Numbers 15 Faithful in the Wilderness
The time that we are in this world can be long and sometimes boring. I think about the monologue we
often hear in movies "what you wanta do? I don't know what you wanta do?" As Christians the things that we should and should not do are more limited, if we are concerned with what please God. What should I watch on TV or the at the movies? Where should I be or not be? What are my motives for the company I keep, what I say, or listen to, gossip, lyrics, jokes.
This is our wilderness while we wait to go to our Promised Land. The Israelites did not serve God as they wandered for the 40 years and waited. They would not enter the promised land it would be their children to enter the promised land instead. However, they were suppose to follow God and teach his ways to their children. The books of Amos and Joshua both tell us that they served idols and did not offer sacrifices while they wandered. Waiting can make us grow complacent. We need to stay focused and keep an eternal perspective.
Guard your heart and mind, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.
Romans 12:2New International Version (NIV)
TIDBITS FROM NUMBERS 15
Read Numbers 15
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+15&version=NIV
Amos 5:
25“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,
the star of your god[b]—
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,”
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty
Joshua 5
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
This is our wilderness while we wait to go to our Promised Land. The Israelites did not serve God as they wandered for the 40 years and waited. They would not enter the promised land it would be their children to enter the promised land instead. However, they were suppose to follow God and teach his ways to their children. The books of Amos and Joshua both tell us that they served idols and did not offer sacrifices while they wandered. Waiting can make us grow complacent. We need to stay focused and keep an eternal perspective.
Guard your heart and mind, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.
Romans 12:2New International Version (NIV)
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
TIDBITS FROM NUMBERS 15
- Even though the Israelites will not enter the land of promise for 40 years God gives them the decrees for the time they will enter.
- God goes through the rules on intentional and unintentional sins
- Incense is symbolic of prayer
- The blue tassels on the garments were to remind the people to trust God
- In the books of Joshua chapter 5 and Amos chapter 5 we see indicators that Israel does not follow God's decrees of idol worship and circumcision during their time in the wilderness.
Read Numbers 15
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+15&version=NIV
Amos 5:
25“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,
the star of your god[b]—
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,”
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty
Joshua 5
5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[b]4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
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