Final preparations…

• Numbers 5…
  • In preparation for leaving Mt. Sinai…
    • God rehearsed some of the laws/instructions He had given in Exodus & Leviticus…
    • He also gave some new commands not previously mentioned…
  • Leprosy / Sin & restitution… vs. 1-10… Read: Numbers 5:1-2, 7
    • All those who had contagious skin diseases were to be put outside the camp…
      • The reason was because God was going to live among the people…
      • Leprosy is a picture of sin in the Bible – causes you to be spiritually unclean…
      • We are the temple of the Holy Spirit – God does not want us to have sin in our lives…
      • When we choose to live in sin – we are choosing not to walk with the Lord…
      • We put ourselves ‘outside the camp’ – separate ourselves from fellowship with God!
    • Anyone who committed a sin against his neighbor…
      • Had to confess what they had done – offering a sin sacrifice to God…
      • As well make restitution to the one they sinned against – plus 20%…
      • If the person who you wronged was dead – you were to pay God…
      • It’s far too easy to simply say ‘I am sorry’ – God wanted you to back up your words…
      • Show you’re sorry by your actions – make and effort to right what you did wrong…
  • Jealous husband… vs. 11-31… Read: Numbers 5:11-15
    • If a husband was suspicious of his wife having an affair…
      • But there was no proof – there were no witness / she was not caught in the act…
      • The husband had to bring a ‘jealousy’ offering to the priest…
    • The jealousy offering…
      • The priest would take a jar with water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor…
      • He would then place it in the woman’s hand – with her hair let down…
      • The priest would write a curse of ‘bareness’ on leather – wash it into the water…
      • The woman would have to swear an oath she was innocent – then drink…
      • If she was telling the truth – it would have no effect – if not she would be barren…
      • The ‘drink’ itself had no power – it was about the ceremony…
      • In fear of the ‘consequences’ – it gave the opportunity for the wife to confess…
      • Or if the husband were just overly jealous – it would restore the husband’s faith…
      • Sometimes husbands and wives have a hard time communicating…
      • Trust between them has been lost – perhaps they are not longer even talking…
      • The wife becomes bitter/distant towards an ‘unloving’ husband…
      • The husband become jealous/suspicious towards his ‘un-submissive’ wife…
      • The solution is to come before the Lord – who can restore a broken marriage!

• Numbers 6…
  • Vow of a Nazarite… vs. 1-21 Read: Numbers 6:1-3
    • A vow of separation – for however long you wanted – set apart for the work of God…
      • You could not cut your hair – you could not touch a dead body…
      • You could not drink wine – eat grapes – or even raisins!
      • Ephesians 5:18 – “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.”
      • If they broke their vow – dead body/wine – they had to start all over again!
      • At the end they were to shave their head / offer a sin & peace offering to the Lord…
    • Sampson – Judges 13:7 – was a Nazarite from his birth till his death…
      • He was unstoppable for the Lord – as long as he was dedicated to the Lord…
      • The secret of his strength (not his long hair) – was he was set apart for God…
      • But Sampson gave in to sin – and it cost him his strength – effectiveness for God…
      • God has called us to be set apart for Him – we are not to be like the world…
      • If we look and act just like the world – why would they want to hear about Jesus!
      • The world gambles / drinks / parties – all they have is momentary pleasure…
      • If we are doing the same things – how are we any different from the world…
      • When we are dedicate ourselves to the Lord – full of the Holy Spirit…
      • We are unstoppable for the Lord – but when we give in to sin – loose our strength!
  • The blessing of Israel… vs. 22-27 Read: Numbers 6:23-26
    • God commanded Aaron and the priests to bless Israel with this benediction…
    • The Lord is used three times – protect / grace / peace…
    • The triune nature of God – God the Father – God the Son – God the Spirit…
    • Our Father in heaven protects us – we have nothing to fear…
    • We receive the Grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross…
    • We have peace from God through the work of His Holy Spirit!
• Numbers 7… Read: Numbers 7:1-3, 89
  • The offerings for the Tabernacle… vs. 1-89
    • On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle – anointing it as Holy – set apart for God…
    • The 12 leaders of Israel (1 for each tribe) brought special offerings to the Lord…
    • They gave 6 carts and 12 ox to be used by the Levites in moving the tabernacle
    • Then over 12 days (one each day) the 12 leaders each gave individual gifts…
    • We get the idea that we are supposed to give to God – support the pastors / church…
    • The common view is the pastors are the ‘end of the line’ – they don’t have to give…
    • But it is the pastors who are called to set the example for the people…
    • If they are unwilling to give to the Lord – how can they ask others to sacrifice to God!
  • God spoke to Moses…
    • Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle – God spoke to him from the Mercy Seat…
    • Exodus 33:11 – “The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
    • God did not talk to Moses in vague dreams – He spoke to him like you would a friend!
    • A leader should be someone who not only sets a good example for the people…
    • He should be someone who take the time to hear from the Lord – directed by the Lord
    • If the leader does not know where he is going – where is he leading the people…
      
• Numbers 8… Read: Numbers 8:14-18
  • Dedicating the Levites… vs. 1-26
    • All of the Levites were to come to the Tabernacle with a Burnt & Sin offering…
    • They were to shave their whole body – wash – and put on clean clothes…
    • Then Israel would come and lay their hands on them – giving them to the Lord…
    • They were to serve from 25 years old – until they were 50 years old
  • The laying on of hands…
    • According to Hebrews 6:2 – this is an elementary principal of our Faith…
    • In the early church there was a need – someone to help the Apostles – Acts 6:1-7…
    • They chose 7 men full of the Holy Spirit – to minister practically to God’s people…
    • After the Apostles had prayed for them – they laid hands on them…
    • The picture is of setting apart someone for the service of the Lord…
    • Lord willing – one day – we will have the privilege of ‘laying hands’ on someone here…
    • Recognizing God’s work – a calling to love and minister to God’s people!
    • But never be in a rush – I Timothy 5:22 – “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily…”
    • It is not about appointing a leader – it is about recognizing God’s anointing!

• Numbers 9…
  • Keeping the Passover… vs. 1-14 Read: Numbers 9:1-3
    • It had been two years since God brought Israel out of Egypt…
    • It was time to hold the first Passover to remember the 10^th and final plague…
    • Everyone was required to attend – you were to be ‘cut off’ from Israel…
    • But there were some who could not take part – unclean (touched a dead body)…
    • God allowed for a 2^nd date – one month later – for those who were unclean/away…
    • There is only one way to heaven – through Jesus – the Lamb of God…
    • But if someone is far away (has not heard about Jesus) – or caught up in sin (unclean)…
    • God is VERY patient – He is the God of 2^nd chances – desiring that all men be saved!
  • Following the Lord… vs. 15-23 Read: Numbers 9:21-23
    • The Lord covered the Tabernacle with a cloud by day – pillar of fire by night…
    • If the cloud/pillar moved so did Israel – if it stopped Israel made camp…
    • It did not matter if it was a day / a month / or a year…
    • Israel did not move unless God went before them…
    • We have the tendency to want to rush out – then look back to see if God is following…
    • We make our plans – set out to get to work – then ask God to bless what we are doing…
    • Then we are shocked/surprised when God does not get on board with ‘our plan’!
    • God is not bound to our plan – He does not promise to follow us…
    • We are called to follow Him – we need to keep our eyes on the Lord…
    • If God stays put – we wait / If He moves – that is when we step out in faith an follow!

So God moves people around – there only for a season – to keep us trusting in Him!

Numbers 10…

The silver trumpets… vs. 1-10 Read: Numbers 10:1-2

Israel was to have two trumpets – only to be blown by the priest – to call the people…

They were to have different calls for different purposes: move / war / celebration…

When I was in Israel in 2006 in Haifa – we were heard the air raid sirens…

We are still waiting for God to blow the trumpets – to call us home!

I Thessalonians 4:15 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”

One day soon – no one knows exactly when – Jesus is going to come for His church…

If Jesus came today – if those trumpets sounded – what would Jesus find us doing…

Matthew 24:44 – “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Setting out for the Promised Land… vs. 11-28 Read: Numbers 10:11-13

One day – during mid-spring – the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle…

They had been over a year sitting – listening to God’s Word…

Not it was time to leave Mt. Sinai – it was time to head to the Promised Land…

According to God’s plan – each tribe broke down according to their order…

The Levites and the priests carried the Tabernacle!

It is a blessing to be able to sit and listen to God’s Word – be prepared…

But the time comes when we are called to step out in faith – follow the Lord…

If we do not we will become stale in our walk – no longer challenged in our faith…

What once took a great deal of faith (praying in public) is now comfortable…

God is always nudging us to step out further – into a place where we depend on Him!

Hobab… vs. 29-36… Read: Numbers 10:29-32

Moses had a brother-in-law Hobab (loved)…

Hobab wanted to go back home – but Moses pleaded with him to stay…

Moses argued – he knew the desert and could help guide the people…

Also God had given Israel amazing promises – Hobab could share in them…

The reality was God (the Ark in front) was leading Israel – they did not need Hobab…

Apparently Moses was depending on his friend – and did not want him to leave…

God often moves people in / and out of our lives…

If God left the same people in our lives – we would begin to depend on them…