Numbers 11-13
An Overview of Chapter 11
The people begin to complain and it angers God to the point that He sends fire to devour some of the people on the outskirts of the camp. Moses prays and God puts out the fire. Then the people complain a second time, this time led by the rabble (the Egyptians who came out of Egypt with Israel - Exodus 12:38). Their specific complaints centered around food, like teenagers who look at a full fridge and see nothing to eat.
Moses then flips out and questions why God would let him suffer with these people. Moses is starting to feel the pressure of leadership and even claims that he has carried these people by himself like a mother carrying a nursing baby. Ultimately Moses asks for his own death.
God answers Moses with a sarcastic tone, “ok, since you are the only leader here why don’t you gather together the 70 leaders whom you appointed to help you.” In addition God promises to give the people more meat than they could eat in a month - literally. Moses then shows his lack of faith and asks God if he has done the math on this. God responds by asking “Is the Lord’s power limited?”
When 68 of the 70 elders show up at the tent of meeting (2 declined to attend), the Lord puts His Holy Spirit on them and they surround Moses prophesying around him. This was a one time deal, and even the two that did not show up were prophesying. This seems to cheer Moses up.
Then the promised meat blows in and the people spent a couple of days gathering quail. Some people ate themselves to death because they were so greedy.
An Overview of Chapter 12
Moses brother and sister pridefully decide that they are more righteous than Moses so they begin to speak bad about Moses and his wife. God hears this and it ticks Him off. He calls a meeting with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam at the doorway to the tent of meeting.
The Lord appears to the three of them and lets Aaron and Miriam see the kind of face to face relationship that He has with Moses. When the Lord leaves Moses and Aaron see that Miriam has leprosy. Aaron confesses their sin and begs for Moses to bring healing to her.
Moses asks God to heal her, but God refuses. He wants her sin to be known by all. For seven days she must remain outside the camp with the rest of the unclean and the Israelites will not move until she returns. This must have been frightening to the people who saw the cloud leave, but for the first time were told that they were not to leave until Miriam was cleansed.
An Overview of Chapter 13
After a two year journey the Israelites are prepared to enter the promised land. They beg to have spies enter the land before they go and God gives them their wish (Deuteronomy 1:22). The Lord instructs that one leader from each tribe go. They are given instructions to see what the land and the people are like.
When the spies return they are carrying amazing produce from the land, and confirm that the land is flowing with milk and honey (sounds sticky). The report about the people of the land is not as great, they report that their are giants in the land. The people begin to freak out, but Caleb (from the tribe of Judah) stands up and tells them not to worry and that they should go take the land God had promised them. Unfortunately the other spies disagree and tell the people that they will not be able to accomplish what God has promised.
Reflection
Do you overlook the blessings that God has given you to complain about what you don’t have? Do you remember they way things were and long for them? Is this coveting? Do you surround your spiritual leaders for the purpose of encouraging them? Do you stand against those whom God has called to lead you? Do you fear the future so much that you often ask God to show you where he is leading you before you will go?
For Further Study
Prophesy: Exodus 7:1-2, Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Psalm 105:15, Matthew 5:17, Mark 6:4, Acts 2:17-18, 1Corinthians 12:7-11, 1Corinthians 12:28, 1Corinthians 13:8, 1Corinthians 14:1-3, 1Corinthians 14:22 (purposes of prophecy)
The people begin to complain and it angers God to the point that He sends fire to devour some of the people on the outskirts of the camp. Moses prays and God puts out the fire. Then the people complain a second time, this time led by the rabble (the Egyptians who came out of Egypt with Israel - Exodus 12:38). Their specific complaints centered around food, like teenagers who look at a full fridge and see nothing to eat.
Moses then flips out and questions why God would let him suffer with these people. Moses is starting to feel the pressure of leadership and even claims that he has carried these people by himself like a mother carrying a nursing baby. Ultimately Moses asks for his own death.
God answers Moses with a sarcastic tone, “ok, since you are the only leader here why don’t you gather together the 70 leaders whom you appointed to help you.” In addition God promises to give the people more meat than they could eat in a month - literally. Moses then shows his lack of faith and asks God if he has done the math on this. God responds by asking “Is the Lord’s power limited?”
When 68 of the 70 elders show up at the tent of meeting (2 declined to attend), the Lord puts His Holy Spirit on them and they surround Moses prophesying around him. This was a one time deal, and even the two that did not show up were prophesying. This seems to cheer Moses up.
Then the promised meat blows in and the people spent a couple of days gathering quail. Some people ate themselves to death because they were so greedy.
An Overview of Chapter 12
Moses brother and sister pridefully decide that they are more righteous than Moses so they begin to speak bad about Moses and his wife. God hears this and it ticks Him off. He calls a meeting with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam at the doorway to the tent of meeting.
The Lord appears to the three of them and lets Aaron and Miriam see the kind of face to face relationship that He has with Moses. When the Lord leaves Moses and Aaron see that Miriam has leprosy. Aaron confesses their sin and begs for Moses to bring healing to her.
Moses asks God to heal her, but God refuses. He wants her sin to be known by all. For seven days she must remain outside the camp with the rest of the unclean and the Israelites will not move until she returns. This must have been frightening to the people who saw the cloud leave, but for the first time were told that they were not to leave until Miriam was cleansed.
An Overview of Chapter 13
After a two year journey the Israelites are prepared to enter the promised land. They beg to have spies enter the land before they go and God gives them their wish (Deuteronomy 1:22). The Lord instructs that one leader from each tribe go. They are given instructions to see what the land and the people are like.
When the spies return they are carrying amazing produce from the land, and confirm that the land is flowing with milk and honey (sounds sticky). The report about the people of the land is not as great, they report that their are giants in the land. The people begin to freak out, but Caleb (from the tribe of Judah) stands up and tells them not to worry and that they should go take the land God had promised them. Unfortunately the other spies disagree and tell the people that they will not be able to accomplish what God has promised.
Reflection
Do you overlook the blessings that God has given you to complain about what you don’t have? Do you remember they way things were and long for them? Is this coveting? Do you surround your spiritual leaders for the purpose of encouraging them? Do you stand against those whom God has called to lead you? Do you fear the future so much that you often ask God to show you where he is leading you before you will go?
For Further Study
Prophesy: Exodus 7:1-2, Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Psalm 105:15, Matthew 5:17, Mark 6:4, Acts 2:17-18, 1Corinthians 12:7-11, 1Corinthians 12:28, 1Corinthians 13:8, 1Corinthians 14:1-3, 1Corinthians 14:22 (purposes of prophecy)
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home