Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan. Ten of the twelve spies were afraid of the large men that lived there. Two of the spies had a totally different opinion. “And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, ‘The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is…
The Bible records many times when the Israelites complained about something. On one occasion they were complaining because they had food but they did not have any meat. God was not happy with their lack of contentment. “And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1) Paul tells…
Moses was able to directly hear the powerful voice of God. “Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.” (Numbers 7:89 NKJV) The Hebrew writer describes how we can still feel that power of God’s voice today. “For the word of God is…
We read here of some of the many sacrifices that had to be made under the old law. There were offerings of grain, oil, goats, bulls, ram, and lambs. I am thankful that we do not live under that law. It sounds like a lot of work and a lot to remember. The one Sacrifice came to this earth and suffered to be a replacement for the requirements of the old law. “For it is impossible for the blood of…
In this chapter, God commanded Moses and Aaron to take a census. “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ house,” (Numbers 4:2 NKJV) These people were counted and also given responsibilities of service. “According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD…
Aaron’s four sons were the anointed priests, but he lost two of them. “But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.” (Numbers 3:4) The event is also mentioned in Leviticus 10:1-2. In neither place are we told what this “unauthorized fire” was exactly. Some translations call it “strange fire”….
Under the old law the people had very specific commands about how much of their material blessings that they were to return to the Lord. In this section of Scripture we see examples of those tithes. “And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:32 NKJV) We are not under the Old Law anymore, but God still wants us to return a…
In God’s words to the Isrealites that He sent thru Moses, He wanted to make sure that they knew His feelings toward idol worship. “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 26:1) An idol does not have to be something made as an image or something that is bowed down…
Under the old law punishments could be very severe. “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be…
God sent thru Moses to His people a command on the attitude they should have toward their neighbor. “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) In Jesus’ sermon on the mount He also tells us to love our neighbor, but He adds a little more. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and…