Numbers 14-15
An Overview of Chapter 14
After hearing from the spies that they will be unable to enter the promised land the people go through a full range of emotions, form tears to anger. They wish they were dead (vs. 2) and then question God (vs. 3). Ultimately they decide the last two years have been wasted so they decide to appoint leaders to replace Moses and return to the slavery of Egypt.
The two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, are all tore up about this and try to reason with the people begging them not to rebel against God but to trust God to bring them safely into the land. The people pick up stones to kill them, but God shows up.
God and Moses have a back and forth conversation that ends with God forgiving the people, but deciding that the people will still suffer the consequence of their sin; getting their wish to die in the wilderness. They and their children will wander around for forty years until everyone who is over 20 years old dies, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
Now the people are upset that they won’t get to enter the land, so they reject God’s word and try to enter without Him, only to get beaten down by the Amalekites and the Canaanites.
An Overview of Chapter 15
God shows His faithfulness to His promise by giving the next generation of Israelites a set of instructions for “when” they enter the land.
Those instructions concern vows, freewill offerings, and appointed sacrifices. God instructs that all burnt offerings be given with grain and drink offerings. God also extends the same instructions for those who will be living with or traveling through the land of his chosen people.
God makes clear that unintentional sin can be atoned and forgiven with the sin offering. Intentional, defiant sin requires that the individual be separated from the camp.
As the sons of Israel were still in the wilderness a guy is caught working on the Sabbath. The people make a citizens arrest and he stands trial before THE Judge. Verdict, guilty. Punishment, public execution. Everyone was to have a hand in his death so that all could see where their sin would end.
So that these types of sins were less likely to happen God required that the Israelites wear tassels on their garments to remind them of the commandments of God.
Reflection
What fears in your life are preventing you from reaching God’s purposes for your life? What promises of God bring you comfort? Do you stand up for God, even when a crowd is in opposition to you? What is your definition of unintentional and defiant sin? What practical ways do you employ to remember to follow God?
For Further Study
The Bible comments on this passage: Psalm 95:7-11, Psalm 106:24-27, Nehemiah 9:16-17, Hebrews 3:7-4:16.
After hearing from the spies that they will be unable to enter the promised land the people go through a full range of emotions, form tears to anger. They wish they were dead (vs. 2) and then question God (vs. 3). Ultimately they decide the last two years have been wasted so they decide to appoint leaders to replace Moses and return to the slavery of Egypt.
The two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, are all tore up about this and try to reason with the people begging them not to rebel against God but to trust God to bring them safely into the land. The people pick up stones to kill them, but God shows up.
God and Moses have a back and forth conversation that ends with God forgiving the people, but deciding that the people will still suffer the consequence of their sin; getting their wish to die in the wilderness. They and their children will wander around for forty years until everyone who is over 20 years old dies, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
Now the people are upset that they won’t get to enter the land, so they reject God’s word and try to enter without Him, only to get beaten down by the Amalekites and the Canaanites.
An Overview of Chapter 15
God shows His faithfulness to His promise by giving the next generation of Israelites a set of instructions for “when” they enter the land.
Those instructions concern vows, freewill offerings, and appointed sacrifices. God instructs that all burnt offerings be given with grain and drink offerings. God also extends the same instructions for those who will be living with or traveling through the land of his chosen people.
God makes clear that unintentional sin can be atoned and forgiven with the sin offering. Intentional, defiant sin requires that the individual be separated from the camp.
As the sons of Israel were still in the wilderness a guy is caught working on the Sabbath. The people make a citizens arrest and he stands trial before THE Judge. Verdict, guilty. Punishment, public execution. Everyone was to have a hand in his death so that all could see where their sin would end.
So that these types of sins were less likely to happen God required that the Israelites wear tassels on their garments to remind them of the commandments of God.
Reflection
What fears in your life are preventing you from reaching God’s purposes for your life? What promises of God bring you comfort? Do you stand up for God, even when a crowd is in opposition to you? What is your definition of unintentional and defiant sin? What practical ways do you employ to remember to follow God?
For Further Study
The Bible comments on this passage: Psalm 95:7-11, Psalm 106:24-27, Nehemiah 9:16-17, Hebrews 3:7-4:16.
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
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