Numbers (Program #22) – Fighting (3)

In the Old Testament book of Numbers there is the story of a gentile prophet named Balaam.  The Moabite king Balak had hired him to curse and prophesy against God’s people Israel, who Balak the king greatly feared.  Yet at each instance, as much as Balaam desire to please the king, whatever he spoke concerning Israel turned out not to be a curse but a blessing.  These parables recorded in Numbers 22 through 24 had a greater impact than just the Lord’s frustration of a heathen king with an evil intention towards God’s people.  These parables actually revealed how God views His people, whether the nation of Israel in the Old Testament or the church in this age despite the failures and weaknesses.  God sees the church as glorious, victorious and beautiful.  How can this be?  it’s because He sees the church, the believers, in Christ.

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Numbers (Program #21) – Fighting (2)

We all know the story of Israel’s forty-year long journey in the wilderness.  Their journey, though unnecessary long, wasn’t aimless or without a goal.  They had a definite destination, the good land, the land of Emmanuel, today’s Israel.  This land as we have seen before, is a type and even a picture of Christ, of our Christ, who is our goal and destination.  But as we’ve seen, God also has an enemy who opposes Him and frustrates His people, bringing in a kind of warfare in the spiritual realm.  The book of Numbers touches this warfare repeatedly.  Today we come to chapter 22 where the tactic employed by Satan against God’s people Israel changes dramatically,  This program is full of much insight.  We really pray that the Lord would shine in this word today.

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Numbers (Program #20) – Fighting (1)

As the Old Testament is a book of pictures and types, what does Canaan signify?  Well, to many people it is synonymous with heaven.  Actually Canaan, one of the names for the good land that God brought His people Israel into in the Old Testament which is also a type of the all-inclusive Christ that we are possessing in the New Testament, was a name used to describe the land when it was filled with enemies, even giants that had to be fought against and overcome before the people can go in.  The warfare of God’s people against the authorities and rulers of Satan’s kingdom is the topic of our life study today in Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #19) – Journeying (12)

When we want or need something from God what is our attitude?   Do we come to Him meekly in a begging way or do we come demanding that He give us this or that?  Well, probably your prayers are more in a pleading or begging van rather than ordering God to do something.  But you might be surprised to realize that there are actually are times the Lord will response when we speak to Him in a direct way, bidding Him to grant our need.  It all depends on what we are asking for.  Stay tune for a wonderfully insightful program on today’s life study from Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #18) – Journeying (11)

In Numbers chapter 20, the people of God were journeying through the wilderness on their way to the good land.  But water was scarce and the two million Hebrews with their substantial flocks and herds were suffering.  As might be expected, this cause people to complain and contend with Moses.  The attitude of the people brought out frustration and even anger on the part of Moses who had seen the Lord’s own anger and judgment brought upon the people for their previous rebellion.  But Moses’ dealing with them in this case, brought in God’s judgment once more.  Only this time not upon the people, but upon Moses.

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Numbers (Program #17) – Journeying (10)

When God’s people rebel against Him by challenging the ones that God has selected to speak for Him and lead them, God’s response was severe and momentous; the earth opened up and swallowed the leaders of this rebellion.  Then the Lord came as a pillar of fire to consume others who had joined the rebellion.  These great miracles were associated with God’s judgment.  But when the time came for the Lord to vindicate Himself and His chosen ones, it was not a great miracle, but the smallest one; simply causing a dead and dried up stick to bud, blossom and bear fruit.

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Numbers (Program #16) – Journeying (8-9)

Rebellion.  Of all the evils and sins of mankind none carry greater consequence nor evoke a more serious reaction from God.  That’s because the target or object of all rebellion is authority which comes from and signify God Himself.  God’s people Israel were caught up in acts of rebellion against God and His deputy authority on many occasions.  The book of Numbers records the accounts of several progressive stages of rebellion ultimately resulting in God’s judgment and wrath being poured out in a very sobering display.  The on-going and progressive rebellion of Israel in the wilderness is again our topic on our life study from Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #15) – Journeying (7)

After many positive and wonderful miracles given to them in the wilderness, following their escape from Egypt, the children of Israel found themselves in the midst of escalating turmoil.  This turmoil would eventually results in serious rebellion among them, bringing in God’s judgment.  It was here however, in the midst of this turmoil that the Lord inserts chapter 15 in the divine record in the book of Numbers.  This chapter reminds God’s people of what they have previously learned regarding their need for the offerings and for keeping the Sabbath.  But just as the lessons depicted in the story of the Old Testament can be applied to our situation in the New Testament so does this reminder regarding the experience of Christ, typify by the offerings and the Sabbath have an application to us today.  We will look at these types in our program.

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Numbers (Program #14) – Journeying (5 – 6)

We all know the story from Numbers chapter 13.  This is the story of twelve spies that were sent in from the twelve tribes of Israel  to spy out the good land before they enter the land.  We know that ten came back with one report while two seeing all the same pieces of information had an entirely different report.  This story is often used as an example of men of great faith.  But on today’s life study, we will see that two were living in a realm where faith could be produced.

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Numbers (Program #13) – Journeying (4)

Did you ever have a fight with your brothers or you sisters, those that you were close to in your family.  Of course, every family has experience squabbles and feuds or sibling rivalries and in most families they passed quickly like a summer storm, with little permanent harm done.  But Numbers chapter 12 tells the story of rivalry and jealousy within the family of Moses.  Only this was so serious as to cause Jehovah’s anger to be fiercely kindled against his brother and sister, even brought in God’s judgment in a serious way against Miriam, Moses’ sister.  Why did God take a seemingly insignificant family feud so seriously?

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