NUMBERS 13-16: DAY 247 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
September 4, 2023
NUMBERS 13-16
DAY 247 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Click here for the reading
Focus Verses For Today: Numbers 14:20-24
Today our journey through the Bible takes us through Numbers 13-16. It is a journey that contrasts faith with rebellion.
Ask God for His understanding of Numbers 13-16. Read Numbers 13-16. Let’s journey!
Numbers 13-16: Our journey begins with a scouting trip into Canaan. Only two of the scouts rendered a good report regarding Israel being able to overcome the inhabitants of Canaan to secure “The Promised Land.” The Israelites revealed their reliance upon themselves, not trusting God to deliver Canaan to them as He delivered them from Egypt. Their faithless response to this challenge resulted in God refusing to allow any person delivered from Egypt from entering Canaan. Only those born on the journey and the two scouts who gave positive reports entered Canaan. The book of Numbers continues with teaching on supplemental offerings, offerings for unintentional sins, a Sabbath-breaker being put to death at God’s direction, and wearing tassels on garments to remind the Israelites to obey God. Moses and Aaron’s authority was challenged by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, claiming that all Israelites are the same in relationship with God: that Moses and Aaron have no special relationship with God. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram raised 250 followers to challenge Moses and Aaron. God’s response was to destroy Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and their followers. After this, a great assembly gathered to challenge Moses and Aaron resulting in a plague from God that killed 14,700 people who challenged God’s chosen leaders. (Numbers 13:1-16:50)
Our focus verses for today:
20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. (Numbers 14:20-24, NIV)
Our focus verses for today show the children of Israel rebelling against Moses because they had lost trust in God. They were experiencing a faith failure. It was not Moses who was directing them to enter Canaan. It was God. Moses was God’s messenger. The children of Israel were afraid of the inhabitants of Canaan. They had forgotten God’s deliverance from Egypt and provision on their journey to Canaan. They were not rebelling against Moses, they were, in fact, rebelling against God.
Caleb trusted God completely. Caleb didn’t see giants waiting to devour the Israelites. He saw God’s promises being fulfilled in a way that would glorify the name of his God, the God of Israel. Caleb trusted God completely. Caleb obeyed God completely.
Moses asked God to forgive those who rebelled against him. God forgave them, which returned them to His presence; however, it did not cancel out the punishment for their transgressions against God. The people who God delivered from Egypt on the journey to the “Promised Land,” would never enter it. Because they disobeyed God. Caleb dwelt in faith. Caleb dwelt in obedience. Caleb knew faith is obedience to God.
Godspeace!
For more information regarding how your financial support can help, please click here.
