"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect (mature!), thoroughly furnished for all good works!" (II Timothy 3:16-17, KJV)
Why do we meet together on Tuesday nights as MOBsters and why should we be so encouraged and eager to study and share what we're learning in God's Word? Because it's God's inspired Word and given to us by God (II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us), specifically to teach us what to believe and how to live the Christian life! Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart!" Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee;" and (in verse 18), "Open my eyes, that I might behold wondrous things from Thy law;" and (in verse 105), "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path;" and (in verse 114), "Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Thy law!" And (in verse 165), "Great peace have they who love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them!"
Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!" And to those who believed in Him (in John 8:31-32), "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free!"
The apostle Paul wrote (in II Timothy 2:15), "Study to show yourselves approved by God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing ( ESV says "rightly handling) the Word of God!" And James, the apostle, writes in James 1:22, "But prove yourselves to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves!"
What about the book of Numbers? It's a story of a special group of people, chosen by God, the children of Israel, who wandered for 40 long and painstaking year through the wilderness on their way to the "promised land"! Leading them on their way "by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night"! It's part of a larger story linked together in the five books of the Pentateuch, beginning in Genesis 17, where God called Abraham, at the age of 99, and made a covenant with him--promising to be a God to him and his descendants, miraculously giving him a son named Isaac through his 90-year old wife Sarah, making through him a great nation, and giving him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession! But they ended up in Egypt where they spent 430 years as aliens in bondage, until the day, after the night of the Passover, when (Exodus 13:9 says) "the powerful hand of the Lord used Moses to bring them out of Egypt," rescuing them from slavery, giving them the law, and forming a new nation! Moving them from Mt. Sinai through the wilderness to Kadesh-barnea, to the plains of Moab by Jordan River opposite the city of Jericho!
And that's where the book of Numbers kicks in, with the children of Israel (Numbers 1:1 says) "in the wilderness of Sinai," where God told Moses to "take a census" and number the sons of Israel, "everyone twenty years and upward, who are able to go out to war in Israel"! Preparing them to conquer their enemies and march into the promised land!
And after many conflicts and trials (which we'll cover in upcoming lessons) they soon approached the land of Cannan where God (in Numbers 13) instructed Moses to send out a group of men to "spy out the land of Canaan which I am going to give to the sons of Israel"! But, after they searched out the land, the majority of them came back to report (in Numbers 13:27-28) that "while the land certainly does flow with milk and honey...the cities are fortified and very large and the people who live in the land are too strong to be conquered"! Only Caleb and Joshua believed that despite their strength, God would bring them victory! And they spoke to the congregation, saying (in Numbers 14:8-9), "If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us--a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them!" But all the congregation said to "stone them with stones," and some even questioned why they ever left Egypt!
So God was angered and punished them for their unbelief and disobedience--and determined that every person over the age of twenty would spend 40 more years in the wilderness with all of them dying, and not making it into the promised land! The psalmist addresses this in Psalm 95:7-11 where he writes: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah....in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me, they tried me, though they had seen My work! For 40 years I loathed that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My way. Therefore, I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter My rest!" The 72 verses of Psalm 78 give a similar, sobering review but offer some key lessons on how gracious God was to the children of Israel despite their years of subbornness, rebellion, and ingratitude!
One writer describes Numbers as "the sad, strange story of a lost generation"!
And so the book of Numbers is a book about faithfulness and unfaithfulness! God was patient and faithful to them even when "His children" were disobedient and unfaithful to Him!
So why should we want to study the book of Numbers? Because it's God's Word with a special message for us today! I Corinthians 10:6-11 (referring to the book of Numbers) says, "Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved! Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.' Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer!" (Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run nor toil in vain!")
And there's so much more! We'll see how the Lord used and spoke through Moses, Aaron and Joshua! And in Numbers 16, how after the rebellious Korah and his followers rose up against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, the Lord opened up the earth to swallow them and their households and all of their possessions! Then there's the interesting story of Balak, the king of Moab, who feared Israel and recruited the false prophet Balaam (in chapters 22-23) to curse Israel but only to find that after Balaam's ass (donkey) saw an angel of the Lord with a drawn sword in the way to Moab and rebuked him for his spiritual blindness did he refuse to curse Israel but declared instead (much to Balak's horror) its future prosperity and power as a nation!
These are just some of the highlights we'll see in our upcoming lessons as we take on our study of Numbers in the weeks ahead!
Here's how Michael LaFebvre summarizes the book of Numbers: "It offers us a humbling exposition of our weaknesses contrasted with a deeply comforting revelation of the Lord's patience, discipline, and restoring grace! As you (we) prepare to begin this study, pray for God to grant you (us) a humble heart to grow in faith as part of His obedient people!"
How about II Chronicles 7:14 as an appropriate verse to claim for our own "journey" through life! "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and will heal their land!"
And some appropriate hymns and Christian songs? How bout "We're marching to Zion, beautiful Zion; we're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God..."
Or, "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war; with the cross of Jesus, going on before..."
Or, "Amazing grace, who sweet the sound..."!
And, of course, the song we sang in MOB, "Rise up, O men of God! Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings..."!
And some verses to take with us!
Psalm 95:1-11--"O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation...Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving...Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of His hand..."
Matthew 11:28-30--"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light!"
Count (number!) your blessings, name them one by one; and may the God of grace, mercy and peace be with you all, til we meet again!
Lowell
Why do we meet together on Tuesday nights as MOBsters and why should we be so encouraged and eager to study and share what we're learning in God's Word? Because it's God's inspired Word and given to us by God (II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us), specifically to teach us what to believe and how to live the Christian life! Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart!" Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee;" and (in verse 18), "Open my eyes, that I might behold wondrous things from Thy law;" and (in verse 105), "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path;" and (in verse 114), "Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Thy law!" And (in verse 165), "Great peace have they who love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them!"
Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!" And to those who believed in Him (in John 8:31-32), "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free!"
The apostle Paul wrote (in II Timothy 2:15), "Study to show yourselves approved by God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing ( ESV says "rightly handling) the Word of God!" And James, the apostle, writes in James 1:22, "But prove yourselves to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves!"
What about the book of Numbers? It's a story of a special group of people, chosen by God, the children of Israel, who wandered for 40 long and painstaking year through the wilderness on their way to the "promised land"! Leading them on their way "by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night"! It's part of a larger story linked together in the five books of the Pentateuch, beginning in Genesis 17, where God called Abraham, at the age of 99, and made a covenant with him--promising to be a God to him and his descendants, miraculously giving him a son named Isaac through his 90-year old wife Sarah, making through him a great nation, and giving him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession! But they ended up in Egypt where they spent 430 years as aliens in bondage, until the day, after the night of the Passover, when (Exodus 13:9 says) "the powerful hand of the Lord used Moses to bring them out of Egypt," rescuing them from slavery, giving them the law, and forming a new nation! Moving them from Mt. Sinai through the wilderness to Kadesh-barnea, to the plains of Moab by Jordan River opposite the city of Jericho!
And that's where the book of Numbers kicks in, with the children of Israel (Numbers 1:1 says) "in the wilderness of Sinai," where God told Moses to "take a census" and number the sons of Israel, "everyone twenty years and upward, who are able to go out to war in Israel"! Preparing them to conquer their enemies and march into the promised land!
And after many conflicts and trials (which we'll cover in upcoming lessons) they soon approached the land of Cannan where God (in Numbers 13) instructed Moses to send out a group of men to "spy out the land of Canaan which I am going to give to the sons of Israel"! But, after they searched out the land, the majority of them came back to report (in Numbers 13:27-28) that "while the land certainly does flow with milk and honey...the cities are fortified and very large and the people who live in the land are too strong to be conquered"! Only Caleb and Joshua believed that despite their strength, God would bring them victory! And they spoke to the congregation, saying (in Numbers 14:8-9), "If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us--a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them!" But all the congregation said to "stone them with stones," and some even questioned why they ever left Egypt!
So God was angered and punished them for their unbelief and disobedience--and determined that every person over the age of twenty would spend 40 more years in the wilderness with all of them dying, and not making it into the promised land! The psalmist addresses this in Psalm 95:7-11 where he writes: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah....in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me, they tried me, though they had seen My work! For 40 years I loathed that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My way. Therefore, I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter My rest!" The 72 verses of Psalm 78 give a similar, sobering review but offer some key lessons on how gracious God was to the children of Israel despite their years of subbornness, rebellion, and ingratitude!
One writer describes Numbers as "the sad, strange story of a lost generation"!
And so the book of Numbers is a book about faithfulness and unfaithfulness! God was patient and faithful to them even when "His children" were disobedient and unfaithful to Him!
So why should we want to study the book of Numbers? Because it's God's Word with a special message for us today! I Corinthians 10:6-11 (referring to the book of Numbers) says, "Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved! Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.' Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer!" (Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run nor toil in vain!")
And there's so much more! We'll see how the Lord used and spoke through Moses, Aaron and Joshua! And in Numbers 16, how after the rebellious Korah and his followers rose up against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, the Lord opened up the earth to swallow them and their households and all of their possessions! Then there's the interesting story of Balak, the king of Moab, who feared Israel and recruited the false prophet Balaam (in chapters 22-23) to curse Israel but only to find that after Balaam's ass (donkey) saw an angel of the Lord with a drawn sword in the way to Moab and rebuked him for his spiritual blindness did he refuse to curse Israel but declared instead (much to Balak's horror) its future prosperity and power as a nation!
These are just some of the highlights we'll see in our upcoming lessons as we take on our study of Numbers in the weeks ahead!
Here's how Michael LaFebvre summarizes the book of Numbers: "It offers us a humbling exposition of our weaknesses contrasted with a deeply comforting revelation of the Lord's patience, discipline, and restoring grace! As you (we) prepare to begin this study, pray for God to grant you (us) a humble heart to grow in faith as part of His obedient people!"
How about II Chronicles 7:14 as an appropriate verse to claim for our own "journey" through life! "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and will heal their land!"
And some appropriate hymns and Christian songs? How bout "We're marching to Zion, beautiful Zion; we're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God..."
Or, "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war; with the cross of Jesus, going on before..."
Or, "Amazing grace, who sweet the sound..."!
And, of course, the song we sang in MOB, "Rise up, O men of God! Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings..."!
And some verses to take with us!
Psalm 95:1-11--"O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation...Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving...Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of His hand..."
Matthew 11:28-30--"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light!"
Count (number!) your blessings, name them one by one; and may the God of grace, mercy and peace be with you all, til we meet again!
Lowell
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