Readings for February 6-12
FEBRUARY 6
In the numbering of the Levites, the males a month old or more were counted. Not so with the other tribes.
Did you ever wonder why God warned the people about touching the holy things in the tabernacle? The warning came with a stiff penalty for not honoring God’s warning. Did God ever have to follow through with that penalty? Check this out.
1 Chronicles 13:9-10
When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.(The ark was not supposed to be carried by oxen) The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
Holy things are not to be touched because we’re not God!
The descendants of Levi are given specific duties. Aaron and his sons were given huge supervisory responsibilities over the Levites. All together there were 8,580 men 30 – 50 years of age who were responsible for the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). So whenever the pillar of fire or the cloud would move giving the people the signal to move, there were quite a few men taking care of all the moving. Someone was in charge of something as seemingly insignificant as the tent pegs. There is a great lesson to be learned from this division of duties. No matter how insignificant our God-given task may seem to us, it is important to God. And it is important in the grand scheme of things. Is that why we’re here tonight? Is this little group Faith Fellowship good little tent pegs? After all, what would happen without tent pegs?
By the way, the overall size of the tabernacle was 150 feet by 75 feet, about half the size of a football field. This would be using the standard or common cubit. The sacred cubit would be a bit more.
Fascinating tidbit of information…in the Millennial Kingdom, the cloud and pillar will once again return, as will the canopy. Page 800.
Isaiah 4:5 page 800
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.
Uzzah suffered a penalty for not obeying God completely. How is it with us as Believers, do we always obey God completely? There are consequences for disobedience and blessings for obedience.
FEBRUARY 7
Once the people are numbered and duties assigned, the Israelites are ready to move. Many times ram’s horns were used for signaling - but God had them make trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community together.
Concerning the “rabble” who went with the Israelites from Egypt - were they counted in the census? Were they dispersed among all the tribes?
Remember, God had promised this land to the Israelites - a promise made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). God also told them that they would not have to fight for the land (if they obeyed Him). (Exodus 23:28) And yet, He gives them instructions about sounding the trumpet when going into battle. By giving them these instructions God was warning them ahead of time that they would be disobedient and would have to fight their enemies for their OWN land.
The Israelites are given the command, via the movement of the cloud, to move in the twentieth of the month. Isn't it fascinating that God allowed time for those who needed to celebrate the Passover a month later to have plenty of time to do that? Does this tell us about the character of God?
For some reason, Moses felt the need to have his brother-in-law Hobab help guide them through the wilderness. Why did Moses need Hobab if he had the cloud for guidance? Big mistake! Notice right after that the cloud moved sporadically and the people had to break camp and follow. Could it be that God was teaching Moses a lesson? There are many repetitions concerning the movement of the camp. Everyone had specific duties to perform, so most likely the taking down and setting up was done quickly. Sometimes they camped only a few days and sometimes they camped for a month or even a year or more. It is clear from the reading today that the people obeyed (as far as moving was concerned), even when it may not have made sense to them. Was God teaching them obedience?
The rabble ( a mixed crowd of Egyptians and others) that traveled with them began to crave other food. And then the Israelites begin to grumble and complain...again. This time they want meat. God answers in essence with "You want meat do you? I'll give you meat! I'll give you so much meat that it will come out of your nostrils!"
What was the severe plague that struck them because of the consumption of the quail? Could it have been food poisoning from spoiled food? Was this salmonella? The great lesson to learn from this is that we need to be careful what we crave.
Moses continues to display a lack of faith when he questions God about all his trouble when the people wailed and complained. Moses complains that the burden is too heavy for him. God answers by telling Moses that He will give the seventy elders as helpers for him. God will take of the Spirit in Moses and give it to the elders. Possibly this means that God will give the Spirit to the seventy elders the same as He gave to Moses, not that He would take any of the Spirit away from Moses.
These 70 elders had the Spirit and they prophesied. They spoke by inspiration of the Spirit. We wonder how the commentator arrived at his statement that they prophesied "apparently in ecstatic utterances". There is no Scriptural evidence of this - only that they prophesied, meaning they could have been singing praises.
Numbers 11:25b
When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.
This giving of the Spirit was a temporary empowerment for a specific purpose. Contrast that with the Holy Spirit that lives within us. For us as Believers, the Holy Spirit is not a temporary empowerment but a permanent one.
Moses had the presence of the Lord in the cloud for guidance. We have God's Word for guidance. Why would we as Believers want to go to other sources for our guidance?
FEBRUARY 8
Miriam and Aaron begin to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife. Could it be because his wife was from the line of Noah's son Ham? (Genesis 10:6). Joseph had an Egyptian wife also from the line of Ham. Was it because she wasn't from the tribe of Levi? Or because she was not of the Shem/Abraham line? Many Cushites settled in Ethiopia, Northern Africa, and in Iraq and Arabia. There are many details concerning this period of time that we just don't know much about. It does seem that in addition to Moses' marriage to a Cushite, they were a bit jealous of Moses. God strikes Miriam with leprosy. Why wasn't Aaron punished as Miriam was? Since God sees what's in the heart could it be that Aaron's heart was not set in jealousy against Moses but Miriam's heart was? Or since Aaron was high priest that would have made him unclean and unable to perform his priestly duties.
Great words of affirmation for Moses in today's reading!
Numbers 12:5-8a
Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.
WOW! The Lord speaks to Moses "face to face"! And it sounds as if it’s a regular thing.
While there were some great words of affirmation for Moses, there are also some that might be considered disturbing ones.
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek (NIV says humble), more than all the men on the face of the earth.)
While at first glance, this sounds like a good thing. However, the Hebrew word for meek is "anav" and it figuratively means "depressed". Shortly before this, Moses was complaining that the burden of the people was just too heavy for him. He even said to the Lord, "If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now..." Sounds like a depressed person. Is this why he needed help from the 70 elders? However, another possibility would be that Moses was meek, meaning his strength was under control.
There are several Hebrew words that are translated into English as humble or meek. One of those is the Hebrew word "kana" which means "to prostrate oneself in submission, to bow the knee." This is not the one used in today's reading to describe Moses.
There are a couple of other things to consider concerning the scouts sent into the land of Canaan. God said in Numbers 13:2 Send men so that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel.
The key word here is "search". God told them to search the land. The word means "to go on a reconnaissance mission." They were to only go in and look around in the land. God wanted them to see the lush riches of the land that He was providing for them. (We can see evidence of this lushness in the size of the grapes they found.) Instead, Moses told them to go in and spy out the land and the people. God didn't tell them to pay any attention to the people. They were to stop at the grapes and report this back to the Israelites, not about the giant people in the land, nor their large fortified cities. And, about the land where there were no inhabitants? The spies, with their Egyptian superstitious pagan mindset, reported back that "the land we explored devours those living in it." The land hadn't devoured those living in it...God had already driven them out! He told them He would send hornets to drive them out. Amazing how God uses nature to accomplish His purposes!
The people were to go only into the part of the land where the people had already been driven out, and then wait until God gave them instructions to advance further. Then He would use the hornets or whatever means, to drive out even more people. Notice that the people living in the land were not to be destroyed. They were just to leave. But the Israelites, having come out of Egypt, a land of godlessness and superstition, perceived that the land had devoured the people and they were afraid of the empty land. If only they had trusted and obeyed, God would have created a regular "Garden of Eden" for them, as illustrated by the grapes. By the way, in just a few short months in their second year they have already moved four times. (We know this because of the season of ripe grapes,)
The leaders who were sent in to explore the land certainly displayed their lack of trust in God to keep His promises…all of the leaders except for Joshua and Caleb. They were doing what God wanted them to do, focus on the land that He had promised to give them. Oh, that we could all live our lives trusting the Lord to keep His promises!
Psalm 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
A land flowing with milk and honey is a land of crops and animals. The land is divided up into the milk land where animals are raised (goats, sheep, cattle) and the honey land is where the crops are raised (dates, figs, etc.) The Nephilim were giants, men of unnatural size or ability.
The Lord said the people have tested Him ten times. What were those ten times?
Exodus 14:11 – Wanted to be left in Egypt – at the Red Sea
Exodus 15:22 – Grumbled about no water – Marah
Exodus 16:3 – Grumbling about food
Exodus 17:2 – Again grumbling about no water – Massah/Meribah
Exodus 32:1 – Golden Calf – Mount Sinai
Leviticus 10:1 – Nadab and Abihu – Mount Horeb
Numbers 11: 1 – Complained about hardships – Taberah
Numbers 11: 4 – Complained about the food – Kibroth Hattaavah
Numbers 12: 1 – Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses’ marriage
Numbers 13 + 14 – The story of the spies – Kadesh Barnea
When the whole assembly talks about stoning Joshua and Caleb, God's anger is aroused and He tells Moses that He will strike them with a plague. And again God offers to make Moses into a nation greater and stronger. Moses once again pleads with God for mercy for the people.
When the people saw that the leaders of the 10 tribes were struck down and died (did they contract a "bug" of some kind), they sure were quick to obey God then…but alas it was too late. God had been willing to take care of their enemies for them, but once they displayed lack of trust, God was not with them. And isn't it amazing that God promised to do that for them way back in Exodus 23, right after He SPOKE the Ten Commandments to them.
Exodus 23:27-28
"I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
Did they forget??? Or did they just not trust God???
FEBRUARY 9
Moses' leadership is challenged by Korah and his followers. It seems that they were jealous of Moses and Aaron. The duties of the Kohathites are specifically listed, along with a caution listed in Numbers 4:17-20. The Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things even for a moment or they will die. And apparently Korah didn’t understand the “burning bush incident”! Moses and Aaron were God’s anointed. They didn't need to be replaced. And did they not remember what happened to Miriam when she and Aaron challenged Moses' leadership?
Jude gives us a reminder about Korah's rebellion.
Jude 1:10-11
Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do (they go after the carnal - to satisfy the moment) understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-- these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.
God gives instructions to Eleazar to collect the bronze censers brought by the 250 followers of Korah and to make them into an overlay for the altar as a reminder of what happened in Korah's rebellion. Bronze often times in Scripture is used to symbolize punishment. The bronze altar is where the sin offerings were given. (Leviticus 4)
When the people again long to go back to Egypt, they call it a land flowing with milk and honey. Did they want to go back to bondage? What did they think they were going back to?
God institutes the command to redeem the firstborn. The people are redeemed by paying a temple price. The holy animals are sacrificed. See any connections with Jesus here???
Notice that the Levites receive a tithe, a tenth from all the other tribes. This is a commanded tax. The Levites are then to give a tenth to Aaron. This is their tax.
Offerings are different from the tithes. Numbers 7 describes what an offering is.
Part of the tithe that Aaron and his descendants are to receive is juice from a winepress, not wine itself. Remember, Aaron and his sons were not to consume fermented drink while serving at the tabernacle. Wow, God takes care of even the most minute details!
When God does things, He certainly does it up right. There's that staff again! Are you paying attention to all these references to the all-important staff? Wouldn’t it have been enough to just have Aaron’s staff sprout? That was all He promised them to prove Aaron was His chosen one. And yet, He caused the staff to bud, to blossom, and to produce almonds! And overnight even! Now, let’s see…what was that Scripture about God being able to do more than we ask for…oh yes, here.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that lives within each Believer. Tapped into His power lately???
FEBRUARY 10
There is little information concerning daily life during those 40 years in the wilderness. So what did they do?
They ate, drank, tended their flocks, learned from Moses about God and the Law, and generally lived as the nomadic peoples of that region had lived for centuries. Women prepared the food, tended the children, home-schooled the kids. The men trained the boys in military matters and taking care of animals. In that time, a lot of time and effort went into simply staying alive.
We must remember that these 40 years in the wilderness was punishment for them. It wasn’t just a 40 year “glamping” trip.
Moses' sister Miriam dies and they bury her at Kadesh. Wonder why there was no time of mourning recorded for her.
The people complain again. This time they complain that there is no grain or figs, grapes, or pomegranates to eat. And they complain of no water. Moses and Aaron intercede for the people.
Notice that God does not provide for them the fruit they were missing, but only the water, something that is necessary for them to live. He doesn't provide the luxury foods. This is after all an open air prison not a “glamping trip”. They were given manna on a daily basis - all the food nourishment they needed.
Moses is told to speak to the rock and instead he strikes the rock. Previously, Moses was told to strike the rock. (Exodus 17:1-7). This time, God tells Moses to take the staff with him and go to the rock. Did Moses just assume that God was going to tell him to strike the rock again as He did before? Is this an object lesson for us today? Is God telling us to pay very careful attention to Him? Is He saying, read and study Scripture carefully lest you make mistakes? Among other things?
After striking the rock, Moses takes credit for the water gushing forth. This sin of disobedience and pride has grave consequences. Moses is not allowed to lead the people into the land. Are there grave consequences for us when we are disobedient and prideful?
Even though it was Moses who struck the rock, Aaron was silent. Aaron also was silent when his sons offered unauthorized fire and were struck dead. When Moses said, "Shall WE bring forth water..", Aaron didn't protest. By his silence, he was in effect giving approval to Moses' claim. Moses, instead of speaking to the rock, struck the rock. What Moses did was wrong. When we witness things that are wrong, do we as Believers in effect give our approval by our silence?
Were the people supposed to ask for safe passage through the land of Edom? Or were they to trust the pillar and cloud? They were told to go only where the pillar and cloud went. This was a visible reminder of their command. We may ask ourselves why they could not trust this visible reminder that was constantly with them. But we must ask ourselves why we at times are unable to trust Him. He is with us constantly in the form of the Holy Spirit, something the children of Israel did not have at that time dwelling within. Being indwelt with the Holy Spirit is so much better than the visual reminder of the pillar and cloud.
2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight;
When Aaron died, the whole house of Israel mourned for him for thirty days.
The Canaanite city of Arad is mentioned in today's reading. As a present day connection, there are many Messianic Jews there who are being harassed because they are Jews who believe in Jesus.
True to their nature, the people again become impatient and complain and so God sends venomous snakes. Many people die. Then, also true to their nature, they confess their sins and ask Moses to intervene for them. Moses asks God to take away the snakes. Also, true to His nature, God stops the snakes and provides a way for them to be saved. The snake (made from bronze - a symbol of punishment) that Moses lifted up saved the people from physical death. Jesus saves us from spiritual, eternal death. He saves us from our eternal punishment.
John 3:14-15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
In Numbers 21:14 the Book of the Wars of the Lord is quoted. And again in verse 27, a reference is made to the poets. The Bible refers numerous times to other "uncanonized" writings.
In Moses' detailed journal of the exodus from Egypt, there are 41 places where they camped. Some of those times they stayed a considerable amount of time, other times they were there only a short time. Wonder why? Have anything to do with disobedience?
Today's reading contains details of battles. We must remember that God promised the Israelites that He (God) would run the people out of the land. It is because of their disobedience that they must do battle with the people who are living there. Just another example of the consequences of disobedience.
FEBRUARY 11
The people of Moab obviously were in fear of the Israelites. They saw the immense number of their fighting men and what they had done to the Amorites. It is for this reason, Balak wanted them cursed. Apparently the sorcerer Balaam was well-known for his ability to curse and bless people and nations. His fame had spread far and wide. Other historical writings relate that Moab had been defeated by the Ammonites earlier because Balaam and his father cursed the Moabites. Balak sent messengers to bring Balaam back to Moab. This was no quick and easy journey. Balaam lived at Pethor near the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia. The exact location of Pethor is unknown but the journey from Moab to the closest point of the Euphrates River is about 500 miles. The men who made this journey were high-ranking men and would have traveled most likely on horseback with an entourage.
Since Balaam was a sorcerer, he was not a man of God. The evil spirit in him knew that he had to ask permission from God to do anything. (see 1 Kings 20:18-23 and the book of Job) Balaam informed the messengers that God refused to give permission to curse the Israelites and so the messengers returned to Balak with that answer. This news was not received well and so Balak sent other messengers, more numerous and distinguished than the first ones. The first group came to Balaam with a divination fee for him. The second group came to Balaam with an offer of a handsome reward. Even though Balaam had been given a direct answer from God the first time, it seems as if he was swayed with the offer of the reward and so he went to God the second time. This time God gave Balaam permission to go but he was to do only as God directed. Why then did God get angry when he went? For one thing Balaam just got up and left without consulting the Lord about the directions of what to do. Balaam was too interested in the reward.
The angel of the Lord who appeared to Balaam was another warning for Balaam to speak only words as directed by God.
Since Balaam, a sorcerer who through his own "art" of interpreting the cries and movements of animals or inanimate objects was given a most startling warning from God via the talking donkey.
In today's reading it is illustrated very well that there is a spiritual dimension that we can't see. Obviously, this donkey was allowed to see the angel of the Lord in this spiritual dimension. Not only was the donkey allowed to see the angel of the Lord, but was given the gift of speech.
Why couldn’t Balaam see the angel of the Lord? Was it because he was not a believer or were his spiritual eyes closed? Notice that it is God who opens Balaam's eyes. Just because Balaam communicated with God doesn't mean he was a holy prophet. The answer as to the character and nature of Balaam is specifically stated in 2 Peter 2:15-16. told us, it's not that hard! The more obedient we are, the easier it becomes to be obedient.
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