Period of Wandering

The Israelites refused to trust in God choosing rather to trust in their own ability and to listen to ten spies who believed the enemy was too great. This resulted in God not allowing any male over 20 to cross over into The Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who advised to trust God and immediately go in to conquer the land.

Studies of the period of Wandering: 1 The Census 2 Preparing for the Dedication 3 Dedication of the Tabernacle 4 Departing from the Arabian Desert 5 Rebellion Along the Way 6 Aaron and Duties of Priest 7 Events Near Kadesh and Mt. Hor 8 Balaam, Balak and Moab 9 Vows, Vengeance and Victories 10 Tribe Boundaries 11 Relying Upon Man Rather Than God 12 Destroy Evil from Your Lives 13 Ten Commandments 14 God’s Righteousness Not Man’s 15 Humble Yourselves Before God 16 Attitude, Sacrifices and Daily Living 17 Rules and Regulations 18 Blessings and Curses 19 Death of Moses

The Census

Setting: The Arabian Desert near Mt Sinai

Text: Numbers 1 - 4

Key Point: All men over 20 years of age able to serve in the army were counted. The Levites were not counted; instead, they were assigned responsibilities regarding the tabernacle.

Preparing for The Dedication

Setting: The Arabian Desert near Mt Sinai

Text: Numbers 5 - 6

Key Point: Any person considered unclean could not be in the presence of God and was to go outside the camp. Likewise, Christian unclean by sin needs to return to God and pled for forgiveness. Then his worship will be accepted.

Word Study:

6:2 Nazirite -to separate unto the Lord, one chosen or set apart. The Nazirite vow was usually undertaken spontaneously, and only for a period of time.

Dedication of The Tabernacle

Setting: The Arabian Desert near Mt Sinai

Text: Numbers 7 - 10:10

Key Point: God requires those who come into his presence to be purified, made clean. Under the New Covenant a person is made clean by immersion it the blood of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Departing From Desert of Arabia

Setting: The Arabian Desert near Mt Sinai.

Text: Numbers 10:11 - 11

Key Point: Many of the Israelites grumbled and complained about various things as they thought of themselves rather than honoring and obeying God.

Rebellion Along the Way

Setting: At Kadesh in the desert of Paran south of Canaan, God directed Moses to send men to explore Canaan.

Text: Numbers 12 - 16

Key Point: The Israelites constantly left God out of their decision making. Thinking only of their ability, they refused to follow God, desiring instead to return to slavery.

Aaron and Duties of Priest

Setting: Israel rebelled against God and 14,700 died. A staff from each tribe was put into the tent of meeting. The next morning Aaron’s staff had budded and sprouted.

Text: Numbers 17 - 18

Key Point: God chose Aaron and his sons to be priests. Today those obedient to Christ’s call are priest to serve God.

Events near Kadesh and Mt. Hor

Setting: Back to the Arabian Desert

Text: Numbers 19 - 20

Key Point: The meekest man in history faced the grumbling Israelites and said "Must we bring you water... But the Lord said ... you did not trust in me to honor me as holy ... you will not bring this community into the land I give them." By relying on self one leaves God. Without returning they will not enter the New Covenant place of rest, Heaven with God.

Word Study:

20:14 - Edom - descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin-brother; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him (red).

Balaam, Balak and Moab

Setting: The Arabian desert.

Text: Numbers 21 - 25

Key Point: God is not man therefore He does not lie or change His mind. Except by a righteous persons pleading

Word Study:

23:6 - Oracle - A divine utterance delivered to man, usually in answer to a request for guidance.

Vows, Vengeance and Victories

Setting: Wandering around in the Arabian Desert on their way to the Promised Land

Text: Numbers 26 – 32

Key Point: Command the people to worship God at the appointed times with items required for acceptable worship.

Towns, Boundaries and Inheritance

Setting: The Arabian Desert.

Text: Numbers 33 – 36

Key Point: Moses at God’s direction established the bounds for land the Israelites were given as the Land of Promise including the handling of inheritances.

Relying Upon Man Rather Than God

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 1 – 3

Key Point: They relied upon man’s ability rebelling against God. They confessed their sin but did not repent.

Word Study:

1:6 Horeb: A range of mountains in southern Arabia between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aquaba of which Mount Sinai is the most prominent 1:28 Anakites – giants, descendants of Anak, living in southern Canaan

Destroy Evil from Your Lives

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 4

Key Point: Just like Israel was required to destroy the idolatrous nations when they entered the Promised Land, we are told to destroy evil and sin in our lives as we enter the Body of Christ

Ten Commandments

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 5 – 6

Key Point: God gives those He called out of bondage of Egypt his will for them. We refer to this as the Ten Commandments. He also gives those He called out of sin His will that we refer to as the Bible.

God’s Righteousness Not Man’s

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 7 – 9

Key Point: God told the Israelites it was not because of their righteousness that He was giving them the good land to possess. Likewise, He tells us it is not our righteousness that He gives us Heaven. It is His righteousness.

Humble Yourselves Before God

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 10 – 15

Key Point: Circumcise your heart you proud people by humbling yourself to God and keep his commandments. Get rid of the evil within you.

Attitude, sacrifices and Daily Living

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 16 – 19

Key Point: To those who are His, God describes the sacrifice, daily lives and attitude He desires.

Rules and Regulations

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 20 – 26

Key Point: God gave to these slaves from Egypt the means for them to have an orderly society while governing themselves through Him.

Blessings and Curses

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 27 –30

Key Point: Pronouncement of blessings for good and curses for evil with the renewal of the covenant with God.

Death of Moses

Setting: The time came for them to leave the area of Sinai to take possession of the land God promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Text: Deuteronomy 31 – 34

Key Point: Death of Moses and the selection of Joshua as his successor.