Through The Bible 
3 Leviticus
February 7 - Numbers 1 - 4

We have come to the fourth book of Moses, the book of Numbers.  It opens with God's instructions to number the people.  Every male, from twenty years old and upward, that was able to go to war was numbered according to the tribes of Israel.  The Levites were excluded because it was their responsibility to take down the Tabernacle and raise it up again as they moved from place to place through the wilderness.  The children of Joseph were divided into two tribes, the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Manasseh.  The last verse of Chapter 1 shows that they began right.  "And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they."  (Numbers 1:54)  Chapter 2 gives the order of the hosts.  The people camped by their standards round about the Levites who were in the center with the Tabernacle, and they moved forward by ranks according to their tribe.  Again, we see that they started right.  

"32  These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
33  But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
34  And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers."  (Numbers 2:32-34)

In Exodus 13:2 God told Moses to sanctify all the firstborn for Him.  In Numbers Chapter 3 God told Moses that the Levites would be His, instead of the firstborn from every tribe.  "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;  Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD."  (3:12-13)  The Levites were numbered, every male, from a month old and upward, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  Each family was given certain tasks regarding the Tabernacle.  Notice verse 19, "And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel."  Chapter 4 begins with the work, "the burden", for the sons of Kohath.  The chapter continues with the service of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the service of the Gershonites and the Merarites.  We will see later in the book of Numbers that Korah goes against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16).  Moses was the son of Amram and Korah was the son of Izehar, (sometimes Izhar), so they were first cousins.

February 8 - Numbers 5 - 7

Chapter 5 is about defilement in the camp.  It begins with instructions that everyone who was defiled was to be put out of the camp.  The rest of the chapter tells of the offering of jealousy and the bitter water that caused a curse for a woman whose husband suspected her of being with another man.  Chapter 6 gives instructions for a Nazarite.  The first part of his vow of separation was that he could not have wine or strong drink or even grapes, fresh or dried.  The next part was that he was not to shave his head, but let his hair grow.  The last part was that he was not to go near a dead body or make himself unclean, even for his father or mother if they died.  We will see more about the Nazarite vow in the life of Samson in Judges 13 - 16.  The chapter ends with three of my favorite verses from Numbers.  I have often included these verses in cards that I sent to friends.

"24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."  (Numbers 6:24-26)

Chapter 7 tells of the offerings, covered wagons and oxen, that were given to the Levites for their service by the princes.  They were given to the sons of Gershon and Merari.  "But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders."  (7:9)  The Levites were chosen to bear the burdens of the Tabernacle.  Some were given covered wagons to make their load lighter, while others had to bear the burden on their shoulders.  We also have burdens that we carry.  Some of us have help to carry our burdens and sometimes we have to bear the burdens on our shoulders.  Even when our burdens are heavy we can find help in the Lord.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  (I Peter 5:7)  Jesus tells us that we can find help in Him.

"28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  (Mattthew 11:28-30)

The remainder of Chapter 7 repeats the offerings of the twelve princes, one from each tribe, each on his day.  The gifts are the same, from the silver bowl and charger, to the golden spoon of incense.  The animals for the sacrifices were also the same, but each is recorded in order, one after another.  This speaks to my heart and tells me that we are all special to the Lord and He knows us by name.  He sees us when we are burdened low, and He see us when we are giving our best to Him.  My prayer for you... "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

February 9 - Numbers 8 - 10

Chapter 8 of the book of Numbers begins with instructions for the golden candlestick.  It continues with the cleansing of the Levites.  They were to serve from the age of 25 to the age of 50.  (Numbers 8:24-25)  In Chapter 9 a question comes up regarding the Passover, "And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you."  (9:8)  "Stand still."  This is what Moses said when they were between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's Army.  "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever."  (Exodus 14:13)  There are times in our lives when we come to a hard place and we can't go forward.  We have questions that trouble our minds and we don't know which way to turn.  Sometimes we need to just "stand still" and wait on the Lord for direction and strength. 

"28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  (Isaiah 40:28-31)

The Lord was their Guide all through the wilderness journey.  

"15  And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
16  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
17  And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
18  At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents."  (Numbers 9:15-18)

In the next chapter the Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of silver to call the assembly together for their journey, and also to sound an alarm when needed.  (In Joshua 6:4 the priests had trumpets of rams' horns.)  "And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God."  (Numbers 10:9-10)  The cloud was taken up from off the Tabernacle and the Children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai to the wilderness of Paran, each tribe took of their standard and moved in order as the Lord had commanded.  I like how Chapter 10 ends.  How much better our days will be when we are constantly aware that our Lord goes with us!

"34  And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
35  And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
36  And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel."  (10:34-36)

February 10 - Numbers 11

The next few chapters tell how the Children of Israel murmured and complained. I want to update my health situation for those who have asked, but I don't want it in any way to sound like I am murmuring or complaining. I am still thankful that the Lord helped me through the surgery and I am healing and gaining strength each day. Because the cancer was found in 2 lymph nodes I will begin chemotherapy in a few weeks. I will have chemo once every two weeks for six months. I am trusting the Lord to be with me and I hope and pray that I will be able to continue our "Through The Bible" devotions. Thank you for your prayers, Beverly.

In preparing for the Tabernacle and moving ahead in their ranks we have read several times that the Children of Israel did "according to the commandment of the Lord."   Chapter 11 takes a turn in a negative way.  "And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.  And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched."  (Numbers 11:1-2)  Do you see that little phrase in the first verse, "the LORD heard it..."?  We may not think about it, but the Lord hears our complaining.  The remainder of the chapter tells how they complained about the manna that God rained down from heaven for them in the mornings.  

"4  And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6  But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
7  And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
8  And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
9  And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
10  Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased."  (11:4-10)

The Lord was angry at the complaint of the people.  Moses was tired of their complaining too, and he made his complaint to the Lord.

"11  And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
12  Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
13  Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
14  I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
15  And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness."  (11:11-15)

The Lord told Moses to gather 70 men of the elders of Israel and He would take the spirit that was upon Moses and put it on those men and they could help bear the burden of the people.  The Lord also told Moses to tell the people that He would send them something more to eat.  

"18  And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19  Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
20  But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
21  And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month."  (11:18-21)

When God took of the spirit of Moses and put it on the 70 men, two were still in the camp, and they also prophesied with the others.  We see Joshua again, this time as "the servant of Moses."

 "27  And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (11:27-29)

"31  And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
32  And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
33  And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
34  And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted."  (11:31-34)

February 11 - Numbers 12 - 13

Chapter 12 tells us of more murmuring, this time from Moses' brother and sister.  They spoke against Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman, but God does not speak against Moses in this matter.  We are reminded again in verse 2, "the LORD heard it", that God hears our complaining.  In verse 3 we see the meekness of Moses.  Meek does not mean weak.  When we see the Lord in His glory, then our pride melts away.  Verse 4 tells us "And the LORD spake suddenly..."  Did your parents ever call to you suddenly?  They knew they were in trouble.  

"1  And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned."  (Numbers 12:1-11)

In verse 13 Moses cried out to the Lord to heal Miriam.  In Numbers 11:2 Moses prayed for the people.  In 14:19 he prayed for the people when they would not listen to Joshua and Caleb.  In 21:7 he prayed for the people when they were bitten by serpents.  And in Deuteronomy 9:20 Moses said that he prayed for Aaron when he made the golden calf.  It is a blessing to have people in our lives that will pray for us!  In Chapter 13 God told Moses to send a man from each tribe to spy out the land of Canaan.  ("Oshea the son of Nun" is Joshua. verses 8 & 16)  They searched the land for 40 days and brought back fruit of the land.  "And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs."  (13:23)  They reported that the land flowed with milk and honey.  But, they told that the  people were strong and the cities were walled and very great.  

"30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."  (13:33)

February 12 - Numbers 14 - 15

Have you ever been in a situation where you asked the Lord, "How long?"  Well, in Chapter 14 we see the Lord asking, "How long?"

"1  And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
3  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
5  Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
10  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
11  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?"  (Numbers 14:1-11)

The Lord told Moses that He could smite the people and make a greater nation of Moses.  Moses told the Lord that the Eqyptians would hear of it and say that God was not able to bring them into the land.  "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.  Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now."  (14:18-19)  The Lord pardoned the people and said that only Caleb and Joshua would be able to go into the Promised Land.  He told them that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all that were 20 years old and upward died, and their children would possess the land.  The remainder of the men that spied out the land died by the plague.  The next morning the people got up early and went up to the top of the mountain and told Moses they were ready to go into the Promised Land.  Moses told them not to go because the Lord would not be with them.  "But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.  Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah."  (14:44-45)  Sometimes we don't get a second chance to do the right thing. And we better be careful not to presume that we can do something when God has told us not to.  In Chapter 15 the Lord tells Moses to give the people instructions regarding their offerings.  In verses 32-36 a man was brought to Moses who gathered sticks on the Sabbath.  He was stoned to death because he had not obeyed the law.  The people were told to make fringes of blue on the hems of their garments to remind them to obey the commandments.

February 13 - Numbers 16 - 19

"1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
4  And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5  And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him."  (Numbers 16:1-5)

Moses told them, "Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?  And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?"  (16:9-10)  The Lord told them to bring their censer with incense to the door of the Tabernacle.  Moses did not pray for Korah and his company as he had prayed for others.  "And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering:..."  (16:15)  The Lord told Moses to tell all the people to get away from their tents.  

"32  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33  They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
34  And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35  And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense."  (16:32-35)

The next day the people murmured against Moses and Aaron saying that they had "killed the people of the Lord."  The Lord sent a plague, and Aaron made an atonement for the people and stood between the dead and the living, and 14,700 died in the plague in addition to those that died in the matter of Korah.  In Chapter 17 the Lord told Moses to have a prince from each tribe write his name on a rod and Aaron wrote his name on the rod for the house of Levi.  The next day Aaron's rod had budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds.  "And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not."  (17:10)  Chapter 18 confirms the privileges and responsibilities of Aaron and the Levites.  Chapter 19 explains how they took a spotless red heifer outside the camp and after she was offered her ashes were moved to a clean place and used in water of separation for cleansing those who were defiled.

​February 14 - Numbers 20 - 21

Chapter 20 opens with the death of Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses. Again the people murmured because they had no water.  The Lord told Moses to speak to the rock, but he smote the rock twice, and his punishment was that he would not be able to go into the Promised Land.  But, even though Moses didn't obey, God still provided water for them in the wilderness.  

"2  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3  And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4  And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
6  And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
7  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9  And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13  This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them."  (Numbers 20:2-13)

​Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom to let them pass, but he refused.  Edom was Esau.  "And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom."  (Genesis 25:29-30)  This chapter began with the death of Miriam, and it ends with the death of Aaron.  "And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.  And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel."  (Numbers 20:28-29)  "And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.  And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor."  (Numbers 33:38-39)  In Chapter 21 King Arad the Canaanite fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.  Israel vowed to destroy their cities if the Lord would deliver them, and the Lord heard and answered their prayer, and they destroyed their cities.  Then we come to verse 4.  "And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."  Many of us could say today that we are "much discouraged because of the way."  In their discouragement they murmured again against God, and against Moses and the Lord sent fiery serpents among them and many died.

"7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."  (21:7-9)

We have seen two pictures of Christ in these chapters.  "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."  (I Corinthians 10:4)

"14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  (John 3:14-16)

The chapter continues with their forward march, battles and victories.

​​February 15 - Numbers 22

​These next few chapters tell the story of Balaam.  Balaam is mentioned in three books of the New Testament.  We see the way of Balaam, the error of Balaam and the doctrine of Balaam.  As a child I remembered Balaam as having a donkey that talked, and he didn't seem surprised that he talked.  I am going to use the scriptures for the most part today to tell this unusual story.

"Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;"  (II Peter 2:15)

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core."  (Jude 11)

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."  (Revelation 2:14)

​Balak was king of the Moabites and he saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites and was "sore afraid of them because they were many."  

"5  He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
6  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8  And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9  And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10  And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11  Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12  And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you."  (Numbers 22:5-13)

Balak sent more princes to Balaam and promised him great honor and Balaam told them to wait and he would ask God again.  

"20  And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22  And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak."  (22:20-35)

February 16 - Numbers 23 - 24

(A little trivia from Numbers 23:23 - Samuel Morse typed the first official telegraph message in Morse Code with these words, "What hath God wrought" on May 24, 1844.)  Chapter 23 tells how Balaam told Balak to build seven altars and offer seven oxen and seven rams and Balaam went to a high place and the Lord "put a word in Balaam's mouth."  

"7  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
8  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
9  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
10  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
11  And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether."  (Numbers 23:7-11)

Balak took Balaam to another place to see the Israelites and offered on seven altars again and Balaam went to meet the Lord.  

"18  And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21  He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
22  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
23  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
24  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
25  And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
26  But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?"  (23:18-26)

Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor and built another seven altars for seven more bullocks and rams.  In Chapter 24 Balaam blessed Israel again.  Balak was angry but Balaam told him that he had said from the beginning that he had to speak what God told him to speak.  

"14  And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15  And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
16  He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18  And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19  Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city."  (24:14-19)

He went on to tell of the other victories Israel would have and then returned to his place.

​February 17 - Numbers 25 - 27

Numbers 25 explains what Revelation 2:14 calls "the doctrine of Balaam."  Verse 9 tells us that 24,000 people died in the plague.

"1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
5  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor."  (Numbers 25:1-5)

In Chapter 26 the Lord told Moses and Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, to count all the men from 20 years old and upward that were able to go to war.  When speaking of the family of Korah, Verse 11 tells us, "Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not."  When we get to the book of Psalms we will see many Psalms with the title, "A Psalm for the sons of Korah."  The people were numbered by their families so that the larger families could be given more land when the land would be divided.  "These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty."  (26:51)  This number is really close to the sum that was numbered around forty years before.  "Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty."  (1:46)  The Levites were numbered for the service of the Lord, all males from a month old and upward.  There were 23,000 (verse 62) as compared to 22,000 in Numbers 3:39.  The chapter ends, "But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.  For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun."  (26:64-65)  Chapter 27 begins with the daughters of Zelophehad asking for an inheritance because their father died and had no sons to continue his name.  So the law was made to give an inheritance to daughters, if there were no sons, or his nearest kinsman if a man died and didn't have any daughters. The Lord then prepared Moses to be gathered unto his people. 

"12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
14  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
15  And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
16  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
18  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
19  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient."  (27:12-20)

​February 18 - Numbers 28 - 32

Chapters 28 and 29 give instructions for the offerings.  Chapter 30 gives the statutes about vows.  Chapter 25 ended with the Lord telling Moses to smite the Midianites since Israel had joined them and bowed down and worshiped their false gods.  And now Chapter 31 gives instructions to go to war against Midian.  

"1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2  Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
3  And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.
4  Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war."  (Numbers 31:1-4)

​The chapter gives a description of the spoils of victory, and how it was divided among the people.  The Israelites won the battle without any loss of men.

"48  And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:
49  And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.
50  We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.
51  And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
52  And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels."  (31:48-52)

In Chapter 32 the chldren of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh wanted to stay on that side of Jordan and not pass over into the land the Lord had promised them.  They agreed to build sheepfolds for their cattle and cities for their families and go armed with the Israelites over Jordan and help them win their battles.  Verse 23 is a good verse to remember, "... be sure your sin will find you out."

"20  And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,
21  And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,
22  And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."  (32:20-23)

 The chapter ends with the names of the cities and villages they inherited on that side of Jordan.

February 19 - Numbers 33 - 36

"1  These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
2  And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
3  And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.
4  For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
5  And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth."  (Numbers 33:1-4)

I have heard that the plagues on Egypt were against the false gods of the Egyptians, and that is what seems to be said in verse 4.  Chapter 33 continues with a record of their journey, from one place to another.  The Lord told them when they crossed over Jordan to drive out all the inhabitants, and destroy all their pictures, their images, and break down all their high places.  They were to divide the land by lot for their inheritance according to the number of people in each tribe.  The chapter ends with a warning.  "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.  Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them."  (33:55-56)  Chapter 34 tells of the borders of the land that would be inherited by the remaining 9 tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh.  The tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh did not want to cross over Jordan for their inheritance.  Chapter 35 tells of the cities and suburbs for the Levites and of the cities of refuge, where a person who accidentally killed someone could flee for protection.  Chapter 36, the last chapter of Numbers, instructs the people to keep the land of inheritance in their tribe.  We have finished another book in our journey through the Bible.  "These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho."  (Numbers 36:13)