Numbers
The peoples need for holiness
In the opening verses of this chapter the Lord reminds the people of His holiness and of their need for holiness if they were to live near His dwelling place. In the Old Testament covenant, the community’s spiritual holiness was linked to and symbolized by physical, bodily, holin …
The prophecies of Balaam.
Israel’s greatest temptation was in wanting to be like the other nations, and this is what led to their downfall and captivity. Unfortunately, many in the church today have the same mistaken idea that being like the world is the way to reach the world. Instead of maintaining sepa …
Division of the "spoils” from the war.
This section of Scripture deals with the confiscated spoils from the war, and it is truly amazing (vv. 25-54). All captives and goods were to be divided according to a strict formula. Moses told the soldiers not to keep for themselves all the booty they had taken, but to give a p …
The law of female inheritance
In previous instructions it was decreed that the inheritance of a man who died without sons must go to the daughters (27:8). In this passage (vv. 1-12) a situation has arisen involving the daughters of Zelophehad, a descendant of the Manassehite clan of Gilead (27:1-11). The ques …
"Be sure your sin will find you out.”
The Israelites had been camped in the plains of Moab, across from Jericho. From this position they were ready to enter the Promised Land. The tribes of Reuben and Gad went to Moses and tried to assure him they had no desire to shirk their responsibility of conquering the land wes …
The budding of Aaron’s rod
In today’s passage God proves once again to the people that Aaron can be trusted and he is the High Priest of Israel (vv. 1-6). A situation was set up for a visible sign of God’s unmistakable choice of Aaron as High Priest. Each tribe was to be represented by a rod or branch of a …
Balaam foretells the happiness of Israel
This chapter begins by explaining how Balaam realized the Lord’s intention to bless Israel, so he did not try to use his sorcery as he usually did (v.1) but he looked toward the wilderness and saw the tribes encamped in formation and the Spirit of the Lord came on him (v. 2). He …
The idolatry of Israel
The event in this chapter demonstrates the subtlety of Satan; for what he could not curse, he would corrupt both by idolatry and immorality (vv. 1-2). Balaam wasn’t able to curse Israel, but he knew how to defile them and seduce them into sin so great that Jehovah would judge the …
The ashes of a heifer used to purify the unclean
Laws had been given whereby a person coming in contact with a corpse would be considered unclean and disqualified from religious life and service for a period of seven days. These regulations about “clean and unclean, for those under the law,’ are spelled out in detail in Le …
A serpent problem solved.
Life often becomes like a gymnasium or a battlefield (II Tim. 2:1-5), where we must exercise our faith and develop strong spiritual muscles for running the race of life. This truth is well illustrated in this chapter where God’s care and discipline of His people is so evident. Th …