Today's Reading:

Numbers 10
Numbers 11
Numbers 12
Numbers 13
Psalm 90

 
The book of Numbers gave a foreshadowing of God’s Spirit coming upon people. God gave His Spirit on Moses, the 70 elders, and 2 others in camp. This showed that the Spirit was selective and temporary, there for a purpose and a finite amount of time to empower the leaders. In the New Testament, during the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Holy Spirit made a change and dramatically came upon all believers who were gathered with tongues of fire to fill them. The Spirit was no longer temporary but would dwell permanently within every believer as a seal of inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 6:19). What Moses longed for in the wilderness, that God’s Spirit would empower the Israelites, came to fruition through Jesus. The same Spirit that rested on the Israelites now lives within you. Pure grace from God, that He does not just visit us, but He dwells in us.  
 

 

God called Moses to make 2 silver trumpets in order to call everyone together. One blast for the Leaders to meet, 2 blasts for the entire community to come together and additional types of sounds for marching to war and festivals, etc. This was God’s way to let the entire community know what to do- like ringing an old farm dinner bell. 

In the second month of Year 2 post Exodus, God’s pillar cloud lifted and the tribes were to march out in the specific order that was given. Judah took the lead, (think of them as the bottom of a cross- the most people, so it was the longest section). Then the tabernacle (center of cross) was able to be dismantled and taken away. The tribes headed by Reuben were next (left side of the cross). Then went the furnishing from inside of the Tabernacle led by the Kohathites. They did not travel with the actual Tabernacle, as this gave the Gershonites and Merarites time to set up the Tabernacle in the new location and not sit the holy items in the dirt while waiting for it to be reassembled. The Ephraim tribes went next (top of the cross) and finally the rear division of the tribe of Dan would set out (right side).  

Moses begged Hobab, his brother-in-law, a Midianite, to set out with everyone to be a guide as he was familiar with the lay of the land and where water, pastures and safe camping sites would be. (Judges 1:16 noted that Hobab did go with the Israelites.) God led them patiently out of Mount Sinai by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.  

Only 3 days in, and again the Israelites were complaining just like they had 3 days after fleeing the Red Sea. They do not know it yet, but 40 years is going to feel like an eternity. God’s wrath shot fire out and consumed the stragglers of the group as a warning about the complaining. After Moses prayed to the Lord for the fire to stop, the Israelites had the audacity to then start complaining about food. They wanted meat and fish and remembered all of the delicious food they had while enslaved in Egypt, vegetables, garlic, melon, meat. It would have made their mouths water thinking about it when they were currently only eating the manna provided by God. Due to the lack of gratitude, God sent a plague of meat on them. You want meat, fine, He will send you so much quail it will make your stomachs turn. Then, Moses begged God for help as the burden was too much to deal with the millions of grumbling people, he said if this was the life he was to lead just kill him now, he was done. God appointed 70 elders to help Moses by putting the Spirit of the Lord on them (Like a mini-Pentecost moment). Two men were not at the tent being appointed with the other 70, but they also received the Holy Spirit on them. Joshua was concerned about the two and went to Moses, but Moses shut him down saying that he was not jealous and wished more people could prophesy. Back at the camp, God brought the promised quail, enough to fill the land 3 feet deep. Those who ate and gathered more died of gluttony.  

In chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron instigated an issue of prophesy with Moses’s wife who was a Cushite (Ethiopian of today), claiming that God also talks through them (Miriam and Aaron). There was a social prejudice against the Cushite’s as they were a different ethnicity, but it was not yet forbidden by God to intermarry with others. (He eventually forbids marriage to Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites in Deuteronomy 7:1-6). Notice that Miriams name was listed before Aaron when they opposed Moses as she was most likely the instigator. Of course, the best part is that Moses wrote this book, and in verse 12:3 he talked of himself in 3rd person declaring he was the most humble person on earth! God declared that since He is the Father, and Miriam disobeyed, then there must be consequences. Due to her punishment of Leprosy which made her unclean, Miriam had to live outside of the camp for 7 days. Aaron repented to Moses therefore he was not punished; it helped that he was the high priest- but this was sibling rivalry at its finest. 

In chapter 13, Moses sent out 12 spies, 1 from each tribe to explore the Negev hill country in the land of Canaan. Notice that Caleb was from Judah (Messiah lineage) and Joshua/Hoshea was from Ephraim, these were also the largest and smallest tribes. While gone for 40 days, they scoped out the land and found huge grapes. Enough that it took 2 guys to carry a cluster! They came back to give Moses a report and 10 of the 12 said the land was fertile but that the people were powerful, even part Nephilim spreading fear throughout the camp (fallen angel giants Gen 6:4). Caleb and Joshua were the only ones to see God’s plan and let Moses know it was feasible.  

In Psalm 90, Moses gave a prayer for the Israelites to God. This was the only Psalm that Moses wrote. Moses saw the doom and knew that God’s wrath is the holy Light that shines on their secret sins and begs for grace during their short life. How long will God be angry, won’t He have mercy on them?  Would God teach them to gain wisdom in their hearts and let their work be for His glory. How have you asked and sought out God for wisdom, and did you make your decision based on His counsel? 

Today's Discussion question: 

How have you asked and pursued God for wisdom, and did you make your decision based on His counsel?

 
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