Spiritual Odyssey Week 6

Destination: Numbers

Feb. 5 - Leviticus 26-Numbers 1

Pray for Malaysia

Pray that the Malaysian government will allow Christian converts from Islam to be married.

1. C 26 (Read Deut. 28,29,20) Conditions of blessing (v3-13) and warnings of chastisement (v 14-21). Notice the escalation of the chastisement until their dispersion is predicted (Deut. 28: 58-67). Remember that the Mosaic Covenant under the Law is conditional.

2. C 26 v 40-46 The Abrahamic Covenant still stands despite their disobedience and dispersion; it is unconditional.

3. C 26 v 29 The cannibalism prophesied here as a result of chastisement from their disobedience is fulfilled in 2 Kings 6:26-29.

4. For believers under the New Covenant, Jesus bore the curse that we might bear the blessings of Abraham. Galatians 3:13-14

5. The events in Leviticus happened for a period of one month in a single place – Mt. Sinai. The phrase , “Before the Lord” occurs more than 60 times, more than any book in the Bible. It shows us by command or illustration, how to walk before the Lord.

6. In Leviticus we see:a. The holiness of Godb. The sinfulness of manc. The fulness of Christd. The godliness of life

7. Numbers 1 – The census of Israel. Israel is numbered at the beginning and at the end of this book. Every servant was numbered, knew his place in the family and was assigned a specific service. Read 1 Cor. 12

Feb. 6 - Numbers 2-4

Pray for Mauritania, Northwest Africa

Pray that terrorists and jihadists will not be able to cross into Mauritania from Mali

.

1. C 2 v2 “Israel will camp by their own standard…”Reuben: Man; Ephraim: Ox; Dan: Eagle; Judah: Lion. Judah guards the East, the entrance to the Tabernacle. The children of Israel camped around 4 banners/standards (see above); the same four creatures are to be found on the throne of God. Rev. 1:4

2. On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, Judah shall camp according to their armies: Judah was first, and closest to the tabernacle itself. The tribes of Issachar and Zebulun followed in order after Judah. These tribes would order themselves after the standard (the banner or flag) of Judah, the lion.

3. Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, is the leader of the tribe of Judah. The order and organization God called Israel to required leadership, with leaders both recognized by God and respected by the people.

4. The total number of available soldiers among the eastward tribes was 186,400.

5. C 2 v 9 “These shall break camp first”: There was an order to the encampment and the marching for the tribes. They were to move as an orderly army, not as a mob.

6. See illustration above.7. C 2 v 17 This was not only the way Israel was to make their camp, but also

they way they were to order their march. The taking of Canaan would be accomplished by a highly organized army.

8. God is a God of order. 9. Everything is positioned in the camp around the tabernacle of God, the

presence of God.

Feb. 7 – Numbers 5-7

Pray for Nigeria

Pray for the physical and emotional healing of victims of Boko Haram (Muslim terrorist group).

1. C 6 The Nazirite is a person of either sex who is separated to the Lord. He or she must abstain from wine—symbol of material joy (Read Psalm 104:15) in contrast to spiritual joy (Psalm 97:12; Habbakuk 3:18; Phil.4:4); the long hair – a symbol of reproach to a male (1 Cor. 11:14)- as a sign of separation - indicates the Nazirite’s willingness to bear reproach for God.

2. The Nazirite is a type of Jesus Christ- the perfect Nazirite (Hebrews 7:26):a. He was wholly devoted to the Father (John 1:18; John 6:38) b. He allowed no mere natural claim to hinder His work for the Father

(Matthew 12:46-50)

3. C 6 v 24-26 The priestly blessing was the exact words of God given to Moses

The literary structure of the priestly blessing in the original Hebrew is very precise.

The first line has three words

The second line has five words

The third line has seven words.

The first has 15 letters (3x5).

The second has 20 (4x5)

The third has 25 (5x5).

These very words of God depict His perfect nature.

Click link to this video explaining the Aaronic blessing more indepth.

https://youtu.be/w3XAScnpSwg

4. Moral order in chapters 6-7 ( Hebrews 13:12-16)a. Separation – c 6 v 1-12b. Worship - c 6 v 13-21

c. Blessing – c 6 v 22-27d. Service – c 7 v 1-89

Feb. 8 – Numbers 8-10

Pray for Brunei

Pray that restrictions on Bibles and printed materials will be lifted.

1. C 9 The Passover celebrated in the wilderness, after one year of their release from bondage.

2. Jesus fulfilled the Passover sacrifice with His death on the cross. We are instructed to commemorate this by keeping the Lord’s Supper.

3. C 9 v 15 The cloud and the fire guard Israel. Isaiah 25:4; Psalm 121:5

4. When the tabernacle was originally built God blessed it by showing His presence in the form of the cloud by day and the fire by night (Exodus 40:34-38).

5. The cloud covered the tabernacle: This cloud of God’s Shekinah glory was evident at different times in Israel’s history; when Solomon built the temple, the cloud of glory filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11); but when Israel apostatized, and before the temple was destroyed by conquering Babylonians, the cloud of glory departed (Ezekiel 10:3-4, 18-19).

6. C 10 The Silver trumpets God will gather His people with the sound of a trumpet. (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

7. C 10 Departure for Canaan. The Israelites have been properly prepared for their entry to the Promised Land: They were ordered and organized, cleansed and purified; set apart and blessed; taught how to give and how to function as priests; made to remember judgment spared and deliverance brought; they were given God’s presence as a guide and the tools needed to lead the people.

Feb. 9 – Numbers 11-13

Pray for Israel that the local church will be strengthened there.

C 11 v 1-3 From Sinai to Kadesh Barnea: The people complain. Moses complains

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1. C 11 v 16-25 the 70 elders. (Read Exodus 18:19)2. Moses complains at the heavy burden laid on him. 2 Cor 12:9

3. God helps Moses through the support of godly men. This is how God often meets our needs.

4. C 13 Miriam and Aaron murmurs against Moses. Read Matthew 13:575. Miriam takes the lead here; “The feminine singular verb that initiates the

chapter (lit., ‘and she spoke,’ v.1) and the placement of her name before that of Aaron indicate that Miriam is the principal in the attack against Moses.” (Allen)

6. Leaders should not be protected from criticism if they are founded on truth and worthy of consideration. However, in the case of Miriam and Aaron, their complaints were unjustifiably petty and only revealed their own selfish and proud desires.

7. C 12 v 10 Leprosy afflicted Miriam instantly. It showed externally what was inside her heart.

8. Note what should be our response to petty, unjustified criticism: Isaiah 53:79. C 13 The spies are sent out to check the land and bring their report. Moses

sent the twelve spies, including Joshua and Caleb, to explore the whole

land of Canaan, from Beersheba and Hebron in the south to Dan and Damascus 150 miles / 240 km to the north (see 5 on Map 45).

10.There are two responses to the exact same situation: lack of faith on the 10 spies and faith from Caleb and Joshua that despite what they have seen to be insurmountable challenges, God will fight for them!

Feb. 10 – Numbers 14-16

Pray for Brunei for the 20 legally registered churches and for their pastors who are closely watched.

1. C 14 At Kadesh-barnea; Unbelieving Israel. Read 1 Cor. 10:1-5; Hebrews 3:7-19; Deut. 1:19-40

2. Kadesh-barnea and what happened there was critical to what will happen to Israel in that period of time. What transpired there was of utmost significance. By their unbelief, that generation, except for two, were prevented from entering the promised land. The rest of the Israelites will spend the rest of their lives wandering in the wilderness.

3. The Israelites had faith to sprinkle the blood for their atonement in Egypt, to leave Egypt but did not have the faith to enter the Promised land. Read Hebrews 6:3-11

4. C 15 The “wilderness” is symbolic of the necessary discipline involved in the spiritual walk of the redeemed. The “wandering,” on the other hand, was due to Israel’s tragic unbelief. The crossing of the Red Sea, the incidents at Marah, Elim, Sinai were all part of God’s means of developing and/or disciplining his people.

5. a. Red Sea – type of the cross which brings life and separates from Egypt – symbolic of the world (Galatians 6:14)c. Marah – represents God’s power to turn undesirable things into

blessingsd. Elim – represents God ‘s power to give rest and refreshment along the

journey

e. Sinai – represents God’s holiness and our wickedness. Romans 7:7-246. The long and round about road from Kadesh-barnea to Jordan is a tragic

journey of an unbelieving people, one that could have been totally avoided had they had the faith to enter into their promised rest.

7. There is a “present-rest” for believers of which the Sabbath and Canaan were types. We can enter into that promised rest by faith. Hebrews 3-4

8. C 15 v 2 God gives them instructions nevertheless, when they (the next generation) are to come into the land. Romans 11:29; Philippians 1:6

9. C 15 v 32-35 The real purpose of the law. Romans 3:19; 7:7-11; 2 Cor.3:7-9; Gal. 3:10)

10. C 15 v 37-41 Blue ribband – blue is the heavenly color. The servants of God are to walk a separated walk free from earthly desires and ambitions and heavenly in their obedience and character.

11.C 16 The gainsayings/rebellion of Korah. Jude 1112. The leader Korah, was descended from Kohath. Both Moses and Korah

were descended from Kohath, but by different sons (Moses through Amram [Numbers 26:58-59], and Korah through Izhar).

13. The Kohathites had the most exalted duty among the Levites; their charge was to carry the most holy things of the temple, after Aaron and his sons had covered them with the specially prepared coverings (Numbers 4:15).

14. The sin of Korah was intruding into the priestly office. (Hebrews 5:4) Korah attempted to create a priestly order without God’s divine authority.

15. A New Testament analogy of this sin was that of the Nicolaitans in Rev. 2:6,15.

16.The Nicolaitans attempted to divide the equal brotherhood of believers (Matthew 23:8) into clergy and laity which is opposed to the Biblical & vastly different recognition of the spiritual gifts in the ministry (1 Cor. 12:4-31; Eph. 4:8,11,12) or that of the roles of deacons and elders (1 Tim. 3: 1-13; Titus 1: 5-9)

Feb. 11 – Numbers 17-21

Pray for Laos, Southeast Asia.

Pray for believers who are evicted from their villages because of their faith.

1. C 17 Aaron’s rod that budded. Symbolic of the resurrected Christ, our great High Priest.

2. Korah and his men also questioned Aaron’s priesthood. The budding of his rod is confirmation by God of His priestly calling.

3. Each of the heads of the tribes brought a dead rod. Only the rod of Aaron – a type of Christ, budded. In comparison, all the leaders of the world’s religions are dead. Only Christ is risen.

4. C 19 Laws of Purification5. The ordinance of the red heifer. A heifer is a cow which has never been

pregnant, and thus cannot yet give milk. And it has to be red in color, indicating this is somewhat rare.

6. “Normally the animal’s colour did not matter. This one had to be red to resemble blood.” (Wenham)

7. Without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come: These requirements made this particular animal even rarer. This red heifer, therefore, would be valuable, rare, and pure.

8. The complete carcass of the animal was burnt and the ashes gathered by one observing the cleansing ceremonies before and after the gathering of ashes.

9. Unlike every other sacrifice in the Old Testament, the blood of the red heifer is burnt along with the sacrifice, instead of being completely drained out at the jugular. Blood was to be part of the ashes that would come forth from the burning of the carcass of the red heifer.

10. When the heifer was burnt, the priest would also put cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet into the fire.a. In Leviticus 14:4-6, each of these three items are used in the cleansing

ceremony for a leper. Each of these items has a special significance. b. Cedar a symbolic reference to the wood of the cross. c. Hyssop: Jesus was offered drink from a hyssop branch on the cross

(Matthew 27:48), and when David said “Purge me with hyssop” in Psalm 51:7, he admitted he was a bad as a leper.

d. Scarlet, the color of blood, pictures the cleansing blood of Jesus on the cross. Scarlet was used in the veil and curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31), in the garments of the high priest (Exodus 28:5-6), the covering for the table of showbread (Numbers 4:8), the sign of Rahab’s salvation (Joshua 2:21), and the color of the mocking “king’s robe” put on Jesus at His torture by the soldiers (Matthew 27:28).

11. These laws were relevant to all in Israel, but especially to priests, who had the potential to defile the tabernacle of the Lord. Under the New Covenant, the Christian also has a special call to purity, because we can also defile the dwelling place of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

12.C 19 v 17-19 The purpose of the ashes of the red heifer (all the ingredients point to the work of Christ on our behalf), combined with water (which point to the work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit) combine to bring about cleansing. It can cleanse even the uncleanness brought about by death.

13. Back at Mount Sinai, God told Moses to strike the rock for water to gush out (Exodus 17:6). Now he only has to speak to the rock, holding the the rod in his hand. The rod was a symbol of his authority from God.

14. C 20 v 9-11 Moses’ contention with God. a. Moses struck the rock when God commanded only to speak to it.b. He over-magnified his partnership with God when he said: “Must we

bring water out of the rock?” Moses forgot for a moment that he was not God’s partner but God’s servant.

c. Instead of crying out to the Lord, he lashed out to the people. d. He struck the rock twice.e. Moses’ sin was of unbelief. He did an unholy thing in depicting God to

the people as like the other pagan gods, who are subject to anger and temperamentalism.

f. Leaders are held to a higher standard (James 3:1)g. Moses defaced a beautiful picture of Jesus’ redemptive work through

the rock which provided water in the wilderness. This rock was a picture of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus, being struck once, provided life for

all who would drink of Him (John 7:37). It was unnecessary – and unholy – that Jesus would be struck again, even worse, struck twice, because He needed only to suffer once (Hebrews 10:10-12). By words of faith we can have Jesus freely (Romans 10:8-10) Likewise, Moses should have spoken to the rock to bring life-giving water to the nation of Israel. Moses “ruined” this picture of Jesus’ work.

h. C 20 v 13 Finally, God was seen as holy among the children of Israel. Despite Moses unholy act, God hallowed Himself through the correction of Moses. God will be glorified , God will be hallowed – either through our obedience or our correction.

15. C 20 v 14-22 Edom’s sin remembered. (Gen. 25:30)16. 20 v 23-29 The death of Aaron marks the end of the wilderness

wanderings.17. C 21 v 5-9 The Brass Serpent ( Read John 3:14-15) The serpent is a symbol

of sin judged; brass speaks of divine judgment. It is a type of Christ made sin for us. (John 3:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:21)