Numbers Survey

Chapter 30-33

 

Ch. 30 deals w/ The requirement to keep vows. V.1-2

A) The command of the Lord for a man : He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

 

B) A vow before God is no small thing: Wedding Vows – not just to each other – but to God !!!

1)  God expressly commanded that Israel should be careful to keep its vows, and to fulfill every oath made - he shall not break his word.

 

C) In days of old – 2 Million dollar business deals were settled w/ a Handshake – A man’s word stood for something – Not today !!!

1)   Huge Contracts – Many times those are not binding – really see this in Professional sports – Guys want new Contracts all the time –

 

D) The market raises – I want to be paid what I am worth – Why did you sign a 10 yr contract

1) In many circles today, the breaking of an oath is just standard business practice - but before God, it is simply sin.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 5:34-37: But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

 

E) Now I don’t think Jesus was  forbidding oaths, as much as telling us that we should be so filled w/ integrity in our words that an oath is unnecessary.

 

 

V.3-16 Vows that are not Binding

 

 

 

Now This is interesting to me – A Daughter could have her oath reversed by her Father – And a wife by her husband

A)IN other words if the daughter or wife entered into an agreement that the Father or Husband didn’t think it was wise { He could reverse it

 

B) What this is illustrating for us is that the Father had a responsibility to cover his daughter

1)   A husband had a Responsibility to cover his wife !!!

 

C) Fathers & Husbands are called to be the Spiritual leaders in the household – in order to do that we need to be paying attention to what is going on

1)   Our role is not to be passive – where we are just sitting back oblivious to what our wife or kids are doing – But we are to have an Active role

 

D) Note v.11 again - \

 11 and her husband heard it, and made no response to her [ Passive] and did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand.

 

E) But v.12 says that if he heard them and acted upon them to make them void they wouldn’t stand !!

1)   Pt of all of this is We have a responsibility as Husbands & Fathers to Cover our kids –

 

F) Guys listen Our Wife & Our kids need to know that we are behind them – Not that we Bail them out of every jam –

1)  but hopefully are relationships are so close & open that they feel free to come to us before they have to make those decisions

 

Neat APPLICATION

Picture we made vows Broke vows done stupid things – Accuser of the Brethren – Our Father  has us Covered in Christ –

                                               Love covers a Multitude of sins

 

Ch.31 : Rd v.1-2

The Phraseology of our God is absolutely fabulous – Great saying the Lord uses here in describing the death of Moses –

A)Moses is about to die –but instead of just saying that ……die / or about to kick the bucket –GATHERED TO YOUR PEOPLE

 

B) Really that is what death is – Going home to be w/ Your People

1)   God’s Phraseology is great – Man’s is flawed

 

C) Airport Terminal – Who thought of that

 

SO the Lord says to Moses you are about to be gathered to your people

A)But there is one last thing you need to take care of – Take vengeance of the Midianites – afterwards you will be gathered to ……

 

B) God is telling Moses – You have one more battle to fight BEFORE  you go home –

 

C) True of the Christian life – Series of Battles all the way to the end

1)   1) Always one more battle - Sooner we realize that the better – Christian life – not a playground it is a battleground

 

D) Now it would have been easy for Moses to say – Battle ? I want a Vacation – Red Sea Resort Lord – the Jordan River Spa – then take me home

1) But the Lord says – Moses you are going to be battling until your final days

 

Now some would say – that is frustrating – No not really freeing

A)I know what to expect – I know what I am in for – never taken off guard

 

B) Playing ball – Tomorrow  you are pitching – ok – ready – not surprised

1)   Not pitching today – Focus on something else

 

C) Lord says it is a Life of Battling/ remember the Battle belongs to the Lord

 

Rd v.3-8

Remember Balaam – Prophesied w/ the Power of God – bought by Balak

A)Hired to Curse Israel – ended up Blessing them !!!! Balak mad

 

B) Finally came up w/ a Plan that worked - STUMBLING BLOCK – doctrine of Balaam – Mixture

 

C) Well Balaam Thought he made it – Killed by the ones He sought to curse

1) Interesting in Num 23 he says let me die the death of the righteous – but here we see him dying w/ the wicked

 

D) Lesson You Can’t die the death of the Righteous unless you live the life of the Righteous

1) Balaam didn’t live w/ the righteous so he is slain w/ the wicked

 

v.9-20

According to the custom of the day, all the males were killed, & the women & children were taken as servants, w all the possessions being taken as spoil.

A)So In killing all the men, but keeping all the women as servants, the children of Israel were following the custom of the day.

 

B) It was thought to be "safe" to keep the women alive, because they posed no military threat.

 

C) Yet Moses is angry, because the children of Israel have failed to see a more substantial threat –

1) the threat of sexual immorality and idolatry posed by these women who led the men of Israel into these exact sins.

 

D) How often have we been tripped up by something we did not perceive to be a threat?

1)   Though most Israelites thought these women were "safe," they were more dangerous to Israel than an army of might warriors!

 

Israel could overcome such an army if spiritually strong; but if they were seduced into immorality and idolatry, they would certainly fall.

A)We often think of the many things as dangerous to us as Christians – Drugs / Kidnappers secular humanism in schools , and so forth.

 

B) But it is the things we accept in our midst / homes / lives  that open the door to immorality & idolatry can do far more damage than any of those other things.

 

C) These women had already caused the Children of Israel to be Plagued / 24,000 men of Israel died in a matter of minutes

1)   Therefore, all the women who had known a man intimately were to be killed;

 

D) But ones who had not been connected with the immorality and idolatry of the Midianites could be kept alive.

 

But Every male among the little ones must also be killed;

A)Now some read this & think this is harsh, How could God condone the Killing of innocent little Boys

 

B) But one needs to understand that in that ancient culture, the boys would have grown into men with the solemn responsibility to avenge their father’s death and to perpetuate Midianite culture - which in itself was anti-God.

 

C) Think of it in this way: If I suddenly discovered a huge Rat in my home – or a Rattle snake – I took a shovel & Killed it – Would I be Justified ?

1)   Rabid Dog came into my back yard when my kids were playing I shot it – would I be Justified in killing those things to protect my family ?

 

D) Is a Doctor Justified in cutting open a Patient to take out the Cancer

1)   Absolutely – Necessary to save their life – keep Cancer from spreading

 

E) The Midianites were an infected culture so they needed to be destroyed                                                                                      Rd v.21-24

Here we see The purification of the spoil.

A)All the material spoil had to either be purified by fire or cleansed with water; only then could it be fit for use by God among the people of God.

 

B) God uses the same means to purify believers today - the fire of trials and the water of washing.

 

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

 

1 Peter 1:5-8

 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

 

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

 

C) The fire purifies precious metal by causing the impurities (the dross) to rise to the top, where the refiner can skim them away;

1) The refiner can tell when the gold is pure - when he can see his reflection in the pool of gold!

 

D) SO When God uses the fire of purification, we can say with Job: When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10).

1) We begin to be a reflection of Jesus !!!

 

But God also seeks to cleanse us thru the word :

A)JN.15 Clean thru the word that I have spoken to you

 

Ephesians 5:26: That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

 

B) How can a Young man cleanse his way: Taking heed …..word

v.25-27 Note all the congregation benefited even though only a small percentage did the fighting –12,000 fought

A)Same is true here – we all benefit because of a small group that battles in prayer – Mornings

 

B) Sat Prayer meeting [ Rosellas Word]                     Rd v.28-29

 

C) SO those who went to battle gave 1 –500th of their spoil to the priest as an offering

 

v.30 – 54 the rest of the spoil is listed

 

D) Note v.49 – Not one is missing –

 

JUDE Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling & to present you faultless before His presence w/ singing

A)Battle can get Brutal – but if we are clinging to the Lord he will see us thru

 

 

Ch. 32 Sunday – Living on the Fringe – read v.1-15

A)Moses fear was valid – note v.33 they did influence one tribe

 

Move onto Ch.33 v.1-2

 

Now the next 50 verses describe the goings & comings of the Children of Israel during their time in the wilderness

A)Long tedious list – Why would the Lord waste so much time & space reporting everywhere they pitched their tent ?

 

B) 2 Reasons – 1st to show us that He is a father who takes note of every step of His children

1) He is a father who notes all your steps

 

 

C) Ps 139:1-6 David puts it like this

 LORD, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

 

D) God is a Father who takes not of each step of progress you make in your walk w/ Him

1) Parents w/ Scrap books – This is when my boy did this - & this is when he did that –

 

So first to show he is a caring father / 2nd that he is a teacher Teaching us that their walk in the wilderness was a horrible meandering

A) It wasn’t a straight line – but back & forth round in circles

 

B) Should have been an 11 day journey ends up being –40 yrs meandering in the wilderness because of Unbelief

 

C) Lesson your life & my life will be a Horrible meandering if we are lacking in faith

 

v.50-56

Here the Lord is Looking ahead: The conquest of Canaan.

A)God had a unique role for the nation of Israel in regard to the people of Canaan; He was going to use Israel as an instrument of judgment against the Canaanites.

 

B) This is why Israel was commanded not only to defeat them militarily, but to drive out all the inhabitants of the land,

1) and to destroy all their engraved stones . . . their molded images . . their high places.

 

C) Now why was the Lord so concerned about these images – He certainly wasn’t intimidated by a little piece of stone or wood ?

1)   Well Paul sheds light on the whole matter – in 1 Cor 10 – that behind that little piece of Stone or wood is a Demon

 

Example: Ashtaroth – Goddess of Sex & Fertility

A)Behind that Idol was a demon that propagated – Immorality

 

B) Now we don’t have images in our homes or Back yards

1)   Home from Africa – You brought home an Idol

 

C) Images in our Minds – Sensuality –

1)   Materialism

2)   Success

 

D) If the Children of Israel were going to be successful in the Land they had to do away w/ the images –

1)   You & I are going to be successful in our walks w/ the Lord – We need to do away w/ the images – How ?

 

Heb 12:1,2