August 15, 2010 Lesson 14 of Numbers 20

Notice Moses’ and Aaron’s reaction to the people’s discontent (V6). What did God desire to achieve through this incident? See V 6, 8, 12. How did Moses and Aaron fail, and in what terms is their failure described? See verses 10, 12, 24; cf. 27:14; Deut 32:15. Answer: He was hoping to bring them closer to Him. They failed in that they more or less sided with the people and did not put their full faith in Him at this moment.


God’s anger with Moses and Aaron may at first seem to us out of proportion to the extent of their failure. What ought we to learn from this? What ought we also learn from the fact that ‘rash words’ (Ps. 106:33) come from ‘humble’ (12:3) Moses’ lips? Answer: I think of this as if we are all children. We know what we should not do and how we should treat one another in order to show God’s love. Do we all ways do that; no. I am sure that our kids many times think that our punishment is too drastic for the crime. But seeing the bigger picture allows us to effectively rear our children. This is what God does for us as well!

August 14, 2010 Lesson 13 of Numbers 18:8-19:22

What does 18:8-32 teach us about offerings that are holy and belong by right to God? Answer: I am not sure how to answer this question based on the passage. I see, in this passage, God giving the Levites the honor of partaking of the meat, wine, and other items used in the sacrifice as “payment” for their service to the temple (as noted in v21). God does give to us, and in our obedience does provide much more back to us. Other than that I am not sure how to answer this question.


What are the special features of the sacrifice described in 19:1-10? Note the use to which the ashes were put (19:9, 12, 17-19). What are the ‘dead works’ from which we need to be purified? Answer: The priest does not lay his hand on the cow’s head and it is slaughtered outside the city. Everyone who comes in contact with any part of the cow is considered unclean and must perform the ceremonies to become clean again. The dead works are our sins.


Note
18:19. ‘An everlasting covenant of salt’ :i.e., and indissoluble covenant. Cf. 2 Chr 13:5.
19:9,12, 17-19. The cleansing virture of the sacrifice already made was thus symbolically stored up and applied, as need arose, to the unclean. Cf. Heb 9:13, 14; 1 John 1:7-9.

August 13, 2010 Lesson 12 of Numbers 16:36-18:7

How is the exclusive Aaronite priesthood strengthened and confirmed? What does the service of the priesthood involve? Notice especially 16:48, and compare the work of Christ as great High Priest. Cf. Heb 5:1, 9, 10; 7:25-28; 9:11, 12, 26. Answer: It is further confirmed by the staff with Aaron’s name on it to grow, bud, and produce almonds. God does not need to prove to man what He has chosen for Himself, however, like a great parent likes to show His children the Way. The main call of the priest was, as 16:48 points out, to stand between the living and the dead. The priest was to be that connection between God and man, giving us the ability to stand holy and righteous before God. This is exactly what Christ has done for us today.


How could our service be transformed by thinking of it as a gift (18:7)? Cf. 1 Tim1:12-14; 2 Tim 1:6. Answer: Our service is a gift in that we could not do any of it without first receiving the ability from God.

August 12, 2010 Lesson 11 of Numbers 16:1-35

There is evidence here of a double revolt: one by Korah (a Levite) ‘and all is company’ against Moses and Aaron; and one by Dathan and Abiram (Reubenites) against Moses. What was the ground of complaint in each case? See 16:3 and 16:13-14. To what extent was it justified? Cf. Heb 5:4; 2Cor 10:18. Answer: I am not sure that I see it as a “double revolt.” I see it as both things together pushed them over the edge. They (those speaking out against Moses here) saw Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey compared to where they are now. In addition they saw Moses’ behavior as one of superiority. They obviously did not understand Moses. [Before I read Heb. 5:4 and 2 Cor 10:18 let me try this one on for size. As Christians we are to look at one another and help one another stay on track with the Word. In that regard we are to sometimes question things that are not in line with the Word and God. This is a bit different in that these men were obviously sinning against the Lord. Now for the other passages. ] The passages show that man does not choose, but it is God who chooses.


What lay behind the revolts that made them serious enough to warrant so drastic a punishment and warning to the people? See especially verses 11, 19, 28, 30. Answer: it was an outright direct sin against the Lord. These men were trying to disrupt and redirect the Israelites away from the will of God.


Note. Verse 1. That such men should lead an open revolt against the authority of Moses and Aaron meant that it was a very serious outbreak of discontent.

August 11, 2010 Lesson 10 of Numbers 15. Religious laws

What do verses 1-21 teach us about making offerings which are pleasing to God? Answer: The grain offering here is to be connected with the burnt offering by timing (they are to be brought together) and amount (the NIV points out that as the animal grows in size so does the grain offering). The burnt offering is worship, seeking atonement for unintentional sins, expresses devotion and commitment to God. While the grain offering shows worship and thankfulness for God’s provisions. To me this shows that atonement must come with thankfulness. First thing coming to my mind is the B-attitudes.


Why was there no way of atonement for the person who sinned ‘defiantly’? What does this mean? Cf. Mark 3:28-29; Heb 10:26-31, 39; Ps 19:13. Answer: The only unforgiveable sin is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Though the Spirit was not on the earth at this point He did still exist as part of the Trinity in Heaven. To blaspheme God is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, the one unforgivable sin. Am I going out on a limb too far?? Is that what the answer is??


Notice by whom the deliberate law-breaker had to be dealt with and in what way Cf. Cf. Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5; Heb 12:15. Why is such church discipline so little practiced? Answer: The people were to deal with him. They were to cut him off.


Note. V38. ‘Tassels’: these were made of twisted thread and attached by a blue ribbon to the robe, to remind the wearer of the commandments of the Lord, and of his obligation to keep them.

August 10, 2010 Lesson 9 of Numbers 14:10-45

What can we learn from Moses’ prayer, especially concerning governing motives and grounds of appeal to God? Answer: The grounds of Moses’ argument were that to the Egyptians, God would not look competent. It would appear that God was not able to deliver on His promises if He destroyed them in the desert. He reminds God (not that God really needs reminding) that He is a God that is slow to anger and disciplines his children.


Although forgiven, the people suffered the consequences of their sin. How? In what way do they show themselves throughout this story (Num 13 and 14) to typical of us? Answer: The current generation (those over 20) who had “grumbled against” the Lord were not going to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. This is a pretty good picture of us many times. We don’t always follow God’s plan for our life, or we too grumble on the way there, and this causes us to miss out on lots of God’s blessings in our own lives.

August 9, 2010 Lesson 8 of Numbers 13:1-14:10a. The spies are sent into the Land.

To what places in Canaan did the spies go? Look up Hebron and the Valley of Eshcol on a map. What were they commissioned to discover, and what report did they give? Answer: The spies reported what they feared in their heart. They reported that there were giants who could easily defeat them. They lost faith in God that He would help them through any battle. They were promised the land, and yet they didn’t have the faith needed to bring back positive report. They did report, however, positively about the fruits of the land.


What lay behind the opposing views expressed in 13:30 and 31? Were Caleb and Joshua being unrealistically optimistic and refusing to face facts? What was the outcome of the people’s fear and unbelief? Notice how few believed, and the frequent occurrence of the word ‘all’ in 14:1-10. Cf. Heb 4:1-2. Answer: Caleb and Joshua had not lost faith in God, which prompted their report that it was possible to defeat the people in the land. This “negativism” spread in the camp.


Note: 13:32. ‘The land we explored devours those living in it’: this probably refers to the constant wars between its people, and their ferocity in internecine strife.