Week 53, Day 1: Korah’s Rebellion
Today’s Reading: Numbers 16:1-50
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Chapter 16 shows us that the rebellious nature of these people continues strong despite the events that have happened so far. Now a Levite along with two men from the tribe of Reuben and 250 leaders of Israel rebel against Moses and Aaron. They tell Moses and Aaron that they have gone far enough, why do they exalt themselves above the assembly of the Lord (vs. 3). Moses tells them that tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy. They are instructed to come to the tent of meeting then with fire on their censers. But the two men from the tribe of Reuben refuse to come when summoned. In the morning, Korah assembled all the congregation against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the Lord appeared and the Lord commands there to be a separation made. The people are to get away fromm those who are leading this rebellion: Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Moses tells the congregation that if these men die a natural death then the Lord did not send him. But if the earth opens up and swollows them and all that belongs to them then the Lord has sent him. Thus the earth opened up and swallowed these men. Also the 250 leaders with there censers were burned with fire from God.
This should have been the end of the matter but the people begin grumbling against Moses and Aaron the very next day. This has always been impressive to me to think that they were so stubborn and had such disbelief that they would not learn from witnessing the ground opening up and swollowing these men up. Impressive to think of how set some people are to refuse to obey and heed God.
Question: What do you think leads to someone rebelling against God? What caused these people to rebel? What can we do to ensure that we are never tempted to rebel against God’s commands?
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Week 52, Day 5: Sacrifices
Today’s Reading: Numbers 15:1-41
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
I think that it is interesting that on the heels of Israel’s rebellion against God that the Lord then gives instructions regarding sacrifices that they should offer. Among these different sacrifices to be made are those which are to be made for when a person sins “unwittingly” (22) or “unintentionally” (27). But we are also told about what should happen when the Israelite sins “defiantly” (30). We are told that when they do things defiantly against God’s commands that this person is blaspheming the Lord. This person will be cut off from among Israel. To sin defiantly against God’s commands was not to be tolerated nor allowed.
Question: What is the difference between sinning defiantly verses unintentionally? Do you see a difference in sinning and defiantly sinning (think about what actions were commanded to be done in each situation)?
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Week 52, Day 4: Rebellion
Today’s Reading: Numbers 14:1-38
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After the bad report is brought back by 10 of the 12 spies, the people begin to rebel. They speak of replacing Moses as their leader and going back to Egypt. Despite Caleb’s efforts to convince them that God will give them the land they speak of stoning Aaron, Moses and Caleb (vs 9-10). What stops them from doing this? Not reason or rational thought but rather it was God intervening. The glory of the Lord appears in the tent of meeting.
God decides to punish the people for their rebellion by making them wander in the wilderness until all those who have “seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice” died in the wilderness (vs. 22). God would not permit these men to see the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua would be allowed to survive because they had a “different spirit and followed God fully” (vs 24). Rather than permitting these people to enter into the land God would give it to their children whom the people had said would become prey to their enemies (vs. 31).
Question: What kind of attitude is reflected by the people going ahead and trying to go into the land (vs 39-45)? How hard do you think it was for Caleb to speak up when they returned from spying out the land and when the people were lifting up their voices?
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Week 52, Day 3: The 12 Spies
Today’s Reading: Numbers 13:1-33
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
From the wilderness of Paran Moses is instructed to send out spies into the land of Canaan. Moses is to send men who are leaders in each tribe. So these spies are not just any twelve men. They are leaders among their tribe. This adds weight to what happens when they return and give the report about how large and well fortified the cities are and about the size of the people in the land. So these leaders are saying that the land is formidable. You can imagine the impact that such a report would have on the people before we go onto the next chapter.
What did the spies find. They found that the land was certainly a land flowing with milk and honey (vs 27). The cluster of grapes they cut was carried between two men. This is impressive to thing of because it impresses one with the size of this cluster of grapes to take two men to carry it. They also found the Nephilim were in the land (or sons of Anak). These were the giants such as Goliath.
Question: What tribes were Caleb and Joshua from?
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Week 52, Day 2: Trouble on all sides
Today’s Reading: Numbers 12:1-16
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
If it were not enough that the sons of Israel have begun to complain, now Moses has problems from his brother and sister. The trouble with Aaron and Miriam seems to stem from his decision to marry a cushite woman (vs 1). We are not told exactly why Aaron and Miriam have a problem with his marriage but it sounds like it has to do with where she originates from. This could be simply that Moses married a woman who was not an Israelite. It could be that for some reason the people of Cush (Ethiopia region) were not well thought of. For whatever reason this is given as the reason they spoke against Moses. But their complaint included the statement, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?” This goes beyond questioning Moses’ decision making skills but also strikes at his leadership and role as a spokesman for God.
God answers this complaint directly by having Aaron, Miriam and Moses come before Him at the tent of meeting. The Lord tells them that with other prophets He speaks in visions or in a dream. He does not speak openly to them but in “dark saying” or in mysteries/ riddles. But this is not the way He speaks to Moses. With Moses He speaks “mouth to mouth”, openly, and Moses beholds the Lord’s form. Because of this distinction they should have been afraid to speak against Moses.
It is remarkable to consider the kind of relationship God had with Moses. We are told a lot about Moses in this chapter.
Because of their actions in complaining against Moses, Miriam is struck with leprousy.
Question: Why do you think Aaron was not struck with leprousy as well? Was Miriam’s leprousy a punishment for Aaron?
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Week 52, Day 1: Taberah & Kibroth-hattaavah
Today’s Reading: Numbers 11:1-35
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After three days journey from Mt. Sinai Israel begins to complain like thoese who “complain of adversity”. Adversity? Marching for three days is adversity? You can see that from very early on the journey was not going well and would not go well. Israel’s attitude was not one to have or express confidence in Jehovah. Because of their complaining God consumed some of the outskirts of the camp with fire. Thus this place was called “Taberah” or “burning”. Part of the people’s complaints was that they only had manna to eat. They started to say how good they had it back in Egypt. So God said he would give them meat. He would not give them meat for just a few days but for an entire month. Moses knew how daunting a task this was. Moses expressed this when he basically asked God how could this be done for a group of people of 600,000 (vs. 21). Would it be enough to kill all the flocks and herds (vs. 22)? But God would provide the meat through quail. He would send the quail right to their feet. And here again comes a time when God’s anger was kindled and he struck the people with a severe plague. When they began to eat the quail God struck them again for their complaining and greed. This place was called “Kibroth-hattaavah” or “the graves of greediness”. This kind of an event is very sad to see because of what could have been. Israel could have petitioned God for meat. Israel could have trusted in God to carry them safely through their journey and provide well for them, but they didn’t. How sad.
Question: Are there times in our lives that we can be guilty of similar complaining or greediness? Remember Heb 13:5-6
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Week 51, Day 5: Trumpet Call
Today’s Reading: Numbers 10:1-36
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
It is revealed to us how Israel communicated quickly throughout the camp. Remember that you have a camp with at least 600,000 men in it. The camp would have been huge. Moses was instructed to make two silver trumpets. These trumpets were to be blownn a certain manner or time to instuct Israel to move out ffrom camp, for the leaders to assemble, or for an alarm. During their time traveling through the wilderness such forms of communication would be essential. There are things like this that I sometimes don’t wonder about how it happened until a verse like this. I assume that there would be different ways to make a trumpet blast so that these different commands could be conveyed. I associate the different sounds with the picture of a bugler from the days of the wild west. By blowing a certain “tune” he could sound the advance or the charge depending on the order. Here Moses could have the two trumpets blown to alert the camp or to summon the leaders to come to him for a meeting.
Question: How do you think you could tell the difference between when one trumpet was blown verse both trumpets being blown?
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Week 51, Day 4: The Cloud & Fire
Today’s Reading: Numbers 9:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are told in this chapter that after Moses erected the tabernacle the cloud covered it. I am often amazed at the thought of this. Here Israel has a very visual symbol of God’s presence among them. This was not some cloud that just happened to linger over the tabernacle. It settle onn the tabernacle and at night it was replaced by fire. And yet how could Israel later doubt that God would be with them in overtaking the promised land or would provide for them in the wilderness. I am just amazed by this thought. A cloud by day and fire by night is over the tabernacle. When people talk about miracles being linked to people being able to have faith I sometimes think about things like this. Here is yet again another thing through which God showed Israel that He was with them and yet they were disbelieving. It was not enough for them. Those who put so much stock in miracles ought to recognize this. If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets then neither would they listen even if someone came back from the dead (a miracle).
This cloud and fire over the tabernacle was a good way for God to tell Israel when they are to travel further or stay put.
Question: When were people allowed to “make up” for missing the passover feast? Some will use verses 6-12 in teaching about the second serving of the Lord’s supper. What is different between permission being given by God for observing the Passover at a later date and a church observing the Lord’s supper at a second time or at a later date?
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Week 51, Day 3: Levites cleansed
Today’s Reading: Numbers 8:1-26
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The main thrust of this chapter is the cleansing of the Levites. We are not told all the “whys” in many passages. I had wondered why the Levites were required to shave all the hair from their body as part of the cleansing process (vs. 7). But regardless of understanding why they had to, it was what was commanded. Moses was to cleanse the Levites and present them before the Lord and the sons of Israel. The sons of Israel were to lay their hands on the Levites. This too is an interesting action. In this instance this action of laying on their hands is part of Israel offering the Levites as a wave offering before God. Again, this is an interesting picture because we do not see such an action happen with people. Verse 12 has the Levites lay their hands on the bulls, which would be them in some symbolic way imparting their sins onto the animal that is to be sacrificed.
Question: Why did the Levites have to be cleansed before being able to serve?
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Week 51, Day 2: Gifts from the Leaders
Today’s Reading: Numbers 7:1-89
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After the tabernacle is consecrated by Moses the leaders of each tribe bring their offerings. They bring 6 covered carts and 12 oxen as a group. These are to be used by the Levites to transport the tabernacle when they are traveling. They then each bring certain vessels and animals for sacrificing. It is impressive to me how much each one gave. We continue to see a reflection of their desire to complete the tabernacle work. They have been very generous and their giving has been abundant. What changed between now and when they were to enter the promised land? Did anything change or was it that they always had the wrong attitude regarding obeying and believing God? We are told in Heb 3:19 that they could not enter the promised land because of unbelief. Perhaps they were excited to be making a place of worship to God but then when the difficulties came (faced with a formidable enemy) they waivered in their belief.
Question: Why did the Levite family of Kohath receive no carts to aid in their transportation duties? (see verse 9)
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