Numbers 14-15, and Psalm 90

• Click here to read
• Click here to listen
• That’s right…we read a Psalm today!

Recap: After being told by the Lord, “I will give you the land…” the men still made their own conclusion.  Wait, let me get this straight.  This generation saw the Lord battle 10 Egyptian gods, part the Red Sea, provide manna, speak to Moses, provide water…..and they think He cannot handle a promise He has been making for 500 years?

Chapter 14: The voices of 10 men influenced the opinions of the ones listening.  Yesterday in the comments “lookoutlookinblog” wrote a great comment about the mixed multitude.   Complaining and negatively affect those listening, and could change their actions.  When the Lord looks down on you,  who are you:

• The 10 men believing in a God, but not trusting Him.
• The group listening and agreeing without first-hand knowledge?
• Caleb or Joshua?

They all have the same facts: it’s the perception that matters.

God is going to strike all of them with a plague and start over, but Moses loves the Lord so much and says

 ¹⁵ If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

God agrees to not kill the people outright and harm His reputation but will keep them in the wilderness until they all die and can be replaced by their children.  He refuses to reward rebellion and lack of trust.  If He did, it would send a wrong message to the world about his character and holiness.

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Last month I said I look for something new I have never read before and when I do it hits me hard…it is 14:20!  I think I get so wrapped up in the story that only Caleb and Joshua from this generation will enter the Promised Land,  I glazed over something so important

“I have forgiven them…Nevertheless….”

This is not a story about salvation, that occurred at the Passover.  This is a story that when we walk in Faith we live an abundant life.

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Chapter 15: So we continue reading and you see that we are back to sacrifices. The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home ³ and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—

The next generation (40 years later-for the 40 days they scoped out the land) will enter the land.  Had they rebelled?  Do they need to make a sin offering?  NO.  They are instructed to make the VOLUNTARY offerings only. 😁. When they enter the land the sacrifices will

• show their devotion to God
• acknowledge that the land belongs to the Lord
• Peace and fellowship with God

¹⁵ The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: ¹⁶ The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”

I love this!  No one is excluded from the Lord, EVEN in the Old Testament.  In the New Testament, it is restated in Romans 10:¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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As they enter the land and they are teaching and reading the Law (just like us sitting here reading our Bibles) they will see that they have unintentionally sinned.  (just like when I am reading my Bible).  Sin MUST be dealt with.  So NOW it is time to offer the required sacrifices.

²² “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses—

Who is the foreshadow of the High Priest? I will give you a clue:  starts with “J” ends in “s” 😉²⁵ The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering. 

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15:30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly…”(How does God view that?) This might want to make you me pause for a moment.”I know I shouldn’t say this but…I know I should do this but…I know it is wrong, but…”

God lets us know immediately how He feels about INTENTIONAL sin with an example:

The Sabbath Breaker is the example in this chapter.

 

Tassels.  I love that we are told to have visual reminders to remember God’s commandments and promises.    For those of you who don’t know me, I live in the South, the “land flowing with scriptures painted on wood”.

• A reminder or just decorative?

Here is an OT example and a current-day example of Tassles (we will discuss the boxes on their heads in Deuteronomy)

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Psalm 90- Click here 

When you hear Psalms…we think of David?  Well, Moses wrote Psalms 90-106.  No, I am not kidding.  🤓

I wanted to quote a section of it…but I want it to fall fresh on your eyes since it is our first Psalm.  Feel free to comment…I bet we liked the same part. ❤️