N11

What issues existed in human hearts?

N1:1 “...the people became like those who complain...”

N11:4 “...The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat?...”

KJV-lusting, NKJV-intense craving, RSV,ESV-strong craving, NIV-crave

Wanting something specific while God is providing in another way.

Getting people out of Egypt vs getting Egypt out of people!

Is it difficult to get the world out of us?

How did Moses deal with the issue?

N11:10,11 “...Moses was displeased ...So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?...”

N11:14,15 “...I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once ...”

Complainers bring even great spirit-filled leaders to exasperation.

How did the Lord respond to Moses?

N11:16 “...Gather to Me seventy men from the elders...”

N11:25 “...the Lord came down ...He took of the Spirit ...and placed Him upon the seventy elders ...they prophesied...”

N11:27 Even “...Eldad and Medad ... prophesying in the camp...”

The people’s complaints are met with provision - Quail, 2 cubits deep [3ft] (11:31), and with judgment “...while the meat was still betweeen their teeth...” - severe plague (11:33)

What did even Moses need to learn?

N11:23 “...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..."

N11:31 “...the Lord ...brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp ...two cubits deep ...on the ground...”

N11:33,34 “...the meat was still between their teeth ...the anger of the Lord was kindled ...the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague...they buried the people who had been greedy...”

What lessons can be learned from these events?

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 Lord from the sea 11:31)

N12

How did God respond to murmuring?

N12:1,2 “...Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses ...Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?...”

N12:9,10 “...the anger of the Lord burned...and ...Miriam was leprous...”

N12:12,15 Moses prays, and Miriam is shut outside for 7 days, following the prescribed, Levitical treatment (Lev.13:4).

Do you think Miriam could have been a leader?

Do you think God still gets angry?

How might that make a difference in our behavior?

N13

The Lord instructs Moses to spy out the land.

N13.2 “... the Lord spoke to Moses ...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..."

N13:4-15 1 each from the tribe of: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Manasseh, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Gad.

Moses instructs the spies.

N13:18-20 “...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 ...get some of the fruit...”

Moses recounts the process.

Deut.1:22-23 "...Then all of you approached me and said, 'Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter.' "The thing pleased me and I took twelve of your men, one man for each tribe...”

Why does great leadership require honesty and accuracy in relaying information?

God’s intentions - He’s decides.

God’s expectations - He instructs.

God’s interaction - He grants success.

How long did they spend spying?

N13:25 “...When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days,...” (40 is the number for change)

What was their conclusion?

N13:27,28 “...We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large...”

N13:31 “...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 ...”

Was their report true or false?

True that they were strong. False that they shouldn’t go up.

Who were the Nephilim?

N13:33 “...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..."

G6:4-5 “...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 again?

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, but it is 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.

N14 The congregation responds to the report.

How do bad reports shift focus from the good to the bad?

N14:1-4 “...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..."

Why would they prefer bondage? Isn’t it a terrible option?

People prefer being led into the familiar and the safe.

How about us?

How did Moses and Aaron respond?

N14:5 “...Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel...”

What did Caleb and Joshua know that the others didn’t?

N14:7-9 “...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...”

What does God think about a lack of faith?

N14:10 “...all the congregation said to stone them with stones ...Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting...”

N14:11-12 “...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."

Can intercessory prayer change God’s mind?

N14:15-16 “...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,...”

N14:18-19 ”...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..."

N14:20,21 “...So the Lord said, "I have pardoned them according to your word, but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord...”

Does pardoning grumblers/complainers mean all is well?

N14:22-24 “...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...”

1. Red Sea (E14:11-12)

2. Bitter water of Marah (E15:24)

3. Wilderness of Sin (E16:3)

4. Over collecting manna (E16:20)

5. Collecting manna on the Sabbath (E16:27-29)

6. Water complaints at Rephidim (E17:2-3)

7. Idolatry with golden calf (E32:7-10)

8. Complaining at Taberah (N11:1)

9. Complaining for meat (N11:4)

10. Failure to enter promised land (N14)

The number 10 typically symbolizes completion and fulfillment - plagues, commandments, testing, wholeness or unity.

The number 40 typically symbolizes a period of testing or trial.

How were they testing God?

They were trying His patience by questioning His Intentions, Expectations, and the Power and Purpose of His Interaction.

What did the complete testing lead to?

N14:29 “...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...”

N14:34 “...According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition...”

N14:36,37 “...As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord...”

When God no longer tolerates our grumbling, we fail to enter His promised purposes.

Why is it important to act on God’s current word, rather than try to do the right thing, after the fact, without God,?

N14:40-45 “...Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised. But Moses said ... it will not succeed? Do not go up ...the Lord will not be with you ...they went up ...Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites ...struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah...”

N15 Offerings as a “Soothing Aroma” to the Lord

42 times in the Entire Bible

37 times in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

“Aroma” 5 times in New Testament

Are offerings and sacrifices only an O.T. phenomenon?

N15:13-16 “...All who are native shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the Lord ...an alien ...just as you do so he shall do ...one law and one ordinance for you and for the alien...”

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...”

Is there a difference between unwitting and defiant sin?

N15:22,24,26 ‘”..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...all the congregation ...will be forgiven, with the alien ...for it happened ...through error...”

N15:30-31 “...But the person who does anything defiantly, ...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.' ..."

How important was the honoring the Sabbath command?

N15:32-36 “...a man gathering wood on the sabbath day ...the Lord said ...The man shall surely be put to death ...stone him ...the congregation ...stoned him to death...”

Why were people to have tassels on their garments?

N15:38-39 "...make tassels ...on the corners It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes...”

What happens when we don’t remember? What will we follow?

N16 Korah’s rebellion

What was the root cause of Korah’s rebellion?

N16:1-3 “...Now Korah ...with Dathan and Abiram, and On ...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?..."

Did they not like the stoning of the Sabbath breaker N15:32-36?

Did they not like the ruler? N16:13 "...you have brought us up ...to have us die in the wilderness, ...you would also lord it over us?...”

Did they not like being banned from the promised land? N16:14 “...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...”

What can we learn from Korah’s rebellion?

N16:19,24,26,31-33,35 “...the glory of the Lord appeared ...Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram ...or you will be swept away in there sin ...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 ...Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men...”

Don’t rebel against God’s plan, or get too close to those who do.

Did the people learn from seeing the results of rebellion?

N16:41 “...But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD'S people."

Moses and Aaron again work for atonement (N45-47).

N16:48,49 “...He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah...”

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

N17

Why did Aaron’s rod bud?

N17:2-8 “...twelve rods, from all their leaders ...each name on his rod ...write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi ...deposit them in the tent of meeting ...the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout ...I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings against you ...on the next day ...the rod of Aaron ...had sprouted ...buds and ...blossoms, and ...ripe almonds...”

Proof of God established authority. It did more than bud, it grew ripe almonds overnight.

N17:10 “...the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die...”

N18

N18:1-7 “...priesthood ...attend to your obligation ...for all the service ...so that there will no longer be wrath on the sons of Israel...”

N18:8-20 “...Aaron ...I myself have given you charge of My offerings ...as a perpetual allotment ...the most holy gifts you shall eat ...the first fruits ...I give them to you ...no inheritance in their land ...I am your portion and your inheritance...”

N18:21-26 “...sons of Levi ...the tithe in Israel for an inheritance ...perform the service ...bear their iniquity ...no inheritance among the sons of Israel ..tithe of the tithe....”

N19 The Red Heifer

N19:2-5 “...an unblemished red heifer ...brought outside the camp and ...slaughtered ...blood ...sprinkle ...toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times ...Then the heifer shall be burned...”

N18:9,10 “...gather up ashes ...deposit them outside the camp ...keep it as water to remove impurity, it is purification from sin...”

According to rabbinical tradition, there have been nine red heifers sacrificed since Moses’ time. Since the destruction of the second temple, no red heifers have been slaughtered. The rabbi Maimonides taught that the tenth red heifer would be sacrificed by the Messiah Himself

N20 More grumbling

How did the Lord address the need for water?

N20:2-4 “...There was no water for the congregation ...The people thus contended with Moses ...If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?...”

N.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...”

How did Moses respond to the Lord’s instructions?

N20:10,11 “... and Moses ...said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod;...”

What was the result?

N20:12 “...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..."

N27:13-14 “...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.)...”

Remember that in Ex.17:6 Moses was told to “...strike the rock...”, but this time he was told to “...speak to the rock...”

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.

Lessons?

1. Listen carefully to what God is currently saying.

2. Don’t assume you know because of previous encounters.

3. God likely has intentions you’re unaware of.

4. Details, details, details.

N21

Is bargaining with God effective?

N21:2,3 “... Israel made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” The Lord heard ...and delivered up the Canaanites; ...they utterly destroyed them and their cities...”

How do people react when facing inconveniences?

N21:4,5 “...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 ...spoke against God and Moses ...why have you brought us up out of Egypt...”

Like traveling with kids? No perspective on time and intent.

How might God react when facing complainers?

N21:6 “...The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died...”

How does intercessory prayer help?

N21:7 “...Moses interceded for the people...”

N21:8,9 “...the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent” ...Moses made a bronze serpent ...if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived...”

John 3:14 “...As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up...

How long was the journey? [40 years]

Trekking and battling.

N21:25 “...Israel took ... cities and ...lived in all the cities of the Amorites...”

N22

Why did Balak send for Balaam?

N22:2 “...Balak ...saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites...”

N22:3 “...Moab was in great fear ...in dread of the sons of Isael...”

N22:6 “...please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; ...For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed...”

Why was the attempt destined to fail?

N22:7 “...the elders of Moab and ...Midian ..departed with fees for divination ...and came to Balaam...”

L19:26 ”...You shall ...not practice divination or soohsaying...”

N22:12 “...God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed...”

N22.18 “... Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.

How do you reconcile verses 20 and 22?

N22:20 God tells him to go - but to only speak as told.

N22:22 God is angry that he’s going.

Angel resists, donkey sees, Balaam doesn’t.

N22:28-29 “...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..."

Balaam doesn’t appear shocked by the donkey talking, as he’s too focused on his own intentions.

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

N22:32 “...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...”

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;...”

Are we ever resisted in unseen ways? If we’re about our own business, not God’s, we will be resisted.

N23,N24,N25,

How many opportunities to curse does Balak give Balaam?

N23:9 “... How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?...”

N23:20 “... “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it...”

N24:9 “... Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you...”

Is Balaam a good guy after all?

N25:1-3 “...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...”

Revelation 2:12,14 “...to the angel of the church in Pergamum ...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...”

Is anyone currently teaching God’s people to commit acts of immorality?