Where is Jesus? Jesus interceded for us, just like Moses interceded for the Israelites
Outline:
- preparing for the journey
- the first census of the nation
- the role of the Levites
- the purity of the camp
- first approach to the promised land
- the people complain
- Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses
- the scouts incite rebellion
- wandering in the wilderness
- additional regulations
- many leaders rebel against Moses
- duties of priests and Levites
- the new generation
- second approach to the promised land
- the story of Balaam
- the second census
- instructions concerning offerings
- vengeance on the Midianites
- the transjordan tribes
- camped on the plains of Moab
Moses intercedes for the Israelites
- Numbers 16
- Numbers 21 poisonous snakes
Numbers was written to tell the story of how Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, how they sinned and were punished, and how they prepared to try again
It is set in the desert of the Sinai region, as well as lands just south and east of Canaan
- themes:
- census (2)
- 1st: organized people into Marching units to better defend themselves
- 2nd: prepared them to conquer the country east of the Jordan River
- rebellion
- against Moses and God
- wandering
- the consequence for rebelling was that the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years
- gave time to raise a new generation in the ways of God
- those who held onto the values of Egypt died
- Canaan (Promised Land)
- to be a dwelling place for God’s people
- those set apart
- Numbers is essentially a book of complaining.
- hardships (11:1)
- about lack of meat (11:4)
- about being stuck in the wilderness, longing to return to Egypt (14:1-4)
- about Moses’ and Aarons authority and leadership
- about lack of water (20:2, 3)
- That God and Moses brought them into the wilderness (21:5)
- God is preparing the people to enter into the Promised Land
- in order to enter the Promised land the people need to be set apart from other civilizations
- When reading through the book of Numbers it can be a little overwhelming because of the amount of punishment that occurs
- it was really hard for me to wrap my head around
- I think the most important thing that helped me through this is to recognize that this was the beginning of the nation of God
- God was shaping these people into the people that would be his nation
- they were to be set apart
- Think of it like the first day of school.
- the teachers are usually extra strict, they establish the rules and inform them diligently
- they set the standard for what it is to be like from then on
- the Israelites were not used to God and his rule, so it is a little difficult for them to adjust at first
- think of all the complaining you might do when you hear rules at school you might not like
- no talking
- detention if you talk
- no bathroom
- detention if you forget homework
- (ask or examples)
- the Israelites got into a lot of trouble
- many times, Moses stepped in to help them out.
- Numbers 11:1-3
- when the people complained about hardships
- God sent fire
- Moses prayed
- Numbers 14:10-23
- the people were rebelling
- God wanted to destroy all of them
- Moses stepped in
Moses did not give up on the people, no matter how awful they were
Jesus does this same thing for us
- think about it
- Jesus’ main mission was to be the sacrifice that was necessary to allow us to be forgiven of our sins so that we may enter heaven
- he was the holy, unblemished sacrifice as we have seen
- Up until that point, people has to do lengthly rituals for forgiveness and they had to have a priest go into the temple and ask for forgiveness on their behalf
- we can talk to God ourselves now,
- Jesus’ death made it possible to have a personal relationship
Just like Moses had a personal relationship and was able to intercede for the people, so was Jesus
- and because of Jesus’ sacrifice we no longer need someone to intercede on our behalf, we can pray directly to him
No comments:
Post a Comment