Numbers

Theme 1 : We are ambassadors of the Lord and are to be obedient to the plan he has for us as his witnesses in the world as described in Numbers 2. One of the duties of the Levites was to act as mediators between the Lord and the people of Israel, and as Christians we are called to intercede on behalf of those who do not know him. Like the Levites who were given tasks to perform by clan so as members of the body of Christ , each believer has been given a task to perform as Jesus’ witness in the world.

Theme 2: Worship is to focus on God and allow us to dedicate our whole being to him. Numbers 6 describes how people chose to dedicate themselves to the Lord by becoming Nasserites who gave their lives in service to him. Numbers 7 discusses each of the priestly clans offering specific sacrifices to the Lord which reminds me that worship is orderly and meant to focus on the Lord’s goodness. The discussion of 6 priestly duties in Numbers 8 for all the Levites to perform including the elderly reminds me that God uses each of us to accomplish his purpose and that we can honor him through our lives.

Theme 3: Christ is with us and empowers us to serve hum and we must focus on honoring him. Numbers 9 discussed how the Lord guided the people by cloud and fire , reminds me that God guides and provides for me. The discussion of the making and blowing of special trumpets in Numbers 10, reminds me of my need to remember and celebrate what God has done in my life as a part of my worship. The prophetic gifts given to some of the Israelites reminds me that I need to use my gifts and abilities for God ‘s plans and purposes as part of my worship of him. The story of Aaron and Miriam in Numbers 12 being rebuked by the Lord for criticizing the leadership of Moses reminds me that part of worship is submitting to and respecting those whom God has placed in leadership.

Theme 4: I need to act upon God‘s work in my life by following him. I need to be like Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13 , who upon spying out the land trusted the Lord to give it to them and were willing to follow him into the land to take it for their nation. The punishment of the Israelites in Numbers 14, of having to wander in the desert for 40 years until the older generation died reminds me of my need to follow Christ with gratitude. Numbers 15 describes offerings and rituals the Israelites were to observe reminding me that I need to remember what God has done in Christ’s death on the cross for me and to obey him with love. The destruction of the Son’s of Korah in Numbers 16 , who had rebelled against God by disobeying his commands reminds me of my need to follow and obey those whom God has given authority to.

Theme 5: The Lord keeps his promises and I can act in trust knowing that he will fulfill them. Chapter 17 describes how God told the people to make staffs to represent the tribes which were put in the Tabernacle. The staff of the tribe of Levi had a sprout grown on it to remind the people not to complain to the Lord and criticize his plans. Chapter 18 describes how the Levites were given provision to live on. Chapter 19, describes the rules about becoming unclean reminding me that my actions and what comes out of my mouth makes me displeasing to God and in need of the forgiveness given to me by Christ. Chapter 20 describes how everyone but Caleb and Joshua died , reminding me that God is faithful to keep his promises as he told the people that everyone over 40 except for Caleb and Joshua who die in the desert for their disobedience.

Theme 6: God‘s plans and purposes will be fulfilled whether or not we willingly submit to him. The people of Israel complained in Numbers 21, and the Lord sent snakes among the people to remind them that he was in control. In Numbers 22, the Lord uses a donkey to convince Balaam to obey him. In Numbers 23 and 24 God ‘s plans to bless Israel are fulfilled as Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing them and Balk the King o f Moab is angry with him for not following the plans which they had made. Numbers 25, describes how Phones avenged the Lord’s honor by killing a man who disobeyed the Lord’s agreement with the nation of Israel and had sex with a Moabite women.

Theme 7: The Lord will be generous and gracious to us despite our failures. Numbers 26 describes the census taken before the people enter the promised land , showing that the population had increased demonstrating that the Lord had kept his promise that the people would grow and prosper. Chapter 27, describes how Moses was able to see the promised land despite his sin. Numbers 28 described how the people were to give the first portion of the harvest to the Lord as a way of thanking him for his goodness to them. Numbers 29, describes the offerings and assemblies the Israelites were to observe in which they would thank the Lord for his generosity and goodness to them.

Theme 8: The Lord is gracious and generous and will give to us what he has promised. We need to be grateful for what he has given to us and not make deals to increase our wealth at the expenses of others. Numbers 36 describes the inheritance of land given to the daughters of Zeopleod whose father had died and who had no male heirs. It also stated that the land was not to be exchanged among the tribes and that the people were not to hoard land.