Video teaching coming soon
There is no online teaching for this study yet, but the written notes and any available study resources are still below.
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- Numbers 1-12 – Organize the Children of Israel to travel / Journey to the Promised Land…
- Numbers 13-16 – Refusing to enter the Promised Land / Rebellion of Korah…
- Numbers 17-21- Rod of Aaron / The role of the Priests-Levites / Red heifer / 40th year…
- Numbers 22-25 Balaam the prophet…
- After 40 years – Israel was camped on the plains of Moab – opposite from the city of Jericho…
- Moab was terrified – the King Balak sent for the prophet Balaam to curse Israel…
- Tempted by the lure of great riches – against God’s command – Balaam went…
- King Balak of Moab wanted Balaam to curse the nation of Israel – God had other plans…
- 3 times Balaam blessed rather than cursed – he could only say what God told him to…
- Balak taunted – your God has kept you from great riches – a palace full of gold and silver!
- Balak sent down beautiful women to temp the men of Israel to worship their false god…
- It was the suggestion of Balaam – who found away to get the riches he desperately wanted…
- But in the end he lost everything – the riches – and ultimately his life!
- But Israel did suffer for their compromise – 24,000 died in a plague sent from God…
- Numbers 26 – The 2nd Census…
- God commanded Moses to count the next generation of the children of Israel…
- 1st – To give them a new start – they were not required to follow in their parents mistakes…
- 2nd – To redeem the time that was lost – they still had over 600,000 fighting men…
- 3rd – To divide the Promised Land – according to the size of each tribe…
- Only two of the men were counted in both Census – Joshua & Caleb!
- Numbers 27 – A new leader for Israel…
- Law of inheritance… vs. 1-11 Read: Numbers 27:1-23
- The daughters of Zelophehad… vs. 1-4
- Zelophehad – one of the men from the tribe of Manasseh – died having no sons…
- 5 daughters – Mahlah (disease) / Noah (motion) / Hoglah (bird) / Milcah (queen) / Tirzah (favor)…
- They came to Moses – Eleazar – and all of Israel at the Tabernacle to plead their case…
- We take for granted today the rights of women – but it was not always that way…
- In India according to Hindu law – if your husband dies – widow jumps on the flames…
- If she does not kill herself – she is neglected by her family as an outcast / trash…
- In Saudi Arabia – women are not allowed to drive / own land / choose a husband…
- Women can be married off by their fathers at any age – men can have up to 4 wives!
- Women cannot go out in public without a male escort – father / brother / husband…
- Women’s rights come from the Bible – it is God who established equality!
- Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Ladies next time you go to vote – or even just choose what you want to wear…
- Give a hearty ‘thank you’ to the Lord – He is the God who loves all equally!
- After the 2nd Census – division of the Land – they had been left out…
- Their father was among those who had perished in the 40 year wandering…
- He had not taken part in the rebellion of Korah – but he died like the rest of Israel…
- When he died he left no sons to pass on his inheritance in the Promised Land…
- Why should they suffer the loss of their inheritance – they had done nothing wrong…
- They wanted a portion of land – along with their father’s brothers…
- God does not punish the children for the sins of their fathers…
- * Ezekiel 18:20 – “The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
- It is true our parents have a HUGE influence on us – either good or bad…
- But God does not punish us for the mistakes of our parents…
- But we can learn from their mistakes – not follow in their footsteps…
- Instead choose to obey/follow the Lord – and receive our inheritance in Heaven!
- God’s answer to Moses… vs. 5-11
- Moses did not know the answer – it was not yet in the Law – so he went to the Lord…
- There are a lot of circumstances in life the Bible does not deal directly with…
- But just because the Bible is silent – does not mean we don’t have an answer…
- Moses could have guessed – I am sure he had his opinion…
- But even the Godliness men can be wrong – don’t have all the answers…
- If we look to others to tell us what is right and wrong – what we should do…
- They are often more than willing to give us their opinion…
- Are we allowed to gamble / see movies /whom should we marry…
- The problem is they cannot change our heart – we still want to gamble/watch…
- We are set up for failure – when we do what ‘they’ said not to – feel like a failure…
- But as we go to the Lord for the answer…
- Not only does God give us the right answer – to any question…
- If He tells us not to do something – He will change our heart so we don’t want to!
- Pass on the inheritance…
- God’s answer to Moses was to pass on the inheritance to the closest relative…
- If there was no son – the daughter / father’s brother / grandfather’s brothers…
- That way the Land would stay in the family – an everlasting inheritance…
- These women could have said nothing – and nothing would have changed…
- Their inheritance would have been lost – their family name forgotten…
- But these women were willing to stand up – not just accept what life brought them
- Many people go through their entire lives – just going with the flow…
- They refuse to make any real decisions – they have no real plans…
- But then complain because they do not like where life takes them…
- If we don’t stand up in life and make choices – that is OUR choice…
- We forfeit our choice to others – and have no right to complain about the results…
- Don’t be reactive in life – be pro-active – stand up and choose to follow Jesus!
- Anointing a new leader… vs. 12-23
- The prediction of the death of Moses… vs. 12-14
- Moses was to climb up to the top of Nebo – from there he could see the Promised Land…
- He would not be allowed in – he had struck the rock at Meribah – Numbers 20:24
- Instead – like Aaron – he would be gathered to his people – Moses would die…
- Though Moses did not enter in with Israel – he did get in – eventually…
- When Jesus went up to the top of Mt. Hermon – in the Promised Land…
- Moses and Elijah appeared there with Him – Luke 9:30…
- And it is believed he will one day stand in Jerusalem – Revelation 11:3
- Sometimes we when we mess up we feel like we have really ‘blow it’…
- We assume we have missed our opportunity for the blessings of God…
- Back in the early 90’s a really wanted to be a missionary in Russia…
- But made some poor choices – and ended up missing out on the opportunity…
- I kind of figured I missed my chance – and that I would not get another…
- But God a God of Grace – He is the God of 2nd – 3rd – 490th chances…
- We might end up ‘delaying’ a work God wanted to do in our lives…
- But our mistakes do not stop God – in fact He can turn them into blessings!
- Moses asked for a new shepherd… vs. 15-17
- Moses did not argue with God…
- If I had been Moses I would have been pleading with God – let me in!
- I would have argued – and pointed out all that I had done for the Lord – 40 years!
- In II Kings 20:1 – King Hezekiah was told by the prophet Isaiah he was going to die…
- Instead of heading the word of the Lord – he argued and complained to God…
- So the Lord gave him an extra 15 years to live – which sounds like a good thing…
- But it was during those 15 years his only son Manasseh was born…
- The most wicked king in all the history of Israel – cause of Israel’s destruction…
- Because Hezekiah argued with the Lord – Israel was conquered by Babylon!
- God knows what is best for us – even when we think He is wrong…
- God Loves us – and will never do anything that is not in our best interest…
- No matter how much we might disagree – God is always going to be right…
- The best decision we can every make is to accept God’s plan for our lives!
- Moses had been the shepherd/pastor of Israel…
- He had watched over them faithfully for 40 years – as they wandered in the desert…
- He kept them from harm – made sure they had food and water…
- He knew they’d quickly get into trouble without someone looking after them…
- So he asked God for a new shepherd – someone to Love the people in his place!
- Moses thought nothing of himself – his only concern was for the people of God…
- This is one of the truest pictures of a pastor’s/shepherd’s heart in the Bible…
- I have met many ‘pastors’ who were only looking out for their own interests…
- And when times get tough – when people don’t show – when there is no money…
- They leave – without any thought for the sheep – only caring about themselves…
- * John 10:13 – “The hireling flees because he… does not care about the sheep.”
- A godly pastor is not looking out for his own needs – but the needs of his sheep…
- A good pastor is the one who lives his life – gives his life for God’s people…
- * John 10:11 – “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
- God’s choice was Joshua – a man full of the Spirit… vs. 18-23
- Moses was to lay hands on him in front of all of Israel…
- Symbolically transferring Moses authority to Joshua – making him Israel’s new leader
- He now would stand before the Lord – inquire with the Urim (stones in the ephod)…
- He would lead Israel into the Promised Land!
- Moses represents the Law of God – he received God’s commands on Mt. Sinai…
- The Law can lead you to the ‘Promised Land’ – but the Law cannot take you in…
- Instead of Moses – Joshua (Jesus) would lead Israel into the Promised Land…
- We cannot get to heaven – the Promised Land – by keeping the Law / Good works…
- The Law can show us we are not good – but it can do nothing to make us good…
- The only way to get into heaven – is by following Jesus into God’s Promise!
- Numbers 28-29 – the required sacrifices…
- Offerings to the Lord… Read: Numbers 28:1-2 / 29:39-40
- God commanded Israel to offering constant sacrifices at the Tabernacle…
- The regular sacrifices…
- 1st – Morning & Evening sacrifices – one year old male lamb / grain / oil / wine…
- 2nd – Sabbath sacrifice – 2 perfect one year old male lamb / grain / oil / wine…
- 3rd – New month sacrifice – 2 bulls / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil / wine…
- All the animals had to be perfect – a burnt offering – swear aroma to the Lord…
- The goat was to be a special sin offering for the nation of Israel…
- The Jews use a Lunar calendar – 360 days / 12 months / 50 weeks in their calendar…
- Meaning over 1 year – 904 lambs / 24 bulls / 12 rams / 12 goats were sacrificed…
- Along with hundreds of pounds of grain / hundreds of liters of oil and wine…
- These were the sacrifices for Israel as a nation – to be offered by the priests…
- The special ‘feast’ sacrifices…
- 1st – First month – Passover sacrifice – began the 7 days feast of Unleavened Bread…
- Each day of the 7 days – 2 bulls / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil / wine…
- These were in addition to the regular Morning & Evening and Sabbath sacrifices!
- 2nd – Pentecost – 2 bulls / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil / wine…
- 3rd – Seventh month – Rosh-Hashanah – 1 bull / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil…
- 4th – Yom Kippur – 1 bull / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil…
- 5th – Succoth – 7 days feast commemorating the wilderness wandering…
- Day 1-7 – 13 bulls (less one each day) / 2 rams / 14 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil…
- Day 8 – 1 bull / 1 ram / 7 lambs / 1 goat / grain / oil…
- Meaning in one year another – 86 bulls / 25 rams / 175 lambs / 18 goats were sacrificed
- In addition to the regular and special sacrifices were the free will offerings…
- The Burnt offering / Grain offering / Peace offering / of Sin offering…
- The point being there was a LOT of sacrifices going on every day at the Tabernacle…
- It required constant effort – constant preparation – to follow the Lord…
- Following God is not easy – there is a lot we are supposed to do…
- We have to read our Bibles every day / pray / go to church / love our enemies – whew!
- We might try – but we get tired – and to be honest sometimes we just don’t want to…
- Turns out its not just hard to follow Jesus – it is impossible – in our own strength…
- But as we humble ourselves – realize we cannot do it – and ask for help…
- God gives us His grace – His strength to be able to be able to live for God…
- He changes our heart so that we want to read / pray / fellowship – follow Jesus!
- After 40 years – Israel was camped on the plains of Moab – opposite from the city of Jericho…