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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Numbers (Program #12) – Journeying (2-3)

Once God’s people were properly arranged according to their families and rated around the perimeter of the tabernacle, God’s presence overshadow them as a visible cloud.  His presence also filled the Ark of the Covenant within the tabernacle.  These two items provided guidance and leading to the children of Israel.  When the cloud was taken up, the people prepared to load up the tabernacle and their personal possessions to follow the cloud in a general way as their guide.  But it was the tiny Ark that became their particular leading, leading them through the treacherous wilderness and finding the appropriate resting places.  A forty-year journey under the guidance of the cloud and the leading of the Ark

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Numbers (Program #11) – Journeying (1)

Both Romans and Galatians in the New Testament talk about being led by the Spirit.  It is safe to say that all serious Christians desires the Lord’s leading.  But to be led by the Spirit is not that easy because the Spirit is abstract even obscure to us at times.  Most often we find ourselves not really under His leading at all but wondering somewhat aimlessly trying to find Him.  There is a wonderful picture of being led by the Spirit that we can learn something from in the Old Testament book of Numbers.  It’s here that the Lord led His people Israel through the wilderness by means of being a visible cloud to them during the day and by being a cloud of fire at night.  We will see just what this cloud and fire mean to us as believers on our program today.

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Numbers (Program #10) – Being Formed into an Army (11)

Inserted in the record of Numbers where Jehovah formed and set His army is the account of His divine provision for the people.  This was not the material provision of food and water.  That had already been accomplished.  This was the provision of two necessary items.  For the people to approach Him, God provided several different offerings.  But from God to His people, He provided the holy anointing oil.  A marvelous compound that was to be spread or painted to all of the holy utensils even onto the tabernacle itself.  This ointment is so rich in its symbolism yet it is nearly ignored completely by readers and even many ministers of God’s word.  We will spend the next half hour to see it, to appreciate it and by the Lord’s mercy even to experience it.

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Numbers (Program #9) – Being Formed into an Army (10)

If you ask most people, they will tell you that God dwells in heavens.  Well, while this is surely the case, the Bible tells us again and again that He is the God of heaven and earth.  So while from eternity, He has dwelt in heavens.  The Bible reveals His goal even His desire is to dwell on earth with man.  Old Testament books like Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers give us a very sweet picture of His earthly dwelling place, which at that time was in the tabernacle.

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