Numbers
Open Your Bible
Numbers 14:1-25, Psalm 86:5, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Hebrews 3:7-19, Hebrews 4:1-3
BY She Reads Truth
This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. As we read, we’ll gain a broader understanding of the redemptive story of Scripture. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture.
What Is Numbers? The book of Numbers records Israel’s failure to enter the promised land and, consequently, the nation’s forty years of wilderness wandering. The book also details the census of Israel, describes the second Passover feast, and reaffirms God’s just judgment in response to continued disobedience.
How Numbers Fits Into the Story: By showing us how God responded to the Israelites’ unbelief, the book of Numbers emphasizes the importance of obedience in the Christian life. Numbers demonstrates that there are consequences to our disobedience, while also reminding us that God’s grace remains the same and His redemptive plan will not be stopped.
Reflection Questions:
1. How does Numbers 14:1–25 demonstrate God’s merciful and just nature? How do these two characteristics work together?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
94 thoughts on "Numbers"
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This passage showed me that even though most of the Israelites didn’t get this were not able to enter the promised land, God still have the next generation that awesome opportunity and they got to go. It also showed me we need to take are call to salvation seriously. God doesn’t want us to play at being one of his children.
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Amen
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God got down on a human-relationship level with Moses, to the point of actually talking through the actions God would take, to not act on what He knows is immediately best, to have a significant conversation with Moses, because the all-knowing God knows that what is best is having a relationship with us. For our sake, and His own wanting to love us. Something I will never understand!
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The promised land was not a picture of heaven, but of a victorious Christian live. They had to go into the promised land and conquer the nations as we have to conquer sin in our lives to have victory. In heaven we will not fight the enemy or have to conquer sin. The Israelites did not enter the promised land because of their unbelief, just as many Christians are saved but do not live a victorious life because they do not believe and do not want to conquer sin in their lives. There are many other comparisons that are there in the story in Leviticus.
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Kiera sometimes if you use a different version of the Bible, such as the Message, it might help you to understand it better. This helps me.
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Amen I feel the same
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Yes, totally agree.
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It’s so easy to read back on the story of the Israelites (Numbers 13) and see how their faithlessness clouded their trust in the Lord. Because of their own faithlessness they weren’t able to see the truth of what God had planned for them, even when it was clearly spoken to them! They let their emotions take over which led them astray. How much that is like me and my own faith! It reminds me of the verse in Colossians, “see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world, rather than Christ.” The Israelites were taken captive by words of human understanding, rather than trusting in the Lord’s understanding. May my faith lead me to trusting in the Lord’s understanding, even when I can’t see it for myself.
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