><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Numbers) CHAPTER 11-12 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What different attitudes are shown here by the people, the rabble, Joshua, Miriam and Aaron, and Moses? How does Moses stand as 'different'? 2) How did God 'deal' with the various complaints made? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Numbers) Chapter 11-12 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Moses stands out as intercessor for the people to pacify the Lord's anger, as representative of their requests, and as chosen by the Lord. He had a very special relationship w/the Lord, an enviable one. When Aaron and Miriam envied him and misspoke, Miriam became leprous. Moses is often compared to Jesus, and the similarities are obvious. JESUS speaks to the Lord for us. He also cares for us, just as Moses did for Israelites, asking for Miriam to be healed and for the fire to die down. God never ignored the complaints of the Israelites. He either punished them directly (w/fire) or showed them the error of their ways (sending excessive amounts of quail). However, God always heard the Israelites, regardless of their sinfulness. How comforting to know the Lord God hears my prayers and complaints, even as sinful as I am. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Numbers Chapters 11 and 12 Complaints, Dubiety and Jealousy Right after they marched out of Sinai. The first event was complaints. They resulted in Moses' dubiety, "--- if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, ---." 11:15. And followed with jealousy. This is the reflection of humanity, wanting and shall we say that it is also our church life. God's plan was calling for a Care Group of 70 men to pray and filled with Spirit. They prophesied in spirit, 11:29. With their cooperated prayers, a miracle was performed. In Old Testaments time, the Holy Spirit rested upon men only for a while, not a constant abiding, 11:25. While these men were in spirit, Joshua came to Moses and asked him to stop them because of jealousy, 11:29. (You know the rest of the story.) In Chapter 12, it shows Miriam and Aaron's jealousy of Moses' leadership. In fact, Moses found little glory in this leadership. It brought him continual pain and trials. Yet Aaron and Miriam, who were assistants, sought for it as an honor. 12:16 - "And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran." -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The people were whining and complaining. The rabble wre greedy and thinking only of themselves. Joshua was ingidnant and jealous of the other prophets for Moses' sake. Miriam and Aaron both wanted the power and authority the saw Moses possessing amongst the people. Each of these was self seeking, prideful, and looking for personal advancement. Moses however was looking to advance God's will and kingdom. He only sought to please God, not to be powerful in the eyes of men. 2) God provided for the people, the rabble and silenced any thoughts of anyone else leading the people. God has a large degree of compassion for His children. Even though we always seem to want what we don't have, He realizes our failings and sometimes even provides what it is we are whining for/about. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Numbers) CHAPTER 13:1-14:10a ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) To what places in Canaan did the spies go? Look up Hebron and the Valley of Eshcol on a map. What were they commissioned to discover, and what report did they give? 2) What lay behind the opposing views expressed in 13:30 and 31? Were Caleb and Joshua being unrealistically optimistic and refusing to face facts? What was the outcome of the people's fear and un- belief? Notice how few believed, and the frequent occurrence of the word 'all' in 14: 1-10. Cf Heb. 4: I, 2. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Numbers) Chapter 13:1-14:10a =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- The spies went up "through the Negev and on into the hill country", which was from the Desert of Zin to Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. This means they began at the southernmost extremity of the land to the farthest point north, about 250 miles each way! The report given by Joshua and Caleb was based on faith in God to be their support, but the other spies were afraid and lacked faith. The people were "fleshly" and gave in to fear, but Joshua and Caleb said, v8-9, "If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land...Only do not rebel against the Lord. And DO NOT BE AFRAID of the people of the land...Their protection is gone, but THE LORD IS WITH US. Do not be afraid of them." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Numbers 13:1 - 14:10 Walk by Faith, Not by Sight Among the 600,000 men in the Wilderness, only Caleb and Joshua entered Canaan because that they walked by faith, not by sight. In 14:8 & 9 Caleb told them - "If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for THEY ARE BREAD FOR US: their defence is departed from them, and THE LORD IS WITH US: FEAR THEM NOT." Do we have the same experience that our enemies are food for us to consume and help us to grow in the Lord? Psalm 95:8-11: "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness; When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest." I assume that this Psalm was written by Moses. Compare Verse 8 and 9 with NIV, it gives you some insight and in-depth understanding. This is a Psalm of praise - Our God Reigns, based on the history in the Wilderness. Hebrews 4:11 - "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Hebrews 3:13 - "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:7 - 4:11 refer to entering into God's rest - the Promised Land, Deut. 12:8- 10. The Israelites in the desert heard the good news of a place of peace and rest from their enemies. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 13:1-14:10a -------------------------------- 1) The spies were sent to cover the entire country. They started near Beersheba and ended in what is today the Golan Heights area. This is a trip of approximately 300 miles via roads. These spies had to do this on foot. The enormity of this task is now apparent to me. These spies were gone for nearly a month. They were commissioned to search the land, the people, the cities, and the military strength and size of the people. They brought back samples of the food(grapes, pomegranates, and figs) and a report of the land. Their report was good and bad. The good news was it was like God had promised - a land that flowed with milk and honey. The bad news was that the inhabitants were strong and the cities fortified. The sons of Anak were there - the Nephilim. The bible's only other mention of these people is in the antediluvian times(pre-flood of Noah) in Genesis 6:4. 4 ¶ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 2) Two reports were given, the green light from Joshua and Caleb, and the Stop sign from the other 10 spies. Joshua and Caleb gave a good report because they had faith that God would provide the means to secure the land. The outcome of the people's fear was that the generation that was gathered would not enter the land. The people were so convinced that they wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Numbers) CHAPTER Num 14:10b-45 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What can we learn from Moses' prayer, especially concerning governing motives and grounds of appeal to God? 2) Although forgiven, the people suffered the consequences of their sin. How? In what way do they show themselves throughout this story (Nu. 13 and 14) to be typical of us? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Numbers) Chapter Num 14:10b-45 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Moses had a lot of influence, which he used to help the people gain God's favor. They did not know how lucky they were to have a representative who only wanted the best for them. Likewise, Jesus can sympathize w/our weaknesses because he too was a human. Just like us, the Israelites COMPLAINED TOO MUCH. Let this be our prayer, that we learn to pray against our flesh as soon as we become angry or complain. These are NOT of the Spirit. Instead of complaints, let us lift our requests to the Lord. Phillipians 2:14 is the gold standard, "Do everything without complaining or arguing..." May we learn to be more like Jesus each day. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Numbers 14:11 - 45 The Sad Result of Unbelief The theme of divine judgment on unbelief is prominent in Numbers, which records the failure of Israel to believe in the promise of God, and the resulting judgment of wandering in the wilderness for forty years. The critical turning point in the book may be seen in chapter 14. When Israel heeded the warnings of the fearful spies and rejected God by refusing to go up and conquer the Promised Land. The book of Numbers is more than a warning against unbelief and disobedience. Throughout it testifies to the grace and mercy of God and points torward to the divine grace to be displayed in Jesus Christ. [Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts] 14:18 - "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." I went to my niece's wedding on Sunday and sat at table next to a mother and her bright daughter who finished her four years' PhD program in three years at Princeton, graduated as No. 1 of her class. However, because the mother's religion, the daughter would suffer to keep the mother's religion for the family tie. This could be one of the interpretations of Numbers 14:18. Very sad!!!!! -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Moses prays for God to have mercy again on the people. God had offered again to replace the nation, but the Lord pardons the people for Moses' prayers sake. What a statement of faith for Moses! His prayer was so effectual as to keep God from replacing the nation of Israel. May each of us strive to have our own prayer lives in tune to God's will. 2) THough the people were forgiven, they still had to live with the consequences of their sin. Although God forgives sin, we often must still live with the consequences of our actions of sin. Their punishment was to return to the wilderness for 40 years to allow those over 20 to die before entering the Promised land. The people are typically complaining when things don't go their way. We would label them whiners and complianers who were never satisfied with what was given to them. It is easy for us to look at them and read about them in a 3rd person kind of way and cast our own judgement, but we should step back and consider that each of us would probably be forced to die in the wilderness had we lived in that time too due to our own complaints and grumblings. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Numbers) CHAPTER 15 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) What do verses 1-21 teach us about making offerings which are pleasing to God? 2) Why was there no way of atonement for the person who sinned 'with a high hand'? What does this mean? Cf Mk. 3: 28, 29; Heb. 10: 26-31, 39; PS.19:13. 3) Notice by whom the deliberate law-breaker had to be dealt with and in what way. Cf Mt. 18: 15-17; I Cor. 5; Heb. 12: I5. Why is such church discipline so little practised? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Numbers) Chapter 15 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- Sinning intentionally was "despising the Lord's word", and the guilty party was to be cut off. Also, Sabbath breakers were stoned. It showed disregard for the Lord's command, idolizing work, putting it before the Lord. We, in this work-oriented society, should consider that carefully. **Are we serving THE LORD or serving for money, power, etc.,???** Tassels on their garments reminded them of the Lord's commands. Let us do as Mark 12:33 says, "To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Consider each individually- w/all your heart - feelings, emotions, devotion to CHRIST, not spouse, boyfriend/girfriend, or family, sports, music, etc., -understanding - education, mind, thoughts, comprehension - spend time in the Word, develop your mind acc. to the Spirit, be likeminded w/Christ -strength - in all various kinds of labor that we do on this earth, large or small jobs, not being lazy or incomplete -love your neighbor as yourself - serving others, truly loving them and denying yourself, being fully surrendered to Christ to work through you. May He convict us and we become true servants, dying to self each day. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Numbers Chapter 15 Be Holy Unto Your God When the descendents of the Israelites came out of Egypt, they were instructed to honor and worship their God. While they were sojourning through the wilderness, the Lord made it clear that keep His Commandments less ye be stoned like the man who intentionally broke the Sabbath law 15:35. They were reminded to keep the Commandments by sewing tassels on their garments, 15:38. However, in Jesus time, the scribes and Pharisees enlarged the fringes. They keep the Commandments but not doing it. Matthew 23:27 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." The Lord's Commandments are not for us to remember only, like the Pharisees did. Numbers 15:40 - "---- ye may remember, and DO ALL MY COMMANDMENTS, AND BE HOLY UNTO YOUR GOD." To be holy, not to be decomposed and stinky as Pharisees! -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Offering up offerings pleasing to God was VERY important. It not only applied to the Children of Israel, but to anyone who would offer and offering up to God. 2) To sin with a high hand implies sinning and then judging others for their sin. The Pharisees in Jesus' day were accused of just such a behaviour. This is a willful disobedience of God's commands. 3) This last portion tells about church wide discipline. The congregation dealing with the willful law-breaker. In our modern church times, we so often do not want to judge persons for their actions that sometimes we do not take action in a disciplinary way even when it should be taken.