~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Numbers 25-29

1) First, the Israelites commit their first instance of worshipping foreign gods in the land around Canaan. This will be an ongoing problem for a very, very long time, despite God's continuous punishment for this sin.

Question: Can you think of a reason that the Israelites continue to worship other gods?

Why do you think they ignore the punishment and continue to commit this sin throughout their history?

2) The Lord then gives rules for inheritance; including allowing daughters to inherit land (but only if there are no sons!).

Question: Do you think ordered rules for inheritance are better than the person getting to write out a will and decide who should get their property? Why or why not?

3) Joshua is then chosen as Moses' successor. Despite the years that have gone by, Moses is still denied getting to walk in the holy land promised to them.

Question: Do you think there are consequences for our sins even when God forgives us? Why or why not?


~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 25-29

Chapter 25- The Israelites fall to worshipping the god Baal of Peor. God's wrath falls upon them and twenty-four thousand are killed.

Chapter 26- A second census is taken, again sorted by the twelve tribes.

(52-56) The said to Moses, "Among these groups the land shall be divided as their heritage in keeping with the number of individuals in each group. To a large group you shall assign a large heritage, to a small group and small heritage, each group receiving its heritage in proportion to the number of men registered in it. But the land shall be divided by lot, as the heritage of the various ancestral tribes. As the lot falls shall each group, large or small, be assigned its heritage."
[Note: This will be very, very important later!!!  Remember it!!!]

Chapter 27: 5-11, 22-23

(5-11) When Moses laid their [daughters of Zelophehad, who died without a male heir] case before the Lord, the Lord said to him, "The plea of Zelophehad's daughters is just; you shall give them hereditary property among their father's kinsmen, letting their father's heritage pass on to them. Therefore, tell the Israelites: If a man died without leaving a son, you shall let his heritage pass on to his daughter; if he has no daughter, you shall give his heritage to his brothers; if he has no brothers, you shall give his heritage to his father's brothers; if his father had no brothers, you shall give his heritage to his nearest relative in his clan, who shall then take possession of it." This is the legal norm for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

(22-23) Moses did as the Lord had commanded him. Taking Joshua and having him stand in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, he laid his hands on him and gave him his commission, as the Lord had directed through Moses.

Chapters 28 and 29 cover proper times for sacrifices.