Saturday, July 07, 2018

Life in the Desert - Num 15-20: Sojourn in the Wilderness

06 Life in the Desert – Numbers 15-20 – Sojourn in the Wilderness
Describing laws given and events experienced, this section briefly pictures the wilderness experience of the "lost generation." Then it traces the eventful journey to the plains of Moab as the forty-year delay comes to an end.
Broad Outline of Numbers: Three Stages
1:1-10:10
Sinai: Preparation to Enter Land
Time: 20 days (Cf. 1:1; 10:11)
10:11-21:35
From Sinai to Moab: Failure to Enter Land
Time: 38 years, 3 months, 10 days
22:1-36:13
Plains of Moab: Preparation #2 to Enter Land
Time: c. 5 months
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Numbers 15
Events re: “lost generation” during the 40 years.
Laws given at Kadesh after the spies’ expedition.
15:1-16 Amounts Given to Accompany Sacrifices
15:17-21 The Dough (Ground Meal) Offering
15:22–29 Sacrifices for Unintentional Sins
          15:22-26 Congregational Sin
          15:27-29 Individual Sin
If it’s unintentional, is it really sin? Why?
15:30-31 Penalty for Sins “With a High Hand”
Discuss the phrase, “with a high hand.”
Was there no sacrifice for willful, defiant sin?
Discuss the phrase,“utterly cut off.”
Gen. 17:14; Ex. 12:15; 31:14; Num. 9:13
Note Heb 2:1-4; 10:26-31
15:32-36 Stoning of a Sabbath Breaker
Example of a high-handed sin.
15:37-41 Tassels on Clothes – Why?
Numbers 16
16:1-3 Korah’s Rebellious Coalition – 250 Chiefs
They accused Moses and Aaron of what? Why?
What lessons had they still ot learned?
16:4-7 Moses’ Proposal: Priesthood Test
16:8-11 Moses’ Attempt to Reason with Korah
God positioned you! Your complaint is with Him!
16:12-15 Dathan’s and Abiram’s Refusal to Come
16:16-19 Censer-Bearing Group at Tent
16:20-24 Moses’ & Aaron’s Intercession Attempt
16:25-30 Moses’ Prediction of Rebels’ Fate
Test and confirmation of God’s having sent him.
16:31-35 Destruction by Earthquake and Fire
16:36-40 Consecration of Censers as Memorial
16:41–50 Plague on People; Aaron’s Intercession
Note NT use of incident as warning to Christians: Licentious heretics who arrogantly disregard apostolic authority will “perish in Korah's rebellion” (Jude 11).
Numbers 17
Demonstration: God’s Choice of Aaron
Purpose: Stop Rebellious Grumbling
17:1-3 Twelve Tribes’ Staffs; Aaron for Levi
17:4-7 God’s Promise: His Chosen Staff to Sprout
17:8-11 Staff of Aaron (Levi): Buds and Almonds
Heb 9:4 – Manna and staff in ark of covenant.
17:12-13 People’s Fear and Confession
“God means business. We could all die!”
Numbers 18
18:1-7 Guard Duties of Priests and Levites
18:8-20 Contributions to Support Priests
Some for priests only. Others their (clean) family.
18:19 “Covenant of salt” = lasting, perpetual.
18:21-24 Tithes (Tenths) to Support Levites
For their work, service, and risk with holy things.
18:25-32 Levites’ Tithe of Their Tithe to Priests
Lev. 22:18-25; Mal. 1:6-14; 3:6-10
Numbers 19
19:1-10 Red Heifer’s Ashes, Water for Purification
19:11-22 Application of This Water when Unclean
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God!
Numbers 20
Time: 40th year of wandering. Cf. Num 33:38.
20:1 Death of Miriam (no mourning mentioned)
20:2-8 No Water Again – Cf. Ex 17.
20:9-13 Moses’ and Aaron’s Failure and Penalty
Was the main issue that Moses struck the rock?
Both Moses and Aaron sinned here. How?
“Meribah” = quarreling.
20:14-21 Edom’s Refusal to Let Israel Pass
20:22-29 Aaron’s Death; the People’s Mourning


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