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Numbers

Numbers. Mark Twain. “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand”

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Numbers

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  1. Numbers

  2. Mark Twain • “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand” • “The two Testaments are interesting, each in its own way. The Old one gives us a picture of these people’s Deity as he was before he got religion, the other one gives us a picture of him as he appeared afterward” • “Our Bible reveals to us the character of our god with minute and remorseless exactness…It is perhaps the most damnatory biography that exists in print anywhere. It makes Nero an angel of light and leading by contrast” • “If there is a God, he is a malign thug”

  3. Mark Twain • “God, so atrocious in the Old Testament, so attractive in the New - - the Jekyl and Hyde of sacred romance” • “There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him - - early”

  4. “This is eternal life: To know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do… • I made your name known to the people you gave me.” (John 17:3-6, GOD’S WORD)

  5. “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and move on.” (Deuteronomy 1:6,7 – GN)

  6. Numbers • “On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt, the cloud over the Tent of the LORD’s presence lifted, and the Israelites started on their journey out of the Sinai Desert…” (Numbers 10:11-13 – GN)

  7. Numbers • Census – 603,550 men over 25 • Complaining and trouble • 12 Spies • 40 year wandering – all over the age of 25 died (except Joshua and Caleb) • Korah’s rebellion • Moses strikes the rock • Nearing the promised land • Balaam • Census – 601,730 men over 25 • “There was not even one man left among those whom Moses and Aaron had listed in the first census in the Sinai Desert. The LORD had said that all of them would die in the wilderness, and except for Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun they all did.” (Numbers 26:64,65 – GN)

  8. Complaining and Trouble • The people complain • “There is nothing at all to eat – nothing but this manna day after day!” (Numbers 11:6 – GN) • Moses complains • “Moses heard all the people complaining as they stood around in groups at the entrances of their tents. He was distressed because the LORD had become angry with them, and he said to the LORD, ‘Why have you treated me so badly? Why are you displeased with me? Why have you given me the responsibility for all these people? I didn't create them or bring them to birth! Why should you ask me to act like a nurse and carry them in my arms like babies all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where could I get enough meat for all these people? They keep whining and asking for meat. I can’t be responsible for all these people by myself; it’s too much for me! If you are going to treat me like this, have pity on me and kill me, so that I won't have to endure your cruelty any longer.’” (Numbers 11:10-14 – GN)

  9. Complaining and Trouble • God: “Now tell the people, ‘Purify yourselves for tomorrow; you will have meat to eat. The LORD has heard your whining and saying that you wished you had some meat and that you were better off in Egypt. Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. You will have to eat it not just for one or two days, or five, or ten, or even twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your ears, until you are sick of it. This will happen because you have rejected the LORD who is here among you and have complained to him that you should never have left Egypt.’ • Moses: Moses said to the LORD, ‘Here I am leading 600,000 people, and you say that you will give them enough meat for a month? Could enough cattle and sheep be killed to satisfy them? Are all the fish in the sea enough for them?’ • God: ‘Is there a limit to my power?’ the LORD answered. ‘You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not!’ So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He assembled seventy of the leaders and placed them around the Tent.” (Numbers 11:18-24 - GN)

  10. Complaining and Trouble • “Suddenly the LORD sent a wind that brought quails from the sea, flying three feet above the ground. They settled on the camp and all around it for miles and miles in every direction. So all that day, all night, and all the next day, the people worked catching quails; no one gathered less than fifty bushels. They spread them out to dry all around the camp. While there was still plenty of meat for them to eat, the LORD became angry with the people and caused an epidemic to break out among them. That place was named Kibroth Hattaavah (which means ‘Graves of Craving’), because there they buried the people who had craved meat.” (Numbers 11:31-34)

  11. “They complained, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We can’t stand any more of this miserable food!’ Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and died.” (Numbers 21:5-6 – GN)

  12. Complaining and Trouble • Aaron and Miriam complain • “Moses had married a Cushite woman, and Miriam and Aaron criticized him for it. They said, ‘Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’ The LORD heard what they said. (Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.). Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, ‘I want the three of you to come out to the Tent of my presence.’ They went, and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance of the Tent, and called out, ‘Aaron! Miriam!’ The two of them stepped forward, and the LORD said: (Numbers 12:1-6 – GN) • God’s response • ‘Listen carefully to what I’m telling you. If there is a prophet of God among you, I make myself known to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But I don’t do it that way with my servant Moses; he has the run of my entire house; I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles: He ponders the very form of God. So why did you show no reverence or respect in speaking against my servant, against Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8 – The Message)

  13. The 12 spies • “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Choose one of the leaders from each of the twelve tribes and send them as spies to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.’” (Numbers 13:1,2 – GN) • “But the people who live there are powerful, and their cities are very large and well fortified. Even worse, we saw the descendants of giants there.” (Numbers 13:28 – GN) • “Caleb silenced the people who were complaining against Moses, and said, ‘We should attack now and take the land; we are strong enough to conquer it.” (Numbers 13:30 – GN) • “All night long the people cried out in distress. They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness. Why is the LORD taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt?’ So they said to one another, ‘Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!’” (Numbers 14:1-4 – GN)

  14. The 12 spies • “Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow and said to the people, ‘The land we explored is an excellent land. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. Do not rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The Lord is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid.’ The whole community was threatening to stone them to death, but suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appear over the Tent. The Lord said to Moses, ‘How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them?’” (Numbers 14:5-10 – GN).

  15. “From that day on the Jewish authorities made plans to kill Jesus” (John 11:53 - GN). • “Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him” (John 12:37 – GN).

  16. “The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9,10 - GN). • “This second beast performed great miracles; it made fire come down out of heaven to earth in the sight of everyone. And it deceived all the people living on earth by means of the miracles…” (Revelation 13:13-14 – GN)

  17. “Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow and said to the people, ‘The land we explored is an excellent land. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. Do not rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The Lord is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid.’ The whole community was threatening to stone them to death, but suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appear over the Tent. The Lord said to Moses, ‘How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them?’” (Numbers 14:5-10 – GN).

  18. Forgiveness • “The Lord answered, ‘I will forgive them, as you have asked. But I promise that as surely as I live and as surely as my presence fills the earth, none of these people will live to enter that land. They have seen the dazzling light of my presence and the miracles that I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, but they have tried my patience over and over again and have refused to obey me. They will never enter the land which I promised to their ancestors. None of those who have rejected me will ever enter it’” (Numbers 14:20-23 – GN).

  19. Forgiveness • Were they forgiven? • How many of these forgiven people entered the promised land? • How many of these forgiven people will arrive in heaven? • Wouldn’t the fact that they were forgiven indicate a proper adjustment of their legal standing?

  20. “There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you. Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God. Your sins got between you so that he doesn’t hear.” (Isaiah 59:2 – The Message) • “If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything.” (1John 3:20 – GN)

  21. “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive (salach – refers to the removal of our sense of guilt and condemnation produced by our sin), and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5) • “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (salach). (Isaiah 55:7 – NKJV)

  22. “Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to GOD, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.” (Isaiah 55:7 – The Message)

  23. “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon (root: salach), gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9:17 – NKJV)

  24. The prodigal son • “So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I will get up and go to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.’ So he got up and started back to his father. He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

  25. “But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.” (Luke 15:23,24 – GN)

  26. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive (apheimi, removal of guilt from one’s own psyche) us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 – NKJV)

  27. Forgiveness • “Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.” (Romans 2:4 – GN)

  28. Korah’s rebellion • “Korah son of Izhar, from the Levite clan of Kohath, rebelled against the leadership of Moses. He was joined by three members of the tribe of Reuben—Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—and by 250 other Israelites, well-known leaders chosen by the community. They assembled before Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! All the members of the community belong to the Lord, and the Lord is with all of us. Why, then, Moses, do you set yourself above the Lord’s community?’ When Moses heard this, he threw himself on the ground and prayed. Then he said to Korah and his followers, ‘Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him; he will let the one who belongs to him, that is, the one he has chosen, approach him at the altar. Tomorrow morning you and your followers take firepans, put live coals and incense on them, and take them to the altar. Then we will see which of us the Lord has chosen. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!’” (Numbers 16:1-7 – GN)

  29. Korah’s rebellion • “Moses continued to speak to Korah. ‘Listen, you Levites! Do you consider it a small matter that the God of Israel has set you apart from the rest of the community, so that you can approach him, perform your service in the LORD's Tent, and minister to the community and serve them? He has let you and all the other Levites have this honor---and now you are trying to get the priesthood too! When you complain against Aaron, it is really against the LORD that you and your followers are rebelling.’ Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they said, ‘We will not come! Isn’t it enough that you have brought us out of the fertile land of Egypt to kill us here in the wilderness? Do you also have to lord it over us? You certainly have not brought us into a fertile land or given us fields and vineyards as our possession, and now you are trying to deceive us. We will not come!’ Moses became angry and said to the LORD, ‘Do not accept any offerings these men bring. I have not wronged any of them; I have not even taken one of their donkeys.’ Moses said to Korah, ‘Tomorrow you and your 250 followers must come to the Tent of the LORD's presence; Aaron will also be there. Each of you will take his fire pan, put incense on it, and then present it at the altar.’

  30. Korah’s rebellion • “So they each took their fire pans, put live coals and incense on them, and stood at the entrance of the Tent with Moses and Aaron. Then Korah gathered the whole community, and they stood facing Moses and Aaron at the entrance of the Tent. Suddenly the dazzling light of the LORD's presence appeared to the whole community, and the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Move back from these people, and I will destroy them immediately.’ But Moses and Aaron bowed down with their faces to the ground and said, ‘O God, you are the source of all life. When one of us sins, do you become angry with the whole community?’” (Numbers 16:8-22 – GN)

  31. Korah’s rebellion • “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ Then Moses, accompanied by the leaders of Israel, went to Dathan and Abiram. He said to the people, ‘Get away from the tents of these wicked men and don’t touch anything that belongs to them. Otherwise, you will be wiped out with them for all their sins.’ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrance of their tents, with their wives and children. Moses said to the people, ‘This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it is not by my own choice that I have done them. If these men die a natural death without some punishment from God, then the LORD did not send me. But if the LORD does something unheard of, and the earth opens up and swallows them with all they own, so that they go down alive to the world of the dead, you will know that these men have rejected the LORD.’

  32. Korah’s rebellion • “As soon as he had finished speaking, the ground under Dathan and Abiram split open and swallowed them and their families, together with all of Korah's followers and their possessions. So they went down alive to the world of the dead, with their possessions. The earth closed over them, and they vanished. All the people of Israel who were there fled when they heard their cry. They shouted, ‘Run! The earth might swallow us too!’ Then the LORD sent a fire that blazed out and burned up the 250 men who had presented the incense. (Numbers 16:23-35 - GN)

  33. Korah’s rebellion • “The next day the whole community complained against Moses and Aaron and said, ‘You have killed some of the LORD's people.’” (Numbers 16:41 – GN)

  34. “The people of Israel are as stubborn as mules. How can I feed them like lambs in a meadow?” (Hosea 4:16 – GN)

  35. “This is eternal life: To know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do… • I made your name known to the people you gave me.” (John 17:3-6, GOD’S WORD)

  36. “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we know the real God. We are in the one who is real, his Son Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is the real God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 – GOD’S WORD)

  37. “I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth.” (John 18:37 – GN) • “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 – GN)

  38. “I have been speaking to you in parables - but the time is coming to give up parables and tell you plainly about the Father. When that time comes, you will make your requests to him in my own name, for I need make no promise to plead to the Father for you for the Father himself loves you…” (John 16:25-30, JB Phillips).

  39. “I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 (GN)

  40. “Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.” (1 John 1:5 – GN)

  41. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. • As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 – GN)

  42. “But if I don’t have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)

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