Before we judge God harshly, let’s ask ourselves some questions: Does God have an eternal plan for even innocent children? Is it merciful to allow children just to be sacrificed, or taught harmful practices, or do we trust God with a mysterious future not yet fully revealed? Is God perfectly loving and just, even in ways we don’t yet understand? Let’s look at Numbers 32.
Which two tribes wanted to settle east of the Jordan River with a large cattle herd?
Now, the descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad happened to be joint owners of a very large herd of cattle. When they observed that Jazer and Gilead were good grazing lands for cattle, the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community and said, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon— the land that the Lord defeated in the sight of the community of Israel—is perfect for cattle and your servants have cattle. If we’ve found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as our possession instead of us crossing the Jordan River.” (Numbers 32:1-5 ISV)
Did Moses have a frank conversation with them about conquering the land?
And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them? Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them. And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord. (Numbers 32:6-12 KJV)
What else did Moses warn the two tribes of Reuben and Gad about?
So Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of Yahweh was brought to an end. Now behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the burning anger of Yahweh against Israel. For if you turn away from following Him, He will once more abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.” (Numbers 32:13-15 LSB)
What did Reuben and Gad pledge to Moses and all Israel?
Then they approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones; but we ourselves will be armed, hurrying ahead of the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has gained possession of his inheritance. But we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” (Numbers 32:16-19 NASB)
What was Moses’ reply to the two tribes of Reuben and Gad?
Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord. But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” (Numbers 32:20-24 NIV)
How did the descendants of Gad and Reuben answer Moses?
And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.” (Numbers 32:25-27 NKJV)
What orders did Moses then give to Eleazar and the clan leaders?
So Moses gave orders to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the clans of Israel. He said, “The men of Gad and Reuben who are armed for battle must cross the Jordan with you to fight for the Lord. If they do, give them the land of Gilead as their property when the land is conquered. But if they refuse to arm themselves and cross over with you, then they must accept land with the rest of you in the land of Canaan.” (Numbers 32:28-30 NLT)
Did the descendants of Gad and Reuben reiterate their pledge?
The children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, “As Yahweh has said to your servants, so will we do. We will pass over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.” (Numbers 32:31-32 WEB)
What other tribe joined Gad and Reuben to inherit land east of the Jordan River?
So Moses gave to them—to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s son—the kingdom of Sihon the king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og the king of Bashan, including the land, its cities, and the territory surrounding the land’s cities. The Gadites built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fortified cities and walled enclosures for flocks. The Reubenites built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, Nebo, and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. They named the cities that they built. The descendants of Machir, Manasseh’s son, went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, Manasseh’s son, and he lived there. Manasseh’s son Jair went and captured their villages and named them Havvoth-jair. Nobah went and captured Kenath and its surrounding villages. He renamed it Nobah after himself. (Numbers 32:33-42 CEB)
Why was God removing previous occupants from the land and giving it to Israel?
Don't sacrifice your children on the altar fires to the god Molech. I am the Lord your God, and that would disgrace me. It is disgusting for a man to have sex with another man. Anyone who has sex with an animal is unclean. Don't make yourselves unclean by any of these disgusting practices of those nations that I am forcing out of the land for you. They made themselves and the land so unclean, that I punished the land because of their sins, and I made it vomit them up. (Leviticus 18:21–24 CEV)
Before we judge God harshly, let’s ask ourselves some questions: Does God have an eternal plan for even innocent children? Is it merciful to allow children just to be sacrificed, or taught harmful practices, or do we trust God with a mysterious future not yet fully revealed? Is God perfectly loving and just, even in ways we don’t yet understand? You decide!
Conquering an Enemy (Numbers 31)
As Israel overcame nations with vile practices like idolatry and child sacrifice, do we overcome sin in our lives? Let’s look at Numbers 31.
What last task did God give to Moses before his death?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. (Numbers 31:1-4 KJV)
What was the result of their war against Midian? Was Balaam among the victims?
So there were furnished from the thousands of Israel, one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them, one thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war with them, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. So they made war against Midian, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (Numbers 31:5-8 LSB)
What did they do with the women and children and plunder of Midian?
And the sons of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and they plundered all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their property. Then they burned all their cities where they lived and all their encampments. And they took all the plunder and all the spoils, both of people and of livestock. They brought the captives and the spoils and the plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the sons of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab which are by the Jordan, opposite Jericho. (Numbers 31:9-12 NASB)
Was Moses angry that the women who had seduced Israelite men to idolatry were left alive?
Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. (Numbers 31:13-18 NIV)
What purification requirements were made for returning soldiers?
And all of you who have killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. You must purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days. Purify all your clothing, too, and everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.” Then Eleazar the priest said to the men who were in the battle, “The Lord has given Moses this legal requirement: Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead— that is, all metals that do not burn—must be passed through fire in order to be made ceremonially pure. These metal objects must then be further purified with the water of purification. But everything that burns must be purified by the water alone. On the seventh day you must wash your clothes and be purified. Then you may return to the camp.” (Numbers 31:19-24 NLT)
How were the spoils of war to be divided among the nation?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation; and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation. Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks. Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh’s wave offering. Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle.” Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses. (Numbers 31:25-31 WEB)
What was the tally of the plunder divided among the nation?
The valuable property remaining from the spoils of war that the people of the army had taken was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 oxen, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 women who hadn’t known a man intimately by sleeping with him. The half-share of those who had gone out to battle numbered 337,500 sheep, of which the Lord’s tribute was 675. The oxen were 36,000, of which the Lord’s tribute was 72. The donkeys were 30,500, of which the Lord’s tribute was 61. Humans were 16,000, of which the Lord’s tribute was 32 persons. Moses gave the tribute, a gift offering for the Lord, to Eleazar the priest as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Numbers 31:32-41 CEB)
What happened to the half that belonged to the soldiers? Who looked after the welfare of the captured people?
From the half that belonged to the soldiers, Moses counted out 675 sheep and goats, 72 cattle, 61 donkeys, and 32 women and gave them to Eleazar to be dedicated to the Lord. Then from the half that belonged to the people, Moses set aside one out of every 50 animals and women, as the Lord had said, and gave them to the Levites. (Numbers 31:42-47 CEV)
What was the offering of gratitude that the officers made?
Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses and said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. And we have brought the Lord's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.” And Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold, all crafted articles. And all the gold of the contribution that they presented to the Lord, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels. (The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.) And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, as a memorial for the people of Israel before the Lord. (Numbers 31:48-54 ESV)
Unless God specifically commands differently, how does He normally expect us to act towards our enemies?
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45 HCSB)
As Israel overcame nations with vile practices like idolatry and child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21–24), do we overcome sin in our lives? You decide!
What last task did God give to Moses before his death?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. (Numbers 31:1-4 KJV)
What was the result of their war against Midian? Was Balaam among the victims?
So there were furnished from the thousands of Israel, one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them, one thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war with them, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. So they made war against Midian, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (Numbers 31:5-8 LSB)
What did they do with the women and children and plunder of Midian?
And the sons of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and they plundered all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their property. Then they burned all their cities where they lived and all their encampments. And they took all the plunder and all the spoils, both of people and of livestock. They brought the captives and the spoils and the plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the sons of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab which are by the Jordan, opposite Jericho. (Numbers 31:9-12 NASB)
Was Moses angry that the women who had seduced Israelite men to idolatry were left alive?
Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. (Numbers 31:13-18 NIV)
What purification requirements were made for returning soldiers?
And all of you who have killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. You must purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days. Purify all your clothing, too, and everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.” Then Eleazar the priest said to the men who were in the battle, “The Lord has given Moses this legal requirement: Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead— that is, all metals that do not burn—must be passed through fire in order to be made ceremonially pure. These metal objects must then be further purified with the water of purification. But everything that burns must be purified by the water alone. On the seventh day you must wash your clothes and be purified. Then you may return to the camp.” (Numbers 31:19-24 NLT)
How were the spoils of war to be divided among the nation?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation; and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation. Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks. Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh’s wave offering. Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle.” Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses. (Numbers 31:25-31 WEB)
What was the tally of the plunder divided among the nation?
The valuable property remaining from the spoils of war that the people of the army had taken was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 oxen, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 women who hadn’t known a man intimately by sleeping with him. The half-share of those who had gone out to battle numbered 337,500 sheep, of which the Lord’s tribute was 675. The oxen were 36,000, of which the Lord’s tribute was 72. The donkeys were 30,500, of which the Lord’s tribute was 61. Humans were 16,000, of which the Lord’s tribute was 32 persons. Moses gave the tribute, a gift offering for the Lord, to Eleazar the priest as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Numbers 31:32-41 CEB)
What happened to the half that belonged to the soldiers? Who looked after the welfare of the captured people?
From the half that belonged to the soldiers, Moses counted out 675 sheep and goats, 72 cattle, 61 donkeys, and 32 women and gave them to Eleazar to be dedicated to the Lord. Then from the half that belonged to the people, Moses set aside one out of every 50 animals and women, as the Lord had said, and gave them to the Levites. (Numbers 31:42-47 CEV)
What was the offering of gratitude that the officers made?
Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses and said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. And we have brought the Lord's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.” And Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold, all crafted articles. And all the gold of the contribution that they presented to the Lord, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels. (The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.) And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, as a memorial for the people of Israel before the Lord. (Numbers 31:48-54 ESV)
Unless God specifically commands differently, how does He normally expect us to act towards our enemies?
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45 HCSB)
As Israel overcame nations with vile practices like idolatry and child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21–24), do we overcome sin in our lives? You decide!
Rich Toward God (Luke 12)
Are we hypocrites or righteous? Do we publicly acknowledge Jesus? Are we more concerned with being rich in material things than rich toward God? Let’s look at Luke 12.
What was the leaven of the Pharisees? Will all hypocrisy eventually be exposed?
At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, “Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-3 LSB)
What’s the absolute worst that enemies of Christians can do to us? Whom should we fear? Are we valuable to God?
Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed someone, has the power to throw that person into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are five sparrows not sold for two assaria? And yet not one of them has gone unnoticed in the sight of God. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7 NASB)
Do we acknowledge Jesus in public? What is the one unforgivable sin? How does the Holy Spirit help us in public defense of our faith?
I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. (Luke 12:8-12 NIV)
How should we handle being cheated in an inheritance?
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:13-15 NKJV)
Are we accumulating wealth or are we rich toward God?
Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God [not be rich toward God].” (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)
How should we handle worries over food and clothing?
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12:22-28 WEB)
What should we pursue? What should a rich man do with all his billions, his thousand square miles of farmland and dozens of castles?
Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too. (Luke 12:29-34 CEB)
What is the greatest lesson from studying prophecies?
Be ready and keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come. (Luke 12:35-40 CEV)
Will we be found doing the Lord’s will when He comes?
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:41-48 ESV)
What is to be expected when we follow Jesus in this world?
I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how it consumes Me until it is finished! Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53 HCSB Micah 7:6)
How do we interpret the times in which we live?
Then Jesus told the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming in from the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a storm,’ and that’s what happens. When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don’t know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54-56 ISV)
How do we wisely handle controversies with others?
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke 12:57-59 KJV)
Are we hypocrites or righteous? Do we publicly acknowledge Jesus? Are we more concerned with being rich in material things than rich toward God? You decide!
What was the leaven of the Pharisees? Will all hypocrisy eventually be exposed?
At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, “Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-3 LSB)
What’s the absolute worst that enemies of Christians can do to us? Whom should we fear? Are we valuable to God?
Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed someone, has the power to throw that person into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are five sparrows not sold for two assaria? And yet not one of them has gone unnoticed in the sight of God. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7 NASB)
Do we acknowledge Jesus in public? What is the one unforgivable sin? How does the Holy Spirit help us in public defense of our faith?
I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. (Luke 12:8-12 NIV)
How should we handle being cheated in an inheritance?
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:13-15 NKJV)
Are we accumulating wealth or are we rich toward God?
Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God [not be rich toward God].” (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)
How should we handle worries over food and clothing?
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12:22-28 WEB)
What should we pursue? What should a rich man do with all his billions, his thousand square miles of farmland and dozens of castles?
Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too. (Luke 12:29-34 CEB)
What is the greatest lesson from studying prophecies?
Be ready and keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come. (Luke 12:35-40 CEV)
Will we be found doing the Lord’s will when He comes?
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:41-48 ESV)
What is to be expected when we follow Jesus in this world?
I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how it consumes Me until it is finished! Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53 HCSB Micah 7:6)
How do we interpret the times in which we live?
Then Jesus told the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming in from the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a storm,’ and that’s what happens. When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don’t know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54-56 ISV)
How do we wisely handle controversies with others?
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke 12:57-59 KJV)
Are we hypocrites or righteous? Do we publicly acknowledge Jesus? Are we more concerned with being rich in material things than rich toward God? You decide!
Making Promises (Numbers 30)
How important is telling the truth? Do we lie to others? Do we make promises that we fail to keep? Let’s look at Numbers 30.
How seriously did God take any promise to do something?
Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded. When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:1-2 WEB)
Was a woman under the same obligation to keep her promises? Could a father overrule her promises?
When a woman makes a solemn promise to the Lord or a binding obligation while she is young and in her father’s household, and her father hears her solemn promise or her binding obligation for herself and keeps silent—then all her solemn promises and any of her binding obligations for herself will stand. But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day that he hears her, none of her solemn promises nor any of her binding obligations for herself will stand. The Lord will forgive her, because her father expressed disapproval to her. (Numbers 30:3-5 CEB)
Could a husband also overrule his wife’s promises? What about widows and divorcees?
Suppose a woman makes a promise to the Lord and then gets married. If her husband later hears about the promise but says nothing, she must do what she said, whether she meant it or not. But if her husband hears about the promise and objects, she no longer has to keep it, and the Lord will forgive her. Widows and divorced women must keep every promise they make to the Lord. (Numbers 30:6-9 CEV)
What if a husband did not object immediately to his wife’s promises?
And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound herself by a pledge with an oath, and her husband heard of it and said nothing to her and did not oppose her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself shall stand. But if her husband makes them null and void on the day that he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her pledge of herself shall not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the Lord will forgive her. Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void. But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.” (Numbers 30:10-15 ESV)
Did Moses just make this up or was this from the Lord?
These are the statutes that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, or between a father and his daughter in his house during her youth. (Numbers 30:16 HCSB)
What did Jesus say about making such promises?
“Again, you have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, ‘You must not swear an oath falsely,’ but, ‘You must fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. Instead, let your message be ‘Yes’ for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘No.’ Anything more than that comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:33-37 ISV)
How important is telling the truth? Do we lie to others? Do we make promises that we fail to keep? You decide!
How seriously did God take any promise to do something?
Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded. When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:1-2 WEB)
Was a woman under the same obligation to keep her promises? Could a father overrule her promises?
When a woman makes a solemn promise to the Lord or a binding obligation while she is young and in her father’s household, and her father hears her solemn promise or her binding obligation for herself and keeps silent—then all her solemn promises and any of her binding obligations for herself will stand. But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day that he hears her, none of her solemn promises nor any of her binding obligations for herself will stand. The Lord will forgive her, because her father expressed disapproval to her. (Numbers 30:3-5 CEB)
Could a husband also overrule his wife’s promises? What about widows and divorcees?
Suppose a woman makes a promise to the Lord and then gets married. If her husband later hears about the promise but says nothing, she must do what she said, whether she meant it or not. But if her husband hears about the promise and objects, she no longer has to keep it, and the Lord will forgive her. Widows and divorced women must keep every promise they make to the Lord. (Numbers 30:6-9 CEV)
What if a husband did not object immediately to his wife’s promises?
And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound herself by a pledge with an oath, and her husband heard of it and said nothing to her and did not oppose her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself shall stand. But if her husband makes them null and void on the day that he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her pledge of herself shall not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the Lord will forgive her. Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void. But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.” (Numbers 30:10-15 ESV)
Did Moses just make this up or was this from the Lord?
These are the statutes that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, or between a father and his daughter in his house during her youth. (Numbers 30:16 HCSB)
What did Jesus say about making such promises?
“Again, you have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, ‘You must not swear an oath falsely,’ but, ‘You must fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. Instead, let your message be ‘Yes’ for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘No.’ Anything more than that comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:33-37 ISV)
How important is telling the truth? Do we lie to others? Do we make promises that we fail to keep? You decide!
Autumn Offerings (Numbers 29)
What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? Let’s look at Numbers 29.
What was the offering to be made on the Feast of Trumpets? Why did God later say that He hated their sacrifices? Was it perhaps because they didn’t include a change of heart?
The first day of the seventh month will be a holy occasion for you. You will not do any job-related work. It will be for you a day of the trumpet’s sound. You will offer an entirely burned offering as a soothing smell to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, all flawless. Their grain offering will be fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. There will be one male goat for a purification offering to seek reconciliation for yourselves. This is in addition to the monthly entirely burned offering with its grain offering, and the regular entirely burned offering with its grain offering and drink offerings as prescribed. It will be a soothing smell, a food gift to the Lord. (Numbers 29:1-6 CEB)
What was the offering to be made on the Day of Atonement?
The tenth day of the seventh month is the Great Day of Forgiveness [Atonement]. On that day you must rest from all work and come together for worship. Show sorrow for your sins by going without food, and bring to the altar one young bull, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old that have nothing wrong with them. Then offer these as sacrifices to please me. Three kilograms of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with the bull as a grain sacrifice. Two kilograms of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, and one kilogram of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. A goat must also be sacrificed for the sins of the people. You will offer these sacrifices in addition to the sacrifice to ask forgiveness and the regular daily sacrifices. (Numbers 29:7-11 CEV)
What was the offering to be made on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles?
“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 29:12-16 ESV)
What were to be offered the subsequent days of the Feast of Tabernacles? Did the number of bulls go down each day? Did their total picture the 70 nations for whom Jesus died, or the original 70 souls who entered Egypt, or both? Did their decrease picture a diminishing importance of the sacrificial system?
On the second day present 12 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the third day present 11 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fourth day present 10 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fifth day present nine bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the sixth day present eight bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the seventh day present seven bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you are not to do any daily work. Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. (Numbers 29:17-38 HCSB)
What were God’s final instructions here in regard to offerings at annual festivals.
“Present these to the Lord at your appointed festival, in addition to your offerings in fulfillment of vows, free will offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings.” Moses instructed the Israelis regarding everything that the Lord had commanded him. (Numbers 29:39-40 ISV)
Are there two far more important lessons that can be missed?
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken [listen] than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV)
Why did God tire of teaching Israel through ritual sacrifices?
“What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.” (Isaiah 1:11 NASB)
What was a lesson that many failed to learn from the sacrificial system?
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment [knowledge] of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NIV)
This is a very deep subject and barely touched on here, but why are animal sacrifices no longer necessary?
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses)... Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. (Hebrews 10:8, 17-18 NLT)
What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? You decide!
What was the offering to be made on the Feast of Trumpets? Why did God later say that He hated their sacrifices? Was it perhaps because they didn’t include a change of heart?
The first day of the seventh month will be a holy occasion for you. You will not do any job-related work. It will be for you a day of the trumpet’s sound. You will offer an entirely burned offering as a soothing smell to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, all flawless. Their grain offering will be fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. There will be one male goat for a purification offering to seek reconciliation for yourselves. This is in addition to the monthly entirely burned offering with its grain offering, and the regular entirely burned offering with its grain offering and drink offerings as prescribed. It will be a soothing smell, a food gift to the Lord. (Numbers 29:1-6 CEB)
What was the offering to be made on the Day of Atonement?
The tenth day of the seventh month is the Great Day of Forgiveness [Atonement]. On that day you must rest from all work and come together for worship. Show sorrow for your sins by going without food, and bring to the altar one young bull, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old that have nothing wrong with them. Then offer these as sacrifices to please me. Three kilograms of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with the bull as a grain sacrifice. Two kilograms of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, and one kilogram of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. A goat must also be sacrificed for the sins of the people. You will offer these sacrifices in addition to the sacrifice to ask forgiveness and the regular daily sacrifices. (Numbers 29:7-11 CEV)
What was the offering to be made on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles?
“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 29:12-16 ESV)
What were to be offered the subsequent days of the Feast of Tabernacles? Did the number of bulls go down each day? Did their total picture the 70 nations for whom Jesus died, or the original 70 souls who entered Egypt, or both? Did their decrease picture a diminishing importance of the sacrificial system?
On the second day present 12 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the third day present 11 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fourth day present 10 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fifth day present nine bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the sixth day present eight bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the seventh day present seven bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you are not to do any daily work. Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. (Numbers 29:17-38 HCSB)
What were God’s final instructions here in regard to offerings at annual festivals.
“Present these to the Lord at your appointed festival, in addition to your offerings in fulfillment of vows, free will offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings.” Moses instructed the Israelis regarding everything that the Lord had commanded him. (Numbers 29:39-40 ISV)
Are there two far more important lessons that can be missed?
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken [listen] than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV)
Why did God tire of teaching Israel through ritual sacrifices?
“What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.” (Isaiah 1:11 NASB)
What was a lesson that many failed to learn from the sacrificial system?
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment [knowledge] of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NIV)
This is a very deep subject and barely touched on here, but why are animal sacrifices no longer necessary?
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses)... Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. (Hebrews 10:8, 17-18 NLT)
What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? You decide!
Spring Offerings (Numbers 28)
As Israel was about to enter the promised land, did God remind them of their feasts and related offerings? Did they picture the total sacrifice of Jesus? Is our love for God and neighbor total, like a burnt offering? Let’s look at Numbers 28.
Were morning and evening offerings to be made daily? The hin and ephah were only approximate measurements, the ephah roughly 20 liters and a hin roughly 4 liters. Were these offerings a foreshadow of Christ’s sacrifice and our daily dedication to God?
The Lord told Moses, “You are to command the Israelis about my offerings that they are to be sure to bring edible offerings to me, presented by fire, and a pleasing aroma to me, at their appointed time. Tell them that this is the offering, presented by fire, that you are to offer to the Lord: two one year old lambs, offered daily every day. Offer the first lamb in the morning and the second toward the evening, accompanied by one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of pure olive oil. This burnt offering, which was prescribed at Mount Sinai, is to be offered every day as a pleasing aroma made by fire to the Lord. The drink offering is to be one fourth of a hin for each lamb. You are to pour out a drink offering of strong wine to the Lord in the Holy Place. You are also to offer the second lamb toward the evening. Just like the morning sacrifice, you are to present the grain offering, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering, as a presentation made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” (Numbers 28:1-8 ISV)
How was the weekly Sabbath offering to be different? Was it doubled? Did people have more time for God on the Sabbath?
And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. (Numbers 28:9-10 KJV)
Did the new moon offering mark the calendar with a new beginning each month?
Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall bring near a burnt offering to Yahweh: two bulls from the herd and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish; and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram; and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh. And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. And one male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. (Numbers 28:11-15 LSB)
Were the offerings for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread enlarged? Unlike other feasts, was this also a domestic sacrifice?
The Lord’s Passover shall be on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of this month there shall be a feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. On the first day there shall be a holy assembly; you shall do no laborious work. But you shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls and one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, that you have without defect. For their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for a bull, and two-tenths for the ram. A tenth of an ephah you shall offer for each of the seven lambs; and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. You shall present these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. In this way you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to the Lord; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. On the seventh day you shall have a holy assembly; you shall do no laborious work. (Numbers 28:16-25 NASB)
What was the offering to be made on the Day of Pentecost?
On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat to make atonement for you. Offer these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect. (Numbers 28:26-31 NIV)
Is prayer like a morning and evening sacrifice?
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5:3 NKJV)
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. (Psalm 141:2 NLT)
What is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices?
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 WEB)
As Israel was about to enter the promised land, did God remind them of their feasts and related offerings? Did they picture the total sacrifice of Jesus? Is our love for God and neighbor total, like a burnt offering? You decide!
Were morning and evening offerings to be made daily? The hin and ephah were only approximate measurements, the ephah roughly 20 liters and a hin roughly 4 liters. Were these offerings a foreshadow of Christ’s sacrifice and our daily dedication to God?
The Lord told Moses, “You are to command the Israelis about my offerings that they are to be sure to bring edible offerings to me, presented by fire, and a pleasing aroma to me, at their appointed time. Tell them that this is the offering, presented by fire, that you are to offer to the Lord: two one year old lambs, offered daily every day. Offer the first lamb in the morning and the second toward the evening, accompanied by one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of pure olive oil. This burnt offering, which was prescribed at Mount Sinai, is to be offered every day as a pleasing aroma made by fire to the Lord. The drink offering is to be one fourth of a hin for each lamb. You are to pour out a drink offering of strong wine to the Lord in the Holy Place. You are also to offer the second lamb toward the evening. Just like the morning sacrifice, you are to present the grain offering, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering, as a presentation made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” (Numbers 28:1-8 ISV)
How was the weekly Sabbath offering to be different? Was it doubled? Did people have more time for God on the Sabbath?
And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. (Numbers 28:9-10 KJV)
Did the new moon offering mark the calendar with a new beginning each month?
Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall bring near a burnt offering to Yahweh: two bulls from the herd and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish; and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram; and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh. And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. And one male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. (Numbers 28:11-15 LSB)
Were the offerings for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread enlarged? Unlike other feasts, was this also a domestic sacrifice?
The Lord’s Passover shall be on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of this month there shall be a feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. On the first day there shall be a holy assembly; you shall do no laborious work. But you shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls and one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, that you have without defect. For their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for a bull, and two-tenths for the ram. A tenth of an ephah you shall offer for each of the seven lambs; and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. You shall present these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. In this way you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to the Lord; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. On the seventh day you shall have a holy assembly; you shall do no laborious work. (Numbers 28:16-25 NASB)
What was the offering to be made on the Day of Pentecost?
On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat to make atonement for you. Offer these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect. (Numbers 28:26-31 NIV)
Is prayer like a morning and evening sacrifice?
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5:3 NKJV)
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. (Psalm 141:2 NLT)
What is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices?
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 WEB)
As Israel was about to enter the promised land, did God remind them of their feasts and related offerings? Did they picture the total sacrifice of Jesus? Is our love for God and neighbor total, like a burnt offering? You decide!
Joshua Ordained (Numbers 27)
Though Moses was the humblest of men, he did make one arrogant mistake that removed his leadership? What were the qualifications of Moses’ replacement? How have we chosen our leaders? Let’s look at Numbers 27.
Inheritance laws ensured that family land would remain within the tribe. A woman who married joined her husband on his inherited land. Unmarried sisters and widows were cared for by the oldest son who may have received a double inheritance partly for that reason. What would be justice for five daughters who had no brother and no husband?
The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” (Numbers 27:1-4 NIV)
Who made the judgment in this case, God or Moses?
So Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.” (Numbers 27:5-7 NKJV)
How was God’s judgment in this case to be applied more broadly? Did intestate land pass to a king, a government or the nearest relative?
“And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Numbers 27:8-11 NLT)
Is there a clear explanation as to why Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land?
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) (Numbers 27:12-14 WEB)
If such a humble man as Moses could make such a horribly arrogant mistake, what does that say about the rest of us?
Now the man Moses was humble, more so than anyone on earth. (Numbers 12:3 CEB)
What did Moses request that God do for Israel as they entered the land?
Moses replied, “You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel. Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15-17 CEV)
Who did the Lord choose to replace Moses and what was noteworthy about him?
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses. (Numbers 27:18-23 ESV)
How are leaders to be chosen in churches? Are these elders, also called bishops and managers?
The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders [presbyters, mature men] in every town: one who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion. For an overseer [bishop], as God’s administrator [manager, steward], must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9 HCSB)
Though Moses was the humblest of men, he did make one arrogant mistake that removed his leadership? What were the qualifications of Moses’ replacement? How have we chosen our leaders? You decide!
Inheritance laws ensured that family land would remain within the tribe. A woman who married joined her husband on his inherited land. Unmarried sisters and widows were cared for by the oldest son who may have received a double inheritance partly for that reason. What would be justice for five daughters who had no brother and no husband?
The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” (Numbers 27:1-4 NIV)
Who made the judgment in this case, God or Moses?
So Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.” (Numbers 27:5-7 NKJV)
How was God’s judgment in this case to be applied more broadly? Did intestate land pass to a king, a government or the nearest relative?
“And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Numbers 27:8-11 NLT)
Is there a clear explanation as to why Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land?
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) (Numbers 27:12-14 WEB)
If such a humble man as Moses could make such a horribly arrogant mistake, what does that say about the rest of us?
Now the man Moses was humble, more so than anyone on earth. (Numbers 12:3 CEB)
What did Moses request that God do for Israel as they entered the land?
Moses replied, “You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel. Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15-17 CEV)
Who did the Lord choose to replace Moses and what was noteworthy about him?
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses. (Numbers 27:18-23 ESV)
How are leaders to be chosen in churches? Are these elders, also called bishops and managers?
The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders [presbyters, mature men] in every town: one who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion. For an overseer [bishop], as God’s administrator [manager, steward], must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9 HCSB)
Though Moses was the humblest of men, he did make one arrogant mistake that removed his leadership? What were the qualifications of Moses’ replacement? How have we chosen our leaders? You decide!
The 2nd Census (Numbers 26)
The generation that had rebelled against God had all passed away. It was time for a new generation to enter the promised land. What was their number? Does this metaphorically picture a chosen number who cross the Jordan into that eternal promised land? Let’s look at Numbers 26.
What were Moses and Eleazar to do after the punishment for interfaith marriage and fornication was over?
After the Lord had stopped the deadly disease from killing the Israelites, he said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, “I want you to find out how many Israelites are in each family. Then make a list of every man 20 years and older who is able to serve in Israel's army.” Israel was now camped in the hills of Moab across the Jordan River from the town of Jericho. Moses and Eleazar told them what the Lord had said about counting the men 20 years and older, just as Moses and their ancestors had done when they left Egypt. (Numbers 26:1-4 CEV)
What was the count of the various clans of Reuben?
Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites; of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. These are the clans of the Reubenites, and those listed were 43,730. And the sons of Pallu: Eliab. The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die. (Numbers 26:5-11 ESV)
What was the count of the various clans of Simeon? Why were there only about a third of their number left? Could it be that most of the 24,000 who died in the recent punishment were Simeonites?
Simeon’s descendants by their clans: the Nemuelite clan from Nemuel; the Jaminite clan from Jamin; the Jachinite clan from Jachin; the Zerahite clan from Zerah; the Shaulite clan from Shaul. These were the Simeonite clans, numbering 22,200 men. (Numbers 26:12-14 HCSB)
What was the count of the various clans of Gad?
The descendants of Gad, listed according to their families, included: From Zephon, the family of the descendants of Zephon; from Haggi, the family of the descendants of Haggi; from Shuni, the family of the descendants of Shuni; from Ozni, the family of the descendants of Ozni; from Eri, the family of the descendants of Eri; from Arod, the family of the descendants of Arod; and from Areli, the family of the descendants of Areli. These families of the descendants of Gad numbered 40,500. (Numbers 26:15-18 ISV)
What was the count of the various clans of Judah?
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. (Numbers 26:19-22 KJV)
What was the count of the various clans of Issachar?
The sons of Issachar according to their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites; of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300. (Numbers 26:23-25 LSB)
What was the count of the various clans of Zebulun?
The sons of Zebulun by their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. These are the families of the Zebulunites by those who were numbered of them, 60,500. (Numbers 26:26-27 NASB)
What was the count of the various clans of Joseph, from Manasseh? Could their large numbers be because of the double blessing on Joseph?
The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were: The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan. These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan; through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan; through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan. (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.) These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700. (Numbers 26:28-34 NIV)
What was the count of the various clans of Joseph, from Ephraim?
These were the clans descended from the sons of Ephraim: The Shuthelahite clan, named after their ancestor Shuthelah. The Bekerite clan, named after their ancestor Beker. The Tahanite clan, named after their ancestor Tahan. This was the subclan descended from the Shuthelahites: The Eranites, named after their ancestor Eran. These were the clans of Ephraim. Their registered troops numbered 32,500. These clans of Manasseh and Ephraim were all descendants of Joseph. (Numbers 26:35-37 NLT)
What was the count of the various clans of Benjamin?
The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred. (Numbers 26:38-41 WEB)
What was the count of the various clans of Dan?
These are Dan’s descendants according to their clans: from Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These are the Danite clans according to their clans. All the Shuhamite clans according to their enrollment were 64,400. (Numbers 26:42-43 CEB)
What was the count of the various clans of Asher?
There were 53,400 men from the tribe of Asher; they were from the clans of Imnah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and from the two clans of Heber and Malchiel, the sons of Beriah. Asher's daughter was Serah. (Numbers 26:44-47 CEV)
What was the count of the various clans of Naphtali and what was the grand total?
The sons of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites; of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites. These are the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, and those listed were 45,400. This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. (Numbers 26:48-51 ESV)
How was the land to be divided equitably among the tribes? Would such a distribution into private hands be a preventative measure against oligarchy?
The Lord spoke to Moses, “The land is to be divided among them as an inheritance based on the number of names. Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one. Each is to be given its inheritance according to those who were registered in it. The land must be divided by lot; they will receive an inheritance according to the names of their ancestral tribes. Each inheritance will be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.” (Numbers 26:52-56 HCSB)
How were the Levites numbered among their three clans?
Those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi, listed according to their families, included: From Gershon, the family of the descendants of Gershon; from Kohath, the family of the descendants of Kohath; and from Merari, the family of the descendants of Merari. These were the families of Levi: The family of the descendants of Libni, the family of the descendants of Hebron, the family of the descendants of Mahli, the family of the descendants of Musha, and the family of the descendants of Korah. Now Kohath had a son named Amram. Amram’s wife was Levi’s daughter Jochebed, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire in the Lord’s presence. All of those individuals numbered 23,000. No male from the age of a month and above was numbered among the Israelis because no inheritance was to be assigned to them among the Israelis. (Numbers 26:57-62 ISV)
Did this number exclude that generation that rebelled against God?
These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (Numbers 26:63-65 KJV)
Is there a more important number for Israel to be a part of?
And I heard the number of those having been sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel (Revelation 7:4 LSB)
Will a chosen people from all nations also inherit an eternal promised land?
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands (Revelation 7:9 NASB)
The generation that had rebelled against God had all passed away. It was time for a new generation to enter the promised land. What was their number? Does this metaphorically picture a chosen number who cross the Jordan into that eternal promised land? You Decide!
What were Moses and Eleazar to do after the punishment for interfaith marriage and fornication was over?
After the Lord had stopped the deadly disease from killing the Israelites, he said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, “I want you to find out how many Israelites are in each family. Then make a list of every man 20 years and older who is able to serve in Israel's army.” Israel was now camped in the hills of Moab across the Jordan River from the town of Jericho. Moses and Eleazar told them what the Lord had said about counting the men 20 years and older, just as Moses and their ancestors had done when they left Egypt. (Numbers 26:1-4 CEV)
What was the count of the various clans of Reuben?
Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites; of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. These are the clans of the Reubenites, and those listed were 43,730. And the sons of Pallu: Eliab. The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die. (Numbers 26:5-11 ESV)
What was the count of the various clans of Simeon? Why were there only about a third of their number left? Could it be that most of the 24,000 who died in the recent punishment were Simeonites?
Simeon’s descendants by their clans: the Nemuelite clan from Nemuel; the Jaminite clan from Jamin; the Jachinite clan from Jachin; the Zerahite clan from Zerah; the Shaulite clan from Shaul. These were the Simeonite clans, numbering 22,200 men. (Numbers 26:12-14 HCSB)
What was the count of the various clans of Gad?
The descendants of Gad, listed according to their families, included: From Zephon, the family of the descendants of Zephon; from Haggi, the family of the descendants of Haggi; from Shuni, the family of the descendants of Shuni; from Ozni, the family of the descendants of Ozni; from Eri, the family of the descendants of Eri; from Arod, the family of the descendants of Arod; and from Areli, the family of the descendants of Areli. These families of the descendants of Gad numbered 40,500. (Numbers 26:15-18 ISV)
What was the count of the various clans of Judah?
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. (Numbers 26:19-22 KJV)
What was the count of the various clans of Issachar?
The sons of Issachar according to their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites; of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300. (Numbers 26:23-25 LSB)
What was the count of the various clans of Zebulun?
The sons of Zebulun by their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. These are the families of the Zebulunites by those who were numbered of them, 60,500. (Numbers 26:26-27 NASB)
What was the count of the various clans of Joseph, from Manasseh? Could their large numbers be because of the double blessing on Joseph?
The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were: The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan. These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan; through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan; through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan. (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.) These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700. (Numbers 26:28-34 NIV)
What was the count of the various clans of Joseph, from Ephraim?
These were the clans descended from the sons of Ephraim: The Shuthelahite clan, named after their ancestor Shuthelah. The Bekerite clan, named after their ancestor Beker. The Tahanite clan, named after their ancestor Tahan. This was the subclan descended from the Shuthelahites: The Eranites, named after their ancestor Eran. These were the clans of Ephraim. Their registered troops numbered 32,500. These clans of Manasseh and Ephraim were all descendants of Joseph. (Numbers 26:35-37 NLT)
What was the count of the various clans of Benjamin?
The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred. (Numbers 26:38-41 WEB)
What was the count of the various clans of Dan?
These are Dan’s descendants according to their clans: from Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These are the Danite clans according to their clans. All the Shuhamite clans according to their enrollment were 64,400. (Numbers 26:42-43 CEB)
What was the count of the various clans of Asher?
There were 53,400 men from the tribe of Asher; they were from the clans of Imnah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and from the two clans of Heber and Malchiel, the sons of Beriah. Asher's daughter was Serah. (Numbers 26:44-47 CEV)
What was the count of the various clans of Naphtali and what was the grand total?
The sons of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites; of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites. These are the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, and those listed were 45,400. This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730. (Numbers 26:48-51 ESV)
How was the land to be divided equitably among the tribes? Would such a distribution into private hands be a preventative measure against oligarchy?
The Lord spoke to Moses, “The land is to be divided among them as an inheritance based on the number of names. Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one. Each is to be given its inheritance according to those who were registered in it. The land must be divided by lot; they will receive an inheritance according to the names of their ancestral tribes. Each inheritance will be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.” (Numbers 26:52-56 HCSB)
How were the Levites numbered among their three clans?
Those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi, listed according to their families, included: From Gershon, the family of the descendants of Gershon; from Kohath, the family of the descendants of Kohath; and from Merari, the family of the descendants of Merari. These were the families of Levi: The family of the descendants of Libni, the family of the descendants of Hebron, the family of the descendants of Mahli, the family of the descendants of Musha, and the family of the descendants of Korah. Now Kohath had a son named Amram. Amram’s wife was Levi’s daughter Jochebed, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire in the Lord’s presence. All of those individuals numbered 23,000. No male from the age of a month and above was numbered among the Israelis because no inheritance was to be assigned to them among the Israelis. (Numbers 26:57-62 ISV)
Did this number exclude that generation that rebelled against God?
These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (Numbers 26:63-65 KJV)
Is there a more important number for Israel to be a part of?
And I heard the number of those having been sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel (Revelation 7:4 LSB)
Will a chosen people from all nations also inherit an eternal promised land?
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands (Revelation 7:9 NASB)
The generation that had rebelled against God had all passed away. It was time for a new generation to enter the promised land. What was their number? Does this metaphorically picture a chosen number who cross the Jordan into that eternal promised land? You Decide!
Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Luke 11)
What does prayer have to do with asking, seeking and knocking? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter? What woes can religious leaders face? Let’s look at Luke 11.
What are the important topics to pray about that Jesus addressed?
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.’” (Luke 11:1-4 NASB)
How generous is God in giving to those who ask, seek and knock?
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:5-13 NIV)
Are we for or against Jesus? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter?
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. (Luke 11:14-23 NKJV)
Are we swept clean but not filled with the things of God?
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. (Luke 11:23-26 NLT)
Are we blessed by family origin or keeping the word of God?
It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28 WEB)
What was Jonah’s sign? Was it Jesus in the grave 3 days and resurrected?
When the crowds grew, Jesus said, “This generation is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except Jonah’s sign. Just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Human One [Son of man] will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah’s preaching—and one greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:29-32 CEB)
What is the lamp for our body and is that light everywhere?
No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so everyone who comes into the house can see the light. Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. So be sure your light isn't darkness. If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you. (Luke 11:33-35 CEV)
What did Jesus say to a Pharisee while eating at his house?
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.” (Luke 11:37-41 ESV)
What three woes did Jesus declare to the Pharisees?
But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it. (Luke 11:42-44 HCSB)
What three woes did Jesus declare to experts in the law?
Then one of the experts in the Law told him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.” Jesus said, “How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you don’t even lift a finger to ease those burdens. How terrible it will be for you! You build monuments for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them! So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed those for whom you are building monuments. That is why the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,’ so those living today will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation! How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in.” (Luke 11:45-52 ISV)
What did the scribes and Pharisees plot against Jesus?
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. (Luke 11:53-54 KJV)
What does prayer have to do with asking, seeking and knocking? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter? What woes can religious leaders face? You decide!
What are the important topics to pray about that Jesus addressed?
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.’” (Luke 11:1-4 NASB)
How generous is God in giving to those who ask, seek and knock?
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:5-13 NIV)
Are we for or against Jesus? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter?
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. (Luke 11:14-23 NKJV)
Are we swept clean but not filled with the things of God?
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. (Luke 11:23-26 NLT)
Are we blessed by family origin or keeping the word of God?
It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28 WEB)
What was Jonah’s sign? Was it Jesus in the grave 3 days and resurrected?
When the crowds grew, Jesus said, “This generation is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except Jonah’s sign. Just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Human One [Son of man] will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah’s preaching—and one greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:29-32 CEB)
What is the lamp for our body and is that light everywhere?
No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so everyone who comes into the house can see the light. Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. So be sure your light isn't darkness. If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you. (Luke 11:33-35 CEV)
What did Jesus say to a Pharisee while eating at his house?
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.” (Luke 11:37-41 ESV)
What three woes did Jesus declare to the Pharisees?
But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it. (Luke 11:42-44 HCSB)
What three woes did Jesus declare to experts in the law?
Then one of the experts in the Law told him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.” Jesus said, “How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you don’t even lift a finger to ease those burdens. How terrible it will be for you! You build monuments for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them! So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed those for whom you are building monuments. That is why the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,’ so those living today will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation! How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in.” (Luke 11:45-52 ISV)
What did the scribes and Pharisees plot against Jesus?
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. (Luke 11:53-54 KJV)
What does prayer have to do with asking, seeking and knocking? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter? What woes can religious leaders face? You decide!
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