Failure to Follow (Num.10-25)

Num.10

Trumpets blown: 2 for everyone to assemble, 1 for leaders

With alarm: 1 for east side to move, 2 for south side to move

Also blown over offerings as reminder that “I am the Lord”

Logistical nightmare? How do you move this many people in an orderly fashion?

Are we ready, and capable, to move at the Lord’s prompting - as a body, in an orderly fashion. (we’re spread all over the world).

Num.11

Easier to get them out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of them

11:4 What did the rabble have? [greedy desires]

11:10-15 Complainers bring even great spirit-filled leaders to exasperation.

Two things happen.

1. The demands on Moses are to be shared by 70 men (11:16). They are given ‘of the Spirit’ (11:25)

2. The people’s complaints are met with provision - Quail, 2 cubits deep (11:31), and with judgement - severe plague (11:33)

11:23 “...The Lord said to Moses, "Is the Lord's power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not..."

Even Moses needed to learn the limitless power of God.

Lessons from this story?

God’s power is limitless, but we should be careful what we ask for.

The “how” may be good science, but without the “why”, it totally misses reality. (wind from the sea 11:31)

Num.12

Miriam and Aaron murmur against Moses leadership.

What was God’s reaction in 12:9? [anger, departure]

Miriam becomes leprous.

Moses prays for healing.

Miriam must follow the prescribed, Levitical treatment (Lev.13:4)

Do you think God gets angry still (slow to anger)? About what?

Should knowing that God gets angry make a difference in our behavior? [Should we do right, regardless?]

Num.13

Spies sent into Canaan

God’s instructions to Moses: 13.2 “... spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes, every one a leader among them..."

Moses instructions to the spies: 13:18,19 “...See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many...land good or bad ... Open or fortified ...fat or lean...”

Do you see a difference in the instructions?

Did Moses have a role in creating the problem by not clearly telling them what God said?

Great leadership requires honesty and accuracy in relaying information (applies to teachers as well).

What did the spies and the people need to know?

God’s intentions

God’s expectations

God’s interaction

13:31 “...But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us..."

True or false? True that too strong. True that not able on their own. False conclusion that they shouldn’t go up.

13:33 may be a key verse: “...There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight..."

Gen.6:4-5 “...The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually...”

Why did God previously wipe out a people?

Why is God going to wipe out a people now?

In both cases, there is a strange breed, a mixture of the sons of God and the daughters of men. Debate will continue about who the Nephilim were. Is it fairly obvious what God’s intentions were?

God’s intentions weren’t just arbitrary displacement to make room for His special people. His expectations were that He would use a different system than a flood to cleanse a land that had perverted His purposes. He was about to interact in a different way.

Num.14

How do the people respond?

14:1-4 “...Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! "Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt..."

Is it absurd to prefer bondage? How can this even be considered an option?

People prefer being led into the familiar and the safe.

How about us?

What did Caleb and Joshua know that the other spies didn’t know? 14:7-9 “...and they spoke ...saying, "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. "If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey...the Lord is with us...”

Num.14:11-19 “...The Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? "I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they." But Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, O Lord, are in the midst of this people, for You, O Lord, are seen eye to eye, while Your cloud stands over them; and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. "Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, 'Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.' "But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, 'The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.' "Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now..."

What did Moses do? [intercessory prayer, based on God’s intentions and reputation]

What were the results? 14:20 “...So the Lord said, "I have pardoned them according to your word..”

Amazing power of intercessory prayer.

What if we approached God for America (and American Christians) in the same fashion?

Are Americans perceived as Christians? Is God getting a bad rap through America? Can He show the world that He is still able to deliver?

14:21 “...but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord...”

So is all well now for the grumblers and complainers, since God pardoned them?

14:22-24 “...Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it...”

10 times - the completeness of 10 - plagues, commandments, and now testing the Lord.

1. Red Sea (Ex.14:11-12)

2. Bitter water of Marah (Ex.15:24)

3. Wilderness of Sin (Ex.16:3)

4. Overcollecting Manna (Ex.16:20)

5. Collecting Manna on the Sabbath (Ex.16:27-29)

6. Water complaints at Rephidim (Ex.17:2-3)

7. Idolatry with golden calf (Ex.32:7-10)

8. Complaining at Taberah (Num.11:1)

9. Complaining for meat (Num.11:4)

10. Failure to enter promised land (Num.14)

What were they testing? They were trying His patience, but questioning His Intentions, Expectations, and the Power and Purpose of His interaction.

What does complete testing lead to? 14:29 “...your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me...”

Failure to enter the purposes of God.

Is there an end to God’s tolerance?

Does grumbling as we live out the life He’s given us use up our testing quota?

14:34 - 40 days of spying, then underestimating God’s power, led to 40 years of futility.

14:36,37 - Instigators of grumbling receive immediate judgement.

Num.14:39-45 - trying to do the right thing, after the fact, without God, leads to defeat. Is our destiny tied up with the Body of Christ?

Num.15:22,24 ‘”..But when you unwittingly fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the Lord has spoken to Moses, ...a burnt offering, as a soothing aroma to the Lord...”

“Soothing aroma”

42 times in Entire Bible

37 times in Ex,Lev.Num,Deut

0 times in New Testament

“Aroma” 5 times in New Testament

Eph.5:1-2 “...Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma...”

Num.15:30-31 “...But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 'Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him.' ..."

Is there a difference between unwitting and defiant sin? In the consequences?

What does it mean to be cut off? What happened to the Sabbath breaker in 15:32-36?

Num.16:1-3 “...Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?..."

What was the root cause of Korah’s rebellion?

Did they not like the stoning? Num.16:3 ”...you have gone far enough...”

Was this just pride? Did they not like the ruler? Num.16:13 "...you have brought us up ...to have us die in the wilderness, ...you would also lord it over us?...”

Dathan and Abiram, who were also a part of Korah’s rebellion, had this to say:

Num.16:14 “...Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards...”

They didn’t like the consequences they were facing.

Would you have endured without complaint?

What were the consequences of rebelling? Num.16:31-33 “...As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly...”

What can we learn from Korah’s rebellion?

1. Don’t rebel against God’s authority or God’s plan.

2. Don’t get too close to those who do.

Note: On the very next day an additional 14,700 perished because they continued to gripe.

There, but for the grace of God, go you and I.

Num.17

Why did Aaron’s rod bud? [Proof of God established authority].

Num.18

Levites get to retire at 50, but they get no land (v.20)

The get the tithe (v.21) from which they must tithe (v.26)

Num.20

Grumbling people

Num.20:7-8 “...and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink...”

What did Moses do? v.11 “...struck the rock twice...”

What was the result? Num.20:12 “...But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them..."

What just happened? [different command than Ex.17:6 “...strike the rock...”]

Lessons?

1. Be careful to do all that God says.

2. Don’t assume you know because you’ve done it before.

3. God always has something bigger going on.

4. Details, details, details.

The rock that gives (living water) was struck the first time (Calvary), but the second time He will not be struck, because He’s coming in all His glory.

Num.27:13-14 “...When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)...”

Num.21:4 “...Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey...”

Makes me think of traveling with kids. No perspective on time and intent - they need to grow up.

God’s response? [21:6 fiery serpents]

How long was the journey? [40 years]

Num.22 Why does Balak send for Balaam?

He knew the Israelites had wiped out the Amorites (22:2).

He was experiencing great fear and dread (22:3) Panic attack!

He hoped Balaam could curse them (22:6)

NOTE: Remember that “...fees for divination...” (22:7) were not a part of God’s holiness (Lev.19:26)

22:12 God spoke to Balaam

22.18 Balaam seems to have his act together - recognizing the Lord as God.

22:20 God tells him to go - but to only speak as told.

22:22 God is angry that he’s going.

How do you reconcile verses 20 and 22? Read on.

Angel resists, donkey sees, Balaam doesn’t.

Num.22:28-29 “...And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now..."

Anything comical about this verse? [Doesn’t appear shocked that the donkey is talking - too focused on his intentions]

Num.22:32 “...The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me...”

Why did God resist Balaam, even after telling him to go?

2 Peter 2:15 “...forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;...”

If we’re about our own business, not God’s, we will be resisted.

Eventually Balaam makes the trip, and Balak takes him to see the Israelites. What did they see? 22:41 “...a portion of the people...” 23:9 “...a people who dwells apart...”

He ends up blessing them three times. So is Balaam a good guy after all? [NOPE]

Num. 25:1-3 “...While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel...”

Whose fault? Certainly Israel’s, but...

Num.31:15-16 “...And Moses said to them, "Have you spared all the women? "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord...”

Revelation 2:14 “...But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality...”

Holy Unto the Lord (Lev.10-Num.9)

God’s distinctions:

Lev.10:10 “...a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean...”

Lev.11:47 “...a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten...”

Lev.12:2-5 - Distinction between males and females.

Lev.13 - Distinction between healthy and unhealthy.

Lev.20:25 “...You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean...”

What’s the big deal with clean/unclean? Lev.15:31 “...Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them..."

Relationship requires it. What dies? Relationship.

What was the fix for this problem? Lev.16:29-30 “...This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord...”

How clean?

Lev.18:3-5 “...You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. 'You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the Lord your God. 'So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the Lord...”

God continues to request a set apart people.

Lev.18. Nakedness, abominations, perversions, defiling. Any of that in America? Hollywood? The American Family Room?

Lev.19:2 “...Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy...”

If He is our God and we are His people, holiness isn’t optional, it’s a requirement.

What does it look like?

3 - reverence for parents, keeping the Sabbath.

4 - no idols.

5 - proper sacrifice.

10 - purposing to help the needy and strangers.

11 - don’t steal or lie

15 - no partiality.

16 - no slander.

17 - no hate.

18 - no vengence.

19 - no mixtures.

26 - no divinatin or soothsaying.

27 - no trimming the edge of your beard.

28 - no cuts in body or tattoos.

30 - keeping Sabbaths, revering sanctuary.

31 - no mediums or spiritists.

32 - honor the aged.

36 - just balances.

What does God think of people who do these things? Lev.20:23 “...Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them...”

What is He looking for instead?

Lev.20:26 “...Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine...”

God appointed holy days:

Sabbath: Lev.23:3 “...For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings...”

Passover: Lev.23:5 “...In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord's Passover...” Remembering? God’s deliverance from death.

Feast of Unleavened Bread: Lev.23:6 “...Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread...” Remembering? Leaving the old, embracing the new.

Firstfruits: Lev.23:10 “...Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest...” Remembering? God’s provision.

Feast of Weeks: Lev.23:16 “...You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord...” Thankful for? God’s bounty

Feast of Trumpets: Lev.23:23-25 “...Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 'You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord...” Thankful for? Upcoming Atonement.

Day of Atonement: Lev.23:27 “...On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord...” Thankful for? Restored Fellowship

Feast of Booths:Lev.23:34 “...Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord...” Remembering? The Exodus

Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits: Fulfilled at Christ's first coming?

Feast of Weeks: Outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Church Age.

Trumpets, Atonement, Booths: Will be fulfilled at Christ's second coming?

Who owns the Middle East? Who owns the U.S. of A.?

Lev.25:23 “...'The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me...”

Lev.25:2-4 “..."Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. 'Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard...”

Lev.25:10 “...'You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family...”

Was God serious about this?

Lev.25:18-22 “...'You shall thus observe My statutes and keep My judgments, so as to carry them out, that you may live securely on the land. 'Then the land will yield its produce, so that you can eat your fill and live securely on it. 'But if you say, "What are we going to eat on the seventh year if we do not sow or gather in our crops?" then I will so order My blessing for you in the sixth year that it will bring forth the crop for three years. 'When you are sowing the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in...”

Their Part, His Part? [observe,keep. security,blessing]

Lev.26:34-35 “...'Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 'All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it...”

Fascinating verses. What are they saying? God gets His way, one way or the other. Do we truly understand that?

Lev.26

1-13: Blessings for Obedience

14-33: Penalties for Disobedience: 3 strikes: 14-17,18-22,23-32

Cause and Effect

Have you seen any of these things. Are they random events.

40-46: scattered, land rest, repent, covenant remains.

Lev.27 Valuations of people

	1mo-5yr	5yr-20yr	20yr-60yr	>60yr
Male	5	20	50	15
Female	3	10	30	10
	v.6	v.5	v.3,4	v.7

1 Sam.1:11 “...She made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head..."

A special vow to dedicate persons to the Lord could be fulfilled directly with actual service in the sanctuary, or by monetary payment to the sanctuary treasury.

Lev.27:30-32 “...'Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 'If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it one-fifth of it. 'For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord...”

What is the tithe? [10 percent.]

Who does it belong to? [God]

Why the 10% plus 1/5 (12%)? When not giving actual produce. Can’t do for livestock.

Our society has already become monetized regarding everything.

Numbers

Num.1:2-3 “...Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies...”

Does God condone war?

Interesting discussion coming up later about the Nephilim.

Num.2 - Army

3-9 Sunrise side, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (186,400)

10-16 South side, Reuben, Simeon, Gad (151,450)

18-24 West side, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin (108,100)

25-31 North side, Dan, Asher, Naphtali (157,600)

Num.3 - Priests

21-23 Behind the tabernacle, west, Gershon

27-29 South, Kohath

33-35 North, Merari

38 In front, before, Moses, Aaron and sons

Symbols of tribes:

Judah:lion, Reuben:man, Ephraim:ox, Dan:eagle

Dan (scales, eagle, dragon, snake, lion)

Ezekiel 1:4-10 “...As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle...”

Rev.4:6-7 “...and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle...”

There is an amazing consistency in the message of scripture.

Num.3:11-13 “...Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. "For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord..."

Why did God have rights to all the firstborn?

He took the Levites instead. For what?

How many firstborn? 3:43 22,273

How many Levites? 3:39 22,000

Close enough? NO! God is specific. 3:46-48 Ransom for 273

How many 30-50 year Levites did it take to pack up and move the tabernacle? [4:47-49 8,580]

Num.5

Spirit of Jealousy

Water of bitterness

Adultery is ... WRONG!

Num.6

Nazirite vow of dedication

No wine, no haircuts

No touching dead people

Num.6:24-26

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'

Num.7

Cartloads of offerings presented by leaders over 12 days

12 dishes, 12 bowls, 12 pans, 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 lambs, 60 goats

Num.8

Levites separated unto God

25 -50 then retirement (8:25)

They could then assist, but not really work

Num.9

9:5 Passover: 1st month, 14th day

9:11 2nd month, 14th day if unclean

Num.9:21-23 ‘...If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they kept the Lord's charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses...”

Absolute dependence?

Do we, should we, have this kind of guidance?

Preparing for the Glory (Ex.31 to Lev.9)

Gal.3:23-25 “...But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor...”

Garden - expectation that heart was one with God’s holiness

Sinai - corrupt heart needed law to lead to God’s holiness

Calvary - new heart can again be one with God’s holiness

Do we still need the law?

Ex.31:3,6 “...I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship...I Myself have appointed ...and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you...”

Where does skill come from?

Why does it exist?

And in this section of scripture about skilled workers- Ex.31:13-17 “...’You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."

Why Observe? A sign of remembrance? Remembering Creation, the God of Creation, and His ways.

Ex.34:21 “...You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest...”

Even during your busiest times?

Ex.32 - Rebellious Idolatry

32:1 “...Come, make us a god who will go before us...”

Don’t underestimate mankind’s desire and ability to make their own gods, who will take them where they want to go.

32:4 “...a molten calf...This is your god...”

32:7 “...people ...have corrupted themselves...”

Giving people what they want can be disastrous!

God’s response? Ex.32:10 “...let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them ...”

Response of Moses? Ex.32:11-13. What did he appeal to? Purposes and Promises of God.

Ex.32:25 “...the people were out of control - for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies...”

What kind of a leader was Aaron?

What was the problem? Was God’s reputation at stake?

Is God’s reputation at stake now?

To what did “out of control” lead? Ex.33:3 “...I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way..."

Do we desire His promises or His presence?

Is God’s presence the distinquishing feature of His people?

Ex.34:10 “...Then God said, "Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you...”

In spite of failure, this “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (34:6)” God made a covenant with Israel.

Exodus 35 - Tabernacle

Just before getting started, what do they talk about? (35:2,3)

Stress importance of the Sabbath - can’t even kindle a fire.

--- Sabbath: 89 references in OT, 69 references in NT

--- Adultery: 20 in OT, 23 in NT

--- Idolatry: 12 in OT, 3 in NT

--- Murder: 8 in OT, 14 in NT

Ask yourself - What are your intentions God?

Don’t ask - What works for me?

Needed materials 35:5? Willing. Egyptian stuff?

God’s people have the World’s goods - For God’s purposes

Where God guides, God provides? Ex.36:3-7 “...They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform." So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it...”

Needed workers 35:10,35? “...He has filled them with skill...” Who gets the credit for your skill?

God’s people have God given abilities - For God’s purposes

Measurements in cubits:

Standard Cubit: elbow to end of middle finger (~20”)

Lower forearm cubit: elbow to base of hand (~12”)

Strong’s (~18”)

Deu.3:11 Og’s bed was 9 cubits (15’, 9’, 13.5’)

1 Sam.17:4 Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (finger spread) (10’, 6’, 9’)

Symbolism of Tabernacle fixtures:

Ark of the Testimony - God’s covenant with His people.

Mercy Seat - Presence of God among His people.

Veil - Separation from God because of sin.

Table with Bread of Presence - God provided nourishment.

Lampstands/Lamps - Light to find the way.

Altar of Incense - Acceptable prayer.

Anointing Oil - Sanctification, being set apart for God.

Altar of Burnt Offering - Sacrifice restores relationship.

Basin - Need to be clean.

Exodus 39 - Priestly Garments

What do you think of robed leaders?

How were the priestly garments made? Just as the Lord had commanded (39:7), including 12 memorial stones on the shoulder pieces, corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel (39:14), and a sash (39:21).

Ex.39:42 “...So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses...”

Should leaders be robed?

Exodus 40 - The Tabernacle Erected

They set it up (40:1-8), they set it apart (40:9-15), and they finished the work (40:33)

What happened next?

Exodus 40:34-38 “...Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel...”

God’s presence and God’s guidance are manifested after His people follow His commands.

What happened following Solomon’s erection and dedication of the temple? 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 “...Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."

How does this work now? 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 “...Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Leviticus

Hebrew (Vayikra) - “And He Called”.

English (Leviticus) - “Matters pertaining to the Levites”

God did His part in freeing Israel from Egyptian bondage, freeing His people from the slavery of the world.

Now He expects His people to do their part. He called them to holiness, and the purity of each individual is the foundation of the holiness of the entire covenant community.

--- Rescue From. Rescue For.

--- Save From. Save For.

--- Call From. Call For.

Lev.1 Burnt Offerings - without defect, soothing aroma (1:9).

To make payment for sins in general.

Showed a person’s devotion to God.

Lev.2 Grain Offerings - seasoned with salt, soothing aroma (2:9).

To show honor and respect to God.

Showed that all we own belongs to God.

Lev.3 Peace Offerings - soothing aroma (3:5, 3:16).

To express gratitude to God.

Shows that we desire fellowship with God.

Lev.4 Sin Offerings - for unintentional sins of community (4:13,14), leaders (4:22), and the common people (4:27).

Payment for neglect, uncleanness, thoughtlessness.

Restored fellowship.

Lev.5 Guilt Offerings - even for “hidden”, “unaware of” sins. Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.

Lev.6 Restitution. In full +20%, then guilt offering as well.

Make it right with man.

Make it right with God.

Lev.7:21 “...When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people...”

Good time to point out a basic OT/NT difference.

Under the covenant of Law, there was always a problem of becoming unclean because of what you did.

Upon fulfillment of the Law, there is the privilege of being made clean by touching Christ.

Which is easier? OT worked hard to stay clean, because restoring was difficult. NT get careless, because restoring was accomplished through Christ. What was God looking for, then and now?

Why do things God’s way? Lev.8:34-35 “...The Lord has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded...”

Gen.2:17 “...but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die..."

Did they? They died to God’s best for them.

What happens when things are done as prescribed? Lev. 9:22-23 “...Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people...”

What happens when things are NOT done as prescribed? Lev.10:1-2 “...Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord...”

Why do things as prescribed? Lev.10:3 “...It is what the Lord spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored...”