https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2019&version=KJV
Welcome to Sunday’s review: we left off at Numbers chapter 13.
Chapter 13: entitled: The Spies Sent In: This chapter has always astounded me. The Lord spoke unto Moses to send men to the land of Canaan. So 12 leaders were chosen from the tribes to go forth and report on what they saw. Everyone came back and said yes the land is rich but the people are giants and we are mere ants and they are stronger than us, all that is except for Caleb. 10 spies reports were negative where as Joshua and Caleb saw victory (I paraphrased what was said).
My thoughts: Surely when God said He would give that land to you, shouldn’t your belief in Him have been stronger than to think God cannot handle it and see you through to give you the land.
Chapter 14: The Unbelief of Israel: Though Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua believed they could in fact take the claim over the land which God promised them. The people rose up against them even to stone them having believed they cannot do so. To Joshua and Caleb, God is bigger than the enemy. To the other 10 spies, the problems are bigger than God. Since they set about murmuring and wanting to stone them this upset the Lord. They provoked Him in their lack of Faith and belief in Him. God wanted to spite them but Moses told God of His promise to them. So God spared them but said because of this you will dwell in the wilderness and your children will go into the land. Those against the Lord shall not and a plague was sent to the spies and only Joshua and Caleb remain as they had trusted in God. Verse 40 after hearing all that the Lord had said to Moses they tried to take it back and go into the land. By then it was to late as God would not be with them should they try and take the land themselves.
My thoughts: You can’t say one thing and try and back track. You cried and murmured and then provoked the Lord. At which point did you think maybe one should stop such a thing. Sadly to say but the Israelites were known to complain and cry out a lot even though God provided and made a promise to them. It was never good enough and they missed the picture. It is their unbelief in the Lord and who He is that they didn’t go into the land filled with milk and Honey. After everything the Lord had done for them they still did not believe.
Chapter 15: The Years of Wandering: verses 1-13 this chapter also marks the first set of instructions for the people who now know they will wander in this wilderness until their deaths. Notice that this section begins with the reaffirmation of worship. The first thing God does after the pronouncement of the consequences of Israel’s sin is reestablish the worship He wants from His people. Verses 37-41 God commands Moses to tell the Israelites to put fringes on the corners of their garments with a ribband of blue through each. These fringes are to be a constant reminders, not of one particular law, but the relationship they solidified with God by their obedience. The color blue is related to both heaven and royalty in the minds of the Israelites. (Notes from my Bible)
Chapter 16: The Gainsayings of Korah: Here in this chapter we see again the Israelites having grief with Aaron and Moses and the provoking of the Lord. First it is Koran as the chief rebel with 250 leaders of the community. The heart of their accusation is Moses’ arrogance in claiming a special relationship with God. These rebels want the same privilege. Below are photos with notes from my Bible.
Chapter 17: Aaron’s rod (staff) that budded: To stop the murmuring of the children of Israel God has Moses take a rod from every tribe lay them at the tabernacle and let the congregation see before testimony whom I (God) has chosen. This is where you see that Aaron’s is chosen and God has selected him.
Chapter 18: Aaron and the Levities Confirmed: These verses reiterate and build upon certain aspects of the priestly roles outlined.
Chapter 19: The Ordinance of the Red Heifer: This chapter offers the cleansing process for those who come ino contact with a dead body. This is an important ceremony for the Israelites, because the nation will encounter many deaths on a daily basis for several decades. Thus they must know how to remain ceremonially clean after dealing with a dead body.
If you have questions feel free to ask and if I don’t know the answer I can ask others till I find the answer you seek.
God bless you and your loved ones.
After all we read this week wanted to share this video. Reading these chapters sparked these songs into my mind.
Kirsten's Christian Corner 