Numbers 20 - The Life of Moses

Last week we saw 12 spies sent to explore Canaan and how they brought back a divided report.  This chapter brings us to the last year of Israel’s journey.  It begins with the death of Miriam and ends with the death of Aaron.  In the middle of the chapter we see the failure of Moses and Aaron causing God to not allow them to enter the Promise Land.  Years have passed and now there is a new generation.  They are complaining and grumbling to Moses just like their fathers.

Numbers 20:1 – Miriam’s Death

The Israelites arrived at the Desert of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Moses’ sister Miriam died (Num. 20:1).  Only a few words are said of her here.  I am sure Moses and Aaron were very sad about her death.  We know some of her history from our past studies.  When Moses was a baby, she saved him from death (Ex. 2).  She led the women to thank God after they escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea (Ex. 15).  She helped Moses and Aaron lead the Israelites on their journey in the desert.  She spoke against Moses, but God forgave her.  However, she suffered punishment from God (Num. 12). 

Numbers 20:2-13 – Moses’ Sin

Again the Israelites had no water to drink and cried out to Moses and Aaron.  They wished they had died suddenly like the some of the others had done.  They had not learned anything from their fathers during their 38 years.  They still didn’t go to God with their concerns, but complained to Moses.  This was similar to Ex. 17:1-7 when they complained about no water and God told Moses to use his staff to strike the rock and water would come out of the rock.

How are you influencing your children and what sins are they picking up from you?

Where do you turn when you need help?

Do you simply complain or do you turn to God for help?

Again Moses didn’t argue with the people, but took Aaron and together they prayed to God.  As we would say, “take it to the Lord” and that’s just what they did.  

Do you take your problems and concerns to the Lord?

This time God didn’t tell Moses to strike the rock, but to speak to the rock and water would come out.  However, Moses said to the people, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” – Num. 20:10.  Then Moses struck the rock 2 times and water gushed out.  Then God said, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” – Num. 20:12. 

Do you take credit for what God has done or do you give Him all the glory?

Do you trust God in a few things or in all things?

I feel sorry for Moses.  He had waited so long to enter the Promise Land and now he would not.  He had put up with all the peoples’ complaints and was probably frustrated with them.  His patience finally broke.  His response was only human.  It was still a failure and a sin.  It was unbelief.  Moses spoke to the people out of anger instead of the rock as God commanded.  He didn’t follow God’s instruction and he didn’t glorify God.  He said, “Must we bring you water out of this rock?”  He wasn’t giving God the credit.  He didn’t fully trust God.  Moses spoke rashly and thoughtlessly.  “By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God and rash words came from Moses’ lips.” – Ps. 106:32-33.

Maybe you think Moses punishment was somewhat harsh, but remember the next generation was watching.  God wanted them to see how important it was to obey.  God didn’t kill Moses.  He took him home.

When has your failure to trust God harmed the faith of others?  They are harmed when others see us worry instead of trusting God, when we try to fix things on our own instead of taking it to God, and anytime the choices we make cause those of weaker faith to stumble.  Remember, others are watching and as Christians we need to set a good example.

Principle:  Trust and glorify God in all things.

Numbers 20:14-21 – Passage Denied

Moses sent a message from Kadesh to the king of Edom asking him if they could cut across his country on their way Moab.  If you remember, the people of Edom were descendants of Esau in Gen. 26.  The Israelites were descendants of Jacob, Esau’s brother.  In the message Moses reminded the king they were his relatives and not to consider them as enemies.  If the king would let them pass through, they would not disturb their fields or take any crops or water.  The king refused.  Moses asked him again, but he still refused and sent his large and powerful army to stop them.  The Israelites could have fought, because God and helped them fight their enemies before.  This was not God’s plan so Moses decided to go another way.

Numbers 20:22-29 - Aaron’s Death

The Israelites then traveled to Mount Hor.  God told Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s son Eleazar to go up on Hor, because it was time for Aaron to die.  God didn’t kill him.  He died of natural causes and was blessed with a long life.  He was 123 years old.  Even though Aaron wouldn’t enter the Promised Land because he and Moses didn’t follow God’s instruction, before he died God blessed him by letting him see his son be made high priest.  The high priest wore special garments.  God told Moses to remove these special garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar showing he was now the new high priest.  This was an important act and is in anticipation of the coming of Jesus, our one and only High Priest.

Moses and Eleazar came down the mountain and the whole community learned of Aaron’s death and saw that Eleazar was now the new high priest.  This was probably an encouragement to the people that God was still with them and that He was faithful and would not leave them.  They mourned Aaron’s death for 30 days.

How has God blessed you throughout your life?

Has God blessed you when you were disobedient?

Principle:  God is faithful and will not leave us.

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Numbers 15-19 - the Life of Moses

Last week we saw 12 spies explore the land of Canaan and how they were divided in their report back to the people causing the people to not trust God.  Only Caleb and Joshua believed God’s promises.  God had prepared the Israelites to claim His promises and take Canaan, but they failed to believe and trust God so they suffered the consequences.

Numbers 15 - Sacrifices

This chapter reminded the Israelites that God had promised Canaan to their children so they had to be prepared to live there.  They had to know God’s rules so they could tell their children.  They had to know if they sinned, they were to offer sacrifices.  God would provide them food, but they needed to thank Him by offering some back.  There were a lot of rules to follow and they could sin by accident.  If they did, they were to offer a sacrifice for that unintentional sin. (Num. 15:1-29)

There were people who understood God’s rules, but refused to obey.  They did what they wanted.  God said these people were blaspheming the Lord and must be cut off from his people. (Num. 15:30-31)  An example of this kind of person is in Num.15:32-36.  A man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day and was taken to Moses and Aaron.  They asked the Lord what should be done with him and the Lord said he must die.  The Sabbath is one of the most important commands given by God.  It was to be a holy day and a day of rest.  The man knew this, but disobeyed and rebelled which a rebellion against God.  God wants to forgive us, but first we must repent and confess our sin.

(Num 15:37-41) -The people were to attach blue tassels to the corners of their clothes.  This was a sign they belonged to Him and it would remind them of all God’s commands.  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.  I am the Lord your God.” – Num. 15:41.

What reminds you of God and His commands?

How have you ignored them for your own desires?

When have you rebelled against God?

Have you asked Him for forgiveness?

Numbers 16 – Challenging the Priesthood

Korah, Danthan and Abirim rose up against Moses.  They persuaded 250 other leaders to rise up with them.  They told Moses that all the Israelites were holy and were as important as Moses.  Korah, who was from the same family as Moses and Aaron did not look at the tassels and think of God and His promises.  He thought only of his own desires.  He thought he had the right to make a claim to the priesthood.  Koran was jealous and wanted equal power.  Their rebellion was not actually against Moses and Aaron, but against God.

Moses didn’t argue with Korah, but fell face down before the Lord showing again that he was God’s humble servant.  Moses became very angry with these men.  Moses had always been a fair and responsible leader.  He wanted to prove who God had chosen as priests.  Since only priests were allowed to offer incense, Moses told them to offer incense in God’s Tent and they would see if God allowed them to do this.  Of course God did not allow this and He wanted to kill all the people.  But Moses and Aaron interceded for them and asked God not to punish everyone for the sins of a few.  (Num. 16:15-22)

God told Moses to have the people move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abriam.  Then God put His judgment on them.  The ground opened up and the wicked men went down alive into the hole in the ground.  Then God punished the 250 followers by sending fire to kill them.  (Num. 16:23-35)  God spared the people, but punished the rebels.

God then told Eleazar to collect the censers the men had used for the incense and to use the bronze from them to make a cover for the altar.  This would always remind the Israelites how God had punished Korah and his followers.  They would remember only priests could offer incense to God. (Num. 16:36-40)

You would think the people would have learned a lesson about rebelling against God, but they didn’t.  The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. (Num. 16:41-50)  Again God threatened to destroy them all, but again Moses and Aaron interceded.  Moses told Aaron to hurry and take his censer and make atonement for the people’s sin.  Aaron portrayed the work of Jesus as intercessor.  ”He stood between the living and the dead” - Num. 16:48.  This is exactly what Jesus did for us by His death on the cross.

Do you believed on Jesus as your Savior? 

Do you trust in His work on the cross on your behalf? 

The only way to God is through Jesus.  “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” – John 3:16-18.  This is why God protected and defended the priesthood in the Old Testament.  If you reject Jesus, you will perish.

Numbers 17 – Aaron’s Priesthood

In this chapter we see how God showed Aaron was appointed High Priest.  Each leader of the 12 tribes was to bring his staff, marked with their name and place it before the presence of the Lord in the Most Holy Place.  The man whose staff sprouted or came alive would be God’s choice priest.  The next morning Aaron’s staff had sprouted, even blossomed and produced almonds.  This staff was place in front of the Testimony to be a sign of the rebellious. 

The people said, “We will die!  We are lost!  Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die.  Are we all going to die?” – Num 17:12-13.  God didn’t want the people to rebel and He didn’t want them to die, but they were afraid seeing so many people die. 

Numbers 18-19 – Purpose of the Priesthood

In this chapter God spoke directly to Aaron.  He reminded him of the priestly duties and responsibilities. (Num. 18-19)     

Aaron’s priesthood was necessary and an important one, but it was not perfect.  Jesus Christ is our one and only perfect Priest.  He offered Himself as the one true one and only way of salvation.  “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” – Heb. 9:11 -14.

The Old Testament priests had to repeatedly offer sacrifices, but Jesus was sacrificed once and for all.  Thank you Jesus!

Is Jesus your High Priest?

Do you believe He is the only way to God?

What words could you use to thank Jesus for what He has done as your High Priest?  

Principles:

Complaining against God’s appointed leaders is a rebellion against God.

Jesus Christ is our High Priest, God’s appointed mediator.

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Numbers 13-14 - The Life of Moses

(My BSF Notes)

 

Last week we saw how the Israelites complained about the manna and wanted meat to eat.  God gave them exactly what they wanted.  He sent quail for a month and they ate the quail until they were sick of it.  Then we saw Miriam criticize Moses and how God came to his defense.

Numbers 13-14:1-4 – The Spies

                                   

The Lord told Moses to send 1 leader from each tribe to go explore the land of Canaan that He was giving them.  Men from twelve tribes were selected including Caleb from the tribe of Judah and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim.  They were to find out what the land was like and if the people there strong or weak, few or many.  Was the land good or bad? What were the towns like, unwalled or fortified?  How was the soil?  Was it fertile or poor?  They were also to try to bring back fruit from the land.  They did just what they were told and explored the land.  They cut a single cluster of grapes.  It was so large that two men had to carry it on a pole between them. 

At the end of 40 days they returned and reported to Moses and the Israelite community.  They reported that it does flow with milk and honey, but the cities were fortified and very large.  The people that lived there were powerful.  They reported they saw descendants of Anak there who were like giants.  “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” – Num. 13:30.

Ten of the spies disagreed with Caleb and didn’t want to attack.  They said the people there were stronger so the men spread a bad report about the land.  The people had gone through so much to get to the Promise Land and now it was time to claim it.  They failed to trust that God would do what He said He would do.  They simply did not believe His Word.  They carried the evidence on their shoulders, but had unbelief in their hearts.

Many of us are like the Israelites.  We see the evidence all around us, but we just don’t believe God will do what He says.  This keeps us from achieving what we could as witnesses for Jesus.

Do you believe God will do what He says?

What are you doing to help others believe?

By Caleb standing up against the people he probably lost his friends, his followers, and his credibility.  There was one other who was with him.  That was Joshua.  Caleb was a faithful servant and trusted God and was not afraid to speak against the others.

When have you stood up for when you believe something was God’s will?

What should you do before beginning a new work for God?

What important job has God asked you to do? 

The people were fearful and raised their voices, wept, and grumbled against Moses.  “If only we had died in Egypt!  Or in this desert!  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?......Wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt?  … We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” – Num. 14:1-4.  What were they thinking?  How quickly they forgot the hardships and slavery in Egypt and all that God had done for them.  They blamed Moses and Aaron by wanting to choose another leader, but were really blaming God.

How do you do the same thing when you think you are facing the impossible?

Do you blame others?

Or do you trust God will be with you and do what He says?

Numbers 14:5-45 – The Unbelief

Moses and Aaron fell face down before the people, probably in fear of what would happen to them and maybe in prayer and worship of God.  Caleb and Joshua had their eyes on God and not themselves.  They told the people, “Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.  Their protection is gone, but the lord is with us.  Do not be afraid of them.” – Num. 14:9.  The people were afraid of the giants in the land, but Caleb and Joshua knew they had a giant God.

What are the giants in your life?

Do you trust God will help you face them?

When have you stood on God’s promises when others did not?

The people talked of stoning Caleb and Joshua.  Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent.  “How long will these people treat me with contempt?  How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?  I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger that they.” – Num 14:11-12.

Moses reminded God if He destroyed the people the Egyptians would hear about it and tell the inhabitants of this land and they would think He doesn’t keep His promises.  This would question God’s power and that He is not the true God.  (Num. 14:13-16)  Moses reminded God, “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.  Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’  In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” - Num. 14:17-19. 

Some think in the Old Testament that God is always strict and angry and judgmental.  They think in the New Testament He is different.  God does not change!  He is always the same.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Heb. 13:8.  He always loves us.  He loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus to take the punishment we deserve.  If we are sorry for our sins, He will forgive us, because of the work of Jesus on the cross.

God listened to Moses and forgave and spared the people.  He forgave them, but condemned them to wander in the desert for the next 40 years.  They would not enter the Promise Land.  Only Caleb and Joshua would enter.  Then the 10 men who gave the bad report were struck dead.

God listened to Moses which encourages us when we pray.  Our prayers do affect God.  The words we use are not important, because He already knows our hearts and what we need.  We need to be humble and honest and God will hear us and answer our prayers.

Moses told the Israelites what God said that they would not enter the land and they mourned bitterly.  “We have sinned.  We will go up to the place the Lord promised.” – Num 14:40.  Moses told the people not to go to the land because God would not be with them, because they had not obeyed Him (Num. 14:41-43).  They went anyway even though the cloud of the Lord did not move.  When they arrived in the land, the Amalekites and Canaanites attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.  The people faced the same armies they would have faced, but without the Lord and they were defeated.  Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5.

They realized and confessed their sin, but there was no true repentance.  They tried to correct their wrong doing by their own strength and attempted to go without Moses and without God’s presence.

                                                                                                                                    

When have you gone along with the crowd instead of trusting God?

When have you blamed God for your circumstances?

How have you disobeyed God and what was the result?

Principles:

Follow God and trust that He will do what He says.

If we trust and obey God, He will bless us.

When you go against God, you will suffer consequences.

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