Numbers (Program #25) – Fighting (5)

For more than forty years the children of Israel follow one clear leadership.  Despite the occasional challenge to his leadership, Moses was the undeniable selection of Jehovah; as the unique one that was to lead them through the wilderness and to the good land.  But at 120 years of age, the Lord came to Moses to let him know that he was about to be gathered to his people and that he will not be entering into the land with the people.  We might think especially with all of things that Moses had done with and for the Lord, his concern would have been why he was being denied the opportunity to gain an entrance for himself.  But to the contrary, his only concern and care was for the people.  Who would be there to go in and come out before the people?  This is the story of a man according to God’s heart and it is an inspiring story for us to consider, as we will on this life study from the book of Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #24) – Fighting (5)

In the Old Testament, inheritance is based on genealogy, according to family and tribe.   It was also ordained by God that only males could inherit the property and possession of one who die.  So what happen when a man die and had no male heir or successor to the family name?  In Numbers chapter 27, this question was raised to Moses and ultimately to Jehovah by five daughters of a man named Zelophehad.  The Lord’s consideration of their request has a major application even for us, as we will see today.

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Numbers (Program #23) – Fighting (4)

Numbers is a book that records many wonderful items related to God’s people Israel and their journey through the wilderness on their way to the good land.  But it also records some of their greatest failures.  Perhaps the greatest among these was that spoken of in chapter 25 where many among Israel committed fornication and adultery with some of the idolatrous and pagan people dwelling in the land.  This brought in God’s judgment as seen by the plague that fell upon Israel consuming 24,000.  But this judgment served as kind of purifying of the people and it enabled them eventually to go in and possess the land that they have been 40 years journeying toward.  The renumbering of God’s people for the possession of the good land is our topic today.

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Numbers (Program #22) – Fighting (3)

In the Old Testament book of Numbers there is the story of a gentile prophet named Balaam.  The Moabite king Balak had hired him to curse and prophesy against God’s people Israel, who Balak the king greatly feared.  Yet at each instance, as much as Balaam desire to please the king, whatever he spoke concerning Israel turned out not to be a curse but a blessing.  These parables recorded in Numbers 22 through 24 had a greater impact than just the Lord’s frustration of a heathen king with an evil intention towards God’s people.  These parables actually revealed how God views His people, whether the nation of Israel in the Old Testament or the church in this age despite the failures and weaknesses.  God sees the church as glorious, victorious and beautiful.  How can this be?  it’s because He sees the church, the believers, in Christ.

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Numbers (Program #21) – Fighting (2)

We all know the story of Israel’s forty-year long journey in the wilderness.  Their journey, though unnecessary long, wasn’t aimless or without a goal.  They had a definite destination, the good land, the land of Emmanuel, today’s Israel.  This land as we have seen before, is a type and even a picture of Christ, of our Christ, who is our goal and destination.  But as we’ve seen, God also has an enemy who opposes Him and frustrates His people, bringing in a kind of warfare in the spiritual realm.  The book of Numbers touches this warfare repeatedly.  Today we come to chapter 22 where the tactic employed by Satan against God’s people Israel changes dramatically,  This program is full of much insight.  We really pray that the Lord would shine in this word today.

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Numbers (Program #20) – Fighting (1)

As the Old Testament is a book of pictures and types, what does Canaan signify?  Well, to many people it is synonymous with heaven.  Actually Canaan, one of the names for the good land that God brought His people Israel into in the Old Testament which is also a type of the all-inclusive Christ that we are possessing in the New Testament, was a name used to describe the land when it was filled with enemies, even giants that had to be fought against and overcome before the people can go in.  The warfare of God’s people against the authorities and rulers of Satan’s kingdom is the topic of our life study today in Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #19) – Journeying (12)

When we want or need something from God what is our attitude?   Do we come to Him meekly in a begging way or do we come demanding that He give us this or that?  Well, probably your prayers are more in a pleading or begging van rather than ordering God to do something.  But you might be surprised to realize that there are actually are times the Lord will response when we speak to Him in a direct way, bidding Him to grant our need.  It all depends on what we are asking for.  Stay tune for a wonderfully insightful program on today’s life study from Numbers.

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Numbers (Program #18) – Journeying (11)

In Numbers chapter 20, the people of God were journeying through the wilderness on their way to the good land.  But water was scarce and the two million Hebrews with their substantial flocks and herds were suffering.  As might be expected, this cause people to complain and contend with Moses.  The attitude of the people brought out frustration and even anger on the part of Moses who had seen the Lord’s own anger and judgment brought upon the people for their previous rebellion.  But Moses’ dealing with them in this case, brought in God’s judgment once more.  Only this time not upon the people, but upon Moses.

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Numbers (Program #17) – Journeying (10)

When God’s people rebel against Him by challenging the ones that God has selected to speak for Him and lead them, God’s response was severe and momentous; the earth opened up and swallowed the leaders of this rebellion.  Then the Lord came as a pillar of fire to consume others who had joined the rebellion.  These great miracles were associated with God’s judgment.  But when the time came for the Lord to vindicate Himself and His chosen ones, it was not a great miracle, but the smallest one; simply causing a dead and dried up stick to bud, blossom and bear fruit.

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Numbers (Program #16) – Journeying (8-9)

Rebellion.  Of all the evils and sins of mankind none carry greater consequence nor evoke a more serious reaction from God.  That’s because the target or object of all rebellion is authority which comes from and signify God Himself.  God’s people Israel were caught up in acts of rebellion against God and His deputy authority on many occasions.  The book of Numbers records the accounts of several progressive stages of rebellion ultimately resulting in God’s judgment and wrath being poured out in a very sobering display.  The on-going and progressive rebellion of Israel in the wilderness is again our topic on our life study from Numbers.

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