Saturday, April 23, 2016

Book of Numbers, great study 505 - 8 - 7

What did I learn in the Book of Numbers? God says what he means and means what he says. When in God’s will thing go smoothly, however, the reverse is true. Israel often was not doing God’s will.
God provided great detail for the transport of The Ark of the Covenant. Later in King David’s time it was placed on a cart counter to God’s directions. As a result, a man died.
Israeli’s lack of courage and faith at Kadesh-Barnea condemned them to the wilderness for nearly forty years. Numbers 14: 29, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me.”
Numbers 20:12, “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.” Known as the water of Meribah, rather that speaking to the rock Moses struck it. The rock was a type of Jesus who is woven throughout the Old Testament.
Israel failed to destroy all her enemies and inhabit all the land promised by God. Today Israel's enemies attack her verbally and/or physically. Gaza, the West Bank and The Golan Heights have been and continue to be a threat to the security of Israel. Also the Mantra of Israel being an occupier in these regions is being perpetuated by the liberals and the UN.
CM cited an equivalency between Dan and our spiritual walk. Jesus did it all on the cross and we are saved by grace and not by works. However, as it was with Dan, it is up to us to appropriate that gift. Once we truly internalize our justification by grace it's only natural that we will out picture it as we work out our sanctification as ambassadors for God.
God can use something meant for evil for good. Balaam was paid to curse Israel and instead blessed her with a Messianic prophecy. Numbers 23:17, “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.” Unfortunately, Balaam finally provided Israel’s enemy with insight into the Israeli’s weaknesses.
Often with God there is a hint of something hidden in plain sight, something of a Remez. This is the case with the layout of the camp forming a near perfect cross.
Then there is the accuracy of God. The numbering of the people and the very detailed genealogies are absolutely amazing. As someone who has done quite a bit of genealogy, this is a subject near and dear to my heart. The course Ezra and Nehemiah starts next month. I’m studying ahead in preparation for this class. I'm once again amazed at detail with which God organized the Jews with respect to which tribe, etc.
We serve an awesome God.
Scripture from KJV

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