter describes various purification rituals, and how an unclean person becomes clean. This chapter goes into detail of the sacrifice of an unblemished red cow. When the cow is burned, its ashes will be gathered and kept by the Israelite community for preparing the water to remove impurity; it is a sin offering. These ashes will be used in the purification rituals.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 19:1-3 - The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “This is the legal statute that the Lord has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red cow that has no defect and has never been yoked. Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
Numbers 19:9 - A man who is clean is to gather up the cow’s ashes and deposit them outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place. The ashes must be kept by the Israelite community for preparing the water to remove impurity; it is a sin offering.
Numbers 19:11-13 - The person who touches any human corpse will be unclean for seven days. He is to purify himself with the water on the third day and the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. Anyone who touches a body of a person who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person will be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean because the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter goes into detail about the offering of the red unblemished cow. It is a female cow, also known as a heifer. From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "This is an unusual ordinance, and it sounds very strange, but there is a good reason for it. When the children of Israel were on the march and a man sinned, they couldn't stop right there, put up the tabernacle, and go through the ritual of offering a trespass offering or a sin offering. So what were they to do when a man sinned on the way? They would take the ashes of this heifer, mix those ashes with running water, then with hyssop sprinkle the individual who had sinned. That sounds very strange, doesn't it? But that was the way God dealt with sin for those people."

"Jesus Christ has gone back to the Father now, and He is still girded with the towel of service. The basin of water is the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is the One who applies it, and the hyssop speaks of faith...When you and I sin today, Christ is not going to die all over again. We are told, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). That "light" is the Word of God. If we walk in the light, what do we see? We see that we are dirty and that we need cleaning. The Spirit of God convicts us. The Word tells us that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, will keep on cleansing us from all these sins. But the water of the Word and the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ must be applied to us. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). He died down here to save us. He lives up yonder to keep us saved. When Jesus Christ died for our sins, He did not die only for those sins up to the time we came to Him. He died for our sins from the time we came to Him at the cross until He gives us a crown."

We should be willing to confess our sins to the Lord on a daily basis. Even as Christians, we all sin everyday. There are things we see, things we say, and things we do that are sin that doesn't glorify the Lord. Let us confess our sins today, just as the Israelites used the ashes of the red Heifer to cleanse and purify them of their sins.

Chapter 20: Water from the Rock, Edom Denies Passage, and Aaron's Death

Summary

The Israelites are still wandering in the wilderness at this time. They end up entering the wilderness of Zin and settling in Kadesh. Miriam, Moses's wife dies there. They run out of water and the people turn against Moses and Aaron. The Lord tells Moses to take his staff, strike a rock, and a great amount of water gushed out of it. All the Israelite community along with their livestock drank the water. Moses asks the king of Edom if the Israelites can have safe passage through the king's land on the king's highway. Edom denies passage and says that he will send an army to go to war with the Israelites if they attempt to go thru the land. Israel is forced to travel in a different direction as a result. The Israelites leave Kadesh and travel to Mount Hor. The Lord gives Mosses a command. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar ascend Mount Hor in sight of the whole community. Aaron's priestly garments are removed, Aaron dies, and his garments are placed on Eleazar (Aaron' son). Israel mourns Aaron for 30 days.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 20:1 - The entire Israelite community entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they settled in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
Numbers 20:2-3 - There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord.
Numbers 20:9-13 - So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence just as He had commanded him. Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and He showed His holiness to them.
Numbers 20:18 - But Edom answered him, “You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
Numbers 20:27-29 - So Moses did as the Lord commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. After Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days.

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "The chapter before us opens with the death of Miriam and it closes with the death of Aaron. The chapter is bounded by death. It also contains the sin of Moses and the sin of Edom. Yet this is an important chapter because it marks the end of wandering for the children of Israel and the beginning of marching."
As human beings, no matter what we accomplish, we don't amount to anything when we are out of the will of God. In fact, when we work outside the will of God, we are a detriment to God's work. We get in the way.
In this chapter, Moses's wife Miriam dies in Kadesh. She is buried there as well. They are back in Kadesh after 388 years of wandering in the wilderness. The Israelites have gotten no where. They are back in the same place they started
In this chapter, the Israelites are murmuring again due to a lack of water. This is the seventh murmuring listed in the book of Numbers. God is displeased with their complaining. Every time that the Israelites complain the glory of the Lord appears. He appears when He is angry! God tells Moses and Aaron to take Aaron's staff and speak to the rock and water will gush forth. Moses strikes the rock twice and water comes forth out of the rock. According to J Vernon McGee, "He should not have smitten it at all, friends. It had already been smitten. The rock is a type of Christ. Christ suffered once for sins, never the second time. He died once. God was teaching this to them in a type, and Moses should have protected and guarded the type by obeying God. God told him very clearly that he was to speak to the rock. That was all he needed to do. But Moses failed to obey God." For this disobedience, Moses or Aaron would never enter into the Promised Land.
Moses asks the king of Edom to let the Israelites pass thru their land. The king of Edom forbids this completely. Edom sinned by not letting the Israelites pass thru. Moses redirects Israel and ends up going to Mount Hor. Moses should have followed the Cloud of Glory, but the Bible leads us to believe that he doesn't. This is a case of running ahead of the Lord. We should wait on the Lord's direction before we make a move.
We need to realize that as children of God, we are not here, on earth, permanently. We are just pilgrims passing through this world. We won't be in any one place for too long.
Aaron, the high priest of Israel, passes away in this chapter. Israel mourns him for 30 days. So, even though Aaron was Israel's first high priest, he was not the Great High Priest known as Jesus Christ. Our High Priest has neither a beginning nor an end. He died once for us down here; He lives forever for us in heaven. Jesus will always be there for us. We can always depend upon and have faith in him.
Finally, in this chapter, Israel has finished the wilderness wandering. They will be getting ready to enter into the Promised Land.

Chapter 21: Canaanite kinng Defeated, The Bronze Serpent, Journey around Moab, and Amorite Kings Defeated

Summary

Israel defeats the Canaanite king of Arad and his cities. Then, the Israelites leave Mount Hor, and bypass Edom by way of the Red Sea. The people continue to complain about their condition and the misery of their journey in the wilderness. God sends poisonous snakes in the community to strike them dead. Moses intercedes for the people of Israel. God instructs him to make a bronze serpent. Whoever looks at the serpent will be healed from the snake bite. The Israelites journey around Moab. The Israelites ask Sihon, king of the Amorites if they can travel thru his land. Sihon denies the Israelites passage. Instead, he assembles an army to fight against Israel. Israel defeats Sihon's army and lives in his cities in the Amorite's land. The Israelites travel to Bashan. They defeat the king of Bashan and his army as well. The Israelites kill the king Og, his sons, and his whole army until there was no one left. They take possession of the land.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 21:2-3 - Then Israel made a vow to the Lord, “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will completely destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s request, the Canaanites were defeated, and Israel completely destroyed them and their cities. So they named the place Hormah.
Numbers 21:6 - hen the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.
Numbers 21:9 - So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
Numbers 21:23-24 - But Sihon would not let Israel travel through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. Israel struck him with the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only up to the Ammonite border, because it was fortified.
Numbers 21:33-35 - Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan came out against them with his whole army to do battle at Edrei. But the Lord said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you along with his whole army and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon." So they struck him, his sons, and his whole army until no one was left, and they took possession of his land.

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru The Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "As we have seen, chapter 20 brought us to the end of the wilderness wanderings in the sense that the wandering is over and they begin to march. In this chapter are their first victories in warfare. Also the experience of their eighth and last murmuring is recorded, which brought about the fiery serpents and the serpent of brass, used by the Lord Jesus to illustrate His own crucifixion."

There is a great lesson in this chapter. The people of Israel once again complain about the food and their wanderings in the desolate wilderness. They charge God with bringing them into the desert to die. God judges the people of Israel for this. He sends many poisonous snakes into the camp of the Israelites, and many of the people die. Moses intercedes for the people and makes a brass serpent. When the people look in faith at this serpent they are healed of the snake bites. John 3:14-16 states, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him willhave eternal life.“For God loved the world in this way:He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." In order to be saved, we must look to Christ and what he did for us on the cross. If we believe we will be saved from our sins, just as the Israelites believed that looking at the bronze serpent would heal them from their snake bites. Christ took the punishment for our sins on the cross. We are all sinners and we deserve to die. Christ did not deserve to die. Christ died for us!

This chapter marks the first time the Israelites sing a song about praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. They have finally made their way out of the desert wandering blues. God once again makes a provision for all of Israel in supplying water to them.

This chapter documents the start of the warfare that transpires while Israel is claiming the Promised Land. In this chapter, the Israelites defeat two Amorite kings along with their armies. God gives the Israelites victory over Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. The children of Israel are marching now. They are singing praises to God and God is giving them victory. God will help them against Moab, too, as they get ready to enter into the Promised Land!

Chapter 22: Balak Hires Balaam and Balaam's Donkey and the Angel

Summary

Balak, king of the Moabites, tries to hire Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. Balak believes he and his army can defeat the Israelites if they are cursed. He wants to curse them because he is afraid they will plunder his land and take over his cities as the Israelites did to the Amorites. At first, Balaam refuses to go with the king's messengers back to Moab. Balaam will not put a curse on the Israelites. Balak sends more messengers to persuade Balaam to come to Moab and put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam finally agrees to meet with Balak, but God tells him to say only what He wants him to say. He still does not agree to fight against and curse the Israelites for Balak.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 22:4-6 - Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time, he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed.”
Numbers 22:12-13 - Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
Numbers 22:20-21 - God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.
Numbers 22:32 - The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight.
Numbers 22:35 - Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
Numbers 22:38 - Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”

Thoughts on the Text

In his commentary J. Vernon McGee states, "Balaam is one of those enigmatic and mysterious characters. One writer says that he is the strangest of all characters in the Scripture. Some authors consider him a genuine prophet of God. Others say he was a religious racketeer. Is Balaam sincerely seeking to serve God, or is he a fake, a phony? Well, I'll have to let you be the judge of that."

Israel is about to enter the land of Moab, and the king of Moab, Balak, gets scared that the Israelites will plunder and take over his land. He is trying to decide if he should attack the Israelites, and he ends up deciding that it is a good idea to hire a prophet to curse the Israelites. That prophet is Balaam. Balak sends messengers to hire Balaam. Balaam talks with God, and God tells him not to go with the messengers back to Moab. The messengers return back to Balak. Balak sends more messengers to Balaam, and they offer him a better price and reward. Balaam already has an answer from God. God already told him not to go, but Balaam decides to speak to God again, to see if God changed His mind. This is Balaam's error! Balaam was desirous of the reward. Balaam's mind was set on going to Moab. He didn't need the Lord's approval. God allows him to go, but Balaam must be sure to say exactly what the Lord wants him to say. J. Vernon McGee states, "We have here what is known as the permissive will of God. He permits us many times to do something that we insist on doing when it is not in His direct will." An angel of the Lord appears on the journey to Moab. Balaam's donkey is startled by the Angel. So startled that the donkey speaks to Balaam. The Angel of the Lord also appears to Balaam and tells him that he should only speak the words that God tells him to speak. He continues on to Moab and meets with Balak. Balak takes him to a mountain top to look down on the camp of the Israelites.

2 Peter 2:15-16 states, "They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousnessbut received a rebuke for his transgression: A donkey that could not talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s irrationality."

Is our mind up to do something or are we in the will of God? Does our desires mislead us to believe that we are in the will of God, or has God already told us His will. We should be careful not to do something simply for a reward. This mindset can lead to covetousness and other sinful actions.

Chapter 23: Balaam's Oracles, Balaam's First Oracle, and Balaam's Second Oracle

Summary

Balaam has Balak prepare seven altars. On each of the seven altars a bull and a ram will be offered up as a burnt offering. During this time, Balaam consults with God. God gives Balaam an oracle to deliver to Balak. Instead of cursing Israel as Balak wanted, God blesses Israel. Balak takes Balaam to another place overlooking the Israelite camp. There he wants Balaam to once again curse the people of Israel. The same burnt offering is given to the Lord as Balaam receives word from God. In his second oracle, God considers no trouble for Jacob and no disaster for Israel. Israel is innocent in God's eyes. Instead, the Israelites praise God, so God will bless the Israelites. So, Balaam gives a second blessing for Israel. Balak is bewildered and confused. He wants Balaam to curse the Israelites, but they receive a blessing instead. At the end of the chapter Balaam prepares a 3rd burnt offering and a 3rd oracle from God.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 23:3 - Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the Lord will meet with me. I will tell you whatever He reveals to me.” So he went to a barren hill.
Numbers 23:11-12 - “What have you done to me?” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them!”

He answered, “Shouldn’t I say exactly what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
Numbers 23:19-21 - God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill? I have indeed received a command to bless; since He has blessed, I cannot change it. He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and there is rejoicing over the King among them.

Thoughts on the Text

Balaam goes to the king of Moab, known as Balak. Balak takes Balaam to the top of a mountain so that he can see the camp of Israel below. Balak is not satisfied with any of the prophecies of Balaam; so he will take him to four different mountains on four different sides of the camp. In this chapter, Balaam blesses Israel two times. God tells Balaam to tell Balak whatever God says. God blesses Israel and does not see disaster on Israel. Therefore, Balaam can not curse Israel. Again, Balak is not satisfied as he wants to destroy Israel in fear that they will destroy his kingdom.

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "God does not judge the sinner because He has already judged him in Christ Jesus--when he came to God by faith in Christ. The world does not understand that. Old Balaam didn't understand that. He thought that God must condemn Israel. He figured that if God was going to judge Israel, he might as well get the benefit of the rewards from King Balak. He thought that God would condemn Israel and that he would be permitted to get a handsome reward as a result of it. Balaam did not understand the righteousness of God. He did not understand that the believing sinner, just like the people of Israel, could not come under the judgement and condemnation of God. When the believer sins, he comes under the disciplining hand of God, not under the condemnation of God."

Verse of the day: Romans 8:31-34 - "What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us."

Chapter 24: Balaam's Third Oracle and Balaam's Fourth Oracle

Summary

Balaam proclaims a third oracle to Balak. In this proclamation Balaam says that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. Balak is not pleased with Balaam, and he tells him to return home without any reward. Before returning home, Balaam gives Balak a fourth oracle. Balaam warns Balak what the Israelites will do to the Moabites since he wanted to curse the Israelites. Everyone who fights against Israel will be destroyed. After giving Balak the four oracles from God, he goes back to his homeland. Balak, also goes back his own way.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 24:1 - Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned[a] toward the wilderness
Numbers 24:9 - He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed.
Numbers 24:10-11 - Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”
Numbers 24:14 - Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
Numbers 24:18-19 - Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant.
One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city’s survivors.
Numbers 24:25 - Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.

Thoughts on the Text

Balaam says repeatedly to Balak that he can not curse the Israelites. He tells Balak that he must say exactly what the Lord has instructed him to say. All he can say is blessings to Israel and curses to Israel's enemies. Likewise, Satan cannot bring a charge against God's elect. Romans 8:33-34 states, "Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised' He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us." If God is for us, who can be against us? Noe one can make a charge against God's elect. God has already declared them righteous.
In Balaam's fourth oracle, he actually gives a prophecy of the coming Messiah, the King of the Jews, out of the line of Jacob, Jesus Christ. J. Vernon McGee states in his commentary, "About 1500 years after this prophecy was given, we find coming out of the east, the land of Balaam, a whole company of wise men. Apparently this prophecy of Balaam was considered an outstanding prophet in the east, and the wise men knew his prophecy. When they saw the remarkable star, they remembered that Balaam had said, "...There shall come a Starr out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel..." (Num. 25:17). When the wise men came to Jerusalem, their question was, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" (Matt. 2:2)."
We find later in Numbers 31:8 that Balaam was killed in battle along with the kings of Midian. "...Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword." Balaam was slain and, like Judas, he went to his place."

Chapter 25: Israel Worships Baal, Phinehas Intervenes, and Vengeance against the Midianites

Summary

While camping in Acacia Grove, or Shittim, near Moab, the men of Israel began having sexual relations with the women of Moab. Also, they began worshipping Baal of Peor, the false God of the Moabites. God tells Moses to kill each of the men who aligned themselves with Baal of Peor, and Moses carries out the command of the Lord. A plague breaks out because the Israelites started crossbreeding with the Midianites. Phinehas kills an Israelite man and woman in the conjugal bed because the Israelites are forbidden from having sexual relations with the Midianites. A plague resulted from the crossbreeding that killed 24,000 people. As a result, Moses attacks and kills all the Midianites because of their corruption and part in leading Israel astray.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 25:1-5 - While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang^[a] them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

Numbers 25:10-13 - And the Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

Numbers 25:16-18 - And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”

Thoughts on the Text

According to J. Vernon McGee's commentary, "When Balaam saw that he could not curse Israel, he taught Balak how he might corrupt these people. We hear this same idea today. "If you can't lick 'em, join 'em." Because Balak couldn't fight these people, Balaam taught him to join them and corrupt them from within." Balaam, in order to curse Israel, was trying to ultimately turn Israel away from God. Balak used this knowledge to infiltrate the camp of the Israelites. And it worked. The Israelites gave into their lustful desires and begin to worship Baal! Balaam's doctrine created a plague among the Israelites that killed 24,000 people, and even more than that because God had all the people who were joined to Baal killed as well. This is the curse that Balaam put on the house of Israel. Balaam was not a great prophet. In fact, he may very well have been Satanic.

The enemy can't hurt god's people, God's work, or God's church rom the outside. The church has never been hurt from the outside. The church is hurt by the doctrine that is taught on the inside. If a false doctrine is taught, like Balaam's doctrine, then the church can fall apart. Corruption of the heart destroys the soul!

Have you ever noticed that the Lord Jesus was betrayed from the inside? One of His own apostles betrayed Him. It was His own nation that turned Him over to Rome to be crucified. This is the same for our walk with the Lord as well. The things we think, what we do, and what we believe can either corrupt us from the inside or draw us closer to the Lord in heart, mind, and body!

The covenant of the Priesthood is given to Phinehas for his act of atonement in killing the Israelite man and Midianite woman who were unequally yoked. This act of atonement cause the plague to stop spreading. Afterward, God tells Moses to slaughter the Midianites. The Israelites kill the Midianites because of their treachery. This ends the chapter.

Chapter 26: The Second Census

Summary

The Lord once again tells Moses to take a census of the entire Israelite community by their ancestral houses. Those registered were men 20 years old or more who can serve in Israel's army. The second census registered 601,730 men into the Israel army. But among the new men registered was not ne from those who had been registered in the wilderness of Sini. All those men died in the wilderness and never made it to the Promised Land as God had said. Only Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun were left from the first census.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 26:1-2 - After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”

Numbers 26:51-56 - This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Among these the land shall be divided for inheritance according to the number of names. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given its inheritance in proportion to its list. But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.

Numbers 26:63-65 - These were those listed by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who listed the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

Thoughts on the Text

From this chapter onward in the book of Numbers the children off Israel are preparing to enter the Promised Land. In this chapter, God orders Moses to take a second census of Israel. This census shows that the Israelites have actually decreased in numbers since the first census that was taken in the wilderness of Sinai. The total decrease in able-bodied 20 year old and older males was 1,820. The total count in the first census was 603,550. The total count in the second census is 601,730. This shows that the old generation did in fact die in the wilderness. They never did get to live in the Promised Land. If you recall, Numbers 12:29 states, "Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me."
In his commentary, J. Vernon McGee says, "This is now the new generation. All the old generation, except Caleb and Joshua, have died. God did not hold those who were under twenty responsible for the failure and rebellion at Kadesh-barnea. This may give us some indication as to the age of accountability. I do not know when it is, and I do not mean to suggest that it is twenty, but I think it is older than many of us suspect."

Chapter 27: A Case of Daughters' Inheritance and Joshua Commissioned to Succeed Moses

Summary

This chapter presents a special case for inheritance. When a man dies without having a son, transfer his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, transfer his inheritance to his father's brothers (uncles). If he has no uncles, transfer his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. Also in this chapter, Joshua is commissioned to succeed Moses as leader off the Israelites. The Lord commands Moses to do this.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 27:4-7 - Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers. Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them
Numbers 27:12-14 - The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Numbers 27:15-17 - Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”
Numbers 27:22-23 - And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.

Thoughts on the Text

The chapter presents a problem of inheritance to Moses. The daughters of Zelophehad come before Moses to ask for an inheritance since their father died, and he has no sons. According to the Mosaic Law, a son was the one to inherit the property of his father. The daughters were left out. So, Moses brings their case before the Lord. We see that God is for the rights of women. The Bible is the first authoritative source to give women their rights! The five girls wanted to posses their father's inheritance. It was not the custom of the day nor a written law that they could have it. Therefore, they asked by faith, and by faith God gave the inheritance to them.
We should not be afraid to ask for spiritual blessings from the Lord. We have a spiritual inheritance through Christ. Let us not be afraid to ask, and ask in faith. God will provide if we step out on faith.
We come to the chapter where Moses is about to pass away. We have been following Moses since the book of Genesis since he is the author of the Penteteuch. Now Joshua must succeed Moses and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. If we remember, Moses disobeyed God earlier on in scriptures. Moses stuck a rock twice for water to come out of it. God told him to speak to it and water will come out. Because he disobeyed God, Moses is only permitted to look into the Promised Land; he will never enter the land. From this, we can learn that our disobedience keeps many of us from entering into our spiritual possessions. Disbelief will always lead to disobedience. This is what happened with Moses. So, Joshua is the chosen one. He is appointed to take the place of Moses. We will see that is due time, after the death of Moses at the end of the book of Deuteronomy, Joshua takes over.

Chapter 28: Prescribed Offerings, Daily Offerings, Sabbath Offerings, Monthly Offerings, Offerings for Passover, and Offerings for the Festival of Weeks

and

Chapter 29: New Year's Day Offerings, Offerings for the Day of Atonement, and Offerings for the Festival of Booths

Summary

This chapter goes into detail about various prescribed offerings that take place throughout the year. The Lord commands Moses to tell the Israelites to present various fire offerings to the Lord at prescribed times. This is a reminder to the Israelites:

Daily Offerings

Sabbath Offerings

Monthly Offerings

Offerings for Passover

Offerings for the Festival of Weeks

New Year's Day Offerings

Offerings for the Day of Atonement

Offerings for the Festival of Booths

Verses of Interest

Numbers 28:1-3 - The Lord spoke to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: Be sure to present to Me at its appointed time My offering and My food as My fire offering, a pleasing aroma to Me. And say to them: This is the fire offering you are to present to the Lord:

Numbers 29:39-40 - “You must offer these to the Lord at your appointed times in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt, grain, drink, or fellowship offerings.”So Moses told the Israelites everything the Lord had commanded him.

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee:" "Now that Israel is prepared to enter the Promised Land by a new census which mustered the able-bodied men for warfare, and by the appointment of Joshua as commander, its spiritual life is dealt with. The offerings have already been instituted, but here, for the sake of completeness, all the national sacrifices which were to be offered during the whole year are reviewed."
Continuing on, "Real worship is when we think God's thoughts after Him. This sweet savor offering which God speaks of as My offering, My bread, My sacrifice, represents what God thinks of Christ. God is satisfied with what Christ did for you and me on the cross. What about you? Are you satisfied with what Christ did for you on the cross? Are you resting in that today? His invitation is "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Have you brought your burden of sin to Him and received Him mas your Savior? Are you satisfied with whom He is? If He is not the Son of God, then what He did is absolutely meaningless. True worship is a recognition of who He is and an adoration of His Person. In other words, it is thinking God's thoughts after Him."
This chapter is a repetition of the Law that was given in Leviticus.
This chapter brings to mind that all people are sinners. We are sinners and we need a Savior. We need Jesus Christ; the ultimate Savior who died for us and paid the penalty for our sins. Sin is what brought sorrow and death into this world. God hates sin, and He intends to drive sin out of this universe! Heaven will be a place without sin. A place where we can fellowship with God wholly and completely. There will be no mourning or sadness there. There will be no need for sacrifices or burnt offerings. So, while we are still on this earth, we are separated from God. Let us confess our sins to the Lord, and believe upon Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross to come into fellowship with Him today.

Chapter 30: Regulations about Vows

Summary

This chapter is about regulations and vows individuals make. Moses tells the leaders of Israel what the Lord has commanded; When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised. Under certain circumstances vows can be prohibited, such as when a child makes a vow and is not ready--a father, husband, wife, or parents/guardians can prohibit the vow. Every vow a widow or divorcee puts herself under is binding on her. A husband may confirm or cancel any vow or any sworn obligation to deny his wife.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 30:1-2 - Moses told the leaders of the Israelite tribes, “This is what the Lord has commanded: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.
Numbers 30:16 - These are the statutes that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, or between a father and his daughter in his house during her youth.

Thoughts on the Text

After the law of the offerings, we have the law of the vows. The law of the vows in this chapter has special referencce to women. Women have rights, but they also have responsibilities. In Leviticus there was also a whole chapter on vow. God holds a person to his vows. The warning is to not make a vow foolishly. God doesn't ask us to make vows--they are voluntary--but if we make a vow, God means business with us, and He will hold us to our vow.
From J Vernon McGee's commentary, "How do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? With your heart. And then what happens Confession is made by you mouth. Confessing with your mouth is you vow, that is your statement of faith. The point of it is not just what the mouth says, but that the heart must believe what the mouth is saying. These two must be in agreement. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." You don't believe with your mouth; you say it with the mouth. "And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The heart and the mouth must be singing the same tune, in a duet together. That is exactly what is meant in this matter of vows."
God wants us to be as good as our word. In other words, our word is our bond!
Remember that God keeps His vows. God has kept His vows since the beginning of mankind; all the way back when He made a vow with Abraham. God vows to save us from an eternal hell, if we only believe upon Him and the truth of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins. The Gospel is God's vow to us!

Chapter 31: War with Midian

Summary

The Lord commands Moses to execute vengeance for the Israelites against the Midianites. In Israel, 12,000 men equipped for war (1,000 men from each tribe). They ended up killing every male and the five kings of Midian--Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also kill Balaam soon of Beor, took the women and children captive, and burned all the Midianite cities to the ground. Moses then commands the army to kill all the male children and the women who have had sexual relations with an Israelite male. The soldiers of the army are then to purify themselves with the purification ritual before entering back into camp. The plunder is divided up among the Israelites including the Levites. A census is taken after battle and none of the Israelite men who went to war died. Last, gold is given as an atonement offering. A total of 420 pounds of gold was contributed.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 31:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses,“Execute vengeance for the Israelites against the Midianites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

Numbers 31:7-12 - They waged war against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male. Along with the others slain by them, they killed the Midianite kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. The Israelites took the Midianite women and their children captive, and they plundered all their cattle, flocks, and property. Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites lived, as well as all their encampments, and took away all the spoils of war and the captives, both man and beast. They brought the prisoners, animals, and spoils of war to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite community at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

Numbers 31:17-18 - So now, kill all the male children and kill every woman who has had sexual relations with a man, but keep alive for yourselves all the young females who have not had sexual relations.

Numbers 31:25-28 - The Lord told Moses, “You, Eleazar the priest, and the family leaders of the community are to take a count of what was captured, man and beast. Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to war and the entire community. Set aside a tribute for the Lord from what belongs to the fighting men who went out to war...

Numbers 31:48-49 - The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, approached Moses and told him, “Your servants have taken a census of the fighting men under our command, and not one of us is missing.

Numbers 31:51-52 - Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold. All the gold of the contribution they offered to the Lord, from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, was 420 pounds.

Thoughts on the Text

God is preparing the new generation of Israelites to enter into the Promised Land. From J Vernon McGee's commentary, "The Midianites, you recall, joined the Moabites in hiring Balaam to curse Israel and afterwards seduced the people to idolatry and licentiousness." This is the main reason why God wanted the Israelites to destroy the Midianites.

This declaration of war against Midian is one of Moses's last official acts as leader of the Israelite community. God commands Moses to make war against the Midianites. God is going to avenge Israel. The Israelites deal very harshly with them, and all the male Midianites die in battle. Not a single Israelite is killed. This is a complete slaughter! Moses sent out 12,000 men to go to war--one thousand men from each tribe. The holy instruments, the articles of furniture in the tabernacle, were to go along. This indicates that this was a spiritual warfare. All the kings of Midian are slain as well as Balaam, the prophet who was to put a curse on Israel.

The Israelites that went to war with Midian make a mistake and fall into sin again. They take captive all the women of Midian. In camp, they have sexual relations with these women. God has every woman who has had sexual relations with an Israelite man to be killed. That is the problem with worldliness. It is not wrong for us to be in the world--that is where God has placed us--the great issue is whether the world is in us, in our hearts, and lives. We should be separated from the world. We should walk in the light. We shouldn't haphazardly walk in the darkness. We should be in the Word and we should have fellowship with Christ and other believers. This is what being a Child of God is all about!

Chapter 32: Transjordan Settlements

Summary

The Reubenites and Gadites have a very large number of livestock. They didn't want to cross the Jordan River and settle in the land of Canaan. So, they settled in what is now the country of Jordan today. They built various villages, cities, and sheepfolds. Moses talked with both tribes and warned them that their fathers discouraged the Israelites from entering into the Promised Land. God made their fathers wander in the desert for 40 years, and they all died in the wilderness. So, in order to appeases the Lord, the leaders of the Reubenites and Gadites tell Moses that they will go to war with the rest of the Israelites across the Jordan. They will leave behind their wives, children, and livestock in order to help the Israelites claim their inheritance in Canaan, across the Jordan River. This land will one day become the land of Israel.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 32:2-5 - So the Gadites and Reubenites came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community and said: “The territory of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, which the Lord struck down before the community of Israel, is good land for livestock, and your servants own livestock." They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Don’t make us cross the Jordan.”
Numbers 32:6-8 - But Moses asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your brothers go to war while you stay here? Why are you discouraging[b] the Israelites from crossing into the land the Lord has given them? That’s what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.
Numbers 32:16-19 - Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our dependents. But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our dependents will remain in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has taken possession of his inheritance. Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance will be across the Jordan to the east.”
Numbers 32:28-30 - So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family leaders of the Israelite tribes. Moses told them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, every man in battle formation before the Lord, and the land is subdued before you, you are to give them the land of Gilead as a possession. But if they don’t go across with you in battle formation, they must accept land in Canaan with you.”

Thoughts on the Text

In this chapter, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh ask for land on the wrong side of the Jordan River. They do not want to claim the land in the Promised Land as God's Inheritance. This sounds very similar to what happened earlier on in the book of Numbers. The father's of these tribes did the same thing. They did not want to go into the land of Canaan and take possession of the Promised Land out of fear. As a result, God made them wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moses is disturbed by this, and gives them an ultimatum. They can claim this land outside of Canaan, but they must help the rest of the Israelites go to war with all the tribes in Canaan in order to take possession of the Promised Land. Moses fears this young generation will repeat the failure of their fathers. According to J Vernon McGee's commentary, "They offered to send their men of war to help the other nine and one half tribes to take the Promised Land. ON this basis, Moses agreed to let them settle on the east side of Jordan. They not only agreed to do it, but we find in Joshua 12-16 that they made good their promise."
Verse to Remember: Numbers 32:23 - "But if you don't do this, you will certainly sin against the Lord; be sure your sin will catch up with you." Basically, your sin will find you out. You can't keep your sins hidden forever. Although, there are many sinners who are never caught for their sins. Some people do get away with their sins. Still yet, we should be mindful of the verse in Galatians 6:7 that says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
The Gadites, Rebeunites, and the tribe of Manasseh should have claimed their possession inside the Promised Land. Instead they settled. This is similar to the Christian of today. You can either claim your inheritance as a spiritual child of God, or you can stay outside the spiritual blessings of God and live in the wilderness of this world as a spiritual pauper.

Chapter 33: Wilderness Travels Reviewed

Summary

This chapter goes into detail concerning Israel's 40 years of wilderness travel from one place to another. The list of camp sites goes all the way back to their time in Egypt, and ends at their present stay in the plains of Moab. God also gives the Israelites instructions for occupying Canaan while they were camping by the Jordan River, in the plains of Moab across from Jericho. The Israelites are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, destroy all their idols and temples, and take possession of their land. Lots will be drawn in order to determine which tribe of Israel claims specific areas in Canaan. Inheritances from the plunder will be given to each tribe based on the size of the tribe in relation to the other tribes.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 33:1-2 - These were the stages of the Israelites’ journey when they went out of the land of Egypt by their military divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command, Moses wrote down the starting points for the stages of their journey; these are the stages listed by their starting points:
Numbers 33:50-53 - The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, “Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and demolish all their high places. You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess.
Numbers 33:55-56 - But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. And what I had planned to do to them, I will do to you.”

Thoughts on the Text

From J. Vernon McGee, "Here we have a log of their journeys. We said before that we do not have a record of the happenings during their forty years of wandering, only a few isolated incidents, but here is the log of the journey, a record of the places they camped....So here we have the log of their journey. Everywhere they went, every time they camped, He was with them. Frankly, they weren't going with Him. That is, their hearts were in rebellion against Him a great deal of the time. But He never left them. He never did forsake them...This is one of the great truths of the Word of God. "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
The Holy Spirit is our Guide. The Spirit never leaves us. Even when we fail; even if we fail often; the Spirit is there to show us the right way to go--the way that brings glory and honor to God. The Holy Spirit is there. It's just that many times we are too stubborn or stupid to realize the Holy Spirits instruction. On the other hand, we may be able to hear the Holy Spirit, but we have a habitual sin that we must overcome to listen and obey the instruction. In either case, the Holy Spirit is still guiding us despite our flaws, sins, and disobedience.
Many people wonder how it is right to drive families from their homes. In this case, Israel is to drive all the Canaanites out of the land of Canaan. They are not to live with or leave any Canaanite residents in the land. We must remember, this is God's earth. God commands what is to be done. In this particular instance, God commanded the Israelites to kick the Canaanites out of their land. Also, they were to destroy their graven images and idols. The Canaanites were pagan and they worshipped false gods. This is their judgment for not following the one true God in a way. According to J. Vernon McGee, "Don't...say that God did not have the right to do that. It was actually an act of mercy. God destroyed the Canaanites for the sake of the oncoming generations. That is the same reason that God sent the Flood--God was reserving the future generations."
Let this be a lesson to us to never judge God. God is the judge, so we have no right to judge Him. He knows what He is doing.

Chapter 34: Boundaries of the Promised Land and Leaders for Distributing the Land

Summary

God establishes the borders of the promised land to Moses. The Promised Lan is allotted to the Israelites as an inheritance. There are nine and a half tribes that are to receive an inheritance inside of the Promised Land. The tribes of Reuban, Gad, and Manasseh received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 34:13-15 - So Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes. For the tribe of the Reubenites and the tribe of the Gadites have received their inheritance according to their ancestral houses, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance. The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.”
Numbers 34:16-18 - The Lord spoke to Moses, “These are the names of the men who are to distribute the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. Take one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

Thoughts on the Text

In this chapter God establishes the borders of the Promised Land, later to be known as Israel. He gives the southern, the western, the northern, and eastern borders. God also picks out the leaders who will be distributing the land of Canaan.

Chapter 35: Cities for the Levites and Cities of Refuge

Summary

The Lord speaks to Moses again: "Command the Israelites to give cities out to the Levites to live in and pastureland around the cities." 48 cities are given to the Levites along with pasturelands. Among the Israelite territory are cities designated as cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there, so that he (the killer) can stand a fair trial before an assembly. This eliminates unfair revenge (a family member of the deceased wanting to get even). There are six cities of refuge at this particular time in Israelite history. If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 35:1-3 - The Lord again spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: “Command the Israelites to give cities out of their hereditary property for the Levites to live in and pastureland around the cities. The cities will be for them to live in, and their pasturelands will be for their herds, flocks, and all their other animals.
Numbers 35:6-8 - The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you must provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give 42 other cities. The total number of cities you give the Levites will be 48, along with their pasturelands. Of the cities that you give from the Israelites’ territory, you should take more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one. Each tribe is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it receives.
Numbers 35:9-15 - The Lord said to Moses,“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You will have the cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who kills someone will not die until he stands trial before the assembly. The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge. These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or temporary resident among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
Numbers 35:33-34 - Do not defile the land where you are, for bloodshed defiles the land, and there can be no atonement for the land because of the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the person who shed it. Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I reside; for I, Yahweh, reside among the Israelites.”

Thoughts on the Text

From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee:" "...the Levites were taken from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn. The Levites belonged to the Lord. They were not given a section of the land of Israel, but they were given cities to live in. They were also given pasturelands surrounding their cities.
48 cities were given to the Levites as an inheritance. Six of these cities were to be cities of refuge for all of Israel. Three of the cities were set up in the Promised Land on the west side of the Jordan River. Three other cities of refuge were set up on the east side of the Jordan River. A man who accidentally killed someone could flee to the city of refuge to escape someone trying to get even. I.E. since you killed a member of my family or one of my friends, now I'm going to kill you. These cities were established to protect the unintentional killer and to give time for a fair trial. During the trial the person who fled would be judged guilty or not guilty. If guilty, the killer would be sentenced to death. Therefore, the protection of the cities of refuge did not apply for the willful murderer.

Chapter 36: The Inheritance of Zelophehad's Daughters

Summary

Any daughter who possesses an inheritance from an Israelite tribe must marry someone from the clan of her ancestral tribe, so that each of the Israelite tribes will only possess the inheritance of their fathers. No inheritance is to transfer between one Israelite tribe to another. Therefore, Zelophehad's daughters all married men from their tribe...the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph.

Verses of Interest

Numbers 36:6-9 - This is what the Lord has commanded concerning Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they like provided they marry within a clan of their ancestral tribe. An inheritance belonging to the Israelites must not transfer from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of his ancestral tribe. Any daughter who possesses an inheritance from an Israelite tribe must marry someone from the clan of her ancestral tribe, so that each of the Israelites will possess the inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance is to transfer from one tribe to another, because each of the Israelite tribes is to retain its inheritance.”

Thoughts on the Text

This chapter goes into the case where a daughter received an inheritance from her father. For example, the father died and only had daughters. His land would go to his daughters. IF they married someone outside of their clan, that land would transfer from one tribe to another. God did not want this to happen. All land given as an inheritance in the Promised Land should stay in the same ancestral tribe in which it was given. From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "The land was to stay in the tribe. No man could lose his property permanently. At the year of jubilee, all property which had been mortgaged reverted to the original family again. This was a marvelous arrangement which God made for His people. It was the way He protected them."
This is the last chapter in the book of Numbers. According to J Vernon McGee, "Also, it concludes the public ministry of Moses--Deuteronomy will continue with the private ministry of Moses.
We should take to heart that we as people living in a modern industrialized society, face the same temptations and sins as the people of Israel did back then. Just as they navigated their way through the Promised Land for 40 years, so we must navigate through the wilderness of this world. We have to walk by faith, and by an understanding of the Scriptures. Without the Word of God to lead us day-to-day we would find ourselves in a heap of trouble. The Word is the key to our survival on this planet, and for us to live in God's blessing and Promised Land.

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Numbers

The Book of Numbers

Chapter 1: The Census of Israel

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Who is the one who condemns?

Chapter 24: Balaam's Third Oracle and Balaam's Fourth Oracle

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