Begin your study with prayer for the Lord to open your eyes to see who He is more clearly and how to respond to Him more deeply in heart affections and horizontal, radical love toward others.
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S READING
Numbers 9 Summary
The one year anniversary of the Passover is commemorated and the way in which the Lord led Israel by cloud in the day and fire by night is described.
Number 10 Summary
Various practical uses of trumpet sounds are instituted and instructed by the Lord as a very significant sign of Israel's dedication to the Lord throughout all generations, and Israel begins a journey back to the mountain of the Lord (i.e. Mount Sinai).
Number 11 Summary
Obedient Israel becomes complaining, greedy, and rebellious Israel and suffers the consequences of provoking the Lord to anger; In His anger, the Lord blast the outskirts with the fire of his anger and some are killed for complaining, and then the Lord fed them with quail for 30 days until it came out their nostrils, and then the Lord in His anger struck Israel with a plague.
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Numbers 9
Numbers 10
Numbers 11
NOTES
MOSES GETS HIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE LORD - Numbers 9:8
Those who could not observe the first anniversary of the Passover because of touching a dead body (vs 6-7) were concerned about being denied this. Moses did the right thing. He told them to wait and he would listen to what the Lord said. Moses continues to show faithfulness to depending on the Lord for direction. He evidences humility before the Lord.
NOMADS, BUT KNOWN BY GOD AS HIS CHILDREN - Numbers 9:22
The children of Israel never knew from night to night whether they where going to be moving camp or staying the night - they only knew they had to obediently follow the cloud by day and pillar by night. This could not have been easy to do nor accept. But in 9:22 we see that homeless Israel remained encamped or set out to travel based on God's directions sometimes it was 2 days a month or a year according to this passage. Those of us who worship material security, stability and comfort would not make it long in these conditions. Imagine how it would be. God does not want us too comfortable or secure as earth as our home. He is our security, stability, and comfort. That is why he puts us in wilderness sojourning conditions.
THE SILVER TRUMPETS INSTITUTED - Numbers 10:9
Twice blown - all the congregation is to come to worship, once blown - only the leaders, an alarm sound - camps are to set out on the east for battle, a second alarm - camps on the south set out. Only the priestly sons of Aaron are to blow the trumpets. If Israel was faithful to this, God promised to remember them and save them from their enemies. There was no mystical power given to the trumpet, only a promise by a faithful God. This trumpet blast will sound again one day when our conquering Savior and King returns to fight the last battle.
CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - Numbers 10:14
Don't miss the preeminence of the tribe of Judah among the tribes; they are the first to lead the tribes in march. This is because Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.
ISRAEL FAILS THE TEST
Israel had been so obedient up to this point in Numbers, but now they seem to be wearing thin from all the traveling and unrest - they began to "complain of adversity", so the Lord anger burned up those on the outskirts of camp - it is best to live as close to the Lord (i.e tabernacle) as we can get. (11:1); Then, the rabble among them (or Egyptians who worshiped false gods) influenced them to become greedy and want more than plain manna to eat. Israel whined so intensely that Moses has one of the biggest pity-parties in the Bible we read about (11:10-15). It is really quite comical especially if you read it in the NLT. But bottom line, this was very serious reactions against the Lord who had rescued them from Egypt and sustained them in the desert. Bottom line their desire for more tasty food was not in and of itself sin, but this desire was too big. It was a "greedy desire". It caused them as Moses said "to reject the Lord." This rejection was expressed through complaining and whining. Oh let us understand what the same Lord today feels when we, like these children, complain and whine about what better we believe we deserve than what we are getting in this life. Let us be satisfied with our God being with us and not become greedy for more than what we have. We should be humbly grateful ever day we awake without being consumed by His wrath in the lake of fire for our sinful state. He has not given us what we deserve (i.e. hell) but has rather given us an inheritance that cannot fade away and a promise of His presence in our lives that will never leave us or forsake us.
End with Prayers of:
- Adoration - Praise Him and Boast in Him for who He is in today's reading.
- Thanksgiving - Offer humble gratitude for big and small blessings in your life - at least 3 new things
- Confession - Admit to the Lord areas you have resisted him or grieved him privately or in relationship.
- Petition - Ask him for specific help for the many needs of others and you - that you may have power to do His will and see it today.
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