A God of Compassion - Numbers
Notes
Transcript
18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Basic Outline of Numbers
I. Preparation for leaving Mt. Sinai. Num 1-10.
How old did you have to be before you were of military age in Israel? (Num 1:3, 18, 20). 20 years old
What was the military potential of Israel at this time? (Num 1:46 “46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.” ).
What did God say would happen to anyone who touched any holy thing associated with the Tabernacle?
(Num 4:15 “15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.” ).
Num 5:5-10 has to do with the law of restitution.
5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord, and that person be guilty;
7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.
8 But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the Lord, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
9 And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.
10 And every man’s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.
When a man or woman commits any sin against another addressed purity in interpersonal relationships as part of the Hebrew ’asham (“guilt offering”) legislation of Lv 6:1–7. Damage to property, fraud, or false statements affected the well-being of the community of faith and had to be dealt with forthrightly. Human relationship and a restitution of value were essential for maintaining harmony and holiness in the community. CSBSB-N
Numbers 6 talks about the Nazarite vow which had three restrictions Num 6:3-6.
Also has the wonderful priestly blessing
24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
II. From Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea. Num 10-14.
it was on this journey that the children of Israel murmur and complain
Listen to whad the LORD thinks when His people complain about their circumstances in life Num 11:1 “1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”
The burden and complaining of the people finally got to Moses. He was so depressed he wanted to die. What did God do for Moses? (Num 11:16-17). God divided the spirit among the 70 leaders.
Note: God gives them the desires of the heart and then killed a lot of them in His anger. (Num 11:20, 31-35).
Why was Miriam smitten with leprosy? (Num 12:1-2) (She criticized Moses for marrying an Ethiopian).
Who wrote the following about himself: “Now Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (Num 12:3). Can you be humble and know it? (Ans. Moses wrote it about himself. Jesus said about Himself, “A greater than Solomon is among you.” Humility is not a running down of self – it is an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses from God’s point of view).
Who prayed for Miriam’s healing? (Num 12:13). Moses
Num 13 the spies are sent out
Num 14 spies return -
Please note: failure to believe God and trust Him when He commands us or makes a promise to us is rebellion. (Joshua and Caleb say Num 14:8-9 “8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” ).
III. From Kadesh-Barnea to Plains of Moab. Num 15-21.
Numbers 15 deals with sin sins of ignorance and presumptious sin
Numbers 16 deals with a coup against Moses Numbers 16:1 “1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:”
God consumes them with the earth.
And sent plague so that many died Num 16:49 “49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.”
IV. Balaam Num 22-25.
Num 23:19 “19 God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, And the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!
V. Preparation for entering Canaan. Num 26-36.
Joshua is chosen to be Moses’ successor
Numbers 30 has to do with vows Num 30:2 “2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.