Teaching

Numbers

The Journey Through God's Wilderness

Pastor Paul LeBoutillier

Life Bible Ministry · April 18, 2026

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Discover how God’s guidance through Israel’s wilderness journey offers us hope and valuable lessons in faith, contentment, and His unwavering presence in our lives.

THE WILDERNESS WAY g A Study of the Book of Numbers and Israel’s Wilderness Journey by Sue LeBoutillier CopyrightÊ©Ê2019ÊSueÊLeBouƟllier PublishedÊby: CalvaryÊChapelÊÊ—ÊOntario,ÊOregon

WeekÊ1:ÊÊIntroducƟonÊ—ÊGod’sÊPlanÊThroughÊtheÊWilderness WeekÊ2:ÊÊExodusÊ20-40Ê—ÊHearingÊGod’sÊWord WeekÊ3:ÊÊNumbersÊ1-10Ê—ÊLivingÊinÊGod’sÊPresence WeekÊ4:ÊÊNumbersÊ11-12Ê—ÊLivingÊinÊContentmentÊ WeekÊ5:ÊÊNumbersÊ13-14Ê—ÊSeeingÊWithÊEyesÊofÊFaithÊ WeekÊ6:ÊÊNumbersÊ16-18Ê—ÊSaƟsfiedÊwithÊGod’sÊCallÊ WeekÊ7:ÊÊNumbersÊ20-22Ê—ÊGod’sÊMercyÊFollowsÊourÊFailuresÊ WeekÊ8:ÊNumbersÊ23-33Ê—ÊWalkingÊinÊGod’sÊBlessingÊ Table of Contents g The Wilderness Way g Numbers DearÊFriend, DidÊyouÊknowÊthatÊourÊBibleÊisÊaÊstoryÊofÊGod’s Plan forÊHisÊcreaƟonÊ fromÊtheÊbeginningÊinÊGenesisÊtoÊtheÊnewÊcreaƟonÊinÊRevelaƟon?ÊÊ TheÊWildernessÊWayÊisÊanÊessenƟalÊpartÊofÊthatÊplanÊandÊIÊthinkÊyou’llÊ beÊveryÊblessedÊbyÊstudyingÊalongÊwithÊus. ThisÊisÊtheÊthirdÊsegmentÊinÊourÊWomenÊofÊtheÊWordÊOldÊTestamentÊ series,Ê“God’s Unfolding Plan.”ÊIt’sÊmostlyÊaÊstudyÊinÊtheÊbookÊofÊÊÊ Numbers,ÊalthoughÊwe’llÊbeginÊinÊExodus,ÊrightÊwhereÊweÊleŌÊoffÊinÊ ourÊsecondÊsegment,ÊDivineÊDeliverance.Ê TheÊmainÊpointÊofÊourÊstudyÊwillÊbeÊobservingÊhowÊGodÊledÊIsraelÊ throughÊtheirÊjourney,ÊfromÊtheÊbaseÊofÊMt.ÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊveryÊbanksÊofÊ theÊJordanÊRiver.ÊThere,ÊtheyÊwillÊbeÊposiƟonedÊtoÊcrossÊoverÊandÊ claimÊtheÊlandÊGodÊhadÊpromisedÊlongÊagoÊtoÊAbrahamÊandÊhisÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ descendants. WhileÊourÊstudiesÊofÊGenesisÊandÊExodusÊeachÊcoveredÊmanyÊhun- dredsÊofÊyears,ÊthisÊstudyÊwillÊencompassÊ40ÊshortÊyearsÊ—ÊallÊofÊ themÊinÊtheÊWilderness. AtÊtheÊriskÊofÊbeingÊoverlyÊdramaƟc,ÊmayÊIÊsuggestÊthatÊthoseÊyearsÊ couldÊbeÊsummarizedÊthisÊway? ÊÊÊÊÊIt was the best of Ɵmes — it was the worst of Ɵmes, it was the age of wisdom — it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief — it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light — it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope — it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us — we had nothing before us,1 God’sÊkindnessÊhadÊbroughtÊIsraelÊoutÊofÊtheirÊbondsÊofÊslaveryÊinÊ EgyptÊandÊHisÊgraceÊmadeÊprovisionÊforÊHisÊHolyÊpresenceÊtoÊaccom- panyÊHisÊchosenÊpeopleÊintoÊtheÊlandÊHeÊhadÊpromised.ÊItÊwasÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ certainlyÊaÊseasonÊofÊwisdom,ÊlightÊandÊhope!Ê

However,ÊbecauseÊofÊtheirÊcollecƟveÊfoolishness,ÊgrumblingÊandÊun- belief,ÊitÊturnedÊintoÊaÊ40-yearÊwinterÊofÊdespair.ÊAnÊenƟreÊgeneraƟonÊ wasÊgrantedÊtheirÊwishÊwhenÊtheyÊcriedÊbeforeÊtheÊLord... “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!”Ê(Num.Ê14:2)Ê EvenÊinÊtheÊworstÊofÊƟmes,ÊthereÊremainsÊvaluableÊlessonsÊtoÊbeÊ learnedÊandÊaÊspringÊofÊhopeÊforÊtheÊbestÊofÊƟmes.Ê · We’llÊstudyÊmanyÊNewÊTestamentÊtextsÊthatÊdrawÊourÊaƩenƟonÊtoÊ thisÊperiodÊofÊhistoryÊasÊexamplesÊandÊwarningsÊforÊourÊownÊlives. · We’llÊponderÊGod’sÊdirecƟonÊforÊourÊlivesÊasÊwell. · We’llÊtrustÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊtoÊgrowÊusÊinÊcontentment,ÊsaƟsfacƟon,Ê perseveranceÊandÊpoiseÊasÊwomenÊwhoÊclaimÊHisÊname. WhereverÊyouÊare,ÊandÊwhateverÊtypeÊofÊaÊgroupÊyouÊareÊstudyingÊ with,ÊIÊprayÊthatÊtheÊLordÊwillÊrichlyÊblessÊyouÊasÊyouÊlearnÊtoÊknowÊ HimÊbeƩerÊthroughÊHisÊWord— Sue LeBoutillier sue@ccontario.com *TheÊbestÊtranslaƟonÊofÊtheÊBibleÊtoÊuseÊisÊtheÊoneÊyouÊunderstandÊ theÊmostÊÊeasily—andÊusingÊmoreÊthanÊoneÊtranslaƟonÊcanÊbeÊ aÊgreatÊaidÊtoÊstudy!ÊThisÊstudyÊguideÊwasÊcreatedÊusingÊtheÊ ESVÊ(EnglishÊStandardÊVersion)ÊwhichÊmayÊbeÊaÊhelpfulÊ toolÊasÊyouÊworkÊthroughÊyourÊstudy.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ToÊwatchÊtheÊvideoÊteachingsÊforÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊgoÊto:ÊÊ ccontario.com/womens-studiesÊÊ orÊÊÊ YouTube.com/calvarychapelontario

This page is for note-taking on the Week 1 Introductory Teaching— TheÊBibleÊexplainsÊtheÊ_______________ÊstoryÊofÊ________Êplan. GenesisÊgivesÊusÊtheÊhistoryÊofÊGod’sÊspecialÊpeople fromÊ_________ÊÊtoÊÊ__________. InÊtheÊfirstÊhalfÊofÊExodus,ÊweÊfollowÊGod’sÊspecialÊpeople fromÊ__________ÊtoÊ_______________. InÊourÊWildernessÊWayÊstudy,ÊweÊwillÊfollowÊGod’sÊspecialÊpeopleÊ fromÊMt.ÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊbanksÊofÊtheÊ____________ÊRiver. AuthorÊ:Ê __________ · TheÊfirstÊfiveÊbooksÊofÊtheÊOldÊTestamentÊareÊoŌenÊcalled:Ê ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊFromÊLaƟn:Ê_________________ÊFromÊHebrew:Ê_____________ · TheÊWildernessÊWayÊtakesÊupÊ________ÊchaptersÊofÊtheÊ Pentateuch. · TheÊbookÊofÊNumbersÊinÊtheÊHebrewÊliterallyÊmeans: ÊÊÊÊ______________________________________________________ TheÊthree-foldÊpurposeÊofÊstudyingÊtheÊWildernessÊWayÊis: · ____________________________________________________ · ____________________________________________________ · ____________________________________________________ Week 1 — God’s Unfolding Plan Through the Wilderness

What do we need to learn from The Wilderness Way? 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were bapƟzed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is wriƩen, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were wriƩen down for our instrucƟon, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptaƟon has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptaƟon he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. “WithÊIsrael,ÊthereÊwasÊtheÊiniƟalÊfaithÊtoÊgoÊupÊoutÊofÊEgypt.ÊButÊ whenÊtheyÊwereÊtestedÊtoÊseeÊifÊtheyÊwouldÊ“...hold their original confidence firm to the end”Ê(HebrewsÊ3:14)ÊtheÊgreatÊmajorityÊfailed.Ê TheirÊfaithÊwasÊbutÊforÊaÊƟmeÊ—ÊtheyÊhadÊfaithÊtoÊleaveÊEgypt,ÊbutÊ theyÊhadÊnotÊfaithÊtoÊenterÊCanaan.”Ê — Andrew Murray, Holiest of All 1

AreÊyouÊaÊgoodÊlistenerÊ—ÊorÊdoÊyouÊgetÊimpaƟentÊwithÊlongÊstoriesÊ orÊdrawn-outÊinstrucƟons?ÊIfÊyouÊfinishÊpeople’sÊsentencesÊ(likeÊme),Ê youÊmightÊbeÊanÊimpaƟentÊlistener. AtÊtheÊbaseÊofÊMt.ÊSinai,ÊtheÊcommunityÊofÊIsraelÊheardÊGodÊspeakÊ theÊTenÊCommandments.ÊButÊdidÊtheyÊreallyÊlisten?ÊIÊalwaysÊthoughtÊ itÊwasÊsmartÊofÊGodÊtoÊkeepÊHisÊinstrucƟonsÊshortÊandÊsweetÊ—ÊtenÊ bulletÊpoints!Ê AŌerÊtheÊTenÊCommandments,ÊMosesÊmadeÊseveralÊtripsÊupÊandÊ downÊtheÊmountain,ÊlisteningÊtoÊseveralÊchaptersÊworthÊofÊGod’sÊ plansÊ—ÊaÊlargeÊpartÊbeingÊplansÊforÊmakingÊone tent!ÊAndÊwhatÊaÊ gloriousÊplanÊitÊwasÊbecauseÊGodÊwasÊtellingÊHisÊpeopleÊtoÊprepareÊaÊ placeÊwhereÊHeÊcouldÊdwellÊwithÊthem:Ê“Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst!”Ê(ExodusÊ25:8)ÊGod’sÊdesireÊ toÊdwellÊwithÊIsraelÊisÊaÊmainÊthemeÊforÊourÊstudyÊthisÊweek. ThereÊareÊ60ÊchaptersÊfromÊIsrael’sÊarrivalÊatÊMt.ÊSinaiÊtoÊtheirÊ departureÊÊinÊNumbersÊ10.ÊIt’sÊobviousÊweÊcan’tÊstudyÊeachÊchapterÊÊ inÊdepth,ÊbutÊwhatÊweÊcanÊdoÊisÊfocusÊonÊthemesÊandÊeventsÊofÊ parƟcularÊsignificanceÊthatÊwillÊhelpÊusÊbeƩerÊunderstandÊGod’sÊ UnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊRedempƟon.Ê a READÊExodusÊ20:18-21. · WhatÊwasÊIsrael’sÊresponseÊtoÊhearingÊGodÊspeakÊtoÊthem,ÊandÊ whyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtheyÊrespondedÊthatÊway? · MosesÊdidn’tÊshareÊtheirÊfear.ÊInÊfactÊheÊevenÊofferedÊwhatÊ explanaƟonÊforÊGod’sÊmoƟves?Ê Week 2 — Hearing God’s Word Day 1: Hearing God’s Desire a READÊExodusÊ24:1-7. · WhenÊMosesÊtoldÊtheÊpeopleÊallÊtheÊwordsÊofÊtheÊLordÊandÊallÊtheÊ rulesÊ(v.3),Êthe people answered with one voice and said, ________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ · WhenÊMosesÊtookÊtheÊBookÊofÊtheÊCovenantÊ(v.7)ÊandÊreadÊitÊinÊ theÊhearingÊofÊtheÊpeople,Êthey said,Ê_______________________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ ThoseÊareÊtwoÊimportantÊaffirmaƟons.ÊWe’llÊcheckÊbackÊwithÊtheseÊ guysÊinÊ40ÊdaysÊandÊseeÊhowÊthey’reÊholdingÊupÊonÊthis! a READÊExodusÊ24:15-18. · HowÊlongÊdidÊMosesÊstayÊwithÊGodÊthisÊƟme?ÊÊ_______________ DuringÊthisÊtripÊupÊtheÊmountain,ÊMosesÊheardÊtheÊLord’sÊplanÊandÊ paƩern forÊwhatÊwouldÊbeÊHisÊdwellingÊplaceÊamongÊHisÊpeople. a WRITEÊExodusÊ25:8.Ê____________________________________ _________________________________________________________ NoteÊtheÊwordÊdwellÊinÊthatÊverseÊ(circleÊit).ÊTheÊrealityÊofÊGodÊ dwellingÊwithÊHisÊpeopleÊisÊatÊtheÊcoreÊofÊGod’sÊUnfoldingÊPlan.ÊHeÊ hadÊiniƟallyÊdweltÊwithÊHisÊcreaƟonÊinÊtheÊGardenÊofÊEdenÊinÊGenesisÊ andÊourÊfinalÊdwellingÊwillÊbeÊtheÊNewÊHeavenÊandÊtheÊNewÊEarthÊinÊ RevelaƟon.ÊÊ a WRITEÊRevelaƟonÊ21:3.Ê_________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ (CircleÊtheÊwordsÊdwellÊandÊdwellingÊabove) a WRITEÊJohnÊ1:14.Ê______________________________________ _________________________________________________________ HaveÊyouÊthoughtÊmuchÊaboutÊGod’sÊdesireÊtoÊdwellÊwithÊus?ÊThisÊisÊ anÊimportantÊrealityÊweÊfindÊinÊtheÊWordÊofÊGod,ÊsoÊlet’sÊbeÊaƩenƟveÊ listenersÊandÊrespondersÊasÊweÊhearÊHisÊWordsÊthroughoutÊthisÊstudy.Ê

HaveÊyouÊeverÊheardÊtheÊphrase,Ê‘invite Jesus into your heart’? InÊlightÊ ofÊourÊstudyÊyesterday,ÊknowingÊGodÊhasÊalwaysÊdesiredÊtoÊdwellÊwithÊ HisÊpeopleÊ—ÊinviƟngÊJesusÊtoÊliveÊinÊourÊheartÊisÊaÊgoodÊdescripƟonÊofÊ havingÊaÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGodÊ—ÊinviƟngÊHimÊclose! IfÊthereÊisÊoneÊthingÊtoÊbeÊlearnedÊfromÊtheÊpaƩern for the tabernacleÊ inÊExodusÊ25-31,Êit’sÊthatÊaÊHolyÊGodÊdwellingÊwithÊsinfulÊmanÊwillÊ requireÊnotÊonlyÊanÊawarenessÊofÊHisÊholy presence,ÊbutÊaÊmeansÊtoÊ dealÊwithÊtheÊunholiness ofÊHisÊpeople.Ê TheÊtabernacleÊwouldÊbeÊaÊgreatÊstudyÊwithÊamazingÊnewÊcovenantÊ implicaƟons.ÊButÊwhatÊwe’reÊdoingÊtodayÊisÊsimilarÊtoÊmerelyÊpeekingÊ throughÊtheÊfrontÊwindowÊofÊaÊgreatÊmuseum.ÊWeÊwon’tÊhaveÊƟmeÊtoÊ enjoyÊeachÊarƟfactÊinÊtheÊmuseumÊsinceÊcoveringÊtheÊenƟreÊ WildernessÊJourneyÊisÊourÊgoal. AsÊweÊskimÊtheseÊchapters,ÊmostÊBiblesÊhaveÊheadingsÊforÊtheÊvariousÊ piecesÊofÊfurnishingsÊandÊimportantÊelementsÊofÊtheÊtabernacle: The Ark of the Covenant The Table for Bread The Golden Lampstand The Bronze Altar The Priest’s Garments The Altar of Incense The Bronze Basin The Tent itself IfÊyouÊhaveÊtheÊƟmeÊtoÊreadÊorÊlistenÊtoÊchaptersÊ25-31,ÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊ fantasƟc.ÊIfÊnot,ÊoneÊpointÊthatÊneedsÊtoÊbeÊhighlightedÊisÊtheÊcareÊandÊ aƩenƟonÊthatÊGodÊexpectedÊMosesÊtoÊfollowÊregardingÊHisÊ instrucƟons.ÊReadÊtheseÊversesÊandÊjotÊdownÊphrasesÊthatÊindicateÊ thisÊspecialÊcare: · ExodusÊ25:9ÊÊ___________________________________________ · ExodusÊ25:40ÊÊÊ__________________________________________ · ExodusÊ26:30ÊÊÊ__________________________________________ · ExodusÊ29:35aÊ__________________________________________ · HebrewsÊ8:5Ê___________________________________________ Day 2: Hearing God’s Plan aÊREADÊExodusÊ29:43-46ÊandÊnoteÊimportantÊaspectsÊofÊGod’sÊplan: ...I will ____________ with the people of Israel ...I will ____________ the tent of meeƟng and the altar ...I will ____________ Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests ...I will ____________ among the people of Israel and will be their God They shall know that I am ____________________________, who brought them out of the land of __________ that I might ________ among them. a READÊExodusÊ32:1-6.ÊÊMeanwhile,ÊbackÊatÊIsrael’sÊbaseÊcamp,Ê thatÊsameÊgroupÊofÊpeopleÊtoÊwhomÊGodÊjustÊsaidÊHeÊwantedÊtoÊdwellÊ with;ÊandÊthatÊsameÊAaron,ÊwhoÊGodÊintendedÊtoÊconsecrateÊasÊ priest,Êfashioned a golden calfÊandÊsaidÊ(v.4b):___________________ ________________________________________________________ WhatÊaÊtragedy!ÊWeÊheardÊtheÊthoughtsÊandÊplansÊhappeningÊinÊbothÊ God’s camp andÊIsrael’s camp atÊtheÊsameÊƟme,ÊandÊwereÊheart-sick!Ê Let’sÊbringÊwhatÊIsraelÊdidÊhomeÊtoÊourÊownÊlives… #1Ê—ÊIsraelÊgrewÊƟredÊofÊwaiƟngÊonÊGodÊandÊMoses.ÊTheyÊgaveÊupÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊandÊmadeÊtheirÊownÊplansÊandÊtheirÊownÊgolden calf. · HaveÊyouÊgrownÊƟredÊofÊwaiƟngÊonÊGod’sÊplan?Ê · HasÊitÊbeenÊtooÊlongÊwithÊtooÊmuchÊsilence? · HaveÊyouÊbeenÊtemptedÊtoÊgiveÊupÊandÊdesignÊplansÊofÊyourÊown?Ê #2Ê—ÊIsraelÊlostÊsightÊofÊallÊthatÊGodÊhadÊdoneÊforÊthemÊwhenÊHeÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊbroughtÊthemÊoutÊofÊtheÊkingdomÊofÊdarknessÊinÊEgypt.Ê · IsÊthereÊaÊchanceÊyou’veÊlostÊsightÊorÊlostÊgraƟtudeÊoverÊwhatÊGodÊ hasÊdoneÊforÊyouÊinÊbringingÊyouÊoutÊofÊtheÊkingdomÊofÊdarkness? READÊtheseÊScripturesÊandÊchooseÊoneÊtoÊwriteÊonÊanÊindexÊcardÊandÊ useÊasÊaÊbookmarkÊthroughÊthisÊstudy:Ê PsalmÊ27:13-14 PsalmÊ130:5-6 LamentaƟonsÊ3:25-26 MicahÊ7:7

Ê GodÊdesiredÊtoÊdwellÊwithÊHisÊpeopleÊbutÊwhileÊtheyÊwaitedÊforÊMosesÊ toÊreturn,ÊIsraelÊlostÊpaƟenceÊandÊforgotÊWHOÊtheyÊbelongedÊto.ÊTheyÊ quicklyÊtookÊonÊtheÊcharacterisƟcsÊofÊEgyptÊratherÊthanÊGod’sÊpeople. AsÊweÊfinishÊtheÊnarraƟveÊinÊExodusÊ32Êtoday,ÊratherÊthanÊansweringÊ directedÊquesƟons,ÊsimplyÊmakeÊnotesÊofÊwhatÊyouÊconsiderÊtoÊbeÊ importantÊorÊinteresƟngÊelementsÊinÊeachÊofÊtheseÊsecƟons: a READÊÊExodusÊ32:7-10ÊWhat the Lord said to Moses: · ÊÊ · ÊÊ · Ê · Ê a READÊÊExodusÊ32:11-14ÊHow Moses implored the Lord: · ÊÊ · ÊÊ · Ê · a READÊÊExodusÊ32:15-20ÊWhen Moses came down the mountain: · ÊÊ · ÊÊ · Ê · a READÊÊExodusÊ32:21-29.ÊHowÊdidÊMoses confront Aaron and how did the Levites respond? · ÊÊ · ÊÊ Day 3: Hearing and Obeying

· Ê · a READÊÊExodusÊ32:30-35ÊThe Lord and Moses talked it over: · ÊÊ · ÊÊ · Ê · ThreeÊƟmesÊatÊtheÊbaseÊofÊMt.ÊSinai,ÊwhenÊMosesÊsetÊGod’sÊCovenantÊ beforeÊtheÊpeople,ÊtheyÊsaid,Ê“We will do it!”ÊButÊtheirÊacƟonsÊwereÊ nothingÊlikeÊtheirÊwords!ÊTheyÊviolatedÊatÊleastÊtwoÊofÊtheÊTenÊ CommandmentsÊtheyÊhadÊjust saidÊtheyÊwouldÊfollow. MaybeÊyou’veÊlearnedÊthatÊlessonÊinÊyourÊownÊlife.ÊTheÊchasmÊ betweenÊsayingÊyou’llÊdoÊsomethingÊandÊactuallyÊdoingÊitÊcanÊbeÊquiteÊ wide!Ê · WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊChrisƟans,ÊinÊgeneral,ÊfindÊthemselvesÊ disobeyingÊGod’sÊinstrucƟons? · WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthatÊyou,Êspecifically,ÊfindÊyourselfÊdisobeyingÊ God’sÊinstrucƟons? · ExplainÊtheÊdangerÊforÊaÊChrisƟanÊwhenÊsheÊlosesÊsightÊofÊWHOMÊ sheÊbelongsÊto:

It’sÊunclearÊhowÊmuchÊƟmeÊpassedÊbetweenÊtheÊplagueÊatÊtheÊendÊofÊ ExodusÊ32ÊandÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊchapterÊ33.ÊWhatÊisÊclearÊisÊthatÊIsraelÊ wasÊleŌÊwithÊaÊbrokenÊcovenantÊ—Êliterally,ÊasÊseenÊinÊtheÊbrokenÊ piecesÊofÊtheÊstoneÊtablets,ÊandÊspiritually,ÊasÊseenÊbyÊtheÊbrokenÊ relaƟonshipÊwithÊtheÊGodÊwhoÊdesiredÊtoÊdwell withÊthem. a READÊÊExodusÊ33:1-6ÊGod commands them to leave Sinai · WhatÊdidÊGodÊsayÊaboutÊwhoÊwasÊandÊwasn’tÊtoÊgoÊupÊintoÊtheÊ landÊofÊCanaan,ÊandÊwhy? · HowÊdidÊIsraelÊrespondÊtoÊthisÊnews? a READÊÊExodusÊ33:7-11ÊThe Tent of MeeƟng · WhereÊwasÊtheÊTentÊofÊMeeƟngÊlocatedÊatÊthisÊpoint? · DescribeÊwhatÊwouldÊhappenÊwheneverÊMosesÊwentÊoutÊtoÊtheÊ tent: a READÊÊExodusÊ33:12-17ÊMoses’ intercession before God · WhatÊseemedÊtoÊbeÊMoses’ÊmainÊpleaÊwithÊGod? · WhatÊwereÊsomeÊofÊhisÊpointsÊofÊreasonÊinÊv.13Ê&Êv.16? · WhatÊwasÊGod’sÊresponseÊinÊv.14Ê&Êv.17? Day 4: Hearing God’s Character a READÊÊExodusÊ33:18-23ÊMoses’ request before God · WhatÊdidÊMosesÊaskÊfromÊtheÊLord? · WhatÊarrangementÊdidÊGodÊsuggestÊtoÊmakeÊthatÊhappen? a READÊÊExodusÊ34:1-9.ÊThisÊwasÊMoses’ÊsecondÊ40-dayÊtripÊupÊtheÊ mountainÊ(Ex.Ê34:28).ÊHeÊtookÊwithÊhimÊtwoÊtabletsÊofÊstoneÊlikeÊtheÊ firstÊandÊGodÊdescendedÊinÊtheÊcloud.ÊWriteÊoutÊGod’sÊproclamaƟonÊ ofÊHisÊnameÊandÊcharacterÊfromÊv.6-7aÊ(upÊtoÊtheÊwordÊbut): _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ CircleÊtheÊthreeÊelementsÊoverÊwhichÊGodÊdeclaredÊHisÊforgiveness. It’sÊaÊpassageÊlikeÊthisÊthatÊhelpsÊusÊseeÊMosesÊasÊaÊtypeÊofÊJesusÊ Christ.ÊItÊisÊMoses’Êintercession,ÊcombinedÊwithÊGod’sÊmercyÊandÊ faithfulness,ÊthatÊbroughtÊforthÊtheÊrenewalÊofÊtheÊCovenant.ÊMosesÊ stoodÊinÊtheÊgapÊforÊIsraelÊtoÊenableÊthemÊtoÊrestoreÊtheirÊrelaƟonshipÊ withÊGod.Ê WeÊalsoÊneedÊourÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGodÊrestored,ÊoŌenÊdaily!ÊItÊisÊ Jesus’ÊintercessionÊthatÊcombinesÊwithÊGod’sÊmercy,ÊtoÊpaveÊtheÊwayÊ forÊaÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊHimÊthatÊisÊfilledÊwithÊpeaceÊandÊrest. a READÊÊPsalmÊ106:19-23ÊtoÊappreciateÊtheÊPsalmist’sÊperspecƟve.Ê ThenÊwriteÊaÊstatementÊexplainingÊhowÊMosesÊtookÊonÊaÊroleÊsimilarÊ toÊJesusÊhimself: a READÊExodusÊ34:10-35. · AccordingÊtoÊv.27,ÊwhoÊwereÊtheÊparƟcipantsÊinÊtheÊrenewalÊofÊthisÊ covenant? · WhatÊwereÊsomeÊofÊtheÊdifferencesÊinÊMoses’ÊsecondÊreturnÊwithÊ theÊnewÊstoneÊtabletsÊcomparedÊtoÊtheÊfirstÊƟme? ExodusÊ35-40ÊtellsÊhowÊIsraelÊsetÊaboutÊtheÊtaskÊofÊphysicallyÊbuildingÊ theÊtabernacleÊonceÊtheÊcovenantÊwasÊrenewed.ÊReadingÊorÊlisteningÊ toÊthoseÊchaptersÊisÊopƟonal...we’llÊheadÊrightÊdownÊtoÊchapterÊ40. a READÊExodusÊ40:1. · WhatÊmonthÊandÊdayÊdidÊGodÊinstructÊthemÊtoÊerectÊtheÊ tabernacleÊofÊtheÊtentÊofÊmeeƟng?ÊÊ_____ÊdayÊofÊtheÊ_______Ê month.Ê(V.16ÊtellsÊusÊthatÊMosesÊdidÊaccordingÊtoÊallÊthatÊtheÊLordÊ commandedÊhim.) WeÊknowÊthatÊIsraelÊleŌÊEgyptÊdirectlyÊfollowingÊtheirÊfirstÊPassoverÊonÊ theÊ14thÊdayÊofÊtheÊ1stÊmonthÊ(ExodusÊ12).ÊAlmostÊaÊyearÊhadÊpassedÊ nowÊsinceÊtheyÊleŌÊEgyptÊandÊitÊhadÊbeenÊaboutÊ10ÊmonthsÊsinceÊGodÊ firstÊspokeÊtoÊthemÊatÊMt.ÊSinai. DatesÊandÊƟmesÊcanÊbeÊaÊdullÊpartÊofÊanyÊhistoricalÊstudy,ÊbutÊwhenÊit’sÊ ourÊownÊhistory,ÊweÊperkÊup.ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊflippedÊthroughÊyourÊ journalÊpagesÊtoÊdiscoverÊaÊmemoryÊfromÊtheÊsameÊdateÊlastÊyear?Ê MaybeÊFacebookÊfedÊyouÊaÊphotoÊmemoryÊofÊyourÊvacaƟonÊthreeÊ yearsÊago.ÊYouÊmayÊhaveÊthought,Ê‘wow, that seems like yesterday’ or,Ê youÊmayÊhaveÊsaid,Ê‘that feels like a different lifeƟme!’ JustÊforÊaÊmoment,ÊputÊyourselfÊinÊIsrael’sÊplaceÊandÊimagineÊwhatÊlifeÊ hadÊbeenÊlikeÊoverÊtheÊlastÊ10Êmonths:Êliving,ÊwaiƟng,ÊgatheringÊ manna,Êgrief,ÊmomentsÊofÊjoy,ÊbabiesÊborn,ÊchildrenÊgrowing,Ê disappointments,ÊpreparaƟonsÊforÊtheÊtabernacle.ÊNow… Day 5: The Blessing of God’s Word a READÊExodusÊ40:34-38.ÊImagineÊtheirÊexcitementÊasÊthe glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.ÊThisÊhadÊneverÊhappenedÊinÊtheÊhistoryÊ ofÊmankind!ÊDrawÊaÊliƩleÊsketchÊofÊtheseÊversesÊbelow: · WhatÊwouldÊbeÊtheÊsignÊthatÊwouldÊindicateÊtoÊIsraelÊthatÊtheyÊ wereÊtoÊsetÊoutÊandÊmoveÊ(v.36)? ...andÊthat’sÊhowÊitÊwasÊforÊtheirÊwholeÊwildernessÊjourney! NextÊweek,Êwe’llÊbeginÊtheÊbookÊofÊNumbersÊtoÊstudyÊtheÊrestÊofÊtheÊ WildernessÊjourneyÊwithÊIsraelÊtoÊtheÊbanksÊofÊtheÊRiverÊJordan. ToÊsummarize,ÊnoneÊofÊthisÊwouldÊhaveÊbeenÊpossibleÊwithoutÊGod’sÊ spokenÊWord!ÊEveryoneÊNeedsÊtoÊHearÊGod’sÊWord!ÊInÊthisÊfirstÊweekÊ ofÊstudy,ÊweÊsawÊthat:Ê · GodÊremindedÊthemÊofÊHisÊdeliveranceÊthroughÊHis Words. · GodÊrevealedÊhowÊtheyÊwereÊtoÊliveÊinÊresponseÊtoÊHisÊdeliveranceÊ throughÊHis Words. · GodÊrevealedÊHisÊdesireÊtoÊdwellÊwithÊHisÊpeopleÊthroughÊHis Words. · GodÊrevealedÊHisÊcharacterÊthroughÊHis Words. WeÊalsoÊneedÊtoÊhearÊGod’sÊWords — andÊthenÊaŌerÊbeingÊaÊhearer,Ê weÊneedÊtoÊbeÊaÊdoerÊofÊHisÊWord! Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ... and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only so deceiving yourselves. —ÊJamesÊ1:19-22Ê(ESV)Ê

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. WhatÊdifferenceÊdoesÊitÊmakeÊinÊaÊChrisƟan’sÊlifeÊtoÊthinkÊinÊtermsÊ ofÊGodÊdwellingÊwithin,ÊratherÊthanÊbeingÊremoteÊinÊheaven? 2. CanÊyouÊofferÊanyÊreasonsÊwhyÊyouÊthinkÊIsraelÊabandonedÊtheirÊ hopeÊinÊMoses’ÊreturnÊaŌerÊsuchÊanÊamazingÊdisplayÊofÊGod’sÊ presence? 3. GodÊhadÊaÊbigÊplanÊforÊhowÊIsraelÊwasÊtoÊprepare forÊtheÊministryÊ theyÊwereÊchosen forÊ—ÊnamelyÊenteringÊintoÊtheÊpromisedÊland.Ê AreÊthereÊanyÊwaysÊthatÊGodÊwouldÊwantÊtoÊprepare youÊforÊtheÊ ministryÊyouÊwereÊchosen for,ÊifÊonlyÊyouÊwouldÊwaitÊandÊlisten? 4. TheÊwaysÊandÊpassionsÊofÊEgyptÊhadÊmadeÊaÊbigÊimpactÊonÊIsraelÊ —ÊwhyÊdidÊtheyÊevenÊthinkÊtoÊaskÊAaronÊforÊaÊgoldenÊcalf?ÊHowÊ canÊtheÊwaysÊandÊpassionsÊfromÊourÊcultureÊbecomeÊourÊ‘go-to’ whenÊweÊgrowÊƟredÊofÊwaiƟngÊonÊGod? 5. ReadÊTheÊTenÊCommandmentsÊ—ÊAsÊaÊBillÊofÊRightsÊonÊp.Ê92.ÊÊÊÊÊ DiscussÊhowÊconsideringÊeachÊofÊGod’sÊcommandsÊfromÊthisÊÊÊÊ perspecƟveÊmayÊhelpÊusÊreallyÊhearÊwhatÊGodÊintendsÊusÊtoÊhearÊ inÊthoseÊcommandments.Ê

________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 2 —

AsÊweÊclosedÊtheÊfinalÊchapterÊinÊExodus,ÊtheÊglory of the Lord had filled the Tabernacle.ÊTheÊpresenceÊofÊYahwehÊwasÊdwellingÊinÊtheÊ midstÊofÊIsrael,ÊjustÊlikeÊHeÊhadÊplanned.ÊTheyÊhadÊtheirÊinstrucƟonsÊ forÊproperÊworshipÊandÊproperÊliving,ÊandÊtheÊonlyÊelementsÊleŌÊwereÊ aÊsenseÊofÊorderÊandÊorganizaƟonÊforÊtheirÊjourney. AsÊweÊbeginÊNumbers,Êwe’reÊremindedÊthatÊchronologyÊwasn’tÊalwaysÊ theÊdrivingÊforceÊbehindÊancientÊwriƟngs.ÊInÊthisÊweek’sÊstudy,ÊweÊwillÊ siŌÊbackÊandÊforthÊthroughÊScripturesÊtoÊgatherÊbitsÊandÊpiecesÊthatÊ willÊshapeÊourÊunderstandingÊonÊimportantÊtopics.ÊHopefully,ÊbyÊdayÊ five,ÊweÊwillÊhaveÊgatheredÊmeaningfulÊinformaƟonÊandÊbeÊreadyÊtoÊ processÊandÊapplyÊitÊtoÊourÊlives.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ1:1-4. · BasedÊonÊtheÊƟmeÊframeÊinÊv.1,ÊandÊrememberingÊwhenÊIsraelÊleŌÊ EgyptÊ(Ex.Ê12),ÊhowÊlongÊhadÊtheirÊjourneyÊbeenÊsoÊfar? · WhatÊwasÊGod’sÊmainÊinstrucƟonÊtoÊMosesÊandÊhowÊwasÊitÊtoÊbeÊ accomplished? Ê a READÊNumbersÊ1:47-54.Ê · WhichÊtribeÊwasÊnotÊincludedÊinÊtheÊcensus?Ê_________________ · HowÊwouldÊyouÊdescribeÊtheirÊjobÊwhenÊIsraelÊwasÊon the move? · HowÊwouldÊyouÊdescribeÊtheirÊjobÊwhenÊIsraelÊwasÊcamped? Week 3 — Living in God’s Presence Day 1 — The Order of God’s Presence

· WasÊanyoneÊelseÊallowedÊtoÊcomeÊnearÊwhileÊtheÊtentÊwasÊtakenÊ downÊorÊsetÊup?Ê NumbersÊisÊaÊbookÊofÊorganizaƟon.ÊItÊopensÊandÊclosesÊwithÊtwoÊ censusesÊofÊtheÊpeopleÊalmostÊ40ÊyearsÊapart.ÊItÊalsoÊteachesÊusÊthatÊ God’sÊplansÊareÊorderedÊandÊorganized!ÊHeÊhadÊchosenÊtheÊtribeÊofÊ LeviÊtoÊkeep guard over the tabernacle of the tesƟmony (1:53).ÊWe’llÊ studyÊtheirÊroleÊsoon,ÊbutÊfirstÊlet’sÊexamineÊGod’sÊorganizaƟonÊforÊ theÊgreaterÊnaƟonÊofÊIsrael.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ2:1-2.ÊTheÊnextÊpageÊcontainsÊaÊdiagramÊofÊeachÊ tribe’sÊplacementÊwhenÊtheyÊcamped.ÊTheyÊcouldn’tÊjustÊpitchÊaÊtentÊ anywhereÊtheyÊwanted,ÊtheyÊneededÊorder!ÊTheyÊwereÊtoÊcampÊeach by his own standard.ÊGodÊlovesÊorderÊ—ÊdoÊyouÊrememberÊhowÊ orderedÊtheÊdaysÊofÊcreaƟonÊwere?Ê You’llÊnoƟceÊtheÊLevitesÊwereÊtoÊcampÊsurroundingÊtheÊtabernacleÊ compound,ÊthenÊtheÊwholeÊcompanyÊofÊIsraelÊwasÊtoÊcampÊinÊtheirÊ designatedÊplaceÊsurroundingÊtheÊLevites... · WhoÊwasÊtoÊfaceÊtheÊtentÊofÊmeeƟng? a READÊNumbersÊ2:3-34.Ê AsÊyouÊreadÊtheÊlisƟngÊofÊtheÊtribesÊandÊtheirÊplacementÊsurroundingÊ theÊtabernacle,ÊfillÊinÊtheÊdiagramÊwithÊeachÊtribe’sÊnameÊaboveÊtheÊ lineÊandÊtheirÊcensusÊcountÊbelowÊtheÊline.ÊJudahÊisÊcompletedÊforÊyouÊ andÊtheÊremainingÊtribesÊwillÊgoÊinÊclockwiseÊorder,ÊfollowingÊJudah. YahwehÊwantedÊtoÊbeÊinÊtheÊcenterÊofÊIsraelÊforÊtheirÊjourneyÊtoÊbeÊ successful.ÊPerhaps,ÊasÊweÊlookÊatÊthatÊdiagram,ÊsomethingÊwillÊsƟrÊusÊ toÊÊremindÊusÊthatÊGodÊdesiresÊtheÊcentralÊlocaƟonÊinÊourÊlivesÊ—ÊrightÊ inÊtheÊmiddleÊofÊourÊlivingÊandÊmoving,ÊplanningÊandÊdoing.ÊOurÊtaskÊisÊ toÊspirituallyÊfaceÊHimÊconƟnually.Ê DoÊyouÊregularlyÊofferÊHimÊthatÊcentralÊplaceÊinÊyourÊlife?ÊInÊyourÊlifeÊ rightÊnow,ÊareÊyouÊfiguraƟvelyÊfacingÊtowardÊHimÊorÊawayÊfromÊHim?

The Camp Arrangement of Israel MOSES, AARON & PRIESTS GERSHON MERARI KOHATH JUDAH ______________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ N ______________ 74,600 ________________

DidÊyouÊknowÊthatÊGodÊdoesn’tÊalwaysÊtreatÊeveryoneÊtheÊsame?ÊIsÊ thatÊaÊnewÊconceptÊtoÊyou?ÊTheÊidealÊofÊsame treatment isÊmoreÊ AmericanÊthanÊBiblical,ÊasÊwe’llÊseeÊinÊtoday’sÊlesson.Ê IfÊweÊlookÊagainÊatÊtheÊdivineÊorderÊofÊGod’sÊcommunityÊinÊourÊ diagram,ÊweÊseeÊthatÊoneÊtribeÊwasÊchosenÊtoÊleadÊaÊdifferentÊlifeÊ thanÊtheÊrest,ÊbasedÊonÊnothingÊtheyÊhadÊorÊhadn’tÊdoneÊ—ÊitÊwasÊ simplyÊGod’sÊchoice.ÊTheyÊwouldÊliveÊadjacentÊtoÊandÊprotectÊtheÊ innerÊrectangleÊofÊtheÊdiagram.ÊWe’reÊtalkingÊhereÊaboutÊtheÊlivesÊandÊ duƟesÊofÊtheÊLevites!Ê a READÊNumbersÊ3:14-17.Ê—ÊListÊtheÊnamesÊofÊtheÊsonsÊofÊLevi: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_________________ÊÊÊÊ_________________ÊÊÊ TheseÊareÊtheÊthreeÊclansÊyouÊseeÊcampedÊaroundÊtheÊTabernacleÊinÊ ourÊdiagram.ÊThereÊwasÊaÊdisƟncƟonÊmadeÊbetweenÊtheÊLevitesÊandÊ theÊrestÊofÊtheÊtribes.ÊInÊfact,ÊtheyÊevenÊhadÊaÊseparateÊcensus. Ê aÊREADÊNumbersÊ4:34-49.ÊPencilÊinÊtheirÊnumberÊinÊyourÊdiagram. · EvenÊamongÊtheÊLevites,ÊwhatÊtwoÊdifferentÊtypesÊofÊworkÊwereÊ theyÊgiven?Êv.49:ÊÊ__________________ÊorÊ__________________ AtÊthisÊpoint,ÊyouÊmayÊwonderÊwhatÊtheseÊthingsÊhaveÊtoÊdoÊwithÊyourÊ lifeÊandÊtheÊpurposeÊofÊstudyingÊthemÊ—ÊaŌerÊall,Êyou’reÊaÊbusyÊlady!Ê Well,ÊforÊoneÊthing,ÊknowingÊtheÊBiblicalÊhistoryÊofÊtheÊLevitesÊwillÊgoÊ aÊlongÊwayÊinÊhelpingÊyouÊunderstandÊtheÊrestÊofÊyourÊBible.ÊSecondly,Ê embracingÊtheÊrealityÊthatÊGodÊindeedÊmakesÊdisƟncƟonsÊbetweenÊ peopleÊasÊHeÊchoosesÊandÊgivesÊpeopleÊdifferentÊtasksÊinÊHisÊkingdom,Ê willÊgoÊaÊlongÊwayÊinÊhelpingÊfindÊaÊplaceÊofÊcontentmentÊforÊtheÊtasksÊ you’veÊpersonallyÊbeenÊgiven.Ê(MoreÊonÊthisÊlater!) Let’sÊbeginÊwithÊtheÊhistoryÊofÊtheÊLevites!ÊBeforeÊIsraelÊevenÊcrossedÊ theÊRedÊSea,ÊGodÊsaidÊHeÊwantedÊthemÊtoÊalwaysÊrememberÊtheÊ strengthÊwithÊwhichÊHeÊbroughtÊthemÊoutÊofÊEgypt.ÊHeÊevenÊkilledÊallÊ theÊfirstbornÊofÊEgyptÊinÊorderÊtoÊcompleteÊtheirÊexodus.ÊTherefore,Ê allÊtheÊfutureÊfirstbornÊofÊIsraelÊwouldÊnowÊbelongÊtoÊGodÊasÊaÊ memorial. Day 2 — The Levites Around God’s Presence a READÊExodusÊ13:11-16.ÊHowÊwereÊtheÊfutureÊfirstbornÊsupposedÊ toÊbeÊconsecratedÊtoÊGod? · TheÊfirstbornÊofÊmaleÊanimals: · TheÊfirstbornÊamongÊsons: a READÊNumbersÊ3:11-13.Ê · WhoÊdidÊGodÊdetermineÊtoÊtakeÊin exchange forÊallÊofÊtheÊfirst- bornÊmalesÊinÊIsraelÊ(v.12)? a READÊNumbersÊ3:38-45. · WhatÊwasÊtheÊtotalÊcensusÊofÊtheÊ Levites?ÊÊ________________ÊÊÊÊ · WhatÊwasÊtheÊtotalÊcensusÊofÊallÊofÊtheÊfirstbornÊmalesÊofÊtheÊ peopleÊofÊIsrael?Ê______________Ê(GodÊhadÊHisÊownÊaccounƟngÊ methodsÊtoÊtakeÊcareÊofÊtheÊdifference!) · ThereÊisÊanÊimportantÊBibleÊtruthÊweÊlearnÊfromÊGod’sÊownÊWordsÊ inÊv.45Ê“TheÊ_______________ÊshallÊbeÊ___________:ÊÊIÊamÊtheÊ LÊÙ.” SinceÊtheÊLevitesÊbelongedÊtoÊGod,ÊdwelledÊcloserÊtoÊGod’sÊownÊ dwelling,ÊandÊservedÊAaronÊandÊhisÊsons,ÊtheyÊalsoÊrequiredÊspecialÊ consecraƟonÊforÊtheirÊtask... a READÊNumbersÊ8:5-12.ÊNoteÊthingsÊinvolvedÊinÊLeviteÊcleansing · Ê · Ê · ÊÊ · Ê a READÊNumbersÊ8:13-19.ÊWhoÊwereÊtheÊLevitesÊspecificallyÊgivenÊ toÊandÊwhatÊwasÊtheirÊpurpose?

OfÊallÊtheÊsonsÊofÊIsrael,ÊtheÊLevitesÊwereÊchosenÊforÊtheÊspecialÊtaskÊ ofÊsurroundingÊandÊservingÊtheÊtabernacle.ÊOfÊallÊtheÊLevites,ÊAaronÊ andÊhisÊsonsÊwereÊchosenÊtoÊbeÊpriestsÊbeforeÊtheÊLord.ÊTheyÊhadÊ specialÊtasksÊthatÊrequiredÊspecialÊclothingÊandÊspecialÊconsecraƟonÊ (ExodusÊ28-29).ÊTheyÊalsoÊreceivedÊaÊspecialÊlisƟng... a READÊNumbersÊ3:1-4.Ê—ÊListÊtheÊnamesÊofÊAaron’sÊfourÊsons: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ____________ÊÊÊÊÊ____________ÊÊÊÊ____________ÊÊÊÊ___________ · StrikeÊthroughÊtheÊtwoÊsonsÊwhoÊdied before the Lord. (IfÊyouÊ want,ÊyouÊcanÊreadÊaboutÊthatÊeventÊinÊLeviƟcusÊ10) Ê It’sÊimportantÊtoÊrealizeÊthatÊnotÊallÊLevitesÊwereÊpriests,ÊbutÊallÊpriestsÊ wereÊLevites,ÊsinceÊtheyÊhadÊallÊdescendedÊfromÊAaron. TheÊbookÊofÊtheÊBibleÊsandwichedÊbetweenÊExodusÊandÊNumbersÊisÊÊ LeviƟcus,ÊmeaningÊpertaining to the LeviƟes.ÊInÊLeviƟcus,ÊthereÊareÊ dozensÊofÊƟmesÊwhenÊweÊread,Ê“God said to Moses...tell Aaron and his sons…”ÊGodÊgaveÊorderedÊinstrucƟonsÊmeantÊtoÊguideÊIsraelÊinÊtheÊ artÊofÊproperÊworshipÊandÊrightÊlivingÊwithÊaÊHolyÊGodÊinÊtheirÊmidst.ÊÊ NowÊinÊourÊcurrentÊtextÊinÊNumbers,ÊweÊseeÊpriestlyÊinstrucƟonsÊthatÊ protectÊtheÊholyÊthingsÊandÊprotectÊtheÊpeopleÊofÊIsraelÊasÊwell. a READÊNumbersÊ4:5-20. · SummarizeÊhowÊAaronÊandÊhisÊsonsÊwereÊtoÊprepareÊtheÊ tabernacleÊforÊtravel: · WhatÊwasÊtheÊtaskÊofÊtheÊKohathitesÊ(v.15)? · WhatÊwasÊtheÊwarningÊtoÊtheÊKohathitesÊ(v.20)? Day 3 — The Priests Around God’s Presence

InÊourÊreading,ÊweÊnoƟceÊagainÊthatÊGodÊchoosesÊsomeÊforÊoneÊtaskÊ andÊsomeÊforÊanotherÊtask.ÊHeÊinstructsÊeachÊaccordingÊtoÊHisÊ assignedÊwork.ÊUnderstandingÊthisÊmakesÊaÊbigÊdifferenceÊinÊourÊlives!Ê BeforeÊweÊfinishÊtoday,Êlet’sÊpeekÊintoÊoneÊmoreÊtextÊthatÊremindsÊusÊ thatÊGod’sÊworkÊisÊtoÊbeÊaccomplishedÊinÊHisÊƟmeÊandÊHisÊwayÊandÊit’sÊ notÊalwaysÊmeasuredÊoutÊidenƟcallyÊfromÊpersonÊtoÊperson. a READÊNumbersÊ7:1-9. · WhatÊresourcesÊwereÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊsonsÊofÊGershonÊ(v.7)? WagonsÊÊ________ OxenÊÊ___________ · WhatÊresourcesÊwereÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊsonsÊofÊMerariÊ(v.8)? WagonsÊÊ________ OxenÊÊ___________ · WhatÊresourcesÊwereÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊsonsÊofÊKohathÊ(v.9)? WagonsÊÊ________ OxenÊÊ___________ Why?Ê_____________________________________________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________ DoÊyouÊeverÊstruggleÊwithÊcomparison?ÊIfÊyouÊwereÊinÊtheÊworkforceÊ ofÊKohath,ÊwouldÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊtemptedÊtoÊsay,ÊWhat? They get carts and weÊhave to carry this load on our shoulders? It’s not fair! Yeah,ÊI’veÊsaidÊstuffÊlikeÊthatÊtooÊwhenÊI’veÊfocusedÊonÊwhatÊIÊthoughtÊ GodÊgaveÊsomeoneÊelseÊcomparedÊtoÊwhatÊHe’sÊgivenÊme.Ê(WeÊrarelyÊ thinkÊsomeoneÊelseÊdeservesÊtheÊwagonsÊmoreÊthanÊweÊdo,Êright?) Ê CheckÊoutÊtheseÊNewÊTestamentÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊwhat’sÊrelevantÊ forÊwhereÊyouÊareÊrightÊnowÊinÊyourÊspiritualÊjourney: 1ÊCorinthiansÊ12:27-31 HebrewsÊ2:4 1ÊPeterÊ4:10-11

InÊaboutÊtwoÊmonth’sÊƟme,ÊtheÊtabernacleÊwasÊsetÊup,ÊtheÊpeopleÊ wereÊcountedÊandÊorganized,ÊandÊthingsÊwereÊsetÊinÊplaceÊforÊIsraelÊtoÊ headÊtoÊtheirÊfutureÊhome.ÊTheseÊwereÊtheÊearly daysÊofÊGod’sÊ presenceÊamongÊIsrael.ÊItÊwasÊsevenÊweeksÊinÊallÊfromÊtheÊdayÊtheÊ tabernacleÊwasÊerectedÊunƟlÊtheÊdayÊIsraelÊmovedÊoutÊfromÊMt.ÊSinai.Ê BecauseÊchronologyÊwasn’tÊtheÊmostÊimportantÊtargetÊforÊancientÊ writers,Êtoday’sÊScriptureÊreadingÊisÊreorganizedÊforÊusÊ—ÊsomethingÊ likeÊpuzzleÊpieces.Ê(AŌerÊtoday’sÊstudy,Êwe’llÊhaveÊtheÊdelightÊofÊ studyingÊtheÊWildernessÊJourneyÊevent-by-eventÊinÊchapterÊorder,ÊsoÊ hangÊinÊthere!)Ê TheÊchartÊbelowÊcontainsÊtheÊeventsÊlistedÊduringÊthoseÊsevenÊweeks.ÊÊ TheÊpointÊofÊourÊreadingÊwillÊbeÊtoÊgetÊaÊsenseÊofÊwhatÊlifeÊwasÊlikeÊforÊÊÊ theÊpeopleÊofÊIsraelÊrightÊbeforeÊtheyÊleŌÊSinai.ÊItÊlooksÊlikeÊquiteÊaÊbitÊ ofÊreading,ÊbutÊIÊƟmedÊitÊ—ÊyouÊcanÊreadÊallÊofÊthoseÊScripturesÊinÊ aboutÊfiveÊminutesÊifÊyouÊskimÊNumbersÊ7ÊforÊhighlights,ÊandÊaboutÊtenÊ minutesÊifÊyouÊreadÊthatÊwholeÊchapter.Ê (TheÊdateÊpaƩernÊusedÊisÊyear-month-day — asÊrecordedÊinÊNumbersÊ 10:11:Ê“In the second year, in the second month, on the twenƟeth day of the month, the cloud liŌed from over the tabernacle…” a READÊtheÊfollowingÊpassagesÊinÊthisÊorder: Passage __ Events and Scripture References_______ÊÊÊÊÊÊ Date ExÊ40:17 ÊÊÊÊTabernacleÊsetÊupÊ ÊÊÊÊ2-1-1 NumÊ9:15 ÊÊÊÊCloudÊcoveredÊtheÊtabernacle ÊÊÊÊÊ2-1-1 NumÊ7 ÊÊÊÊTribesÊbroughtÊofferingsÊbeginningÊwithÊJudahÊ2-1-1 NumÊ9:1-4 ÊÊÊÊÊGodÊremindsÊIsraelÊofÊtheÊcomingÊPassover ÊÊÊÊÊ2-1-? NumÊ9:5Ê ÊÊÊÊÊPassoverÊisÊobserved ÊÊÊÊÊ2-1-14 NumÊ1:1-2,Ê18-19ÊGodÊordersÊtheÊcensusÊ ÊÊÊÊÊ2-2-1 NumÊ10:11-13 ÊÊÊÊÊÊIsraelÊleavesÊMt.ÊSinaiÊ ÊÊÊÊÊ2-2-20 ThereÊyouÊhaveÊit!ÊTheÊenergyÊandÊmomentumÊofÊtheÊpresenceÊofÊ God,ÊtheÊgiŌsÊandÊofferingsÊofÊtheÊpeople,ÊtheÊfeastÊofÊPassover,ÊandÊ mostÊimportantly,ÊnoÊindicaƟonÊofÊanyÊrebellionÊorÊstubbornnessÊonÊ Israel’sÊpart.ÊItÊwasÊaÊveryÊsweetÊandÊcooperaƟveÊseason.Ê Day 4 — The Early Days of God’s Presence a READÊNumbersÊ9:16-23.ÊSummarizeÊtheÊongoingÊobedienceÊofÊ IsraelÊtoÊtheÊcloudÊofÊtheÊLord: Note: We never read of Israel struggling in this area of obedience OurÊfinalÊpassageÊtodayÊmayÊseemÊoutÊofÊsequence,ÊbutÊsinceÊwe’reÊ enjoyingÊreadingÊaboutÊtheÊblessingÊandÊobedienceÊofÊIsrael,ÊthisÊisÊaÊ fantasƟcÊplaceÊtoÊinsertÊtheÊBlessing of the Priests!Ê a READÊNumbersÊ6:22-27.ÊWeÊdon’tÊknowÊwhenÊorÊhowÊoŌenÊthisÊ wasÊspokenÊoverÊtheÊpeople,ÊbutÊcertainlyÊweÊseeÊGod’sÊdeepÊ affecƟonÊforÊHisÊpeople.ÊWriteÊoutÊthisÊtrilogyÊofÊblessingÊhere: The Lord __________________________________________________ The Lord __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ The Lord __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ TodayÊwe’llÊtryÊtoÊsoakÊinÊtheÊsights andÊsounds andÊprayers asÊIsraelÊ actuallyÊleavesÊMt.ÊSinai.ÊLet’sÊbeginÊwithÊwhatÊsounded like... a READÊNumbersÊ10:1-10.ÊÊ—ÊThe call of the trumpets:Ê · ListÊtheÊthreeÊusefulÊpurposesÊgivenÊforÊtheÊblowingÊofÊtheÊ trumpets: · ÊV.1-7 · ÊV.9 · ÊV.10 · WhoÊwasÊallowedÊtheÊprivilegeÊofÊblowingÊtheseÊtrumpets? Day 5 — Moving Forward in God’s Presence

Now,ÊtoÊreadÊwhatÊitÊlooked like... a READÊNumbersÊ10:13-34.Ê—ÊThe Advance of the People · ListÊtheÊfirstÊthreeÊtribesÊthatÊsetÊoutÊinÊorderÊ(v.13-16): _______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ · ListÊtheÊfirstÊtwoÊgroupsÊofÊLevitesÊthatÊsetÊoutÊ(v.17):ÊÊ_________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊandÊ______________.ÊWhatÊwereÊtheyÊcarrying?Ê_____________ · ListÊtheÊnextÊthreeÊtribesÊthatÊsetÊoutÊ(v.18-20): _______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ · TheÊfinalÊgroupÊofÊLevites,ÊtheÊ_______________ÊÊsetÊoutÊnextÊ (v.21).ÊWhatÊwereÊtheyÊcarrying?ÊÊ__________________________ · ListÊtheÊnextÊthreeÊtribesÊthatÊsetÊoutÊ(v.22-24): _______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ · ListÊtheÊfinalÊrearÊguardÊtribesÊthatÊsetÊoutÊ(v.25-28): _______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ · HowÊmanyÊdaysÊdidÊtheyÊtravelÊfromÊMt.ÊSinaiÊ(v.33)?ÊÊ_________ IÊwantedÊusÊtoÊreadÊthatÊpassageÊcarefullyÊbecause,ÊtoÊme,Êthat’sÊnotÊ aÊboringÊlistÊofÊnames,ÊratherÊit’sÊaÊjoyfulÊdescripƟonÊofÊaÊmuch- anƟcipatedÊeventÊthatÊwasÊcompletedÊexactlyÊasÊGodÊinstructed.Ê Remember,ÊtheseÊsevenÊweeksÊwereÊaÊƟmeÊofÊgeneralÊobedienceÊandÊ itÊwasÊreallyÊbeauƟful! Lastly,Êlet’sÊhearÊtheÊprayer thatÊaccompaniedÊIsraelÊmovingÊout...Ê a READÊNumbersÊ10:35-36.ÊÊ—ÊThe Prayer of Moses:Ê MovingÊtheÊwholeÊnaƟonÊofÊIsraelÊwasÊaÊbigÊdealÊ—ÊweÊreadÊwhatÊitÊ soundedÊandÊlookedÊlikeÊonÊmovingÊday.ÊMosesÊhadÊdevelopedÊaÊ rouƟneÊprayerÊspecificallyÊforÊthoseÊƟmes.Ê · SummarizeÊtheÊpurposeÊofÊthisÊprayer.

I’mÊnotÊbigÊonÊmemorizedÊandÊrecitedÊprayers,ÊbutÊIÊloveÊthatÊMoses’Ê exactÊwordsÊareÊgivenÊtoÊusÊinÊthisÊpassage.Ê IsÊthereÊaÊspecificÊpurposeÊinÊyourÊlifeÊforÊwhichÊyouÊmightÊwantÊtoÊ developÊaÊrepeatableÊprayer?ÊTheÊfirst day of school? ÊWhenÊyouÊhaveÊ toÊtravel by plane? AtÊtheÊbeginning of each workday? IÊpersonallyÊ haveÊaÊcertainÊprayerÊthatÊIÊwhisperÊtoÊtheÊLordÊrightÊbeforeÊIÊteachÊaÊ BibleÊlesson.ÊThinkÊaboutÊitÊandÊasÊGodÊdirectsÊyou,ÊdevelopÊthatÊ simpleÊprayerÊbelowÊusingÊthisÊpassageÊasÊaÊmodel: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ThisÊweek’sÊlessonÊisÊenƟtledÊLivingÊinÊGod’sÊPresence.ÊYahwehÊ wantedÊtoÊdwellÊwithÊIsraelÊandÊnowÊtheyÊwereÊlivingÊinÊHisÊpresence,Ê asÊevidencedÊbyÊtheÊcloudÊoverÊtheÊtabernacle.ÊForÊsevenÊweeks,Ê thereÊdidn’tÊseemÊtoÊbeÊanÊobedienceÊproblemÊorÊaÊfaithÊproblemÊasÊ allÊwasÊrightÊwithÊtheÊnaƟonÊofÊIsraelÊbecauseÊtheyÊlistenedÊtoÊandÊ obeyedÊGod’sÊWord. God’sÊWordÊcomesÊtoÊusÊasÊwellÊwithÊanÊexpectaƟonÊofÊobedience.Ê WhenÊweÊchooseÊtoÊobeyÊHisÊcommands,ÊweÊalsoÊexperienceÊtheÊ blessingÊandÊpeaceÊthatÊsurroundsÊHisÊpresence.ÊButÊitÊdoesn’tÊcomeÊ naturallyÊtoÊus.ÊWeÊneedÊHisÊhelpÊtoÊenableÊusÊtoÊliveÊgraciouslyÊinÊHisÊ Presence. · AskÊtheÊLordÊtoÊsƟrÊupÊaÊdesireÊforÊobedienceÊtoÊHisÊcommandsÊasÊ revealedÊinÊScripture… · AskÊtheÊLordÊtoÊgiŌÊyouÊwithÊpaƟenceÊtoÊwaitÊonÊHisÊƟmingÊforÊ transiƟonsÊinÊyourÊlife… · AskÊtheÊLordÊtoÊequipÊyouÊwithÊfaithÊwhenÊHeÊdirectsÊyouÊintoÊ seasonsÊofÊchange...

QuesƟons for Thought & Discussion 1. IfÊyouÊtrulyÊplacedÊtheÊawarenessÊofÊGod’sÊpresenceÊinÊtheÊcenterÊ ofÊyourÊlife,ÊlikeÊtheÊtabernacleÊatÊtheÊcenterÊofÊIsrael,ÊwhatÊareaÊofÊ yourÊlifeÊwouldÊnoƟceÊchangesÊfirst? 2. AŌerÊstudyingÊtheÊassignmentsÊGodÊgaveÊtoÊtheÊdifferentÊtribesÊ andÊtheÊLevitesÊandÊpriests,ÊwhatÊwouldÊyouÊsayÊtoÊtheÊstatement,Ê “God doesn’t treat everyone the same, but He does treat everyone fairly?” 3. WhatÊareÊsomeÊtell-taleÊsignsÊthatÊaÊwomanÊmayÊbeÊcaughtÊupÊ comparingÊherÊlifeÊ(herÊassignment,ÊresourcesÊandÊgiŌings)ÊtoÊ whatÊGodÊhasÊgivenÊothers? 4. HowÊwouldÊyouÊadviseÊaÊfriendÊwhoÊhasÊgrownÊaccustomedÊtoÊthatÊ typeÊofÊcomparison?ÊGiveÊspecificÊacƟonÊsteps. 5. WhatÊmakesÊaÊmemorizedÊprayerÊeffecƟveÊandÊwhatÊmakesÊitÊjustÊ recitedÊwordsÊ(likeÊtheÊpledgeÊofÊallegiance)? 6. DoÊyouÊthinkÊit’sÊpossibleÊtoÊmaintainÊaÊnearnessÊtoÊGodÊ(keepingÊ HimÊinÊtheÊcenter)ÊwithoutÊobedienceÊtoÊGod?

It’sÊfascinaƟngÊtoÊmeÊthat,ÊwhenÊtheÊApostleÊPaulÊexhortedÊtheÊPhilip- pianÊchurchÊtoÊconƟnueÊobeying,ÊhisÊveryÊnextÊsentenceÊwasÊaÊwarn- ingÊagainstÊgrumbling andÊcomplainingÊ—ÊasÊifÊthoseÊwereÊtheÊgiantsÊ whoÊthreatenedÊtoÊtakeÊthemÊdown.ÊREADÊPhilippiansÊ2:12-15. ThatÊisÊtheÊrealityÊplayedÊoutÊinÊthisÊchapterÊ—ÊiniƟalÊobedienceÊ stainedÊbyÊgrumblingÊandÊdiscontent.ÊIt’sÊaÊcommonÊtemptaƟonÊ—ÊsoÊ weÊbeƩerÊpayÊaƩenƟonÊtoÊtheseÊchapters!Ê a READÊNumbersÊ11:1-3. · WhatÊwereÊtheÊpeopleÊcomplainingÊabout? · WhoÊheardÊtheirÊcomplaint? · WhatÊwereÊtheÊconsequencesÊofÊtheirÊcomplaining? · MakeÊnoteÊofÊwhere,Êspecifically,ÊGod’sÊdisciplineÊhappenedÊ(thisÊ mayÊbeÊusefulÊforÊtomorrow’sÊpassage.) · WhatÊroleÊdidÊMosesÊplayÊandÊwhatÊwasÊtheÊresult?Ê IÊcanÊimagineÊwhyÊIsraelÊfeltÊtheirÊcircumstancesÊwereÊunfortunate.Ê TheyÊhadÊbeenÊinÊtheÊWildernessÊoverÊaÊyear,ÊinÊaÊlandÊthatÊwasn’tÊ theirs,ÊdependingÊcompletelyÊonÊGodÊforÊfoodÊandÊdirecƟon.ÊI’mÊsureÊ theÊprocessÊofÊmovingÊthatÊmanyÊpeopleÊwasÊtaxing,ÊsoÊIÊhaveÊnoÊhyp- ocriƟcalÊjudgmentÊoverÊthemÊsinceÊI’veÊcomplainedÊaboutÊlesserÊdiffi- culƟesÊinÊmyÊlife.Ê IfÊweÊwereÊtoÊlayÊPhilippiansÊ2:12-15ÊoverÊtheÊtopÊofÊthisÊporƟonÊofÊtheÊ WildernessÊJourney,ÊitÊwouldÊsoundÊsomethingÊlikeÊthis:Ê “Obey today — then obey again tomorrow — and the next day! Be content with what God has given and what He has done! Don’t complain about what you don’t yet understand!” Week 4 — Living in Contentment Day 1 — Complaining Begins

ButÊit’sÊnotÊthatÊeasy,ÊisÊit?ÊWe’veÊallÊfoundÊourselvesÊbelievingÊourÊlifeÊ asÊhavingÊgreatÊmisfortunes.ÊWe’veÊallÊbeenÊtemptedÊtoÊgrumbleÊ—Ê andÊweÊHAVEÊgrumbledÊ—ÊeitherÊoutÊloudÊorÊjustÊinÊourÊheart. ThinkÊforÊaÊmomentÊaboutÊtheÊpeopleÊofÊIsrael: · HadÊGodÊindeedÊprovidedÊforÊthemÊinÊtheÊpast? · WasÊGodÊguidingÊthemÊrightÊnow? · DidÊHeÊhaveÊaÊplanÊforÊtheirÊfuture? NowÊthinkÊaboutÊyourÊownÊcircumstancesÊinÊlifeÊandÊmullÊoverÊthoseÊ sameÊthreeÊquesƟons,ÊwithÊtheÊgoalÊofÊreplacingÊanyÊdiscontentÊwithÊ gratefulness.Ê(FirstÊREADÊMaƩhewÊ6:25-34ÊforÊinspiraƟon.) · ListÊwaysÊGodÊhasÊspecificallyÊprovidedÊforÊyouÊinÊtheÊpastÊ—ÊthenÊ THANKÊHim. · ListÊwaysÊHeÊhasÊguidedÊyouÊorÊisÊguidingÊyouÊrightÊnowÊ—ÊThenÊ THANKÊHim. · WhatÊareasÊdoÊyouÊwantÊtoÊhaveÊconfidenceÊthatÊHeÊhasÊaÊgoodÊ planÊforÊthingsÊrelatedÊtoÊyourÊfuture?Ê—ÊASKÊHim. ThereÊisÊaÊcycleÊinÊtheÊWildernessÊJourneyÊthatÊlooksÊlikeÊthis: A. GrumblingÊorÊrebellion B. TheÊLord’sÊdiscipline C. Moses’Êintercession D. TheÊnamingÊofÊtheÊlocaƟonÊasÊaÊremembrance · WhatÊwasÊthisÊlocaƟonÊnamedÊandÊwhatÊwasÊtheÊmeaning?Ê(v.3) a READÊNumbersÊ11:4-6. · WhatÊwasÊallÊtheÊcomplainingÊaboutÊinÊthisÊpassage? · WhoÊseemedÊtoÊiniƟateÊtheÊcomplainingÊatÊfirstÊ(v.4)ÊandÊwhy? · WhoÊjoinedÊinÊwithÊtheÊcomplainingÊ(v.4)? a READÊNumbersÊ11:7-10. · HowÊlongÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊIsraelÊhadÊbeenÊreceivingÊtheÊdailyÊmanna? · HowÊisÊtheÊcomplainingÊdescribedÊ(v.10,Êv.4)? · WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊMosesÊandÊtheÊLordÊwereÊdispleasedÊwithÊÊÊÊÊ Israel’sÊaƫtudeÊtowardÊtheirÊfoodÊsupply? ThereÊareÊmanyÊthingsÊinÊlifeÊthatÊareÊcontagious,ÊbutÊaÊfewÊofÊtheÊ mostÊinfecƟousÊare:Êcolds,Êfashion,ÊandÊcomplaining!Ê ItÊwasÊtheÊrabbleÊ—ÊtheÊmixed mulƟtudeÊ—ÊwhoÊcameÊoutÊofÊEgyptÊ thatÊstartedÊthisÊdiscontentÊwithÊtheirÊstrong craving. TheyÊhadÊcho- senÊtoÊcomeÊoutÊofÊEgypt,ÊbutÊEgyptÊhadÊnotÊyetÊcomeÊoutÊofÊthem. · BasedÊonÊtheÊdiagramÊofÊtheÊcampÊonÊp.22,ÊwhereÊwouldÊyouÊ guessÊtheÊnon-IsraelitesÊtentsÊmightÊhaveÊbeen?Ê DoÊyouÊthinkÊthereÊisÊanyÊcorrelaƟonÊbetweenÊtheÊlocaƟonÊofÊthoseÊ whoÊstartedÊtheÊcomplainingÊandÊtheÊlocaƟonÊofÊGod’sÊjudgment?Ê Day 2 — Complaining is Infectious

WeÊtooÊliveÊamongÊaÊmixed mulƟtudeÊandÊweÊshouldÊbeÊonÊourÊguardÊ againstÊinfecƟousÊaƫtudes.ÊHasÊsomeoneÊelse’sÊdiscontentÊsƟrredÊ youÊupÊrecently,ÊsoÊyouÊbeganÊcomplainingÊaboutÊwhatÊGodÊhasÊgivenÊ you?ÊThinkÊaboutÊitÊandÊtakeÊstepsÊtoÊcorrectÊtheÊsituaƟon. a READÊNumbersÊ11:11-15. Moses’ÊfrustraƟonsÊareÊunderstandable,ÊbutÊdidÊyouÊnoƟceÊtheÊcom- plainingÊinfecƟonÊhadÊreachedÊevenÊtoÊhim?ÊJotÊdownÊnotesÊonÊwhatÊ youÊseeÊinÊtheseÊversesÊaboutÊMoses’Êaƫtude: · · Ê · Ê MosesÊsortÊofÊmakesÊtheÊproblemÊall about him!ÊDoesÊhisÊ‘weight of the world’ aƫtudeÊlookÊfamiliarÊtoÊyou?ÊSomeƟmesÊwhenÊweÊseeÊ howÊitÊlooksÊonÊsomeoneÊelse,ÊitÊcanÊmoƟvateÊusÊtoÊshedÊthatÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ aƫtudeÊourselves.ÊHowever,ÊthereÊisÊoneÊstarkÊdifferenceÊbetweenÊ Israel’sÊweepingÊandÊcomplainingÊandÊMoses’Ê—ÊHEÊtookÊhisÊcom- plaintÊverƟcalÊ—ÊdirectlyÊtoÊtheÊLordÊwhoÊknowsÊourÊweaknessesÊÊÊ andÊwillÊhelpÊinÊourÊƟmeÊofÊneed. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generaƟon, in which you shine like stars in the universe. — PhilippiansÊ2:14-15Ê(NIV)Ê Day 3 — Complaining Becomes Rejection

READÊtheseÊScripturesÊandÊprocessÊhowÊtheyÊAPPLYÊtoÊsimilarÊsitua- ƟonsÊandÊaƫtudesÊinÊyourÊlife: · MaƩhewÊ11:28-30Ê · HebrewsÊ4:15-16 a READÊNumbersÊ11:16-25. · ExplainÊwhatÊGodÊwouldÊdoÊforÊMoses’ÊcomplaintÊ(v.16-17): · ExplainÊwhatÊGodÊwouldÊdoÊforÊIsrael’sÊcomplaintÊ(v.18): · WhatÊwasÊtheÊpredictedÊresultÊofÊGod’sÊsoluƟonÊ(v.19-20)? HaveÊyouÊexperiencedÊthatÊsameÊeffect?ÊYouÊwantedÊsomething orÊ something different,ÊorÊsomething moreÊsoÊbadly.ÊYouÊcraved it,ÊyouÊ setÊyourÊheartÊonÊit,ÊyouÊcouldn’tÊstopÊthinkingÊaboutÊitÊandÊwhenÊyouÊ finallyÊgotÊitÊ—ÊitÊwasÊaÊburdenÊtoÊyou.Ê Lord,ÊspareÊusÊfromÊsuchÊshallowÊthinkingÊandÊculƟvateÊaÊresponseÊofÊ contentmentÊinÊeveryÊareaÊofÊourÊlives! “You say, ‘...if I had a liƩle more I should be very well saƟsfied.’ You make a mistake: if you are not content with what you have you would not be saƟsfied if it were doubled.” — Charles Spurgeon 3

MosesÊalsoÊsufferedÊfromÊaÊparƟalÊhardeningÊofÊhisÊfaithÊasÊheÊheardÊ God’sÊsoluƟons.Ê · WhatÊformÊdidÊhisÊunbeliefÊtakeÊinÊv.21-23?Ê · AndÊyet,ÊinÊspiteÊofÊhisÊownÊwordsÊinÊGod’sÊpresence,ÊwhatÊdidÊ MosesÊsayÊandÊdoÊinÊtheÊpeople’sÊpresenceÊinÊv.24? · AndÊhowÊdidÊGodÊhonorÊhisÊsmallÊstepÊofÊfaithÊinÊv.25? I’veÊheardÊtheÊaccusaƟonÊthatÊwe’reÊnotÊbeingÊreal or vulnerableÊwithÊ oneÊanother,ÊifÊweÊdon’tÊshareÊexactlyÊhowÊweÊfeelÊinÊourÊdistress.Ê ThisÊpassageÊmayÊbeÊaÊgoodÊexampleÊofÊtheÊwisdomÊthatÊliesÊinÊspeak- ingÊourÊunbeliefÊandÊfearÊtoÊGodÊandÊturningÊaroundÊandÊspeakingÊ withÊfaithÊtoÊourÊfriendsÊandÊfamily.ÊSomethingÊtoÊconsider! IÊwonderÊwhatÊitÊmeantÊinÊv.25ÊthatÊtheÊseventyÊmenÊprophesiedÊ whenÊGodÊplacedÊHisÊSpiritÊuponÊthem.ÊEvenÊifÊweÊdon’tÊfullyÊknow,Ê butÊitÊmustÊhaveÊbeenÊaÊhugeÊencouragementÊtoÊMosesÊbecauseÊhisÊ abilityÊtoÊleaveÊthingsÊinÊGod’sÊhandsÊseemedÊtoÊsignificantlyÊincreaseÊ atÊthatÊpoint. a READÊNumbersÊ11:26-30. EldadÊandÊMedadÊwereÊselectedÊtoÊbeÊamongÊtheÊseventy:Ê · WhereÊhadÊtheÊrestÊofÊtheÊseventyÊmenÊgoneÊ(v.24)? · WhereÊdidÊEldadÊandÊMedadÊremainÊ(v.26)? · RegardlessÊofÊwhereÊtheyÊwere,ÊwhatÊdidÊallÊseventyÊdo? Day 4 — Complaining Brings Discipline

· WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊsome,ÊincludingÊJoshua,ÊfoundÊthisÊoffensive? · SummarizeÊMoses’Êresponse. ShouldÊweÊhaveÊaÊlive-and-let-liveÊaƫtudeÊinÊtheÊBodyÊofÊChrist?ÊCer- tainlyÊthereÊareÊcommandsÊtoÊbeÊobeyed,ÊandÊcertainÊissuesÊthatÊareÊ clearlyÊrightÊorÊwrong;ÊbutÊthereÊareÊalsoÊphilosophiesÊofÊministryÊ whereÊGodÊseemsÊtoÊextendÊgreatÊlaƟtude.ÊSomeƟmesÊHeÊblessesÊ peopleÊwhoÊweÊfeelÊaren’tÊdoingÊthingsÊtheÊrightÊway!ÊAtÊthoseÊƟmes,Ê IÊbelieveÊitÊdelightsÊGodÊwhenÊweÊadoptÊaÊsimilarÊaƫtudeÊasÊMoses,Ê ‘let the Lord decide what He wants to do with His own Spirit’! a READÊNumbersÊ11:31-35. · HowÊdidÊtheÊLordÊchooseÊtoÊgiveÊtheÊpeopleÊmeat? · READÊPsalmÊ106:13-15ÊandÊwriteÊtheÊfirstÊsixÊwordsÊofÊv.15: ________________________________________________________ ThoseÊareÊsixÊofÊtheÊmostÊterrifyingÊwordsÊinÊallÊofÊtheÊBible!ÊWe’veÊ seenÊthisÊinÊScriptureÊbeforeÊ—ÊaŌerÊaÊperiodÊofÊwarningÊorÊdiscipline,Ê GodÊwillÊoŌenÊgiveÊpeopleÊexactlyÊwhatÊtheyÊaskÊfor.ÊDoÊyouÊremem- berÊthisÊconversaƟonÊrightÊbeforeÊtheÊfinalÊplagueÊonÊEgyptÊinÊExodusÊ 10:28-29? PharaohÊtoÊMoses:Ê “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again” Moses:Ê “As you say! I will not see your face again.” AŌerÊmulƟpleÊwarningsÊandÊƟmeÊtoÊrepent,ÊGodÊgaveÊPharaohÊexactlyÊ whatÊheÊwanted.ÊInÊtheÊmaƩerÊofÊtheÊquail,ÊGodÊgaveÊIsraelÊexactlyÊ whatÊtheyÊaskedÊfor.ÊTheÊheartbreakÊwillÊbeÊnextÊweek’sÊlesson,ÊwhenÊ GodÊwillÊagainÊgiveÊIsraelÊexactlyÊwhatÊtheyÊsaidÊtheyÊwanted!

TheÊpaƩernÊforÊmuchÊofÊtheÊWildernessÊWayÊis:Êgrumbling, God’s anger, Moses’ intercession, God’s discipline, naming of the locaƟon. Well,ÊhereÊweÊgo...we’veÊreadÊaboutÊIsrael’sÊgrumblingÊ(v.4),ÊGod’sÊ angerÊ(v.10),ÊandÊMoses’Êintercession.ÊNow,ÊÊÊ · DescribeÊhowÊGod’sÊdisciplineÊwasÊmanifestÊamongÊIsrael: · WhatÊwasÊtheÊmemorialÊnameÊgivenÊtoÊthisÊlocaƟonÊ(v.34)ÊandÊ whatÊdidÊitÊmean? IfÊyouÊgaveÊaÊmemorialÊnameÊtoÊƟmeÊperiodsÊorÊplacesÊwhenÊyouÊ wentÊthroughÊaÊcycleÊlikeÊthisÊ—Êgrumbling,ÊdiscontentÊorÊrebellionÊ—Ê whatÊwouldÊoneÊofÊyourÊlocaƟonsÊbeÊnamedÊandÊwhy? a READÊNumbersÊ12:1-3. · WhoÊwasÊcomplainingÊnow? · AgainstÊwhomÊandÊforÊwhatÊreasons? · HowÊwasÊMosesÊdescribedÊinÊthisÊpassage? PeopleÊrarelyÊsayÊthingsÊthatÊflyÊintoÊtheirÊheadÊoutÊofÊnowhere.ÊYouÊ canÊbetÊAaronÊandÊMiriam’sÊcaseÊofÊenvyÊhadÊbeenÊbrewingÊunderÊtheÊ surfaceÊforÊawhile,ÊbutÊGod’sÊpaƟenceÊhadÊrunÊthin. Day 5 — Complaining Becomes Personal a READÊNumbersÊ12:4-16. · WhoÊwasÊcalledÊforwardÊasÊGodÊspokeÊatÊtheÊtentÊofÊmeeƟng? · SummarizeÊwhatÊGodÊhadÊtoÊsayÊaboutÊMosesÊinÊtheirÊhearing: · WhatÊwasÊGod’sÊdisciplineÊforÊMiriam? · WRITEÊoutÊMoses’ÊwordsÊofÊintercessionÊtoÊGodÊ(v.13):Ê_________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ · DescribeÊGod’sÊdisciplineÊofÊMiriam: ThisÊepisodeÊreallyÊbeganÊwithÊAaronÊandÊMiriam’sÊjealousyÊoverÊÊÊ Moses’Êministry.ÊMaybeÊtheyÊresentedÊtheÊinfluenceÊhisÊwifeÊhadÊoverÊ him,ÊmaybeÊtheyÊwereÊput outÊthatÊthey didn’tÊprophesyÊlikeÊtheÊ70Ê elders;ÊbutÊsomethingÊgotÊunderÊtheirÊskinÊandÊwouldn’tÊgoÊaway. TheÊProverbÊaboveÊisÊtheÊkeyÊtoÊhealthyÊlivingÊ—ÊaÊpeacefulÊheartÊthatÊ leavesÊitÊallÊinÊGod’sÊhands!ÊAndÊweÊneedÊtoÊleaveÊitÊinÊGod’sÊhands! AllÊofÊIsraelÊhadÊtoÊwaitÊatÊHazerothÊunƟlÊMiriamÊwasÊrestoredÊtoÊtheÊ campÊ—ÊanÊunnecessaryÊdelay.ÊIfÊherÊaƫtudeÊwasn’tÊobviousÊbeforeÊ herÊshortÊexile,ÊtheÊwaitÊmayÊhaveÊrevealedÊherÊpersonalÊheartÊcondi- ƟonÊtoÊeveryone.Ê TheÊapplicaƟonÊforÊusÊisÊtoÊturnÊandÊrunÊfromÊthoseÊfeelingsÊofÊjeal- ousy,ÊÊenvy,ÊandÊcriƟcism,ÊandÊlearnÊtoÊleaveÊGod’sÊworkÊinÊGod’sÊ hands.Ê A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. —Proverbs 14:30 (NLT2)

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. CanÊyouÊrecallÊaÊƟmeÊwhenÊyouÊcaughtÊtheÊcomplaining virusÊfromÊ someoneÊelse? 2. ThinkÊaboutÊyourÊwordsÊrightÊnow.ÊAreÊthereÊanyÊcomplainingÊcon- tagionsÊbeingÊpassedÊaroundÊbecauseÊofÊyourÊownÊaƫtudes? 3. NumbersÊ11:10ÊtellsÊusÊtheÊpeopleÊwereÊweeping in their tents.ÊDoÊ youÊfindÊthatÊyourÊhome,ÊyourÊsafeÊspace,ÊcanÊdrawÊyouÊintoÊcom- plainingÊfasterÊandÊdeeperÊthanÊotherÊplaces? 4. WhenÊIsraelÊwhinedÊforÊmeat,ÊPsalmÊ106:15ÊtellsÊus,ÊGod gave them their request but sent leanness into their souls (NKJ).Ê HowÊ wouldÊyouÊresolveÊwhatÊwe’veÊstudiedÊthisÊweekÊwithÊPsalmÊ37:4,Ê whichÊstates,ÊDelight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart? 5. ThinkÊaboutÊMiriam’sÊdisciplineÊbyÊtheÊLord.ÊREADÊHebrewsÊ12:5- 10.ÊPeopleÊoŌenÊwronglyÊthinkÊGodÊisÊpunishingÊthem.ÊDoÊyouÊ thinkÊtheÊdisciplineÊofÊtheÊLordÊisÊsomethingÊweÊconsiderÊveryÊ much?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊthatÊGodÊsƟllÊdisciplinesÊHisÊkidsÊtoday?Ê 6. AÊpeacefulÊheartÊdoesn’tÊjustÊhappen.ÊREADÊPhil.Ê4:8ÊandÊdiscussÊ theÊtrainingÊofÊtheÊmindÊthatÊisÊnecessaryÊforÊaÊheartÊtoÊbeÊatÊrest.

Map of the Wilderness Way 1Ê—ÊTaberahÊComplainingÊbroughtÊfireÊatÊedgeÊofÊtheÊcampÊ(p.34) 2Ê—ÊKibrothÊHaƩaavahÊStrongÊcravingÊbroughtÊquailÊandÊepidemicÊ(p.40) 3Ê—ÊHazerothÊAaronÊandÊMiriamÊcriƟcizeÊMosesÊ(p.41) 4Ê—ÊKadeshÊBarneaÊIsraelÊcampsÊatÊtheÊedgeÊofÊpromisedÊlandÊ(p.45) 5Ê—ÊCanaanÊJourneyÊofÊtheÊspiesÊintoÊCanaanÊ(p.46) 6Ê—ÊHormahÊFailedÊadvanceÊagainstÊCanaanitesÊ(p.53) 38ÊyearÊintermissionÊwithÊnotÊmuchÊtoÊreport 7Ê—ÊMt.ÊHorÊWhereÊAaronÊdiedÊ(p.70)Ê 6Ê—ÊHormahÊSuccessfulÊadvanceÊagainstÊtheÊCanaanitesÊ(p.72) 8Ê—ÊObothÊFollowingÊtheÊincidentÊwithÊtheÊsnakesÊÊ(p.73) 9Ê—ÊPlainsÊofÊMoabÊBalakÊandÊtheÊMidianitesÊ(p.76)

AÊpersonÊwondersÊifÊCharlesÊDickensÊhadÊNumbersÊ13Ê&Ê14ÊinÊmind,Ê whenÊheÊpennedÊtheÊopeningÊofÊAÊTaleÊofÊTwoÊCiƟes.ÊForÊIsrael,ÊitÊwasÊ the best of Ɵmes sinceÊtheyÊwereÊonÊtheÊdoorstepÊofÊtheÊlandÊGodÊ promisedÊandÊtheirÊdesertÊtravelsÊwereÊnearlyÊover.ÊThenÊitÊbecameÊ the worst of Ɵmes, asÊtheirÊjourneyÊendedÊinÊdeathÊinsteadÊofÊvictory. ThisÊweek’sÊchaptersÊpresentÊimportantÊhistoryÊlessons,ÊbutÊtheyÊalsoÊ holdÊimportantÊspiritualÊlessonsÊ—ÊatÊleastÊtheÊApostleÊPaulÊthoughtÊ so.ÊRememberÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:11,Ê“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were wriƩen down for our instrucƟon, on whom the end of the ages has come.” IsraelÊwasÊcampedÊinÊtheÊwildernessÊofÊParanÊatÊaÊplaceÊcalledÊKadeshÊ Barnea.ÊTheyÊwereÊreadyÊtoÊstepÊintoÊtheÊnewÊhomeÊthatÊGodÊprom- isedÊtoÊthemÊasÊAbraham’sÊdescendantsÊandÊfinallyÊbeÊatÊrest.ÊButÊ first,ÊtheyÊwouldÊhaveÊtoÊfightÊsomeÊbaƩles.Ê SinceÊtheyÊknewÊtheyÊwouldÊfaceÊinevitableÊbaƩles,ÊitÊwasÊaÊgreatÊideaÊ toÊformÊaÊstrategy.ÊStrategiesÊsucceedÊbestÊaŌerÊinformaƟonÊhasÊ beenÊgatheredÊandÊinformaƟonÊcomesÊfromÊaÊreconnaissanceÊmis- sion.ÊSo,ÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊinÊtheseÊversesÊmakeÊaÊlotÊofÊsense. a READÊNumbersÊ13:1-20.ÊMakeÊanyÊperƟnentÊnotesÊaboutÊwhoÊ wasÊtoÊgoÊonÊtheÊmissionÊandÊwhatÊtheyÊwereÊtoÊobserve.ÊListÊasÊmanyÊ contrastsÊinÊMoses’ÊinstrucƟonsÊasÊyouÊcanÊfind: · NoteÊwhatÊcropÊwasÊjustÊcomingÊtoÊripeness: Week 5 — Seeing with Eyes of Faith Day 1 — A Chance to See with Faith a READÊNumbersÊ13:21-24. · DoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊspiesÊwereÊsuccessfulÊinÊcoveringÊtheÊterritoryÊ theyÊwereÊassigned? · WhatÊtypeÊofÊedibleÊsouvenirsÊdidÊtheyÊbringÊback? · IfÊthisÊpassageÊwasÊallÊtheÊinformaƟonÊyouÊhadÊaboutÊtheÊforty-dayÊ spyÊmission,ÊwhatÊwouldÊyouÊhaveÊthoughtÊaboutÊtheÊland? · DoÊyouÊperceiveÊmuchÊemoƟonÊinÊthisÊaccountÊofÊtheirÊmission? READÊExodusÊ3:17.ÊSoÊfarÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊreportÊofÊtheÊlandÊÊisÊanÊÊ accurateÊresemblanceÊofÊtheÊlandÊGodÊpromisedÊtoÊgiveÊthem?ÊÊ Yesterday’sÊemoƟonlessÊdescripƟonÊstandsÊinÊcontrastÊtoÊwhatÊtheÊ spiesÊtellÊthe congregaƟonÊinÊthisÊpassage... a READÊNumbersÊ13:25-29. · DidÊtheyÊfindÊtheÊprosperityÊofÊtheÊlandÊjustÊasÊGodÊhadÊsaid? · DidÊtheyÊfindÊtheÊinhabitantsÊofÊtheÊlandÊjustÊasÊGodÊhadÊsaid? Day 2 — Seeing with Double Vision aÊÊÊREADÊNumbersÊ13:30.ÊWhatÊwasÊCaleb’sÊperspecƟveÊandÊadvice? a READÊNumbersÊ13:31-33.Ê—ÊTenÊofÊtheÊspiesÊsawÊtheÊsituaƟonÊ throughÊaÊdifferentÊlensÊthanÊCaleb.ÊDescribeÊtheirÊperspecƟveÊusingÊ words/phrasesÊfromÊtheÊtext: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊViewÊofÊtheÊPeople/Land ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊViewÊofÊThemselves/CapabiliƟes Isn’tÊitÊfascinaƟngÊthatÊtwoÊspiesÊsawÊtheÊopportunityÊpresentedÊtoÊ themÊfromÊoneÊangleÊandÊtheÊotherÊtenÊspiesÊhadÊaÊcompletelyÊdiffer- entÊperspecƟve?ÊWhatÊcausesÊsomeÊpeopleÊtoÊseeÊtheirÊlifeÊwithÊeyesÊ ofÊfaithÊandÊothersÊtoÊbeÊfilledÊwithÊfear?Ê ItÊwasÊtheÊmajorityÊspyÊreportÊthatÊgrabbedÊtheÊmegaphone.ÊWe’veÊ alreadyÊlearnedÊthatÊgrumbling isÊasÊcontagiousÊasÊaÊheadÊcold,ÊandÊ thisÊpassageÊshowsÊusÊthatÊlack of faithÊisÊjustÊasÊcontagious.ÊOnceÊ we’reÊseeingÊaÊsituaƟonÊthroughÊourÊnaturalÊeyesÊofÊdiscouragement,Ê soonÊothersÊaroundÊusÊareÊseeingÊthingsÊfromÊthatÊsameÊperspecƟve.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ14:1-4.Ê · WhatÊemoƟonsÊsurfacedÊinÊIsraelÊfollowingÊtheÊspyÊreport? · WhatÊphrasesÊtellÊusÊtheseÊemoƟonsÊwereÊsharedÊbyÊtheÊmajority? · WhoÊwereÊtheyÊspecificallyÊgrumblingÊagainst?

· WriteÊoutÊtheirÊexactÊlamentÊinÊv.2bÊ_______________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ · WhatÊdecisionÊdidÊtheirÊnaturalÊperspecƟveÊcauseÊthemÊtoÊmakeÊ (v.4)? ThisÊwasÊcompletelyÊtragic!ÊGodÊhadÊbeenÊunfoldingÊHisÊplanÊforÊÊÊÊ IsraelÊsinceÊHeÊgaveÊHisÊpromiseÊtoÊAbrahamÊinÊGenesisÊ15.ÊIsraelÊwasÊ closeÊenoughÊtoÊCanaanÊtoÊsmellÊwhatÊtheyÊwereÊcookingÊforÊdinner;Ê butÊratherÊthanÊseeÊtheirÊopportunityÊthroughÊeyesÊofÊfaith,ÊtheyÊ brokeÊdownÊinÊfearÊandÊdistress;ÊtheyÊweptÊandÊwailedÊandÊpackedÊ theirÊbagsÊforÊEgypt. IÊwonder,ÊwasÊGod’sÊpillar of fire keepingÊtheÊchillÊoffÊtheÊdesertÊfloorÊ asÊtheyÊweptÊinÊtheirÊtentsÊallÊnight?ÊWereÊtheyÊgatheringÊrocks,ÊalongÊ withÊtheirÊmanna, theÊnextÊdayÊtoÊstoneÊAaronÊandÊMoses?ÊDidÊtheyÊ makeÊplansÊforÊtheirÊtrekÊbackÊtoÊEgyptÊwhileÊeaƟngÊtheirÊbread from heaven? It’sÊsobering,Êisn’tÊit,ÊtoÊthinkÊthatÊweÊalsoÊcanÊloseÊfaith,Êgrumble,ÊseeÊ throughÊaÊbadÊperspecƟveÊratherÊthanÊeyesÊofÊfaith,ÊandÊmakeÊharshÊ judgmentsÊaboutÊGod’sÊcourseÊforÊourÊlivesÊ—ÊallÊwhileÊweÊareÊenjoy- ingÊtheÊcomfortÊofÊsituaƟonsÊandÊthingsÊGodÊhasÊprovidedÊforÊus.Ê · WriteÊdownÊoneÊorÊtwoÊsituaƟonsÊinÊyourÊlifeÊwhereÊyouÊneedÊ eyesÊofÊfaithÊandÊaÊperspecƟveÊthatÊsays,Ê“we can do this,”ÊjustÊ likeÊCaleb.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ14:5-12. · MosesÊandÊAaronÊhadÊaÊspiritualÊperspecƟveÊ—ÊwhatÊdidÊtheyÊdo? · JoshuaÊandÊCalebÊhadÊeyesÊofÊfaithÊ—ÊwhatÊdidÊtheyÊdo? · IsraelÊheldÊtheirÊnaturalÊperspecƟveÊ—ÊwhatÊdidÊtheyÊthreaten? · GodÊgrievedÊoverÊIsrael’sÊunbeliefÊ—ÊwhatÊwasÊHisÊdecision? NowÊweÊcomeÊtoÊaÊpassage,ÊwhereÊMosesÊreallyÊshinesÊasÊaÊtype of Christ!ÊIsraelÊhadÊrejectedÊYahwehÊinÊsoÊmanyÊwaysÊthatÊHeÊwasÊfinallyÊ readyÊtoÊallowÊthemÊtoÊliveÊunderÊtheÊconsequencesÊofÊthatÊrejecƟon.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ IfÊnotÊforÊtheÊintercessionÊofÊMosesÊ(theirÊSaviorÊinÊthisÊcase),ÊtheyÊ wouldÊhaveÊhadÊnoÊfutureÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGod.ÊIfÊnotÊforÊJesus,ÊweÊ tooÊwouldÊhaveÊnoÊfutureÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGod. a READÊNumbersÊ14:13-16.Ê · ListÊMoses’ÊargumentsÊforÊwhyÊGodÊshouldÊnotÊabandonÊIsrael.Ê Day 3 — Seeing the Beauty of Grace a READÊNumbersÊ14:17-19.ÊÊWhatÊaÊmanÊofÊinsight!ÊMosesÊusedÊ God’sÊwordsÊtoÊremindÊHimÊhowÊHeÊactsÊgraciouslyÊtowardÊHisÊcrea- Ɵon.ÊNicelyÊdone!ÊDoÊyouÊknowÊGod’sÊcharacterÊwellÊenoughÊtoÊuseÊ HisÊownÊwordsÊinÊyourÊprayers?ÊDoÊyouÊappealÊtoÊGodÊonÊtheÊbasisÊofÊ whatÊHeÊhasÊpromised,ÊratherÊthanÊwhatÊyourÊacƟonsÊdeserve?Ê READÊPsalmÊ103:7-13.ÊLiŌÊoutÊoneÊorÊtwoÊthings,ÊdescribingÊhowÊGodÊ actsÊtowardÊusÊ—ÊthingsÊyouÊhaveÊeitherÊtakenÊforÊgrantedÊorÊsimplyÊ notÊdaredÊtoÊbelieve.ÊListÊthemÊbelowÊandÊspeakÊthemÊbackÊtoÊGodÊinÊ yourÊprayersÊthisÊweek.Ê RememberÊlastÊweekÊweÊsaidÊGodÊwillÊsomeƟmesÊgiveÊHisÊpeopleÊex- actlyÊwhatÊtheyÊaskÊfor.Ê(ForÊexampleÊ—ÊtheÊincidentÊwithÊtheÊquail.)Ê Today’sÊpassageÊisÊoneÊofÊtheÊmostÊsoberingÊexamplesÊinÊallÊScripture. a WriteÊoutÊNumbersÊ14:28bÊbelow: ________________________________________________________ TheÊpeopleÊofÊIsraelÊwereÊsoÊfearfulÊofÊbeingÊdevouredÊbyÊtheÊswordÊifÊ theyÊenteredÊCanaan,ÊthatÊtheyÊsaidÊtheyÊwouldÊpreferÊtoÊdieÊinÊtheÊ desert.ÊSo,ÊGodÊfinallyÊgrantedÊtheirÊrequest. LikeÊaÊparentÊskilledÊinÊbothÊmercyÊandÊjusƟce,ÊGod’sÊhandÊwasÊdrawnÊ backÊfromÊdestroyingÊthemÊcompletelyÊbecauseÊMosesÊhadÊactedÊasÊaÊ covenantÊmediator.ÊHeÊremindedÊGodÊofÊHisÊcharacterÊ—ÊthatÊHeÊwasÊ indeedÊlong-sufferingÊandÊfullÊofÊmercyÊ—ÊandÊheÊalsoÊpointedÊoutÊ thatÊIsraelÊwasÊintendedÊtoÊbeÊaÊtestamentÊtoÊtheÊnaƟonsÊandÊthatÊ wouldÊnotÊhappenÊifÊtheyÊwereÊstrewnÊoutÊdeadÊinÊtheÊdesert! Day 4 — Seeing Discipline Unfold a READÊNumbersÊ14:20-24.ÊSummarizeÊGod’sÊresponseÊtoÊMoses: a READÊNumbersÊ14:25-35. · IsraelÊsaidÊ(14:3)Ê“Would it not be beƩer for us to go back to Egypt” InÊv.25,ÊwhichÊdirecƟonÊdidÊGodÊsendÊthem? · IsraelÊsaidÊ(14:2)Ê“Would that we had died in this wilderness” InÊv.29,ÊwhereÊdidÊGodÊdesƟneÊthemÊtoÊdie? · IsraelÊsaidÊ(14:3)Ê“Our liƩle ones will become a prey” InÊv.31,ÊwhoÊdidÊGodÊdetermineÊtoÊbringÊtoÊtheÊPromisedÊ Land? · AccordingÊtoÊv.34,ÊwhatÊdidÊtheÊ40-yearÊpauseÊinÊtheÊWildernessÊ represent? · WhoÊwereÊtwoÊexcepƟonsÊtoÊthoseÊwhoÊdiedÊinÊtheÊWilderness? WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtwoÊmenÊsawÊthroughÊeyesÊofÊfaithÊwhenÊthoseÊ aroundÊthemÊseemedÊblindÊtoÊGod’sÊplan?ÊDoÊsomeÊpeopleÊjustÊ‘get it’ andÊsomeÊdon’t?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊcouldÊpossiblyÊhaveÊanythingÊtoÊdoÊ withÊwhatÊtheyÊsawÊandÊbelievedÊandÊtoldÊthemselvesÊregularlyÊaboutÊ GodÊandÊHisÊpromisesÊbeforeÊtheirÊforty-dayÊmissionÊevenÊbegan?

AÊmugÊinÊanÊEtsyÊshopÊcaughtÊmyÊaƩenƟonÊrecentlyÊandÊremindedÊmeÊ ofÊtheÊpowerÊofÊmyÊdailyÊconversaƟonsÊwithÊmyself: YourÊmindÊwillÊalwaysÊbelieveÊwhatÊyouÊtellÊit,Ê feedÊitÊfaithÊ…ÊfeedÊitÊtruthÊÊ…ÊÊfeedÊitÊlove That’sÊnotÊfromÊtheÊBible,ÊbutÊwhenÊitÊcomesÊtoÊSeeing with Eyes of Faith, mentallyÊfeedingÊourselvesÊtheÊtruthÊofÊGod’sÊWordÊeveryÊop- portunityÊweÊget,ÊwillÊgoÊaÊlongÊwayÊtoÊimprovingÊourÊspiritualÊvision. ListÊoneÊorÊtwoÊareasÊwhereÊyouÊsuspectÊyourÊspiritualÊvisionÊhasÊgoneÊ dimÊbutÊyouÊwantÊtoÊseeÊwithÊeyesÊofÊfaith,ÊlikeÊCalebÊandÊJoshua.Ê · Ê Ê Ê · Ê AŌerÊprayingÊaboutÊthoseÊareas,ÊhowÊdoÊyouÊintendÊtoÊchangeÊhowÊ youÊfeed yourself faith and truth?ÊBeÊspecific! NumbersÊ14:39ÊtellsÊusÊthatÊIsraelÊmourned greatlyÊwhenÊtheyÊwereÊ toldÊbyÊMosesÊaboutÊGod’sÊdisciplineÊforÊtheirÊlackÊofÊfaith.ÊWhatÊaÊsadÊ situaƟon!ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊfumbledÊaÊsituaƟonÊsoÊbadlyÊthatÊallÊyouÊ wantedÊwasÊaÊdo-over? TheyÊwantedÊaÊdo-over asÊwell,ÊbutÊtheyÊÊÊÊ didn’tÊaskÊpermission,ÊtheyÊjustÊdidÊit!Ê Day 5 — The Reality of Disobedience a READÊNumbersÊ14:39-45. · WhatÊterritoryÊdidÊsomeÊofÊtheÊpeopleÊinvadeÊ(v.40)? · WhatÊhadÊGodÊalreadyÊtoldÊthemÊaboutÊthatÊveryÊterritoryÊwhenÊ HeÊinstructedÊthemÊtoÊturnÊtowardÊtheÊRedÊSeaÊ(v.25)? EvenÊinÊjudgement,ÊGodÊwasÊsƟllÊproacƟvelyÊwarningÊthemÊandÊoffer- ingÊlovingÊguidanceÊforÊtheirÊprotecƟon.ÊDoesÊthisÊnotÊremindÊyouÊofÊaÊ veryÊaƩenƟveÊparent?ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊhadÊtoÊadministerÊnecessaryÊ disciplineÊtoÊaÊchildÊinÊorderÊtoÊshapeÊtheirÊcharacter?ÊDidÊitÊaboutÊkillÊ you?ÊIsraelÊwasÊsƟllÊinÊadolescenceÊandÊtheÊbookÊofÊNumbersÊprovesÊ theyÊsƟllÊrequiredÊGod’sÊaƩenƟonÊandÊdiscipline. · READÊDeuteronomyÊ1:30-32ÊandÊthenÊ8:5-6.ÊWhatÊstrikesÊyouÊ aboutÊhowÊGod’sÊacƟonsÊareÊdescribedÊinÊtheseÊverses? · WeÊoŌenÊthinkÊthatÊGodÊturnedÊgraciousÊinÊtheÊNewÊTestament.Ê ReadÊMicahÊ7:18-20ÊandÊshareÊhowÊHisÊmercyÊandÊgraceÊwereÊ manifestÊlongÊbeforeÊJesusÊcameÊtoÊearth:

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. WeÊoŌenÊsayÊtoÊeachÊother,Ê‘are you comfortable with this?’, meaningÊdoÊyouÊacceptÊtheseÊterms?ÊGod’sÊpurposeÊinÊtheÊspyÊ missionÊwasÊnotÊtoÊfindÊoutÊifÊtheyÊwereÊcomfortableÊwithÊtheirÊ God-givenÊtask.ÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊpurposeÊwas? 2. READÊHebrewsÊ13:7.ÊConsiderÊMoses,ÊCalebÊandÊJoshua.ÊHowÊ couldÊtheÊWildernessÊstorylineÊhaveÊbeenÊalteredÊifÊIsraelÊhadÊimi- tatedÊtheirÊfaith?ÊHowÊcanÊwe imitateÊtheÊGodlyÊfaithÊofÊothers? 3. WeÊcanÊdespairÊatÊelecƟonÊresultsÊthatÊareÊdifferentÊthanÊweÊ hoped.ÊIsraelÊoverwhelminglyÊvotedÊno toÊGod’sÊdirecƟve.ÊHowÊ canÊyouÊapplyÊMoses’ÊexampleÊofÊintercessionÊtoÊyourÊlifeÊwhenÊ thoseÊsituaƟonsÊhappenÊinÊourÊworld? 4. WhenÊweÊseeÊourÊfutureÊthroughÊeyesÊofÊfearÊ(likeÊIsraelÊdid),ÊourÊ perspecƟveÊofÊGodÊmayÊbecomeÊfuzzy.ÊWeÊneedÊtoÊgoÊbackÊtoÊtheÊ lastÊƟmeÊourÊperspecƟveÊwasÊinÊfocus.ÊWhatÊwouldÊthatÊƟmeÊhaveÊ beenÊforÊIsrael?ÊWhatÊwouldÊthatÊƟmeÊbeÊforÊyou? 5. READÊRomansÊ1:16-17.ÊGodÊwantedÊIsraelÊtoÊhaveÊeyesÊofÊfaithÊforÊ theÊpromisesÊHeÊhadÊgiven.ÊWhatÊdoÊourÊeyesÊofÊfaithÊrestÊupon? 6. READÊHebrewsÊ3:7-14,ÊwhichÊspeaksÊtoÊtheÊmeaningÊofÊthisÊhistoryÊ lessonÊforÊus.ÊWhatÊareÊsomeÊofÊtheÊimportantÊelementsÊofÊthisÊ passageÊforÊyou?

IÊalmostÊfeelÊthatÊanÊapologyÊisÊinÊorderÊasÊweÊbeginÊanotherÊweekÊofÊ disturbingÊWildernessÊexperiences.ÊWe’reÊskippingÊoverÊNumbersÊ15Ê andÊgoingÊstraightÊintoÊchapterÊ16,ÊwhichÊholdsÊtheÊfamiliarÊthemeÊofÊ rebellion andÊdisobedience toÊGod’sÊplan.Ê IfÊthereÊwasÊoneÊthingÊthatÊcouldÊhaveÊpreventedÊtheÊwholeÊmessÊ we’reÊaboutÊtoÊread,ÊitÊwouldÊhaveÊbeenÊforÊeachÊpersonÊtoÊhaveÊ foundÊsaƟsfacƟon in God’s calling for their life. FindingÊsaƟsfacƟonÊinÊ our callÊfromÊtheÊLordÊalsoÊgoesÊaÊlongÊwayÊinÊavoidingÊmessesÊtoday! a READÊNumbersÊ16:1-11.Ê · FourÊmenÊrose up against Moses.ÊFillÊinÊtheirÊnamesÊonÊthisÊchart: __________Ê ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊaÊLeviteÊofÊtheÊKohathiteÊclan __________ __________ÊÊÊÊÊ allÊfromÊtheÊtribeÊofÊReuben __________ · HowÊmanyÊchiefsÊ(influenƟalÊmen)ÊofÊtheÊcongregaƟonÊdidÊtheyÊ gatherÊtoÊspeakÊagainstÊMosesÊandÊAaron?ÊÊ___________ · GoÊtoÊtheÊdiagramÊonÊp.22Ê—ÊnoteÊtheÊproximityÊofÊtheÊ ReubenitesÊandÊKohathites.ÊHowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊmayÊhaveÊ playedÊintoÊtheÊsituaƟon? · WhatÊwasÊtheirÊmainÊcomplaintÊ(v.3,Ê9-11)? Week 6 — Satisfied with God’s Call Day 1 — Looking Outside My Lane

· CanÊyouÊthinkÊofÊanyÊreasonsÊwhyÊKorahÊwantedÊtoÊalsoÊperformÊ theÊduƟesÊofÊtheÊpriestsÊratherÊthanÊhisÊownÊtask?Ê(ReadÊNumbersÊ 4:15ÊtoÊreviewÊtheÊtravelingÊjobÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊKohathites.) IÊthinkÊthereÊareÊtwoÊsignificantÊlessonsÊinÊthisÊpassage… #1ÊDissaƟsfacƟonÊ—ÊwhichÊisÊjustÊasÊcontagiousÊasÊgrumblingÊ andÊcomplaining;ÊotherwiseÊwhyÊwouldÊ250ÊnormallyÊ reasonableÊmenÊjoinÊinÊthisÊrebellion? #2ÊComparisonÊ—ÊwhichÊcloudsÊourÊvisionÊforÊwalkingÊinÊourÊ uniqueÊcalling!ÊTheÊmessageÊwasÊclearÊthatÊKorahÊwantedÊtheÊ jobÊthatÊAaronÊhad,ÊratherÊthanÊtheÊjobÊhe’dÊbeenÊgiven. DissaƟsfacƟon andÊComparison areÊfirstÊcousins,ÊbutÊIÊthinkÊ Comparison hasÊtheÊdominantÊpersonalityÊandÊtellsÊDissaƟsfacƟonÊ whenÊit’sÊƟmeÊtoÊwakeÊupÊandÊgoÊtoÊwork.Ê Comparison directsÊourÊgazeÊontoÊotherÊpeople’sÊlivesÊ—ÊwhatÊtheyÊ getÊtoÊdoÊinÊlifeÊ—ÊwhatÊtheyÊgetÊtoÊdoÊinÊGod’sÊKingdomÊ—ÊhowÊ muchÊmoreÊsignificantÊtheirÊlifeÊseemsÊ—ÊhowÊmuchÊmoreÊ affirmaƟonÊtheyÊseemÊtoÊenjoyÊfromÊothers.ÊThenÊsheÊasksÊusÊtoÊtakeÊ aÊlookÊatÊourÊownÊpathÊinÊlifeÊ—ÊwhatÊwe’veÊbeenÊgivenÊtoÊdoÊ—ÊandÊ suggestsÊthatÊourÊownÊcallingÊisÊeitherÊunfair,Êboring,Êthankless,ÊorÊ insignificantÊandÊmaybeÊweÊdeserveÊbeƩer,ÊandÊcertainlyÊweÊwouldÊ beÊhappierÊdoingÊsomethingÊelse.Ê WeÊeitherÊbecomeÊannoyedÊwithÊGodÊ(andÊourÊcalling)ÊorÊweÊbecomeÊ annoyed,ÊjealousÊandÊbiƩerÊtowardÊtheÊveryÊpeopleÊwe’veÊcomparedÊ ourselvesÊwithÊ—ÊasÊifÊtheyÊhadÊanythingÊtoÊdoÊwithÊourÊmisplacedÊ emoƟons!ÊIt’sÊpreƩyÊunfairÊtoÊthem!ÊTHATÊisÊwhatÊweÊsawÊplayingÊoutÊ inÊKorah’sÊrebellion.ÊItÊwasn’tÊfairÊtoÊAaronÊthatÊKorahÊsetÊhisÊsightsÊ onÊAaron’sÊjobÊratherÊthanÊtheÊoneÊheÊhimselfÊhadÊbeenÊgivenÊtoÊdo. SoÊweÊshouldÊaskÊourselvesÊifÊthisÊcouldÊpossiblyÊhappenÊinÊyourÊownÊ life?Ê—ÊISÊitÊhappeningÊrightÊnowÊinÊyourÊownÊlife?Ê

ForÊaÊguyÊwhoÊonceÊthoughtÊheÊcouldn’tÊtalkÊveryÊwell,ÊMosesÊhasÊ sureÊdevelopedÊaÊwayÊwithÊwordsÊnow.ÊCompleteÊhisÊargumentsÊfromÊ v.9ÊthatÊwereÊintendedÊtoÊhelpÊKorahÊappreciateÊwhatÊhe’dÊalreadyÊ beenÊgivenÊinÊlife:Ê“Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has ________________________________ from the congregaƟon of Israel, to ________________________ to himself, to do ___________ in the tabernacle of the Lord, and to ___________________ before the congregaƟon to minister to them … And would you _____________ the priesthood also? MosesÊwasÊpoinƟngÊoutÊthatÊGodÊHADÊgivenÊKorahÊanÊimportantÊandÊ fulfillingÊministry.ÊHe’dÊbeenÊassignedÊaÊspecificÊlaneÊto run in,ÊbutÊ KorahÊchoseÊtoÊtakeÊhisÊeyesÊoffÊhisÊownÊfinishÊlineÊandÊinsteadÊfocusÊ onÊtheÊrunnersÊinÊtheÊlanesÊbesideÊhim.ÊÊ Now,ÊthinkÊaboutÊtheÊpathÊGodÊhasÊgivenÊYOUÊ—ÊtheÊlane inÊwhichÊ YOUÊmustÊrun.ÊTheÊdrawingÊbelowÊrepresents your lane. WriteÊonÊ your laneÊwhatÊGodÊhasÊassignedÊtoÊyou.ÊCircleÊanyÊelementsÊthatÊyouÊ haveÊtakenÊforÊgrantedÊorÊbecomeÊdissaƟsfiedÊwith.Ê NowÊtoÊtheÊrightÊandÊleŌÊofÊyourÊlaneÊabove,ÊhonestlyÊlistÊanythingÊ outsideÊyourÊlaneÊthatÊyouÊrealizeÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊreachingÊfor,Ê wanƟngÊtoÊÊhave,ÊthatÊhasÊbroughtÊaÊsenseÊofÊdissaƟsfacƟonÊintoÊyourÊ relaƟonshipÊwithÊGodÊorÊothers.ÊÊTakeÊtheseÊthingsÊtoÊprayer!

InÊNumbers,Êwe’veÊseenÊthatÊGodÊestablishedÊandÊcommunicatedÊan ordered existence forÊIsrael.ÊPartÊofÊthatÊorderÊwasÊtheÊassignmentÊofÊ tasks.ÊDissaƟsfacƟonÊwithÊGod’sÊorderÊwasÊrebellion.ÊThat’sÊwhatÊweÊ seeÊinÊthisÊlesson. a READÊNumbersÊ16:12-19. · WhichÊlandÊwereÊtheyÊreferringÊtoÊinÊv.13ÊwhenÊtheyÊaccusedÊ Moses,Ê‘you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey’? · AsÊyou’veÊreadÊtheÊtext,ÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊMosesÊactuallyÊactedÊasÊaÊ prince over them?ÊÊWhyÊorÊwhyÊnot? · SinceÊtheyÊwantedÊtheÊjobÊofÊtheÊpriestsÊwithÊtheirÊcensors,ÊwhatÊ didÊMosesÊtellÊKorahÊandÊhisÊ250ÊmenÊtoÊprepareÊinÊv.16-18? · SinceÊKorah’sÊconfidenceÊwasÊsoÊgreat,ÊwhatÊacƟonsÊdidÊheÊtakeÊinÊ v.19? a READÊNumbersÊ16:20-35. EvenÊinÊtheÊmidstÊofÊtreacheryÊandÊblatantÊrebellion,ÊMosesÊandÊ AaronÊareÊfoundÊintercedingÊonÊbehalfÊofÊtheÊrebelsÊinÊv.22.Ê Isn’tÊitÊinteresƟngÊthatÊinÊv.24-26,ÊbeforeÊGod’sÊjudgment,ÊaÊwarningÊ isÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊcongregaƟon,ÊsoÊtheyÊcanÊmakeÊtheirÊfinal choice ofÊ idenƟfyingÊwithÊoneÊgroupÊorÊtheÊother? · SummarizeÊtheÊrestÊofÊv.27-35: Day 2 — Safety Inside my Lane

ForÊanotherÊperspecƟveÊreadÊtheÊpoeƟcÊsummaryÊinÊPsalmÊ106:16-18. InÊv.28,ÊwhenÊMosesÊsaid,Ê“... the LORD has sent me to do all these works…it has not been of my own accord.”ÊThereÊareÊfewÊthingsÊmoreÊ freeingÊinÊlifeÊthanÊknowingÊyou’reÊdoingÊwhatÊGodÊgaveÊyouÊtoÊdo.Ê That’sÊhowÊweÊcanÊfollowÊtheÊadviceÊofÊElisabethÊElliotÊwhenÊsheÊsaid,Ê ‘leaving all results with Him’. AreÊyouÊunderÊaƩackÊinÊanyÊwayÊrightÊnowÊforÊfollowingÊGod’sÊcallingÊ inÊyourÊlife?ÊWithÊyourÊeyesÊonÊtheÊLordÊandÊhumilityÊinÊyourÊheart,Ê youÊcanÊmoveÊforwardÊwithÊanÊassuranceÊofÊsafetyÊinÊyourÊlane.Ê READÊ2ÊTimothyÊ4:5.Ê—ÊListÊtheÊthreeÊpiecesÊofÊadviceÊyouÊseeÊinÊthisÊ verseÊthatÊmayÊpertainÊtoÊyourÊlife: · Ê · Ê · Ê HowÊmightÊthatÊadvice,ÊalongÊwithÊtheÊexampleÊofÊMosesÊandÊAaronÊ asÊhumbleÊandÊfaithfulÊservants,ÊhelpÊyouÊthisÊweek? TheseÊpassagesÊareÊtough!ÊIfÊtheÊonlyÊscrapÊofÊScriptureÊweÊhadÊwasÊ NumbersÊ16,ÊweÊmightÊcomeÊawayÊwithÊaÊwarpedÊviewÊofÊGod.ÊBut,Ê sinceÊweÊdoÊhaveÊtheÊenƟreÊBible,ÊweÊcanÊknowÊthreeÊthingsÊaboutÊ GodÊthatÊareÊobservedÊinÊthisÊsecƟonÊofÊScripture:Ê 1) HeÊisÊnotÊunpredictable,Ê 2) HeÊmakesÊHisÊinstrucƟonsÊabundantlyÊclear, 3) HeÊgivesÊgenerousÊwarningsÊbeforeÊHeÊjudgesÊrebellion. Day 3 — A Second Chance with God’s Call a READÊNumbersÊ16:36-40. · AsÊtheÊashesÊofÊjudgmentÊwereÊsƟllÊcooling,ÊwhatÊdidÊGodÊinstructÊ EleazarÊtoÊdoÊasÊaÊlasƟngÊreminderÊandÊwarningÊtoÊIsrael? NoteÊanotherÊevidenceÊofÊGod’sÊmercyÊ—ÊinÊNumbersÊ26:10-11,ÊweÊ findÊsomeÊofÊtheÊsonsÊofÊKorahÊdidÊnotÊstandÊwithÊtheirÊfatherÊinÊtheÊ rebellionÊandÊGodÊsparedÊthem.ÊTheirÊdescendantsÊactuallyÊwentÊonÊ toÊpenÊaÊnumberÊofÊPsalms,ÊwhichÊbecameÊpartÊofÊourÊScriptures! a READÊNumbersÊ16:41-50.ÊIÊcanÊhardlyÊbelieveÊv.41Ê—ÊaccusingÊ MosesÊandÊAaronÊofÊkilling the people of the Lord? GodÊwasÊangeredÊ byÊtheirÊaƫtudeÊonceÊagainÊandÊaÊplagueÊbeganÊamongÊtheÊpeople. · ThisÊepisodeÊstartedÊwithÊ250Êmen,ÊbutÊnowÊwhoÊwasÊaddedÊtoÊ theÊgrumbling,ÊaccordingÊtoÊv.41? · WhatÊpostureÊofÊhumilityÊdoÊweÊseeÊinÊAaronÊandÊMosesÊagainÊ (v.45)? · SummarizeÊAaron’sÊacƟonsÊofÊatonementÊonÊbehalfÊofÊtheÊpeople. TheÊmoreÊthatÊMoses’Ê(andÊAaron’s)ÊrollÊasÊmediatorÊbetweenÊGodÊ andÊtheÊpeopleÊisÊdisplayedÊinÊtheÊWildernessÊexperience,ÊtheÊmoreÊ theyÊareÊopposedÊandÊevenÊdespisedÊbyÊtheÊpeopleÊforÊthatÊveryÊrole.Ê ThisÊisÊcertainlyÊanÊechoÊofÊwhatÊJesusÊHimselfÊendured.ÊÊ—ÊSL

WhenÊIÊreadÊhowÊAaronÊintercededÊtoÊendÊtheÊplague,ÊmyÊmindÊgoesÊ backÊtoÊanotherÊƟmeÊwhenÊIsraelÊwasÊperplexedÊandÊgrumblingÊandÊ beggedÊhimÊtoÊmake,Ê“gods who shall go before us.” (Ex 32:1) AndÊ AaronÊdidÊit!ÊItÊwasÊaÊgreatÊfailureÊonÊhisÊpart,ÊforÊwhichÊheÊmustÊhaveÊ sufferedÊÊregret,ÊandÊsubsequentlyÊrepented,ÊbecauseÊlookÊwhereÊheÊ endedÊup!ÊGodÊdidn’tÊtossÊAaronÊasideÊ—ÊHeÊwasÊgivenÊanotherÊ chanceÊatÊfaithfulnessÊandÊhereÊheÊstandsÊasÊanÊechoÊofÊChrist,ÊwhoÊ alsoÊmadeÊatonementÊforÊtheÊrebellionÊofÊman.Ê AreÊyouÊsiƫngÊunderÊaÊcloudÊofÊpastÊmistakes,ÊwonderingÊifÊtheyÊwillÊ beÊyourÊscarlet leƩerÊforÊtheÊrestÊofÊyourÊlife?ÊCertainly,ÊsomeÊthingsÊ inÊlifeÊcan’tÊbeÊfullyÊrepairedÊevenÊaŌerÊrepentance;ÊbutÊourÊrelaƟon-Ê shipÊwithÊGodÊcan be repaired.ÊThinkÊthisÊthroughÊandÊtalkÊwithÊtheÊ LordÊaboutÊanyÊpastÊtransgressionsÊthatÊhaveÊnotÊbeenÊdealtÊwith. a READÊNumbersÊ17. I’mÊsureÊyou’veÊgoneÊthroughÊdrama-filledÊsituaƟonsÊinÊlife.ÊEmoƟonsÊ getÊhot,ÊmisunderstandingsÊswirlÊandÊsomeƟmesÊthere’sÊevenÊaÊ climacƟcÊepisodeÊthatÊpolarizesÊthoseÊinvolved.ÊWhenÊthingsÊlikeÊthatÊ happenÊ(andÊweÊhopeÊtheyÊareÊrare),Êit’sÊalwaysÊaÊgoodÊideaÊtoÊletÊ thingsÊcoolÊdown,ÊletÊaÊliƩleÊƟmeÊgoÊby,ÊbutÊthenÊiniƟateÊ communicaƟonÊinÊaÊcalmerÊmanner.Ê IsÊthatÊwhatÊGodÊwasÊdoingÊhereÊwithÊtheÊstaffs?ÊÊMaybe!Ê · DescribeÊallÊofÊtheÊstaffsÊtoÊbeÊcollected? · WhereÊwereÊtheyÊtoÊbeÊplacedÊovernight? · WhatÊwasÊtheÊdesiredÊoutcomeÊofÊthisÊdemonstraƟonÊ(v.5)? Day 4 — Satisfied with God’s Choice

· DrawÊanÊillustraƟonÊofÊAaron’sÊstaffÊinÊv.8ÊcomparedÊtoÊtheÊotherÊ twelveÊstaffs: It’sÊcommonÊtoÊreferÊtoÊtheseÊpeopleÊasÊ‘theÊChildrenÊofÊIsrael’.ÊIt’sÊaÊ greatÊphraseÊsinceÊtheyÊareÊbiologicallyÊchildren ofÊJacobÊ(Israel);ÊbutÊ it’sÊalsoÊaÊdescripƟveÊphraseÊbecauseÊtheyÊtookÊaÊlong ƟmeÊtoÊ outgrowÊresemblancesÊtoÊchildhood.ÊTakeÊv.12-13ÊforÊexample: “Behold, we perish … everyone who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?”Ê AÊbitÊdramaƟc,Êdon’tÊyouÊthink?ÊLikeÊaÊfour-year-oldÊrunningÊoutÊofÊ theÊhouse,ÊawayÊfromÊherÊmother,ÊscreamingÊ(forÊtheÊneighbors’Ê benefit),Êshe’s gonna kill me! TheÊgoodÊthingÊwasÊIsraelÊfinallyÊrecognizedÊGodÊappointed AaronÊtoÊ theÊpriesthoodÊtoÊblessÊthemÊandÊprotectÊthemÊasÊtheyÊlivedÊwithÊaÊ HolyÊGodÊinÊtheirÊmidst.ÊTheÊbadÊthingÊwasÊtheyÊsƟllÊhadÊaÊhardÊƟmeÊ accepƟngÊthatÊGodÊwasÊfor them andÊHisÊchoicesÊwereÊforÊtheirÊgood.Ê DoÊyouÊstruggleÊbelievingÊthatÊGodÊhasÊgoodÊplansÊforÊyourÊlife?ÊDoesÊ Israel’sÊemoƟonalÊresponseÊfeelÊfamiliar?ÊDoÊyouÊunderstandÊthatÊyouÊ areÊnowÊableÊtoÊdrawÊnearÊtoÊGodÊthroughÊHisÊappointedÊmanÊJesusÊ Christ,ÊwhoÊisÊtheÊperfecƟonÊofÊtheÊimageÊweÊsawÊinÊAaron? READÊtheseÊpassagesÊasÊaÊliƩleÊsurveyÊthroughÊHebrewsÊandÊnoteÊ howÊGodÊappointedÊourÊhighÊpriestÊforÊourÊgoodÊasÊwell… · HebrewsÊ2:17 · HebrewsÊ4:14-15 · HebrewsÊ5:1,5 · HebrewsÊ6:19-20Ê · HebrewsÊ8:1-3

AŌerÊherÊrebellion,ÊIsraelÊfinallyÊembracedÊtheÊrealityÊthatÊtheÊ priesthoodÊhadÊbeenÊgivenÊbyÊGodÊasÊaÊgiŌÊsoÊthat,ÊthroughÊcleansingÊ andÊatonement,ÊtheyÊcouldÊco-existÊwithÊYahweh.ÊAaronÊandÊhisÊsonsÊ wereÊnotÊthereÊtoÊrule overÊtheÊpeople,ÊtheyÊwereÊappointedÊtoÊserveÊ theÊpeople.ÊFurthermore,ÊtheÊLevitesÊhadÊbeenÊgivenÊtoÊtheÊpriestsÊasÊ aÊgiŌÊtoÊhelpÊinÊtheirÊministry.ÊGodÊhadÊaÊcreatedÊorderÊforÊeverything!Ê Today’sÊchapterÊreaffirmsÊandÊexplainsÊtheÊimportantÊrolesÊofÊbothÊ groups.ÊNote,ÊinÊv.1,ÊthatÊGodÊisÊspeakingÊdirectlyÊtoÊAaronÊthisÊƟme,Ê ratherÊthanÊtellingÊMosesÊtoÊtellÊAaron.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ18.ÊÊNoteÊwhatÊinterestsÊyouÊinÊeachÊsecƟon: · V.1-7: · V.8-20: · V.21-24: · V.25-32: EveryoneÊfromÊtheÊtribeÊofÊLeviÊwasÊaÊLevite!ÊThat’sÊnotÊcomplicated,Ê butÊthatÊrealityÊmayÊhaveÊcomplicatedÊsomeÊpeople’sÊlives.ÊTheyÊwereÊ givenÊgreatÊprivileges,ÊbutÊalsoÊcertainÊrestricƟons.ÊForÊexample,ÊtheyÊ hadÊnoÊinheritanceÊcomingÊinÊtheÊPromisedÊLandÊ—ÊnoÊfieldsÊtoÊwork,Ê whichÊmeantÊnoÊfoodÊtoÊeat.Ê Day 5 — Satisfied with God’s Call

· IfÊtheÊLevitesÊwereÊnotÊtoÊbeÊgivenÊanÊinheritance,ÊhowÊwouldÊtheyÊ live?ÊHowÊwouldÊtheyÊeat? · DoÊyouÊthinkÊthatÊeveryoneÊwhoÊwasÊaÊLeviteÊautomaƟcallyÊlovedÊ thisÊarrangement?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊsomeÊhadÊtoÊ(asÊweÊsay)Êwrap their minds around thisÊplan? · HowÊmightÊyouÊhaveÊfeltÊaboutÊnotÊbeingÊableÊtoÊearnÊyourÊownÊ living?ÊWouldÊyouÊhaveÊneededÊƟmeÊtoÊembraceÊthatÊidea? · AreÊthereÊanyÊprinciplesÊfoundÊinÊthoseÊpassagesÊthatÊyouÊthinkÊ translateÊtoÊNewÊTestamentÊƟmes?ÊHowÊso? WeÊlearnedÊthatÊsomeÊpeopleÊwereÊjealousÊofÊtheÊposiƟonÊofÊpriests,Ê orÊLevites,ÊbutÊperhapsÊsomeÊwhoÊwereÊpriestsÊorÊLevitesÊmayÊnotÊ haveÊbeenÊautomaƟcallyÊthrilledÊwithÊtheir pathÊinÊlife.ÊThisÊisÊaÊ commonÊsituaƟonÊforÊallÊofÊus,Êisn’tÊit?ÊConsiderÊthisÊPsalmÊofÊDavid: “LORD, you have assigned me my porƟon and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delighƞul inheritance.”ÊPsalmÊ16:5-6Ê(NIV)Ê · AreÊyouÊsaƟsfiedÊwithÊyourÊporƟonÊandÊcup? · DoÊyourÊboundaryÊlinesÊmeanÊyouÊwon’tÊhaveÊsomethingÊthatÊ othersÊhave? · DoÊyourÊboundaryÊlinesÊmeanÊyouÊmayÊhaveÊtoÊdependÊonÊGodÊinÊ aÊgreaterÊwayÊthanÊothersÊaroundÊyou? · DoÊyourÊboundaryÊlinesÊmeanÊyouÊgetÊtoÊdoÊsomethingÊthatÊothersÊ don’tÊoŌenÊgetÊtoÊdo? GodÊtrulyÊdoesÊloveÊHisÊpeopleÊandÊhasÊourÊbestÊinterestÊinÊmindÊallÊ theÊƟme.ÊHeÊisÊtrustworthy,ÊHeÊisÊgood!

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. SomeÊofÊtheÊtroubleÊgoingÊonÊwithÊKorahÊwasÊthatÊheÊwantedÊaÊ posiƟonÊofÊministryÊthatÊhadÊbeenÊassignedÊtoÊsomeoneÊelse.ÊHowÊ difficultÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊisÊtoÊbeÊcontentÊwithÊtheÊworkÊGodÊassignsÊ us inÊtheÊkingdom? 2. MosesÊtriedÊtoÊchangeÊKorah’sÊaƫtudeÊbyÊpoinƟngÊoutÊhisÊ blessings.ÊItÊwasn’tÊsuccessfulÊbutÊthatÊdoesn’tÊmeanÊit’sÊnotÊaÊ goodÊstrategy.ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊsnappedÊoutÊofÊaÊdissaƟsfacƟon funk aŌerÊyourÊblessingsÊwereÊpointedÊoutÊtoÊyou?ÊExplain. 3. HowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊourÊworldÊofÊsocialÊmediaÊplaysÊintoÊtheÊlackÊofÊ significanceÊweÊmayÊfeelÊinÊtheÊpathÊGodÊhasÊgivenÊus? 4. IfÊaÊfriendÊaskedÊyou,Ê’how do I even know what’s in my lane and what’s not?’ÊhowÊwouldÊyouÊanswer? 5. WhatÊwouldÊyouÊsayÊtoÊaÊfriendÊwhoÊwasÊunderÊfireÊforÊsimplyÊ doingÊtheÊgood worksÊsheÊbelievedÊGodÊhadÊcalledÊherÊtoÊdo?Ê 6. HowÊdoesÊseeingÊAaronÊ(theÊformerÊpeople-pleaserÊandÊcompro-Ê miser)ÊinÊaÊroleÊofÊintercessionÊforÊhisÊpeopleÊencourageÊyou?

It’sÊoŌenÊsaidÊtheÊchildrenÊofÊIsraelÊwandered in the desert for forty years.ÊWhileÊthat’sÊaÊtrueÊstatement,Êit’sÊnotÊanÊexactÊdescripƟonÊofÊ theÊWildernessÊJourney.ÊTheÊwordÊwander impliesÊtheyÊwereÊ conƟnuallyÊlost.ÊPerhapsÊsayingÊtheÊchildrenÊofÊIsraelÊwere delayed in the Wilderness forty years wouldÊbeÊmoreÊaccurate.ÊWe’reÊnearingÊ theÊendÊofÊthatÊdelayÊandÊtheÊtextÊgivesÊusÊoneÊofÊtheÊfirstÊindictorsÊ thatÊtheyÊwereÊenteringÊtheirÊfinalÊyear. a READÊNumbersÊ20:1. TheÊphraseÊin the first month meansÊtheÊfirstÊmonthÊofÊtheÊfinalÊyearÊ inÊtheÊWildernessÊandÊmanyÊthingsÊareÊaboutÊtoÊchange… · WhoÊdiedÊandÊwasÊburied?ÊÊ______________________ That’sÊaÊsimpleÊanswerÊtoÊwrite,ÊbutÊthinkÊthroughÊtheÊimplicaƟons.Ê She wasÊwatchingÊwhenÊMosesÊwasÊdrawnÊfromÊtheÊriver,ÊsheÊ broughtÊMomÊtoÊbeÊhisÊnurse,Êshe wasÊbigÊsis,Êshe ledÊtheÊwomenÊinÊ songsÊofÊcelebraƟon.ÊMiriam,ÊMoses,ÊandÊAaronÊhadÊtoÊhaveÊbeenÊ veryÊclose,ÊandÊnowÊsheÊwasÊgone.ÊBeforeÊyouÊreadÊtheÊnextÊsecƟon,Ê thinkÊofÊwhatÊMosesÊwasÊemoƟonallyÊcarryingÊatÊthisÊpointÊinÊƟme. a READÊNumbersÊ20:2-13. · WhatÊisÊtheÊlegiƟmateÊneedÊatÊtheÊmoment? · ListÊtheÊfamiliar,ÊƟredÊcomplaintsÊfromÊIsraelÊinÊv.3-5: · WhatÊwasÊMosesÊandÊAaron’sÊcustomaryÊresponseÊinÊv.6? · WhatÊwereÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊinÊorderÊtoÊsupplyÊwaterÊinÊv.8? Week 7 — God’s Mercy Follows Our Failures Day 1 — Mercy Following Harsh Words

LookÊatÊMoses’ÊacƟonsÊinÊv.10-11.ÊHeÊsortÊofÊobeys,ÊbutÊtwoÊthingsÊ areÊveryÊwrong.ÊInÊwhatÊareasÊdidÊMosesÊfail? WeÊfeelÊbadlyÊforÊMoses.ÊHe’sÊoldÊandÊƟred;Êhe’sÊbeenÊleadingÊaÊ coupleÊofÊmillionÊgrumblingÊandÊcomplainingÊpeopleÊforÊfortyÊlongÊ yearsÊandÊheÊjustÊlostÊhisÊsister...noÊwonderÊheÊalsoÊlostÊhisÊtemper! ReadÊPsalmÊ106:32-33ÊforÊtheÊpoeƟcÊversionÊofÊthisÊfailure. BecauseÊofÊGod’sÊmercy,ÊtheÊneedsÊofÊtheÊcongregaƟonÊwereÊmetÊinÊ spiteÊofÊtheirÊleader’sÊfailure.ÊWaterÊdidÊcomeÊfromÊtheÊrockÊinÊabun- dance,ÊbutÊsomethingÊpreciousÊwasÊlostÊforÊbothÊAaronÊandÊMoses. · READÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:4.ÊWhoÊdidÊtheÊApostleÊPaulÊsayÊthatÊrock represented? · WhatÊpleasureÊdidÊAaronÊandÊMosesÊforfeitÊ(v.12)? · ReviewÊtheÊboƩomÊofÊp.10ÊinÊyourÊstudyÊguideÊandÊREADÊJamesÊ 3:1.ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊmayÊbeÊanÊexampleÊofÊstricterÊjudgementÊ awaiƟngÊthoseÊwhoÊlead? MercyÊmeansÊnot geƫng what we deserve.ÊMosesÊmisrepresentedÊ GodÊandÊdeservedÊtheÊpenaltyÊheÊwasÊgiven.ÊHowever...Ê · READÊNumbersÊ27:12-14.ÊWhatÊdidÊGod’sÊmercyÊsƟllÊallowÊMosesÊ toÊdo? HasÊGod’sÊmercyÊeverÊbeenÊpouredÊoutÊonÊyouÊinÊaÊsimilarÊway,ÊsoÊ youÊwereÊsƟllÊallowedÊsomeÊmeasureÊofÊgoodnessÊinÊtheÊmidstÊofÊHisÊ discipline?Ê

MosesÊsentÊaÊmessageÊoutÊfromÊKadesh,ÊseekingÊaÊshortcutÊintoÊtheÊ PromisedÊLand.ÊItÊseemedÊlikeÊaÊreasonableÊrequestÊandÊyetÊanotherÊ disappointmentÊwasÊonÊtheÊhorizonÊforÊMoses. a READÊNumbersÊ20:14-21. · SummarizeÊMoses’ÊrequestÊandÊtheÊanswerÊfromÊEdom: · WhatÊwasÊtheÊfinalÊsignÊthatÊEdomÊmeantÊbusinessÊbyÊtheirÊ answer?Ê a READÊNumbersÊ20:22-29.ÊItÊtakesÊsomeÊwisdomÊtoÊknowÊwhenÊ it’sÊƟmeÊtoÊmoveÊtoÊPlan B.ÊGodÊmovedÊthemÊtoÊaÊspecificÊplace,Ê whereÊitÊwouldÊbeÊƟmeÊtoÊsayÊgood-byeÊtoÊAaron. · WhyÊwasÊAaronÊdeniedÊaccessÊtoÊenterÊtheÊland? · WeÊhaveÊanotherÊimportantÊdateÊmarkerÊforÊAaron’sÊdeath,ÊjustÊ likeÊweÊdidÊforÊMiriam.ÊREADÊNumbersÊ33:38.ÊHowÊmuchÊƟmeÊhadÊ lapsedÊsinceÊMiriamÊwasÊgathered up to her people? · WhatÊimportantÊsymbolsÊofÊtheÊtransferÊofÊtheÊpriesthoodÊneededÊ toÊbeÊtakenÊcareÊof? Day 2 — Mercy Following Grief

It’sÊbeenÊsaidÊthatÊgrief is the last act of love we have to give some- one whom we have cherished.ÊAsÊIÊwriteÊthis,ÊourÊcountryÊisÊmourningÊ theÊdeathÊofÊaÊgreatÊPresident,ÊbutÊweÊwon’tÊmournÊthirtyÊdays.ÊWe’llÊ watchÊaÊfewÊtelevisedÊservicesÊtoÊhonorÊhisÊlegacyÊandÊsoonÊreturnÊtoÊ ourÊnormalÊschedules.ÊInÊcontrast,ÊthinkÊofÊtheÊenƟreÊhouseÊofÊIsraelÊ haltedÊfromÊtheirÊtravelÊandÊspendingÊaÊwholeÊmonthÊinÊmourningÊ—Ê that’sÊaÊdeepÊgrief. GriefÊorÊnot,ÊMosesÊsƟllÊhadÊtwoÊmillionÊpeopleÊtoÊlead;ÊheÊsƟllÊhadÊaÊ missionÊfromÊGodÊtoÊcomplete;ÊandÊheÊsƟllÊhadÊtoÊfaceÊIsrael’sÊ enemies,ÊwithoutÊtheÊsupportÊofÊhisÊlong-ƟmeÊbrother/comrade.ÊThisÊ stretchÊofÊhisÊraceÊmayÊhaveÊneededÊtheÊmostÊenduranceÊofÊall. WhatÊaboutÊtheÊcurrentÊstretchÊofÊYOURÊrace? · WhatÊisÊyetÊremainingÊinÊyourÊrace?Ê · DoesÊthisÊlegÊofÊtheÊraceÊrequireÊevenÊmoreÊenduranceÊthanÊtheÊ past?Ê · HaveÊyouÊhadÊtoÊsayÊgoodbyeÊtoÊsomethingÊorÊsomeoneÊthatÊyouÊ hadÊleanedÊon?ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊaffectÊyourÊrelianceÊonÊtheÊLord?Ê · IsÊthereÊsomethingÊaboutÊMoses’ÊfaithfulnessÊthatÊinspiresÊyouÊtoÊ keepÊpressingÊonÊinÊyourÊownÊcalling? Moses had experienced two family funerals, two confrontaƟons with criƟcs in the camp, and a personal failure at Kadesh; yet he picks up his rod and goes right back to work. Victorious ChrisƟan service, like the victorious ChrisƟan life, is a series of new beginnings. No maƩer what mistakes we've made, it's always too soon to quit. — Warren Wiersbe5 a READÊNumbersÊ21:1-3. WasÊthatÊpassageÊinspiraƟonal?ÊMyÊguessÊisÊprobablyÊnot!ÊButÊthere’sÊ honestlyÊquiteÊaÊbitÊofÊsignificanceÊtoÊthatÊseeminglyÊsmallÊvictory. · GoÊbackÊandÊREADÊNumbersÊ14:39-45ÊtoÊrefreshÊyourÊmemoryÊonÊ theÊlastÊscuffleÊthatÊhappenedÊalmostÊ40ÊyearsÊagoÊnearÊHormah.Ê WhyÊwasÊIsraelÊdefeatedÊthatÊƟme? · ExplainÊhowÊtheÊconflictÊplaysÊoutÊdifferentlyÊthisÊƟme. · TheÊplaceÊhadÊbeenÊnamedÊHormah,ÊmeaningÊ‘destrucƟon’.ÊWhatÊ impactÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊmayÊhaveÊhadÊonÊIsrael’sÊmomentumÊtoÊseeÊ destrucƟonÊturnedÊonÊtheÊCanaanitesÊthisÊƟme? a READÊNumbersÊ21:4.Ê ThinkÊofÊtheÊHouseÊofÊIsraelÊsurgingÊforwardÊwithÊenergy,ÊbutÊhavingÊ toÊtakeÊtheÊlongÊrouteÊ‘around the land of Edom’. (see map on p.44) SomeƟmesÊthatÊhappensÊinÊlifeÊ—ÊenergyÊandÊmomentumÊbecomeÊ foiledÊbyÊoneÊsingleÊthing!ÊWriteÊtheÊlastÊfiveÊwordsÊofÊv.4:Ê “and the people __________________________________________” IÊthinkÊthoseÊwordsÊsetÊtheÊstageÊforÊtheÊnextÊfiveÊverses. a READÊNumbersÊ21:5-9. · WhatÊdidÊtheÊpeopleÊcomplainÊaboutÊnow? Day 3 — Mercy Following Impatience

· READÊPsalmÊ78:25.ÊHowÊwasÊtheÊdailyÊmanna,ÊthatÊGodÊhadÊ providedÊforÊthemÊeveryÊdayÊforÊalmostÊ40Êyears,ÊÊdescribed? · READÊJohnÊ6:32-35.ÊWhoÊdidÊtheÊmannaÊrepresent? · AndÊyet,ÊtheyÊgrumbledÊandÊtested the Lord.ÊWhatÊwasÊGod’sÊ responseÊtoÊtheirÊtesƟngÊandÊrebellionÊandÊwhatÊhappened? · WithÊwhatÊaƫtudeÊdidÊtheÊpeopleÊcomeÊtoÊMoses? · WhatÊdidÊMosesÊdo? · HowÊwasÊGod’sÊmercyÊdisplayedÊtoÊthoseÊwhoÊwereÊrepentantÊ andÊwillingÊtoÊobeyÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊforÊaÊremedy? JesusÊHimselfÊ(JohnÊ3:14)ÊparalleledÊHisÊimpendingÊdeathÊtoÊthisÊveryÊ eventÊwhenÊHeÊsaidÊ“As Moses liŌed up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be liŌed up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” · ListÊasÊmanyÊcomparisonsÊasÊyouÊcanÊbetweenÊtheÊbronzeÊserpentÊ liŌedÊonÊtheÊpoleÊandÊJesusÊChristÊliŌedÊonÊaÊcross:ÊÊ

AtÊtheÊopeningÊofÊNumbersÊ21,ÊIsraelÊwasÊconfrontedÊwithÊwarÊbyÊtheÊ Canaanites,ÊandÊaskedÊforÊGod’sÊfavor:Ê(v.2)Ê“If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their ciƟes to destrucƟon.”ÊÊ OneÊpeopleÊgroupÊdestroyingÊanotherÊandÊtakingÊtheirÊlandÊisÊnotÊ appreciatedÊbyÊmodernÊreaders.ÊItÊgetsÊworseÊwhenÊGodÊseemsÊtoÊbeÊ takingÊsidesÊinÊtheÊmaƩer.ÊWhyÊwasÊitÊokayÊforÊIsraelÊtoÊdevote the Canaanite ciƟes to destrucƟon?ÊWhatÊhadÊtheyÊdoneÊtoÊharmÊIsrael?Ê TheseÊareÊimportantÊquesƟonsÊthatÊwe’llÊincorporateÊinÊourÊlesson.Ê Let’sÊreadÊtheÊnextÊsetÊofÊconquestsÊandÊcomeÊbackÊtoÊthatÊquesƟon. a READÊNumbersÊ21:21-32.Ê · IsraelÊpolitelyÊaskedÊtoÊpassÊthroughÊtheÊterritoryÊofÊtheÊAmorites,Ê whoseÊkingÊwasÊ______________.ÊWhatÊwasÊhisÊresponseÊ(v.23)? AÊbaƩleÊensued,ÊIsraelÊwon,ÊandÊtheyÊtookÊpossessionÊofÊtheÊlandÊas far as the Ammonites (v.24).ÊWeÊhaveÊnowÊreadÊaboutÊAmoritesÊandÊ AmmonitesÊandÊitÊmayÊseemÊtoÊusÊthatÊallÊofÊtheÊ‘ites’ÊinÊScriptureÊ onlyÊexistÊtoÊbeÊwipedÊout...IÊguess...butÊweÊdon’tÊreallyÊknowÊwhy.Ê · READÊDeuteronomyÊ2:18-19.ÊWhyÊwasÊGodÊprotecƟngÊtheÊlandÊofÊ theÊAmmonites? · READÊExodusÊ23:23-24.ÊWhatÊwereÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊforÊtheÊ Amorites,ÊHiƫtes,ÊPerizzites,ÊCanaanites,ÊHivitesÊandÊJebusites? WhyÊwouldÊGodÊprotectÊoneÊpeopleÊgroupÊandÊissueÊordersÊtoÊ destroyÊanother?ÊBecauseÊHeÊisÊGodÊandÊhasÊaÊperspecƟveÊthatÊweÊ doÊnotÊhave!ÊTheÊAmoritesÊwereÊaÊwickedÊpeopleÊandÊGodÊknewÊit,Ê andÊyetÊHisÊcharacterÊtraitÊofÊlong-sufferingÊhadÊgivenÊthemÊcenturiesÊ toÊchange.Ê Day 4 — The Boundaries of Mercy

HowÊdoÊweÊknowÊthis?ÊWhenÊGodÊwasÊmakingÊaÊcovenantÊwithÊ AbrahamÊbackÊinÊGenesisÊ15:16,ÊHeÊtoldÊAbrahamÊthatÊhisÊownÊ descendants,ÊaŌerÊaÊperiodÊofÊslavery,ÊwouldÊreturnÊtoÊthatÊveryÊlandÊ inÊtheÊfuture, “for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” WhatÊdoesÊthatÊmean?ÊItÊmeansÊthatÊGod’sÊlong-sufferingÊwasn’tÊyetÊ usedÊup.ÊInÊHisÊmercyÊandÊjusƟce,ÊHeÊwouldÊgiveÊthemÊseveralÊmoreÊ generaƟonsÊtoÊrepentÊofÊtheirÊgodlessÊwickedness. ThisÊisÊaÊlessonÊforÊusÊandÊhelpsÊusÊunderstandÊthatÊGod,ÊinÊHisÊmercy,Ê givesÊpeopleÊchanceÊaŌerÊchanceÊaŌerÊchance,ÊbutÊthereÊisÊaÊlimitÊandÊ itÊdoesÊcomeÊtoÊanÊend.ÊHeÊisÊtheÊonly wise GodÊandÊwhenÊtheÊƟmeÊisÊ up,ÊHisÊjudgmentÊwillÊbeÊcomplete.Ê a READÊNumbersÊ21:33-35.Ê IsraelÊturnedÊtowardÊtheÊareaÊofÊBashan,ÊwhoseÊkingÊwasÊ_______. · SummarizeÊtheÊresultÊofÊthatÊbaƩle. WhenÊweÊreadÊpassagesÊlikeÊthis,ÊwhichÊmayÊunseƩleÊourÊmodernÊ viewsÊofÊsocieƟesÊandÊcultures,ÊweÊcanÊrestÊwithÊtwoÊthoughts:Ê 1) AsÊweÊsearchÊtheÊScriptures,ÊthereÊareÊoŌenÊexplanaƟonsÊ(asÊinÊ theÊcaseÊofÊtheÊAmorites);ÊÊ 2) WeÊseeÊlifeÊthroughÊaÊmirrorÊdimlyÊandÊweÊshouldÊalwaysÊ rememberÊtheÊwordsÊofÊtheÊLordÊtoÊIsaiah,Ê“my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”ÊÊ(IsaiahÊ55:8)Ê “If God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah … when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if by turning the ciƟes of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to exƟncƟon, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unƟl the day of judg- ment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.” ÊÊÊÊÊÊ—Ê2ÊPeterÊ2:5-10Ê

IsraelÊhadÊbeenÊadvancing.ÊTheyÊdefeatedÊtheÊCanaaniteÊkingÊofÊArad;Ê theÊAmoriteÊkingÊSihon;ÊandÊOg,ÊkingÊofÊBashon.ÊTheyÊwereÊnowÊ camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho (22:1).ÊItÊ madeÊsenseÊthatÊBalak,ÊtheÊkingÊofÊMoab,ÊwouldÊhaveÊbeenÊfearfulÊofÊ whatÊseemedÊtoÊbeÊanÊinevitableÊinvasion.ÊThereÊwas,Êhowever,ÊoneÊ pieceÊofÊmissingÊinformaƟonÊthatÊcouldÊhaveÊcalmedÊhisÊanxiousÊheart.Ê · READÊDeuteronomyÊ2:9ÊandÊexplainÊwhyÊheÊneedn'tÊhaveÊworriedÊ inÊtheÊfirstÊplace: ButÊheÊwas frightenedÊandÊtheÊresourceÊheÊknewÊbestÊwasÊmagic!Ê WhereÊcouldÊheÊfindÊaÊsuccessfulÊsorcerer,ÊwhoÊcouldÊpronounceÊaÊ curseÊoverÊtheseÊpeopleÊtoÊprotectÊhisÊkingdom?ÊÊ a READÊNumbersÊ22:1-21. · WhoÊdidÊBalakÊreachÊoutÊtoÊforÊhelpÊandÊwhatÊdidÊheÊaskÊtoÊbeÊ done? · WhatÊwasÊthisÊsorcererÊknownÊforÊ(v.6)? · READÊ2ÊPeterÊ2:15ÊandÊexplainÊwhyÊBalaamÊwantedÊtheÊjobÊevenÊ thoughÊhisÊiniƟalÊresponseÊseemedÊcool:Ê · WriteÊoutÊGod’sÊiniƟalÊanswerÊtoÊBalaamÊfromÊv.12:ÊÊ___________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ a READÊNumbersÊ22:22-41. ItÊmayÊseemÊlikeÊGodÊsaidÊno,ÊthenÊyes, thenÊgotÊangryÊaŌerÊchangingÊ HisÊmind,ÊbutÊthatÊisÊnotÊtheÊcase.ÊGodÊallowedÊBalaamÊtoÊpursueÊwhatÊ heÊreallyÊwantedÊtoÊdo,ÊbutÊthenÊhadÊtheÊlastÊwordÊHimselfÊinÊtheÊ midstÊofÊtheÊdeedÊ(whichÊwe’llÊstudyÊnextÊweek). Day 5 — Mercy Even in Perversity

· SummarizeÊimportantÊorÊinteresƟngÊthingsÊaboutÊtheÊjourneyÊwithÊ Balaam,ÊtheÊdonkeyÊandÊtheÊAngelÊofÊtheÊLord: ThisÊlessonÊcarriesÊtheÊsubƟtle,Ê‘mercy even in perversity.’ÊGodÊtoldÊ BalaamÊinÊv.32,Êyour way is perverse before me.ÊGodÊhadÊnoÊƟmeÊforÊ theÊoccultÊorÊdivinaƟon,ÊandÊyetÊbecauseÊofÊHisÊmercy,ÊHeÊhadÊgivenÊ BalaamÊampleÊƟmeÊtoÊrepentÊ—ÊwhichÊmeansÊtoÊturnÊtheÊotherÊway.Ê OnceÊBalaam’sÊdecisionÊwasÊmade,Êhowever,ÊGodÊwouldÊnotÊbeÊ trumped.ÊOutÊofÊBalaam’sÊownÊmouthÊcameÊtheÊpredicƟonÊofÊwhatÊ wouldÊhappen.Ê · WRITEÊoutÊBalaam’sÊwordsÊfromÊv.38:_______________________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ NoÊoneÊplaysÊaÊgameÊofÊintrigueÊwithÊGodÊandÊwins.ÊForÊaÊseason,ÊitÊ mayÊseemÊthatÊsomeoneÊisÊgeƫngÊawayÊwithÊsomething;ÊbutÊeveryÊ gameÊcomesÊtoÊanÊendÊandÊGodÊalwaysÊwins.ÊButÊtheÊrevealedÊ characterÊofÊGodÊisÊmercyÊandÊlong-suffering.ÊIÊdon’tÊthinkÊweÊcanÊ readÊthatÊenough,ÊorÊfocusÊonÊitÊenough. InÊclosingÊthisÊweek,ÊREADÊPsalmÊ103:8ÊandÊwriteÊoutÊtheÊverseÊbelow:Ê

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊwasÊsuchÊaÊbigÊdealÊthatÊMosesÊstruckÊtheÊ rockÊratherÊthanÊspeakingÊtoÊtheÊrock? 2. GriefÊisÊveryÊpersonal.ÊNoÊoneÊcanÊreallyÊunderstandÊanother’sÊ burdenÊofÊgrief.ÊCertainlyÊNOÊONEÊcouldÊhaveÊtrulyÊunderstoodÊ theÊemoƟonalÊimpactÊofÊMoses’Êloss.ÊHaveÊyouÊknownÊaÊfaithfulÊ personÊinÊyourÊlifeÊwhoÊconƟnuedÊwithÊtheirÊmissionÊinÊtheÊmidstÊ ofÊgrief?ÊExplain. 3. IsraelÊgrewÊimpaƟentÊwithÊGod’sÊƟmetable,ÊsoÊtheyÊgrumbledÊ againstÊHimÊonceÊmore.ÊWhatÊBiblicalÊadviceÊ(Scriptures)ÊwouldÊ youÊgiveÊtoÊsomeoneÊwhoÊisÊgrumblingÊaboutÊdelaysÊinÊtheirÊlife? 4. HowÊmightÊyouÊanswerÊaÊSundayÊSchoolÊstudent,ÊwhoÊasksÊyouÊtoÊ explainÊwhyÊitÊwasÊokayÊforÊGodÊtoÊtellÊIsraelÊtoÊkillÊallÊtheÊ inhabitantsÊofÊCanaanÊandÊtakeÊtheirÊland? 5. BalaamÊbecameÊanÊexampleÊofÊsomeoneÊGodÊusedÊforÊHisÊownÊ purposes,ÊevenÊthoughÊhisÊownÊmoƟvesÊwereÊanƟ-God.ÊCanÊyouÊ offerÊanyÊotherÊexamplesÊinÊScriptureÊofÊungodlyÊpeopleÊwhoÊ wereÊusedÊbyÊGodÊtoÊbringÊaboutÊHisÊwill?Ê

TheÊpredominateÊthemeÊthisÊweekÊisÊGod’sÊblessing,ÊasÊIsraelÊpreparedÊ toÊwalkÊintoÊtheÊlandÊofÊHisÊpromise.ÊIronically,ÊitÊwasÊaÊpaganÊsorcerer,Ê whoÊsawÊtheÊblessingÊmostÊclearlyÊandÊspokeÊtheÊbrightestÊstatementÊ ofÊhopeÊinÊtheÊenƟreÊbook! WeÊleŌÊIsraelÊcampedÊonÊtheÊplainsÊofÊMoab,ÊtotallyÊunawareÊthat,ÊinÊ hisÊfright,ÊtheÊkingÊofÊMoabÊhadÊsummonedÊaÊmail-orderÊsoothsayerÊtoÊ castÊaÊspellÊonÊIsrael.ÊWe’llÊfindÊoutÊinÊtheÊnextÊtwoÊchaptersÊhowÊthatÊ cursingÊbusinessÊworkedÊoutÊforÊtheÊMoabiteÊking. a READÊNumbersÊ23:1-12ÊBalaam’s First Oracle. · DescribeÊtheÊsceneÊasÊBalakÊandÊBalaamÊaƩemptÊtoÊcurseÊIsrael: · WhatÊintriguesÊyouÊmostÊaboutÊBalaam’sÊfirstÊOracleÊinÊv.7-10? · WhatÊwasÊBalak’sÊresponse? a READÊNumbersÊ23:13-26ÊBalaam’s Second Oracle. · DescribeÊtheÊsceneÊasÊBalakÊandÊBalaamÊaƩemptÊtoÊcurseÊIsrael: · WhatÊintriguesÊyouÊmostÊaboutÊBalaam’sÊsecondÊOracleÊinÊv.18-24? · WhatÊwasÊBalak’sÊresponse? Week 8— Walking in God’s Blessing Day 1 — God’s Blessing for His People

BalakÊkeptÊtryingÊforÊtheÊperfectÊvantage pointÊsoÊBalaam’sÊcurseÊ wouldÊbeÊeffecƟve.ÊHeÊwasÊwell-acquaintedÊwithÊaÊhighÊplaceÊdedicat- edÊtoÊtheÊwickedÊgodÊBaal;ÊsoÊtoÊthe top of Peor, which overlooks the desert (v.28)ÊtheyÊwentÊinÊorderÊtoÊgetÊaÊreallyÊgoodÊcurseÊpronounced. a READÊNumbersÊ23:27-30,Ê24:1-13ÊBalaam’s Third Oracle. · WhatÊintriguesÊyouÊmostÊaboutÊBalaam’sÊthirdÊOracleÊinÊv.3-9? · WhatÊwasÊBalak’sÊresponse? a READÊNumbersÊ24:14-25ÊÊBalaam’s Final Oracle. EvenÊthoughÊtheÊplayersÊhadÊgrownÊƟredÊofÊtheÊcursingÊgame,ÊGodÊsƟllÊ wantedÊtheÊlastÊword.ÊHeÊgaveÊBalaamÊoneÊlastÊoracleÊfilledÊwithÊ blessingÊforÊIsraelÊandÊcursesÊforÊherÊenemies. · WhoÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊv.17ÊisÊreferringÊto? ItÊisÊtheÊstarÊfromÊJacobÊandÊtheÊscepterÊfromÊIsraelÊthatÊofferÊtheÊ blessingÊofÊtheÊLordÊGodÊtoÊpeopleÊbeyondÊIsrael.Ê IsraelÊhadÊcertainlyÊnotÊearnedÊGod’sÊblessingÊtheseÊ40Êyears,ÊbutÊHeÊ blessedÊthemÊanywayÊbecauseÊitÊwasÊHisÊchoiceÊandÊHisÊpromise.ÊWeÊ alsoÊdoÊnotÊearnÊGod’sÊblessing,ÊbutÊanyoneÊwhoÊbelievesÊinÊChristÊISÊ blessed.ÊREADÊtheseÊScripturesÊandÊnoteÊhowÊyouÊareÊblessedÊinÊJesus: · RomansÊ4:5-8 · GalaƟansÊ3:7-9 · EphesiansÊ1:1-3

HereÊcomesÊoneÊlastÊfrustraƟngÊpassage.ÊTheÊfrustraƟonÊisn’tÊdueÊtoÊ grumblingÊorÊcomplainingÊonÊIsrael’sÊpart,ÊbutÊblatantÊsexualÊsin!ÊÊ GodÊoŌenÊwarnedÊIsraelÊofÊtwoÊallurementsÊtoÊavoidÊ—Êprosperity andÊpaganism. GodÊsaid,ÊoverÊandÊover,Êyou shall not do as the inhabitants of the land you are entering. AndÊyet,ÊbeforeÊtheyÊevenÊ setÊfootÊacrossÊtheÊJordan,ÊtheyÊhadÊalreadyÊfallenÊintoÊtheÊsinsÊofÊtheÊ MidianitesÊthroughÊtheÊworshipÊofÊtheÊpaganÊgodÊBaal.Ê ItÊwasn’tÊbyÊaccidentÊthatÊIsraelÊstumbledÊontoÊtheÊwickedÊworshipÊ feastsÊofÊBaal.ÊOhÊno,ÊbothÊNumbersÊ31:16ÊandÊRevelaƟonÊ2:14ÊinformÊ usÊthat,ÊaŌerÊBalaamÊwasÊrobbedÊofÊhisÊprofitsÊforÊdivinaƟon,ÊheÊ advisedÊBalakÊofÊanÊalternateÊmeansÊtoÊsubdueÊIsraelÊ—ÊletÊtheirÊ preƩyÊwomenÊinviteÊtheÊmenÊtoÊtheÊsacrificesÊofÊBaalÊatÊPeor.ÊItÊ workedÊlikeÊaÊcharm! a READÊNumbersÊ25:1-9. · WhatÊwasÊGod’sÊresponseÊtoÊtheirÊacƟonsÊinÊv.4-5?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊ thisÊwasÊharsh? · WhatÊwasÊPhinehas’ÊresponseÊtoÊtheÊIsraeliteÊandÊhisÊMidianiteÊ woman?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊheÊover-reacted? · HowÊmanyÊpeopleÊdiedÊinÊtheÊplagueÊfromÊthisÊevent? a READÊNumbersÊ25:10-17ÊandÊPsalmÊ106:28-31. · HowÊwereÊPhinehas’ÊacƟonsÊdescribedÊbyÊtheÊLord? Day 2 — God’s Blessing for the Righteous

· HowÊwasÊheÊblessedÊforÊhisÊzealÊforÊrighteousness? · READÊMaƩhewÊ5:6.ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊconveyÊaÊsimilarÊthoughtÊinÊ NewÊTestamentÊwords? DoÊyouÊrememberÊthatÊMosesÊspentÊfromÊageÊ40ÊtoÊ80ÊinÊMidian,Ê tookÊaÊMidianiteÊwifeÊandÊhadÊtwoÊsonsÊinÊthatÊcountryÊbeforeÊheÊ returnedÊtoÊEgypt?ÊThinkÊaboutÊthatÊinÊrelaƟonÊtoÊv.16-18.Ê · HowÊdidÊGodÊinstructÊMosesÊtoÊactÊtowardÊtheÊMidianitesÊ becauseÊofÊthisÊincident? · DoÊyouÊthinkÊthatÊmightÊhaveÊbeenÊaÊdifficultÊcommandÊforÊyouÊtoÊ followÊhadÊyouÊbeenÊinÊhisÊshoes? We’reÊgoingÊtoÊfastÊforwardÊandÊreadÊhowÊthisÊdarkÊperiodÊinÊIsrael’sÊ historyÊgetsÊresolved. a READÊNumbersÊ31. · NumbersÊ24ÊhadÊsaidÊBalaamÊwent back to his place,ÊbutÊheÊneverÊ returnedÊtoÊhisÊhome.ÊDescribeÊtheÊjusƟceÊofÊBalaam’sÊendÊinÊv.8: READÊDeuteronomyÊ4:1-8.ÊHowÊdoÊMoses’ÊwordsÊhereÊexpressÊthatÊ peopleÊareÊnotÊsavedÊbyÊtheirÊaƩenƟonÊtoÊrighteousness,ÊbutÊareÊ blessedÊbyÊaƩenƟonÊtoÊGod’sÊrevealedÊrighteousness?

AtÊtheÊveryÊbeginning,ÊweÊnotedÊthatÊNumbersÊhasÊtwoÊbookendsÊ—ÊaÊ censusÊnearÊtheÊbeginningÊandÊaÊcensusÊnearÊtheÊendÊ—ÊalmostÊ40Ê yearsÊapart.ÊChapterÊ26ÊcontainsÊtheÊsecondÊcensusÊforÊtheÊ generaƟonÊwhoÊwouldÊenterÊintoÊtheÊland.ÊTheÊfirstÊsentenceÊofÊthatÊ chapterÊtellsÊusÊthisÊtookÊplaceÊaŌerÊtheÊ24,000ÊdiedÊinÊtheÊplague. a READÊNumbersÊ26.Ê YouÊmayÊreadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊ(andÊrecordÊtheÊnewÊcensusÊ numbersÊonÊtheÊdiagramÊonÊp.22);ÊorÊyouÊcanÊskimÊtheÊchapter.ÊButÊ doÊreadÊtheÊfinalÊparagraphÊv.63-65. · WhatÊinformaƟonÊwasÊMosesÊcarefulÊtoÊreiterate? (For now, we’ll skip chapters 27-31. We’ll come back to porƟons of chapter 27 soon. The remaining passages simply restate instrucƟons to be followed in the promised land, so they are opƟonal reading.)Ê a READÊNumbersÊ32:1-15. · TheÊpeopleÊofÊReubenÊandÊGadÊplacedÊwhatÊsimpleÊrequestÊ beforeÊMoses? · DoÊyouÊthinkÊMosesÊunderstoodÊimmediatelyÊwhatÊtheyÊwereÊ asking? · DoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊleadersÊofÊReubenÊandÊGadÊcouldÊhaveÊ presentedÊtheirÊrequestÊmoreÊclearlyÊthanÊtheyÊdid?Ê a READÊNumbersÊ32:16-27. · EvenÊthoughÊMosesÊcalledÊthemÊaÊbrood of sinful men, howÊdoÊtheÊ leadersÊofÊtheseÊtribesÊassureÊMosesÊtheyÊareÊnotÊtryingÊtoÊgetÊoutÊ ofÊtheirÊobligaƟonÊtoÊhelpÊwinÊtheÊlandÊforÊtheÊwholeÊcommunity? Day 3 — God Blesses a Simple Request a READÊNumbersÊ32:28-31. · CanÊyouÊthinkÊofÊaÊpracƟcalÊreasonÊforÊMosesÊtoÊgetÊJoshuaÊandÊ EleazarÊinvolvedÊinÊtheirÊpromiseÊtoÊfightÊfirstÊandÊcomeÊbackÊtoÊ theirÊlandÊlater? SomeÊmayÊquesƟonÊtheÊwisdomÊofÊtheseÊtribesÊseƩlingÊoutsideÊtheÊ PromisedÊLandÊ—ÊperhapsÊitÊwasn’tÊtheÊbestÊchoice,ÊbutÊI’mÊgoingÊtoÊ steerÊusÊalongÊmoreÊpersonalÊandÊpracƟcalÊlinesÊfromÊthisÊnarraƟve. ClearÊcommunicaƟonÊisÊmyÊbiggestÊtakeawayÊfromÊthisÊchapter.ÊIt’sÊaÊ simpleÊmaƩer,ÊbutÊnotÊalwaysÊanÊeasyÊthingÊtoÊaccomplish.Ê ÊÊÊÊÊSoÊmanyÊissuesÊinÊlifeÊareÊavoidable. ÊÊÊÊÊSoÊmanyÊmisconcepƟonsÊresultÊfromÊaÊlackÊofÊinformaƟon. ÊÊÊÊÊSoÊmanyÊrelaƟonshipsÊareÊstrainedÊbyÊmisunderstandings. HaveÊyouÊrecentlyÊgoneÊthroughÊaÊsituaƟonÊwhereÊsomethingÊwasn’tÊ communicatedÊasÊclearlyÊasÊitÊcouldÊhaveÊbeen,ÊresulƟngÊinÊmisunder- standings?ÊÊWhatÊcouldÊhaveÊbeenÊdoneÊdifferently? InÊthisÊtext,ÊifÊtheÊtribesÊofÊReubenÊandÊGadÊhadÊsimplyÊacknowledgedÊ theirÊintenƟonÊtoÊparƟcipateÊinÊIsrael’sÊbaƩlesÊbeforeÊseƩlingÊdown,Ê thatÊmayÊhaveÊsolvedÊeverything.ÊHadÊtheyÊaskedÊthemselves,Ê‘what’s important to Moses?’ — theyÊcouldÊhaveÊincludedÊthatÊinÊtheirÊ requestÊandÊavoidedÊtheÊenƟreÊmisunderstanding. IfÊthisÊtopicÊresonatesÊwithÊyou,ÊthereÊisÊaÊglowingÊexampleÊofÊclearÊ andÊthoughƞulÊcommunicaƟonÊinÊNumbersÊ27:1-11.ÊThatÊtextÊcanÊ serveÊasÊanÊexampleÊofÊclarity,ÊasÊtheÊleadersÊlayÊoutÊtheÊpotenƟalÊ problemÊforÊMosesÊtoÊconsiderÊandÊhelpÊhimÊbeƩerÊunderstandÊtheirÊ request.ÊIt’sÊaÊveryÊgoodÊexampleÊforÊus.

TheÊnextÊchapterÊinÊNumbersÊisÊaÊlengthyÊdiaryÊofÊtheÊWildernessÊ Journey,ÊfollowedÊbyÊsomeÊessenƟalÊprecauƟonsÊforÊtheirÊfutureÊlife.Ê a READÊorÊLISTENÊTOÊNumbersÊ33:1-49Ê—ÊMoses’Êdiary. a READÊNumbersÊ33:50-54.Ê ListÊtwoÊthingsÊthatÊseemedÊtoÊbeÊtheÊmostÊimportantÊinstrucƟonsÊtoÊ beÊcarriedÊoutÊonceÊIsraelÊenteredÊintoÊtheÊland: · Ê · Ê · WhatÊdidÊGodÊwarnÊwouldÊhappenÊifÊtheyÊweren’tÊaƩenƟveÊtoÊ thoseÊinstrucƟonsÊ(v.55)? IsraelÊhadÊaÊkeyÊroleÊtoÊplayÊinÊGod’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊRedempƟon.Ê GodÊwantedÊthemÊtoÊobeyÊandÊfinishÊwell.ÊHeÊwantedÊthemÊtoÊ possessÊtheÊland,ÊbeÊdevotedÊtoÊHimÊandÊworshipÊHim.ÊGodÊwantedÊ toÊblessÊtheÊpeopleÊofÊIsraelÊsinceÊtheyÊwouldÊbringÊforthÊHisÊMessiah. Let’sÊreviewÊwhatÊGodÊsaidÊtoÊAbrahamÊ(theÊFatherÊofÊIsrael)ÊwayÊ backÊinÊGenesisÊ12:1-3:Ê “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great naƟon, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” IsraelÊwould beÊaÊblessingÊtoÊallÊtheÊfamiliesÊofÊtheÊearth,ÊbutÊtheirÊ currentÊleaderÊMosesÊwouldÊnotÊbeÊtheÊoneÊtoÊleadÊthemÊintoÊtheÊ landÊofÊHisÊrest. Day 4 — All Shall be Blessed a READÊNumbersÊ27:12-14.ÊSummarizeÊhowÊandÊwhereÊMoses’Ê lifeÊonÊearthÊwouldÊend:Ê Ê a READÊNumbersÊ27:15-18:ÊMoses’ PropheƟc Prayer MosesÊspokeÊtoÊtheÊLORD:ÊÊ“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, ____________ a man over the congregaƟon … who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregaƟon of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no ______________.” TheÊLORDÊsaidÊtoÊMoses:ÊÊ“Take _____________ the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” TheÊtransferÊofÊleadershipÊfromÊMosesÊtoÊJoshuaÊisÊwhereÊweÊendÊtheÊ WildernessÊWay.ÊTheÊdaysÊofÊMosesÊwereÊtheÊdaysÊofÊtheÊlaw.ÊTheÊ LawÊisÊtruth,ÊtheÊLawÊisÊbeauƟful,ÊtheÊLawÊteachesÊusÊaboutÊGod’sÊ character,ÊbutÊtheÊLawÊitselfÊ(representedÊbyÊMoses)ÊcouldÊneverÊ bringÊanyoneÊintoÊaÊplaceÊofÊrestÊ—ÊthatÊisÊaÊjobÊforÊaÊshepherd.Ê YouÊprobablyÊknowÊthatÊtheÊHebrewÊnameÊJoshuaÊ(Yeshua)ÊisÊtheÊ sameÊasÊtheÊGreekÊnameÊweÊtranslateÊJesus inÊEnglish.ÊJoshua,ÊtheÊ sonÊofÊNun,ÊwasÊtheÊphysicalÊmanÊwhoÊwasÊchosenÊtoÊphysicallyÊtakeÊ IsraelÊintoÊCanaanÊandÊgiveÊthemÊrest.ÊJesusÊisÊtheÊGod/manÊchosenÊ toÊspirituallyÊtakeÊanyoneÊwhoÊbelievesÊinÊHimÊintoÊtheÊblessedÊrestÊofÊ God.ÊTheÊlawÊcanÊneverÊtakeÊusÊintoÊaÊplaceÊofÊresƟngÊinÊGod,ÊasÊthatÊ isÊaÊworkÊofÊtheÊSpirit. AndÊthatÊisÊwhereÊweÊleaveÊIsraelÊunƟlÊtheÊnextÊphaseÊofÊtheirÊ Journey.ÊButÊtomorrow’sÊlessonÊwillÊhelpÊusÊpersonalizeÊtheÊ WildernessÊWayÊtoÊourÊownÊJourney. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. HebrewsÊ4:8-10Ê

AllÊfamiliesÊofÊearthÊare blessedÊthroughÊGod’sÊPlanÊofÊRedempƟon!Ê God’sÊblessingÊhasÊextendedÊtoÊmyÊlifeÊandÊtoÊyoursÊthroughÊourÊ salvaƟonÊinÊJesusÊChrist.ÊButÊasÊweÊreflectÊonÊtheÊnarraƟveÊofÊtheÊ WildernessÊWay,ÊtheÊblessing forÊusÊliesÊinÊtheÊwarning. TheÊbookÊofÊNumbersÊhasÊtwoÊcensusesÊforÊitsÊbookends,ÊsoÊI’veÊ decidedÊtoÊbookendÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊinÊaÊsimilarÊwayÊ—ÊwithÊaÊ reminderÊfromÊtheÊsameÊpassageÊweÊopenedÊwithÊfromÊ 1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:11-12: “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were wriƩen down for our instrucƟon, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” EveryÊperson,ÊwhoÊbelievesÊthatÊJesusÊisÊourÊspiritualÊPassoverÊLamb,Ê andÊsymbolicallyÊappliesÊHisÊbloodÊoverÊtheÊdoorpostÊofÊtheirÊheart,Ê willÊbeÊfreedÊfromÊtheÊbondageÊofÊEgypt.ÊButÊthatÊdoesn’tÊmeanÊthatÊ everyÊpersonÊwillÊbeÊautomaƟcallyÊtransferredÊintoÊaÊlifeÊofÊvictory andÊrest, asÊsymbolizedÊinÊCanaan.ÊThereÊisÊaÊWildernessÊJourneyÊforÊ eachÊofÊusÊcalledÊsancƟficaƟonÊ—ÊwhereÊweÊlearnÊtoÊwalkÊoutÊaÊlifeÊofÊ faithÊinÊGodÊalone.ÊÊ a READÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:1-12. · FromÊthisÊpassage,ÊlistÊtwoÊofÊtheÊmanyÊtemptaƟonsÊthatÊ entangledÊIsraelÊandÊcausedÊthemÊtoÊfallÊshortÊofÊtheÊlandÊofÊrest: · Ê · Ê a READÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:13.ÊAsÊyouÊconsiderÊyourÊownÊlife,ÊwhatÊ isÊGod’sÊpromiseÊregardingÊthoseÊtemptaƟons? Day 5 — God’s Blessing to Me

TheÊwriterÊofÊHebrewsÊhadÊtheÊWilderness Way inÊmindÊandÊliberallyÊ appliedÊitÊtoÊtheÊlivesÊofÊNewÊTestamentÊChrisƟansÊlikeÊyouÊandÊme: “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest sƟll stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. HebrewsÊ4:1ÊÊ He’sÊnotÊtalkingÊaboutÊfailingÊtoÊbeÊsavedÊfromÊourÊsins,ÊbutÊfailingÊtoÊ reachÊtheÊlifeÊcharacterizedÊbyÊrestÊandÊobedienceÊtoÊGodÊ—ÊtheÊlifeÊ ofÊfaith.ÊIÊthinkÊyou’llÊagreeÊthatÊweÊliveÊamongÊaÊcultureÊofÊWildernessÊ ChrisƟansÊandÊperhapsÊsomeÊofÊusÊthoughtÊdesertÊlivingÊwasÊallÊthereÊ wasÊtoÊlife. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. HebrewsÊ4:9-11ÊÊ Sister,ÊGod’sÊWordÊteachesÊusÊthatÊvictoryÊandÊrestÊisÊpossibleÊinÊthisÊ life,ÊasÊweÊrespondÊtoÊChrist’sÊleadingÊthroughÊourÊownÊWilderness.Ê GodÊdesiresÊtoÊsancƟfyÊusÊandÊleadÊusÊtoÊaÊplaceÊofÊblessedÊrestÊasÊweÊ acknowledge... ChristÊisÊmyÊPÝÝÊòÙÊLÃ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊacceptÊHisÊblood,ÊwhichÊaloneÊatonesÊforÊmyÊsin ChristÊisÊmyÊMÄÄ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊpartakeÊofÊtheÊbreadÊofÊheavenÊeachÊdayÊforÊstrength ChristÊisÊmyÊL®ò®Ä¦ÊWãÙ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊreceiveÊthisÊrefreshmentÊfromÊtheÊRockÊthatÊisÊChrist ChristÊisÊmyÊLÙÊ—ÊlikeÊMoses ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊfollowÊwhereÊHeÊleadsÊme ChristÊisÊmyÊH®¦«ÊPÙ®ÝãÊ—ÊÊlikeÊAaron ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊacceptÊHisÊintercessionÊbeforeÊGodÊinÊtheÊholyÊplace ChristÊisÊmyÊS«Ö«ÙÊ—ÊlikeÊJoshua ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊmustÊallowÊHim,ÊbyÊfaith,ÊtoÊleadÊmeÊtoÊvictoryÊandÊrestÊinÊthisÊlife May you be abundantly blessed as the Holy Spirit conƟnues in your heart to minister more revelaƟon from lessons of the Wilderness. May you have eyes of faith to press forward into the life that God has promised to you...a life of victory and rest! With my Blessing, Sue

Questions for Thought & Discussion 1. HowÊdoesÊGod’sÊblessingÊtowardÊIsraelÊextendÊtoÊChrisƟans?Ê WhatÊisÊtheÊlink? 2. WhatÊisÊtheÊdifferenceÊbetweenÊupholdingÊrighteousnessÊ(likeÊ Phinehas)ÊandÊbeingÊlegalisƟc? 3. CanÊyouÊthinkÊofÊanÊexampleÊwhereÊconsidering,Êwhat’s important to the other person?’ÊmakesÊallÊtheÊdifferenceÊinÊcommunicaƟon? 4. WhatÊareÊtheÊareasÊofÊtemptaƟonÊthatÊhaveÊkeptÊyouÊfromÊaÊlifeÊ ofÊrestÊandÊvictory? 5. HowÊdoesÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ10:13ÊencourageÊyouÊregardingÊthoseÊ temptaƟonsÊ(rememberÊtheÊcontextÊofÊthatÊpassageÊisÊWildernessÊ life)? 6. WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊit’sÊrelevantÊthatÊJesusÊwasÊalsoÊtemptedÊinÊtheÊ WildernessÊforÊ40Êdays,ÊyetÊdidÊnotÊhardenÊHisÊheart,ÊbutÊentrust- edÊHimselfÊcompletelyÊtoÊHisÊFatherÊinÊHeaven?

TheÊTenÊCommandmentsÊinÊExodusÊ20:2-7 FromÊaÊ“BillÊofÊRights”ÊperspecƟve InÊMaƩhewÊ22:36-40,ÊJesusÊrespondedÊtoÊanÊexpert in the law whoÊ askedÊaboutÊtheÊgreatestÊcommandment.ÊJesusÊgaveÊaÊbrilliantÊsim- plificaƟonÊandÊsummaryÊofÊwhatÊGodÊspokeÊinÊtheÊhearingÊofÊallÊIsraelÊ atÊMt.ÊSinai.ÊHeÊsaid: Ê “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” LovingÊGod,ÊfollowedÊbyÊlovingÊpeople,ÊmeansÊtoÊrespectÊandÊhonorÊ theirÊrights.ÊBelowÊisÊaÊnumberedÊlistÊofÊtheÊTenÊCommandments,Êfol- lowedÊbyÊaÊsimpleÊstatement,ÊthatÊshowsÊhowÊobeyingÊGod’sÊsimpleÊ instrucƟonÊgivesÊhonorÊandÊrespectÊtoÊGodÊandÊourÊNeighbors: WouldÊyouÊlikeÊtoÊliveÊinÊaÊworldÊwhereÊpeopleÊwereÊconcernedÊwithÊ upholdingÊyourÊrightsÊlikeÊthis?ÊÊItÊwouldÊbeÊglorious.ÊSuddenlyÊtheÊ TenÊCommandmentsÊseemÊtoÊfacilitateÊanÊappealingÊsociety,ÊratherÊ thanÊrestrictÊfreedom.Ê AdaptedÊfromÊWhatÊtheÊOldÊTestamentÊAuthorsÊReallyÊCaredÊAbout6 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊInstrucƟonsÊtoÊLoveÊGodÊ BecauseÊYahwehÊhasÊaÊRightÊto...Ê #1ÊÊHaveÊnoÊotherÊgodsÊ(v.3) ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊExclusiveÊAllegiance #2ÊÊDon’tÊmakeÊaÊcarvedÊimageÊ(v.4-6)Ê TheÊDefiniƟonÊofÊHisÊImage #3ÊÊDon’tÊtakeÊGod’sÊnameÊinÊvainÊ(v.7) ProperÊRepresentaƟon #4ÊÊRememberÊtheÊSabbathÊdayÊ(v.8-11) Israel’sÊTime ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊInstrucƟonsÊtoÊLoveÊyourÊNeighbor BecauseÊofÊa...Ê #5ÊÊÊHonorÊyourÊfatherÊandÊmotherÊ(v.12) Parent’sÊRightÊtoÊRespect #6ÊÊÊDon’tÊmurderÊ(v.13) Neighbor’sÊRightÊtoÊLife #7ÊÊÊDon’tÊcommitÊadulteryÊ(v.14) Neighbor’sÊRightÊtoÊSexualÊPurity #8ÊÊÊDon’tÊstealÊ(v.15) Neighbor’sÊRightÊtoÊPersonalÊProperty #9ÊÊÊDon’tÊwitnessÊfalselyÊ(v.16) Neighbor’sÊRightÊtoÊHonestÊTesƟmony #10ÊDon’tÊcovetÊyourÊneighbor’sÊthings Neighbor’sÊRightÊtoÊHouseholdÊSecurity

RĊċĊėĊēĈĊĘ ScriptureÊquotaƟonsÊfromÊtheÊESV®ÊBibleÊ(TheÊHolyÊBible,ÊEnglishÊ StandardÊVersion®),ÊcopyrightÊ©Ê2001ÊbyÊCrossway,ÊaÊpublishingÊ ministryÊofÊGoodÊNewsÊPublishers.ÊUsedÊbyÊpermission.ÊAllÊrightsÊÊ reserved. ScriptureÊquotaƟonsÊfromÊtheÊNIV®ÊBibleÊ(TheÊHolyÊBible,ÊNewÊÊÊÊÊÊ InternaƟonalÊVersion®),ÊÊcopyrightÊ©Ê1984ÊZondervanÊPublishingÊ House,ÊGrandÊRapids,ÊMI.ÊUsedÊbyÊpermission.ÊAllÊrightsÊreserved. 1—ÊDickens,ÊCharles.ÊÊA Tale of Two CiƟes —ÊBlackÊ&ÊWhiteÊClassics,Ê 1859ÊediƟon,ÊNewÊYork. 2—ÊMurray,ÊAndrew.ÊThe Holiest of All — Whitaker House, 1996ÊÊÊ ediƟon,ÊNewÊKensington,ÊPA. 3—ÊSpurgeon,ÊCharlesÊH.Ê Spurgeon’s Sermons, Volume 5, 1859 SermonÊ#244ÊhƩps://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/ sermons05.xxi.html 4—ÊGaebelein,ÊFrankÊE.,Êed.ÊThe Expositor's Bible Commentary –ÊVol- umeÊ12:ÊHebrewsÊthroughÊRevelaƟon.ÊGrandÊRapids,ÊMI:Ê Zondervan,Ê1981.ÊWORDsearchÊCROSSÊe-book. 5—ÊWiersbe,ÊWarrenÊW.ÊTheÊBibleÊExposiƟonÊCommentaryÊ–ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Pentateuch.ÊColoradoÊSprings,ÊCO:ÊVictor,Ê2001.ÊWORDsearchÊ CROSSÊe-book. 6—ÊDeRouchie,ÊJasonÊS.ÊWhat the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About,ÊA survey of Jesus’ Bible.ÊGrandÊRapids,ÊMI:ÊKregelÊ PublicaƟons.Ê2013. p.44Ê—ÊMapÊofÊWildernessÊWay—ÊhƩps://www.thebiblejourney.org

TheÊfollowingÊWOWÊBibleÊStudies,ÊwriƩenÊbyÊSueÊLeBouƟllier,ÊareÊ availableÊthroughÊtheÊCalvaryÊChapelÊOntarioÊbookstore,ÊandÊthroughÊ ourÊonlineÊstoreÊatÊwww.ccontario.com. ÊÊOldÊTestament: ·ÊÊGenesisÊ—DivineÊDesign,ÊFromÊEdenÊtoÊEgypt ·ÊÊExodusÊ—DivineÊDeliverance,ÊFromÊEgyptÊtoÊSinai ·ÊÊNumbersÊ—TheÊWildernessÊWay,ÊFromÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊJordan ·ÊÊJoshuaÊ—TheÊPathÊofÊPromise,ÊFromÊtheÊJordanÊintoÊCanaan ·ÊÊJudgesÊ—ÊAÊTimeÊofÊTurning ·ÊÊRuthÊ—RescueÊandÊRestÊ ·ÊÊ1ÊSamuelÊ—ÊTheÊComingÊKing ·ÊÊJonahÊ—TheÊCallÊofÊCompassion ÊÊNewÊTestament: ·ÊÊTheÊWayÊofÊJesusÊÊ—TheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊ(MaƩhew)Ê ·ÊÊSimplyÊJesusÊ—TheÊ“IÊAMs”ÊofÊChristÊ(John) ·ÊÊActsÊ—WalkingÊinÊtheÊSpirit,ÊTheÊFirstÊDaysÊofÊtheÊLastÊDaysÊ ·ÊÊGalaƟansÊ—FindingÊGraceÊinÊaÊDemandingÊWorld ·ÊÊPhilippiansÊ—FindingÊJoyÊinÊaÊDisjointedÊWorld ·ÊÊColossiansÊ—WalkingÊinÊStrengthÊandÊPower ·ÊÊTitusÊ—WhileÊWeÊWait ·ÊÊJamesÊ—RealÊFaithÊforÊDailyÊLife ·ÊÊ1Ê&Ê2ÊPeterÊ—Hope,ÊHolinessÊandÊHumilityÊinÊaÊHosƟleÊWorld ·ÊÊ1,2,3ÊJohnÊ—Light,ÊLoveÊandÊLogic,ÊLessonsÊfromÊtheÊApostleÊJohn Women of the Word Bible Studies

Topics:Bible studyBook of NumbersIsrael's journeyfaith lessonsGod's guidanceChristian teachingwilderness journeyPastor Paulscripture studycontentment in Godhope in scriptureOld Testament

Apr 18, 2026

Pastor Paul LeBoutillier