Numbers: Numbers: Wilderness WanderingsWilderness Wanderings

Numbers: Numbers: Wilderness WanderingsWilderness Wanderings

What is a Nazirite?What is a Nazirite?What is a Nazirite?What is a Nazirite?

3 Rules: Numb 6 3 Rules: Numb 6 No dead body touchingNo dead body touching No grape productsNo grape products No razor No razor

What was the function of the What was the function of the Nazirite?Nazirite?

What was the function of the What was the function of the Nazirite?Nazirite?

Person separating himself to YHWHPerson separating himself to YHWH God over one’s food, family & bodyGod over one’s food, family & body Visible memorialVisible memorial Giving up things for GodGiving up things for God

Completion of Nazirite vowCompletion of Nazirite vowCompletion of Nazirite vowCompletion of Nazirite vow

SacrificesSacrifices Shave head & burn hairShave head & burn hair Samson, Samuel, Paul takes Nazirite vow Samson, Samuel, Paul takes Nazirite vow

(Acts 21:24ff)(Acts 21:24ff) Jesus not a Nazirite (Nazarene)Jesus not a Nazirite (Nazarene) Oldest piece of Scripture ever found: Num Oldest piece of Scripture ever found: Num

6:23ff; 700 BC not= P (450 BC)6:23ff; 700 BC not= P (450 BC)

Numbers CyclesNumbers CyclesNumbers CyclesNumbers Cycles

ProblemProblem Peoples’ complaintPeoples’ complaint God’s responseGod’s response Moses mediatesMoses mediates God relentsGod relents Lesson summarizedLesson summarized

Mini-cycle: Numbers 11:1-2Mini-cycle: Numbers 11:1-2Mini-cycle: Numbers 11:1-2Mini-cycle: Numbers 11:1-2

Problem: Desert HardshipsProblem: Desert Hardships People’s complaint: People’s complaint: God’s response: fire burned in outskirts of God’s response: fire burned in outskirts of

campcamp Moses mediates: Moses prays to GodMoses mediates: Moses prays to God God relents: fire dies downGod relents: fire dies down Summary: Place called Taberah because fire Summary: Place called Taberah because fire

of LORDof LORD

Why is it the people Why is it the people complain & God judgescomplain & God judges

Why is it the people Why is it the people complain & God judgescomplain & God judges

Moses complains and God helps him (Num Moses complains and God helps him (Num 11:2,10; 11-15)11:2,10; 11-15)

Complaint versus Lament distinctionComplaint versus Lament distinction Inability of Christians to verbalize lamentInability of Christians to verbalize lament

Are you supposed to Are you supposed to discipline children in anger?discipline children in anger?

Are you supposed to Are you supposed to discipline children in anger?discipline children in anger?

Why does God discipline Israel when He is Why does God discipline Israel when He is angry? (Num 11:4ff)angry? (Num 11:4ff)

Is anger always wrong? (conditions; justice Is anger always wrong? (conditions; justice issues)issues)

Can a Christian person ever long to die? Can a Christian person ever long to die? On workaholic Moses: sharing the load On workaholic Moses: sharing the load

(11:16f)(11:16f)

What do you think about What do you think about inter-racial marriage?inter-racial marriage?

What do you think about What do you think about inter-racial marriage?inter-racial marriage?

What does the Bible say?What does the Bible say? Moses and the Cushite wifeMoses and the Cushite wife Miriam and God’s ironic sense of humorMiriam and God’s ironic sense of humor

Who wrote Num. 12:3? Who wrote Num. 12:3? Who wrote Num. 12:3? Who wrote Num. 12:3?

Doesn’t this statement from the pen of Doesn’t this statement from the pen of Moses sound a little odd? Joshua?Moses sound a little odd? Joshua?

Could a humble person write this?Could a humble person write this? Does humility really fit the context?Does humility really fit the context? Another way of looking at it: “oppressed”Another way of looking at it: “oppressed”

Can a man have impact on Can a man have impact on God?God?

Can a man have impact on Can a man have impact on God?God?

Can God change? Is He static or dynamic?Can God change? Is He static or dynamic? If He can’t change is it possible for Him to If He can’t change is it possible for Him to

think and interact? How is relationship think and interact? How is relationship possible?possible?

If He is dynamic in what sense or areas can If He is dynamic in what sense or areas can He change? Is everything up for grabs?He change? Is everything up for grabs?

Does God still experience choice? Does God still experience choice?

Giants in the Land: Giants in the Land: Giants in the Land: Giants in the Land:

Was Moses wrong for sending out spies? Was Moses wrong for sending out spies? (Num 13)(Num 13)

Report: Milk and honey -- grasshopper Report: Milk and honey -- grasshopper vision (Num 13:26-33)vision (Num 13:26-33)

Accusation against God (Num 14:3-4)Accusation against God (Num 14:3-4) Joshua and Caleb: men of vision (Num Joshua and Caleb: men of vision (Num

14:5ff)14:5ff)

God’s response: God’s response: God’s response: God’s response:

God’s response: I will strike them down God’s response: I will strike them down (14:12)(14:12)

Real issue is belief (14:11) and holding God Real issue is belief (14:11) and holding God in contempt (14:11) in contempt (14:11)

Joshua and Caleb the right stuffJoshua and Caleb the right stuff

God’s response (cont.)God’s response (cont.)God’s response (cont.)God’s response (cont.)

How do you argue with God? (14:13)How do you argue with God? (14:13)– Lord’s reputationLord’s reputation– Lord’s characterLord’s character

God doesn’t strike them down! (14:20) God doesn’t strike them down! (14:20) “as you asked” “as you asked”

Is it possible to be forgiven and yet have to Is it possible to be forgiven and yet have to pay consequences? 40 yrs-->deathpay consequences? 40 yrs-->death

Korah rebellion: Num 16Korah rebellion: Num 16Korah rebellion: Num 16Korah rebellion: Num 16

Does God have a sense of humor (ironic)? Does God have a sense of humor (ironic)? So you want to be holy? So you want to be holy?

Moses gets angry (16:15) Moses gets angry (16:15) On the demand to be special/separated (Num On the demand to be special/separated (Num

16:3, 8)16:3, 8) Power struggles & motives of leaders (Num Power struggles & motives of leaders (Num

16:13)16:13)

Korah rebellion (cont.)Korah rebellion (cont.)Korah rebellion (cont.)Korah rebellion (cont.)

Moses new role: anti-mediator then mediatorMoses new role: anti-mediator then mediator Moses as prophet short term prophecy (vs. 28)Moses as prophet short term prophecy (vs. 28) Separated permanently (16:33) Sheol=graveSeparated permanently (16:33) Sheol=grave Some people never learn: (Num 16:41) Some people never learn: (Num 16:41) Can people really change? Can people really change? Chapter context: death of Miriam + AaronChapter context: death of Miriam + Aaron

Moses hitting the rock: Num. 20Moses hitting the rock: Num. 20Moses hitting the rock: Num. 20Moses hitting the rock: Num. 20

Why did God nail Moses so hard just for Why did God nail Moses so hard just for hitting a rock? hitting a rock?

What’s so wrong with hitting a rock? What’s so wrong with hitting a rock? Real issue: not acting in trust/faithReal issue: not acting in trust/faith

– God as weighs thoughts and intents of heartGod as weighs thoughts and intents of heart– On the responsibility of leadersOn the responsibility of leaders– On consequences for actions—actions matterOn consequences for actions—actions matter

Numbers Lessons:Numbers Lessons:Numbers Lessons:Numbers Lessons:

One person can make a difference for a One person can make a difference for a nation, prayer changes thingsnation, prayer changes things

Faithlessness of Israel // faithfulness of GodFaithlessness of Israel // faithfulness of God Forgiveness yet consequencesForgiveness yet consequences God is dynamic not static: relationally God is dynamic not static: relationally

interactiveinteractive Complaint versus lamentComplaint versus lament

Red Heifer – Numbers 19Red Heifer – Numbers 19Red Heifer – Numbers 19Red Heifer – Numbers 19

BalaamBalaamBalaamBalaam

Is Balaam good or bad, saint or sinner? Is Balaam good or bad, saint or sinner? – OT = Numbers = goodOT = Numbers = good– NT = major bad (Jude 11; Rev 2:14)NT = major bad (Jude 11; Rev 2:14)

Name: destroyer—Deir Alla, Jordan find Name: destroyer—Deir Alla, Jordan find 19671967

Did Balaam know God? ....Did Balaam know God? ....

Why did the Moabites hire Balaam? Why did the Moabites hire Balaam? Why did the Moabites hire Balaam? Why did the Moabites hire Balaam?

Why did the Moabites hire Balaam?Why did the Moabites hire Balaam?Why did the Moabites hire Balaam?Why did the Moabites hire Balaam?

What have Og and Sihon got to do with it?What have Og and Sihon got to do with it? Why did Balak send to Mesopotamia to get Why did Balak send to Mesopotamia to get

curser?curser? Were the Israelites the only ones who knew Were the Israelites the only ones who knew

YHWH?YHWH?

Balaam’s major struggle: Balaam’s major struggle: money or God’s wordmoney or God’s word

Balaam’s major struggle: Balaam’s major struggle: money or God’s wordmoney or God’s word

Faithful to God’s word: Num 22:8, 18Faithful to God’s word: Num 22:8, 18 Donkey narrative: Donkey narrative:

– Why did God tell Balaam to go and then try to Why did God tell Balaam to go and then try to kill him?kill him?

Irony: donkey sees more than the seer Irony: donkey sees more than the seer

Balaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oracles

First oracle: Who can curse but Yahweh? First oracle: Who can curse but Yahweh? (Num 22:7f)(Num 22:7f)

Second oracle: God’s character and Second oracle: God’s character and promises don’t change: Num 23:19promises don’t change: Num 23:19

On God and changeOn God and changeOn God and changeOn God and change

How do you fit that with God changing His How do you fit that with God changing His mind beforemind before

Promise keeperPromise keeper CharacterCharacter Creative possibility playerCreative possibility player

Balaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oraclesBalaam’s 4 oracles

Second oracle: God is their king (Num Second oracle: God is their king (Num 23:21f)23:21f)

Third oracle: Human kingThird oracle: Human king– On ecstatic prophetsOn ecstatic prophets– King imagery (24:7)King imagery (24:7)– Dilemma of Divine / Human kingDilemma of Divine / Human king

Fourth oracle: Messianic king (Num 24:17)Fourth oracle: Messianic king (Num 24:17)

BalaamBalaamBalaamBalaam

Why was he portrayed so faithful in Why was he portrayed so faithful in narrative?narrative?

Contrast to Israel’s unfaithfulnessContrast to Israel’s unfaithfulness Midian link (Num 25:14) How to get Israel Midian link (Num 25:14) How to get Israel

cursedcursed Balaam’s death—Num. 31:8, 16Balaam’s death—Num. 31:8, 16