Numbers 17-19

Review…

• Numbers 13-14 – Refusing to enter the Promised Land…
  • 12 spies – 40 days – giants in the Land – they were grasshoppers in their sight!
  • Israel wept – complained against God – decided to pick a new leader go back to Egypt…
  • Israel would wander for 40 years till all those over the age of 20 had died…
  • Numbers 15-16 – Hope / Rebellion of Korah…
  • In light of their failure to enter the Land – God assures them they will one day enter in…
  • When they did they should – please the Lord / avoid sin / and remember God’s Word
  • Korah stirred up a rebellion against Moses – he was not content just being a Levite…
    • Moses offered a test – let God choose who would lead the nation…
    • If Korah and company lied to be old men – God had not chosen Moses…
    • If the earth opened up and swallowed them alive – then Moses was God’s choice…
    • The next day Israel complained Moses had killed Korah – 14,700 died in a plague!

Chapter 17 – The budding rod of Aaron…

• Confirming God’s choice for the priests… vs.1-13 Read Numbers 17:1-8
  • God wanted to bring an end to all the questioning of authority…
    • Miriam and Aaron had challenged Moses’ authority – Numbers 12
    • Korah and company had challenged Moses and Aaron’s authority – Numbers 16
    • God wanted to establish once and for all who was His choice as priests of Israel…
  • The test: a blossoming rod…
    • God commanded Moses to have Israel gather 12 rods…
    • There would be one from each of the 12 heads of the tribes of Israel…
    • They would each put their name on their rod – and place it in the Tabernacle…
    • Aaron – the High Priest – would be the representative for the tribe of Levi…
    • Whichever rod blossomed – would be God’s choice as the leader of Israel…
    • If you want to know what God has called you to do – look for the fruit…
    • If you think you are a leader – turn around and see if anyone is following…
    • If a teacher start teaching – see if anyone comes to listens…
    • If you are doing what God has called you to do – it will be obvious to everyone!
  • In the morning only Aaron’s rod had blossomed…
    • In fact not only did it have flowers – it also had ripe almonds on its branches…
    • An amazing miracle – this was a dead stick – not a living branch…
    • Yet God brought it back to life – and caused it to bear fruit for Him…
    • God is in the business of taking dead branches and giving them life…
    • Without Jesus – we are just dead braches – we can so absolutely nothing on our own!
    • God takes you and me – and connects us to Jesus – so we might bear fruit for God!
    • John 15:4 – “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

Chapter 18 – The resonsibilty of the Priests & Levites…

• Different roles… vs. 1-7 Read Numbers 18:2-5
  • There were two positions God established in serving in the Tabernacle…
    • The Priests were responsible for the sacrifices – minister to the spiritual needs of Israel
    • The Levites were responsible for the Tabernacle – minister practically to the Lord
    • They had different roles and responsibilities – but they served the same purpose…
    • If they did not stay within their roles – both would die as a consequence…
  • Their are different roles within the church – leadership positions God gives…
    • The Pastor/Elder – is the one who ministers to the Spiritual needs of the church…
    • Teaching the Word of God / praying with those who are in need…
    • Giving Biblical guidance to those who looking for Godly counsel…
    • These are the responsibility of the Pastor/Elder within the church…
    • The deacon – is the one who ministers to the practical needs of the church…
    • Picking up the trash / cleaning up the mess the saints leave behind…
    • Setting up for services / cooking for those church…
    • There are the responsibilities of the deacon within the church…
    • Different roles – but still one body…
    • * I Corinthians 12:12 – “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.”
    • We are all part of the body of Christ – hands / feet / eyes / ears…
    • Not literally – but figuratively speaking – we all have different roles in the church…
    • One might be called to be a pastor/teacher (mouth) / another a deacon (hand)…
    • But no matter your gift/calling – all are equal and a part of the ‘Body of Christ’…
    • If we try and step outside the role God has given to us – there is no life / no fruit…
    • We are only effective for the Lord – as we fulfill the role God has given to us!
    • Providing for the priests / levites… vs. 8-21 Read Numbers 18:8-9, 20
  • The priest were to take a portion of all the sacrifices of Israel for themselves…
    • As they ministered to the spiritual needs of the people of God…
    • The priests of God – were to be provided for practically – by the sacrifices to God…
    • * I Corinthians 9:13-14 – “Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their meals from the food brought to the Temple as offerings? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.”
    • Those who minister to the spiritual needs of the church – pastoral ministry…
    • As much as possible – be provided for practically by those within the church…
    • I Timothy 5:18 / Matthew 10:10 – “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
    • If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
    • It is a blessing to the people to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister…
  • The Priest were not to look for an inheritance here on earth…
    • I have met many pastors who see the ministry as a way to ‘get rich’…
    • They are looking for an ‘inheritance’ here on earth…
    • Rather than looking to be a blessing to God’s people – they seek to take from them…
    • A pastor should NEVER demand – or even ask – for money from the people…
    • * I Corinthians 9:15 – “I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge.”
    • Those pastors who demand from the people – fall under the judgment of God…
    • Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
    • Men who become ‘pastors’ because they think of it as a job – a way to make money…
    • They are not there to love and provide from the people – give their lives…
    • When problems come up – they run away – because they only care about themselves
    • John 10:13 – “The hired hand runs away because he… has no real concern for the sheep.”
  • God was to be the Priests reward…
    • It is not the people who provide for the Pastor – it is God who ‘rewards’…
    • * I Corinthians 9:17 – “If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust…”
    • Since it is God who chooses a pastor – it is God who will take care of his needs…
    • And God providing for a pastor’s needs – gives a church confidence the pastor is called…
    • A pastor can continually preach on tithing – and perhaps make money…
    • But you are left to ask – is he really a pastor – or just someone who wants money!
    • Giving back to the Lord… vs. 22-32 Read Numbers 18: 21, 26
  • The Levites would receive the tithe from Israel…
    • But they then had to tithe from the tithe of Israel – and give it back to the Lord…
    • Not just any portion – they were to give the very best back to the Lord!
    • Often those who are in ministry – think they are the dead end of giving…
    • You give to the church – and they receive what you give – but it’s not the end…
  • Those who serve God in ministry – are still required to give back to the Lord…
    • If a pastor tells you to give to the Lord – but does not give himself – bad example…
    • By giving back to the Lord the church has a good example to follow after…
    • Besides – the true heart of a Godly pastor is to seek to give to God’s people…
    • * Acts 20:34-35 – “You know that these hands of mine have worked to pay my own way, and I have even supplied the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
    • Giving to the people as an example – it is better to give than to take!

Chapter 19 – The red heifer…

• Making you clean… vs.1-22 Read Numbers 19: 1-3
  • God commanded Moses to get a red heifer (young female cow)…
    • The heifer had to be perfect – without any defect of flaws…
    • It also had to be unyoked – never worked a day in its life…
    • The heifer was to be taken outside the camp of Israel – and offered as a sacrifice…
    • Nothing was to be spared – it was to be completely consumed in the fire…
    • Added to the fire were cedar wood / hyssop / and scarlet…
    • It was the ceremony for the removal of sin!
  • The ashes were to be used to purify the unclean… Read Numbers 19:9
    • If you touched a dead body – or if you touched a grave – you were unclean for 7 days…
    • You had to go through a special ceremony to be restored to fellowship with God…
    • You had to be washed with water and the ashes of the Red Heifer – 3^rd & 7^th days…
    • If you did not – you were to be cut off from fellowship – removed from Israel…
    • We are all sinners – and the penalty for sin is death – Romans 6:23…
    • Not just physical death – spiritual death – eternal separation from God…
    • We were unclean – we had touched sin/death – we were cut off from God!
  • Why a Red Heifer…
    • It is thought perhaps as the counter to the ‘Golden calf’ – Exodus 32…
    • Israel had run after the pleasure of the world/sin – ‘riches and gold’…
    • In doing so they had rejected God from their lives – Matthew 6:24…
    • So God used the ‘red calf’ to being them back – to take away their uncleanness…
    • All of us at some point have chased after the ‘gold’ of this world – pleasures of sin…
    • So God gave us our Red Heifer – Jesus…
    • Jesus is our perfect sacrifice – He came to purify us – make us clean…
    • We cut off from God – so He came to bring us back to God…
    • Jesus went outside the camp to get us back – He suffered and died for our sins…
    • * Hebrews 13:12-13 – “Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood…”
    • Jesus purified us – He took away our sin – and gave us a new heart…
    • He restored our relationship to God – brought us back into the presence of the Lord!
  • The 3^rd temple…
    • Jewish tradition – the Mishna – teaches in order to dedicate the Temple…
    • The ashes of a ‘red heifer’ are needed to purify the Temple – II Chronicles 29:18
    • Both the 1^st Temple (Solomon) – and the 2^nd Temple (Herod) – were purified this way
    • The red heifer needed for the ceremony is VERY rare – in fact extinct…
    • No flawless red heifer had been born in Israel since the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70…
    • That is until just recently – 2010 – a perfect Red Heifer was born in Israel!
    • Some Jews view this as a sign of the coming Messiah / rebuilding of the Temple…
    • According to Bible prophecy a 3^rd Jewish Temple must be built before Jesus’ 2^nd coming
    • Daniel 9:27 – were the Anti-Christ will perform the Abomination of Desolation…
    • He will stand in the Holiest of All – and proclaim himself as god…
    • Does the ‘Red Heifer’ mean the Temple is about to be rebuilt – maybe…
    • Its not a biblical prophesy – it is strictly based on Jewish tradition – still interesting…
    • Bottom line – Look up – Jesus may be closer than you think – Luke21:28