~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Chapters 15-16
1) First we read of a person who breaks the Sabbath and is stoned to death as punishment. Do you think stoning someone to death was an appropriate punishment for gathering fire wood? Why or why not? Why do you think this punishment is no longer appropriate? 2) At the beginning of the rebellion, Korah says "The whole community, all of them, are holy." Do you think that in any group of people that large, every single one them is holy? Why or why not? 3) Moses then goes and talks to two other men of the group who are rebelling. They accuse Moses of being at fault for them not receiving the land of Canaan, when we know it was a lack of faith on part of the people that caused this. Question: Do we, as a society, sometimes refuse to accept blame for what we ourselves have caused? Do you occasionally do this on a personal level? 4) The Lord has the earth swallow up the people in rebellion. Question: Do you think He was angry to the insult proffered to Moses and/or do you think He was angry over their lack of faith? ~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 15-16 (15:32-36) While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was discovered gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who caught him at it brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly. But they kept him in custody, for there was no clear decision as what should be done with him. Then the Lord said to Moses, "This man shall be put to death; let the whole community stone him outside the camp." So the whole community led him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (16:2-5) Two hundred and fifty Israelites who were leaders in the community, members of the council and men of note. They stood before Moses, and held an assembly against Moses and Aaron, to whom they said, "Enough from you! The whole community, all of them, are holy; the Lord is in their midst. Why then should you set yourselves over the Lord's congregation?" When Moses heard this, he fell prostrate. Then he said to Korah and to all his band, "May the Lord make known tomorrow morning who belongs to him and who is the holy one and whom he will have draw near to him! Whom he chooses, he will have draw near him!" (16:8-9) Moses also said to Korah, "Listen to me, you Levites! Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the community of Israel, to have you draw near him the service of the Lord's Dwelling to to stand before the community to minister for them? (16:12-14) Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, but they answered, "We will not go. Are you not satisfied with having led us here away from a land flowing with milk and honey, to make us perish in the desert, that you must now lord it over us? Far from bringing us to a land flowing with milk and honey, or giving us fields and vineyards for our inheritance, will you also gouge out our eyes? No, we will not go." (16:20-24)...and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Stand apart from this band, that I may consume them at once." But they fell prostrate and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will one man's sin make you angry with the whole community?" The Lord answered Moses, "Speak to the community and tell them: Withdraw from the space around the Dwelling" [of Korah, Dathan and Abiram]. (16:28-33) Moses said [to the people], "This is how you shall know that it was the Lord who sent me to do all I have done, and that it was not I who planned it: if these men die an ordinary death, merely suffering the fate common to all mankind, then it was not the Lord who sent me. But if the Lord does something entirely new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them alive down into the nether world, with all belonging to them, then you will know that these men have defied the Lord." No sooner had he finished saying all this than and ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families [and all of Korah's men] and all their possessions. They went down alive to the nether world with all belonging to them; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the community.
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~~~~ Lesson: Numbers, Chapter 14
1) In this chapter, the Israelites once again refer to Egypt, and even start to make plans to return there, even knowing that they will surely be slaves again. Question: Can you name one sin that our society often becomes "slaves" to? 2) The Lord is very wrathful and filled with anger when he hears the Israelites and their ungratefulness and lack of faith. Moses, however, pleads on their behalf that they not be destroyed. God listens and instead of destroying them punishes them by 40 years of wandering in the desert. Question: Do you think if we pray for someone else to receive forgiveness that God will/might grant them forgiveness, even if they don't ask for it? Why or why not? 3) Some of the Israelites decide, belatedly, to go and try to take the land of Canaan. Moses warns them not to go, that it is no longer "their" land but that the promise will be fulfilled in their children's generation. They ignore him and then are defeated. Question: If we belatedly do what God wants us to do: do we suffer the same fate as them or different? Why? ~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Chapter 13 (reading after lesson)
This chapter is one of my personal favorites out of these three books. In one chapter, we cover a period of over 40 days, but the entire chapter is pointing to one conclusion: "People don't trust God when it counts." At first, the Israelites obeyed perfectly...."send out scouts"...no problem. They send them on their way and wait for forty days with no dissent (that we hear of). The scouts themselves go off into a foreign land to see what it is like, apparently trusting that the inhabitants aren't going to kill them on the spot (a possibility in those times....and in some parts of the world, a possibility today). BUT, when the Israelites hear that, "yes, the land is great" and "see this fruit we brought back!" and (finally), "well, these warriors live there" They decide, "Nope, we've trusted God this far, but now we're not going any further." (Yes, I am being a bit flip, but it is to make a point, I promise). In the next chapter (and I'm sure we all know this), but they will be punished for their lack of faith by wandering in the desert for 40 years. Now, this is an easy lesson to say or teach. (Example: I'm not having any trouble typing this, ha-ha). But, living it is another thing. (Which I do struggle with). So, if you're facing a situation that seems impossible, or are trying to follow in Jesus' footsteps and feel like you're lost on the trail: Have faith! Question: Can you name on little "everyday" thing you should/could give over to God? Can you name one large thing you are either facing or have faced in which you just had to throw up your hands and say "God, it's all yours...I'm just trusting you"? What is one way you could help others have faith? (By teaching, praying for them, being nice to strangers....throw out whatever feels good to you) ~Reading: Numbers: Chapter 13 (1-3) The Lord said to Moses, "Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am giving the Israelites. You shall send one man from each ancestral tribe, all of them princes." So Moses dispatched them from the desert of Paran, as the Lord had ordered. All of them were leaders among the Israelites. (17-21) In sending them to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, Moses said to them, "Go up here in the Negeb, up into the highlands, and see what kind of land it is. Are the people living there strong or weak, few or many? Is the country in which they live good or bad? Are the towns in which they dwell open or fortified? Is the soil fertile or barren, wooded or clear? And do your best to get some of the fruit of the land." So they went up and reconnoitered the land from the desert of Zin as far as where Rehob adjoins Labo of Hamath. (25-28) After reconnoitering the land for forty days they returned, met Moses and Aaron and the whole community of the Israelites in the desert of Paran at Kadesh, made a report to them all, and showed them the fruit of the country. They told Moses: "We went into the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. However, the people who are living in the land are fierce, and the towns are fortified and very strong. Besides, we saw descendants of the Anakim there." (30-33) Caleb, however, to quiet the people toward Moses, said, "We ought to go up and seize the land, for we can certainly do so." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us." So they spread discouraging reports among the Israelites about the land they had scouted, saying, "The land that we explored is a country and consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge men, veritable giants, [the Anakim were a race of giants]; we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them." NOTE: Reading was an earlier post due to length. Please scroll down for reading.
The Israelites complain about the manna that God is providing. They cry to Moses. Moses laments to God, and God ends up giving them all quail. During out last lesson, I asked if you thought the Israelites grumbled about the pace. Now, we know they grumbled about the food. They go on and on about certain foods they had in Egypt (as slaves) that they don't have now (a free people). Question: Do we grumble about what we don't have and forgive to be thankful for what we do have? Can you give an example? Moses hears the cry of the people, and goes to the Lord, saying he cannot carry this burden, that it is too much for him. Despite his lament, he is still "heeding the charge of God." He doesn't say, "No, Lord, I'm not going to do that" or "I don't want to"....he says, "I don't think I have the strength...please help." Question: How do you try to "heed the charge of the Lord"? How can we practice not refusing God's call, but simply asking for help when it seems like too much? Is this a problem in your life? (Or is this something that has never come up?) Due to the long reading, I'll be doing the reading and lesson on different days!
~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 10-12- Israelites Travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh (10:11-12) In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud rose from the Dwelling of the commandments. The Israelites moved on from the desert of Sinai by stages, until the cloud came to rest in the desert of Paran. (11:1-6) Now the people complained in the hearing of the Lord; and when he heard it his wrath flared up so that the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. But when the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died out. Hence that place was called Taberah, because there the fire of the Lord burned among them. The foreign elements among them were so greedy for meat that even the Israelites lamented again, "Would that we had meat for food! We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now we are famished; we see nothing before us but this manna." (11:9-15) At night, when the dew fell upon the camp, the manna also fell. When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the Lord became very angry, he was grieved. "Why do you treat your servant so badly?" Moses asked the Lord. "Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with all this people? Was it I who conceived all this people? or was it I who gave them birth, that you tell me to carry them at my bosom, like a foster father carrying an infant, to the land you have promised under oath to their fathers? Where can I get meat to give to all this people? For they are crying to me, 'Give us meat for our food.' I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress." (11:31-32) There arose a wind sent by the Lord, that drove in quail from the sea and brought them down over the camp site at a height of two cubits from the ground for a distance of a day's journey all around the camp. All that day, all that night, and all the next day the people gathered in the quail. Even the one who got the least gathered ten homers of them. Then they spread them out all around the camp. (Chapter 12- paraphrased) Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses. God takes them to task, and causes Miriam to be a leper for seven days. ~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Chapters 8-10
As always, feel free to read the chapters in full...I have quoted the "highlights," but some of you may want to read the entire thing. We first read of the Lord commanding the Israelites to celebrate Passover. It is a time of remembrance of worship for them. Christianity's two largest celebrations are Christmas and Easter. Question: What is one thing about each season that you tend to reflect on/pray about/think about? Chapter 9 takes nine verses to say this: They set out when there was a pillar of fire, and they camped when there was a cloud. So, why would it go into such detail, repeating the story almost three times? It is underlining the fact that they OBEYED God, even under different circumstances and when it probably didn't make a lot of sense to them. For example, why get up in the middle of the night & move on...couldn't it wait until morning? Question: Do you think some of the Israelites grumbled over the odd pace of their journey? Why or why not? There are seven words at the very end of the chapter that could/should be read at least three times: "Ever heeding the charge of the Lord" Question: How do you try to "heed the charge of the Lord"? ~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 8-10 Chapter 8 (paraphrased)- the rules the Levites had to follow, such as age limits and proper conduct. (9:1-5) In the first month of the year following their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time. The evening twilight of the fourteenth day of this month is the prescribed time when you shall celebrate it, observing all its rule and regulations." Moses, therefore, told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover. And they did so, celebrating the Passover in the desert of Sinai during the evening twilight of the fourteenth day of the first month, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (9:15-23) On the day when the Dwelling was erected, the cloud covered the Dwelling, the tent of the commandments; but from evening until morning it took on the appearance of fire over the Dwelling. It was always so: during the day the Dwelling was covered by the cloud, which at night had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud rose from the tent, the Israelites would break camp; wherever the cloud came to rest, they would pitch camp. At the bidding of the Lord the Israelites moved on, and at his bidding they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the Dwelling, they remained in camp. Even when the cloud tarried many days over the Dwelling, the Israelites obeyed the Lord and would not move on; yet sometimes the cloud was over the Dwelling only for a few days. It was at the bidding of the Lord that they stayed in camp, and it was at his bidding that they departed. Sometimes the cloud remained there only from evening until morning; and when it rose in the morning, they would depart. Or if the cloud lifted during the day, or even at night, they would then set out. Whether the cloud tarried over the Dwelling for two days or for a month or longer, the Israelites remained in camp and did not depart; but when it lifted they moved on. Thus, it was always at the bidding of the Lord that they encamped, and at his bidding that they set out; ever heeding the charge of the Lord, as he had bidden them through Moses. Chapter 10 (paraphrased)- The making of two silver trumpets, which will be used to assemble the community, in breaking camp, announcing festivals & holy days, and during battles. ~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Chapters 5-7
In the beginning of chapter 5, multiple people are expelled from the camp because they are "unclean." And they are unclean mostly because of skin disease or a discharge that isn't their fault! Question: Can you think of a reason God would expel them for something that was beyond their control? (Even scholars have trouble with a good answer...so, there is no wrong answer! Just take a shot in the dark and see what we come up with) Would it be right to expel someone from church because of these reasons? In 5:5-10, we learn that if someone cheats someone else (either by accident or on purpose), they must not only confess their sin, but also pay back the amount plus one fifth. Question: If we followed this rule today, would the world be a better place? Why or why not? Do you think confession of sin is important? Why or why not? Next we learn of the "Nazirite vow" and how someone dedicates themselves to God for a certain time frame. Question: Have you been on any type of retreat? Did you feel closer to God during that time? Do you think the concept of dedicating yourself to God for a certain time frame is practical today? Why or why not? ~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 5-7- Due to the length of this reading, we'll be doing the reading first and the lesson on a different day!
(5: 1-10) The Lord said to Moses: "Order the Israelites to expel from camp every leper, and everyone suffering from a discharge, and everyone who has become unclean by contact with a corpse. Male and female alike, you shall compel them to go out of the camp, they are not to defile the camp in which I dwell." The Israelites obeyed the command that the Lord had given Moses; they expelled them from the camp. The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the Lord, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged. However, if the latter has no next of kin to whom restoration of the ill-gotten goods can be made, the goods to be restored shall be the Lord's and shall fall to the priest; this is part from the atonement ram with which the priest makes amends for the guilty man. Likewise, every sacred contribution that the Israelites are bound to make shall fall to the priest. Each Israelites may dispose of his own sacred contributions; they become the property of the priest to whom he gives them." -ordeal for a suspected adulteress also explained- (6:1-8) The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man (or woman) solemnly takes the nazirite vow to dedicate himself to the Lord, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he may neither drink wine vinegar, other vinegar, or any kind of grape juice, not eat either fresh or dried grapes. As long as he is a nazirite he shall not eat anything of the produce of the vine; not even unripe grapes or grapeskins. While he is under the nazirite vow, no razor shall tough his hair. Until the period of his dedication to the Lord is over, he shall be sacred, and shall let the hair of his head grow freely. As long as he is dedicated to the Lord, he shall not enter where a dead person is. Not even for his father or mother, his sister or brother, should they die, may he become unclean, since his head bears his dedication to God. As long as he is a nazirite he is sacred to the Lord." -further rules for Nazirites- (Chapter 7: paraphrased) Before leaving Sinai, the "prince" of each tribe made an offering to the Lord on behalf of his tribe. These "princes" where the ones that we heard of as leaders during the census. ~~~~~ Lesson: Numbers: Chapters 3 & 4 (reading after lesson)
Both chapters again today are pretty straight-forward. They lay out the reason for the Levites being in charge of the Dwelling and spells out their specific duties- in great detail! Note the difference between the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated priests allowed to enter the temple, and normal Levites, who are purified, and allowed to help transport and take care of the Dwelling. Again, I'm going to throw out a couple of un-related discussion topics for us: To live your life for Christ, you must believe in your need of: 1) training and study 2) prayer and action 3) God's grace and a living union with Him 4) a rule, a way of life. Question: Which of these is your strongest area? Which of these is your weakest area? Question: Are you a mediocre Christian right now? Have you been in the past? By putting one question in the forefront of your mind, you can fulfill God's glory for you: "What else can I give you, Christ?" Question: What else can you give? (From "On Fire with Christ" by Frank Holland, Sr.) ~Reading: Numbers: Chapters 3 & 4 (3:1-13) The following were the descendants of Aaron and Moses at the time that the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. The sons of Aaron were Nadab his first-born, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests who were ordained to exercise the priesthood. But when Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire before the Lord in the desert of Sinai, they met death in the presence of the Lord, and left no sons. Thereafter only Eleazar and Ithamar performed the priestly functions under the direction of their father Aaron. Now the Lord said to Moses: "Summon the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest, as his assistants. They shall discharge his obligations and those of the whole community before the meeting tent by serving at the Dwelling. They shall have custody of all the furnishings of the meeting tent and discharge the duties of the Israelites in the service of the Dwelling. You shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been set aside from among the Israelites as dedicated to me. But only Aaron and his descendants shall you appoint to have charge of the priestly functions. Any layman who comes near shall be put to death." The Lord said to Moses, "It is I who have chosen the Levites from the Israelites in place of every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites. The Levites, therefore, are mine, because every first-born is mine. When I slew all of the first-born in the land of Egypt, I made all the first-born in Israel sacred to me, both of man and of beast. They belong to me; I am the Lord." The rest of chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 go on to explain in detail what each section of the tribe of Levi is in charge of: some take care of the tent and its coverings, others the statuary, others the gold, etc. Feel free to read the two chapters in full if you want to know the details. ~~~~~Lesson: Numbers: Chapters 1-2 (reading after lesson)
Chapters 1 and 2 are very straight-forward and really don’t need any explanation. We have a census of everyone, organized by tribe. The tribes were sorted by the sons of Jacob. We also learn that the Levites are the priests. We will learn much more about the Levites at a later time. Due to the obvious nature of these chapters, and the lack of discussion material, I’m going to simply have some “unrelated” questions to allow for discussion. Individually too many people substitute materialism for Christianity; live in ignorance, indifference, or rejection of God; and seek fame, power, pleasure, or wealth as the goal of their life. As a society, this leads to wars, divorce, obscene literature; a basic perversion of human values; and a wide-spread loss of human dignity. Questions: Do you feel the world is more pagan (and further away from God) than it was 20 years ago? Why or why not? Many people have to hurt, trampled on, or ignored before they turn to God. Is that how you turned to God? If so, tell the story. If not, how did you find God? At the judgment, God is going to ask one question: "Did you live your life for Me?" What is your answer going to be? (From "On Fire with Christ" by Frank Holland, Sr.) ~Reading: Numbers: Chapter 2 (2:1-2) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites shall camp, each in his own division, under the ensigns of their ancestral houses. They shall camp around the meeting tent, but at some distance from it. In the rest of chapter 2, it goes on to list the actual locations each tribe should live. |
Jennifer Becker Landsberger
Who am I? Freelance writer (magazines, websites, & copywriting), Catholic, military wife, and Mensan. Double Bachelor's in History & Psychology. Witnessing by charity and love are above all. Studying the Bible and beyond helps me on this quest. Feel free to join my walk into the Bible.
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Oh creator of the universe, who has set the stars in the heavens and causes the sun to rise and set, shed the light of your wisdom into the darkness of my mind. Fill my thoughts with a loving knowledge of you, that I may bring you like to others. Just as you can make even babies speak your truth, instruct my tongue and guide my pen to convey the wonderful glory of the Gospel. Make my intellect sharp, my memory clear, and my words eloquent, so that I may faithfully interpret the mysteries what you have revealed. Categories
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I promise: 1. I will pray that God's grace helps illuminate all of our interactions- both those of simple reading and more active conversations. 2. I will communicate with you respectfully and civilly. These are (rightly) issues which we feel passionate about. But even in disagreements, I will respect you fellow "seekers of truth." 3. I will not fall into negative behavior or words, such as insinuations, exaggerations, blames, or personal attacks. I respectfully ask you to do the same. 4. I will pray we will all find the truth and strive to fulfill the two greatest commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31) This site will occasionally feature paid posts! I always 100% verify everything I endorse. You will not see posts for products or sites I would not use myself.
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