THE ISRAELITES IN CANAAN: JOSHUA, JUDGES AND RUTH

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

GIANTS OF THE FAITH: JOSHUA

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites were punished wandering in the wilderness for forty years because of their lack of faith and trust in their Jehovah God. They trusted more in their own flesh than in the Almighty God.

After forty years from the time of their Exodus from Egypt, all of the adults who were over the age of twenty were dead, except for Joshua and Caleb, Moses' best leaders. Notice that a new generation of Israelites had come into view, a generation with their hearts hardened and toughened by all the years of wilderness living. They had little or no memory of Egyptian slavery and the brutality of it. In other words, they had little memory of ever being oppressed slaves. They were more blessed in seeing all of God's provision for them, such as the daily manna. They had very little or no memory of the Egyptian gods, so their faith in their Jehovah was not contaminated by idolatry like that of their fathers. They were a group of men and women who had waited their entire lives to move into the land that was promised to their ancestors. Although they were disturbed and grieving over Moses' death, they were motivated enough with hope and joy that they were finally entering the Promised Land, Canaan. This conquest of the land, Canaan, finally happened around 1400 BC.

The Book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses and ends with the death of Joshua. Notice that it begins with God's promise to be their God and to take care of them and not forsake them. It ends with their covenant to follow and obey God. As we open the first page of this book, God is encouraging Joshua with these words:

"No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5

As the book closes, Joshua reminds the Israelites that their God Jehovah had been with them all throughout their wandering in the wilderness and had set them free from Egyptian slavery. He exhorted them to choose to follow and obey Him. In response to this they made a vow to God:

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. The Lord drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”  Joshua 24:14-18.

What remains of the Book of Joshua can be divided into two major sections:  the conquest and the dividing of the land.


THE CONQUEST (Joshua 1-12)
In order for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land, they had to cross the Jordan River. This river was at flood stage when they were setting out to cross it. The LORD parted the Jordan River just as He had parted the Reed/Red Sea. "It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap. So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan." Joshua 3:13-17.

Joshua had already sent two spies to Jericho, the first Canaanite fortress they were planning to attack, Joshua 2.  The spies brought back the news that the Canaanites were terrified of the Israelites and the God they served. While in Jericho, these two spies, were protected by a Canaanite woman named Rahab who risked her life in order to save them from being discovered.

After crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites built a monument that was made out of 12 stones taken from the river bed. After that Joshua had all the men circumcised as an oath to reaffirm their covenant with their God Jehovah. Then they celebrated the Passover. After they had the Passover meal, they ate produce from Canaan, and then the manna from heaven finally stopped after forty years, Joshua 4 and 5:1-14.

The rest of the conquest of the land section includes the following account stories of fascinating interest to read:

Joshua 5 & 6:  The LORD asks Joshua to have all the men circumcised. They called the place where they were staying Gilgal. Here the LORD asked the army to march around Jericho. The walls of the city came down on the seventh day of marching by the hand of God without any Israelite demolition!
Joshua 7:   Achan had taken some of the banned items during the battle of Jericho. When the army went out against Ai, they were defeated because of Achan's sin. When the LORD revealed the cause of their defeat, Achan and all of his house were stoned to death.
Joshua 8:1-29:  Total destruction of Ai as commanded by the LORD.
Joshua 8:30-35:  Joshua renewed the covenant with God by building an altar of uncut stones on Mt. Ebal, offering sacrifices and then writing on stones all of the Laws of Moses.
Joshua 9: The Gibeonites dressed up as distant foreigners in order to deceive Joshua into making a treaty of security contrary to the laws that God had given to Moses.
Joshua 10:  The five southern kings of the Amorites united together against the Gibeonites because of the treaty that they had made with Israel. Israel attacked the Amorite kings. The sun stood still in order for the Israelites to have enough daylight to destroy the Amorites. Joshua killed the five kings conquering their southern cities.
 Joshua 11:  Joshua turned north overcoming the northern cities. Hazor was totally destroyed like Ai and Jericho. Joshua took over the whole land.
Joshua 12:  Joshua defeated 31 kings. These were the kings from both sides of the Jordan river, the ones destroyed while Moses still led them on the east side and the ones destroyed by Joshua on the west side. God is amazing!  He was with Israel, Moses and Joshua giving them the victory.



DIVIDING THE LAND (Joshua 13-22) 
There were thirteen Israelite tribes.  Jacob had twelve sons, but he also adopted Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This would allow Joseph to receive a double portion of his father's estate, a firstborn's portion.

The Tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, had a special provision: they were not given a separate division of land but rather received towns within each of the other tribes' divisions in order that they could live and minister among the people. For this reason the land was divided into twelve sections on both sides of the Jordan River (see map), even though they were thirteen tribes.

GIANTS OF THE FAITH: RAHAB

Rahab is an unusual and interesting character in the Bible. Remember, she protected the two Israelite spies from being discovered just before the conquest of the land of Canaan. I admire her profound understanding of their God Jehovah during this process of conquest. She secured her own protection through her bargain with these two spies. Although she was a Gentile woman, she is part of Jesus' genealogy!

Joshua sent two spies to investigate the land of Canaan especially Jericho. They were able to enter Jericho ending up in Rahab's house. Although, she is known as Rahab, the harlot, it is uncertain why the spies came into her house. I am pretty sure this was the hand of God Jehovah. When the king of Jericho heard that the Israelites had come to search out all the land, he sent word to Rahab demanding she bring out these two spies and be given into his hands. Instead, she lies, saying that she did not know where the men were from. She also said that the men escaped when it got dark and she did not know where they went. She urged the king’s men to pursue quickly and overtake them. As soon after the king’s men left, the gates were shut. Rahab, came to the spies on the roof where they were hiding and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.  For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.  Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” Joshua 2:9-13.  

Then she helped them escape through her window, down the wall with a rope and out of the city. That scarlet rope hanging out her window was to become the signal that saved her from the invading Israelites.
In return for her help, the spies and Rahab made a covenant to spare her life when the Israelites came to conquer Jericho. This promise was fulfilled:
 
"However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho."  Joshua 6:25.   Rahab’s faith in the true God was very rare among the polytheistic Cannanites.  It is stunning to me that although she was a prostitute and a Gentile when she cast her lot with the people of  God that God would receive her and honor her as a hero of faith.  

There is no more mention of Rahab's name again in the Bible until the New Testament. She is listed in the Gospel of Matthew as the mother of Boaz, the man who married Ruth. This makes her one of Jesus' ancestors. She appears again in the Book of Hebrews, in the chapter known as the “faith hall of fame.” She joints a list of heroes of the faith in God without ever seeing what they hoped for:

"By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace." Hebrews 11:31. Also, we read of her in James 2:25, "In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?"  God's ways are not our ways!

THE SAVAGERY OF THE ISRAELITES' CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND

In both Joshua and Judges, the Israelites are charged by God not merely to drive out the inhabitants of the land, but to destroy them all. This would include all men, women and children. This might sound shocking and brutal to many. Some may dare to question God's unfairness in demanding that the Israelites should do all of this savagery and killing. Others perhaps might be wondering why a loving and merciful Jehovah God could demand the killing of all including children. In response or before any other speculations let us consider the following:

• God is the Creator, Judge and Ruler of all creation.  He alone has the power to hold life in His hands.
• As Judge, God has all rights to decide who or which nation has reached a level of sin that cannot be condoned.  Notice that the sins of these Canaanites had reached the climactic level. God is longsuffering, but not forever. The sins of the Canaanites are mentioned in Leviticus 18:1-24.  The list includes all manner of perverse sexual immorality as well as child sacrifice. These were abominations to our Jehovah God.
• The destruction done by the Israelites was an act of DIVINE judgment. Don't forget that Israel became God's instrument for judging all of these nations. The destruction was not the Israelites' idea but rather it was God's judgment on them.
• The Israelites did not destroy the Canaanites because of their own righteousness, but because the Canaanites were absolutely sinful, Deuteronomy 9.
• God was not being arbitrary in His judgments. He had warned the Israelites that if they should commit these abominations, then they were going to meet the same judgment as the Canaanites, Leviticus 18:25-30.
• Finally, since the Israelites disobeyed God’s instructions and allowed many Canaanites to remain, they were eventually led to their own death. Notice that they even married into some of the Canaanite families contrary to God’s specific orders.  Their stubbornness and lack of faith in Jehovah their God led them to go astray worshiping the Canaanite gods.  Eventually they were driven out of the land themselves.  Sadly, they trusted more in their own flesh than in their God Jehovah.  God is a jealous God!
  
  

JOSHUA AND MOSES

The following are some interesting similarities between Moses and Joshua:

• Both were called by God who directly promised each one that He would never forsake them.
• Both were God's instruments used to speak to His people.
• Both led the Israelites across water that God parted for them to cross.
• Both had encounters with God in which they were told to remove their shoes.
• Both presented stone tablets to the people with the law written on them. 
• Both were given tasks that seemed impossible for any men.
• Both were witnesses of Jehovah God's mighty acts of power over nature.
• Both are mentioned in Hebrews 11 as heroes of the faith, in the "hall of fame."
   

In my next study we will be discussing the Book of Judges.

Luci

THE NEW JERUSALEM, BRIDE OF THE LAMB

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,  and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”   And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”  Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.  But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.... and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life."   Revelation 21.

Many years ago when I was searching and seeking for the Truth, I began reading my Bible for the first time.  I had heard my mother read it.  I heard the liturgies and catechism, but never took the time to dig into the Bible.  It was at that time that in my heart I knew I had to pursue something bigger.  Although she was a devout Catholic, my mother encouraged me to start walking, searching, and digging into the pathways of God because she was searching also.  I don't know why, but the first book I began reading seriously was the Book of Revelation.  As I read through, I was more aware that my present state was condemned before God.  As I read, I began to worry that I would never be able to be forgiven of my sins.  But when I got toward the end, the last chapters of the Book of Revelation, especially chapters 21-22, I found hope!  It captured my hungry and thirsty soul.  I began wishing and hoping to go to that New Jerusalem, the holy city, where the bride, the wife of the Lamb was.  She came down from heaven, having all the glory of God, brilliant like a valuable and precious stone.  At that time, I thought this was a prophecy of something future, but as I have learned more of the language of the New Testament, I realize that this beautiful language is meant to describe the glory of the Lord's church today,  " But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,  and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect."  Hebrews 12:22-24

 When I began reading the description of this New Jerusalem, this precious city, with all its majesty, splendor, and glory,  I was speechless.  Everything about this beautiful city was majestic.  It was filled with all precious stones, the 24 pillars that were the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel.  I was astounded when I kept reading that there was no temple but that our Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were its temple and we, His church, are God's building, the holy Tabernacle as described in Ephesians 2:18-22, "for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."  In the kingdom parables of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapters 13,18,22 and 25, the church is called the kingdom of heaven.  The church is the heavenly city.  It became more desirable and precious in my heart as I read that it had no need of the sun or moon to shine on it because the glory of God was enough to enlighten it, having our Lamb, Jesus as the main lamp.  This lamp would make all peoples walk in His light bringing glory to it.  Its gates will not be closed because they will be there to bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.  I longed to enter the gates of this city!

As I finished reading chapters 21 and 22, I felt relief because there was hope for me, a sinner, to wash the clothes filled with all the dirt of sin, with the precious and powerful blood of the Lamb.  "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.  "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." Revelation 22:17.  I was motivated to begin seeking diligently for the Truth in the Scriptures because I wanted to partake of this New Jerusalem, the holy city.  I wanted to save my soul and be received by our Father and His Lamb into Their everlasting kingdom.  I fell in love with it.  These two chapters were my inspiration in seeking the Truth to set me free from sin.  It took a while before I found the church of the Lamb.  But God through His everlasting Grace put in my way someone who taught me the WAY.  I sincerely think that those hearts that are sincerely and diligently seeking the LORD will find the Truth to set them free from sin.  I was one of them!  The Book of Revelation is very dear to my heart because it brought hope to my dying soul.  Please, don't be afraid of this precious book.  In spite of all of the speculation and error and difficult symbols, the message shines through to the humble seeker.  It is a powerful message that gives hope to the dying and saves the soul.  It is a great shout of victory.

May our Lord help all of those good and honest hearts who seek to find the heavenly city, the church of the Lamb.

Luci

THE LAW OF CHRIST IS GOOD!

 

"But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted." 

I Timothy 1:8-11 NASB.

The Law of God  is pure and good helping us to have a good conscience, planting love with a pure heart and a sincere faith. Unfortunately, there are those men who claim to be followers of our Lord and Savior who wanting to be teachers stray from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel of our Lord taking captives with their empty speculations and the doctrines of men rather than the everlasting Truth of God, His Law. These men are proud in their ignorance not wanting to accept with a good conscience and sincere faith what the will of God is for men. Let us not forget, like these men, that the Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul, making wise the simple. It is right, rejoicing the heart and pure, enlightening the eyes. It is clean, enduring forever and true. The Law is righteous altogether. The Law is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. But we must OBEY AND KEEP IT in order that we may have great reward, the crown of life.

It is ONLY through the Gospel of Christ, Law of Christ, that we can be strengthened in sound teaching and be faithful. Christ came into the unbelieving and sinful world showing mercy to her so that everyone who believes and obeys His Law might have eternal life. But we must love His Law fighting against all deception keeping it with a good conscience which some sadly reject shipwrecking their souls and the souls of others to eternal damnation. The Law of Christ is the only way to be blameless, but we must walk in it and observe it diligently. We must always purpose to walk in His way, His Law, in order not to be put to shame by sinning against the Almighty. We must always delight, mediate, seek, live and keep His Law.

May we never wander from His Law but rather observe and delight in His Law and never be put to shame. May He enlarge our hearts with understanding in order that we may observe and keep His LAW.

Luci

THE LAW AND THE WILDERNESS - THE LAW WAS GIVEN FOR THE LAWLESS

 "Realizing the fact that Law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, .... and whatever is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God."  

I Timothy 1:9-11 NASB

The slave nation of Israel needed to learn how to behave like free men of God, restraining their appetites and serving the righteous and holy God who had rescued them from slavery.  In their ignorance and superstition, they were still slaves of their passions and the darkness of their old desires.  They still had a lot to learn from their Savior, Jehovah God.

THE GOLDEN CALF  ( Exodus 32:33:6)

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the laws, the Israelites were becoming restless.  Since they could not see God, they became frightened and chose in their hearts to fashion an image of a god that made sense to them. An idol image like the Egyptians had. They made a calf idol. This calf idol may have been fashioned on the Egyptian bull god, Apis. When Moses saw this image, he could not help but get outraged, breaking the stone tablets.

MIRIAM AND AARON MURMUR AGAINST MOSES  (Numbers 12)

    

In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron murmur against Moses regarding his wife who happened to be a Cushite woman. They said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?"  And the Lord heard it.  Remember that the LORD praises Moses above all other prophets that were on the face of the earth. Because of this murmuring against God's chosen, Moses, the anger of the LORD was on them. Miriam was struck with leprosy and Aaron is forced to confess his wrongdoing. Moses pleaded with God in prayer in her behalf. After seven days of being separated from the camp, Miriam is restored. The following is the historical account as found in Numbers 12:1-16.

"Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?’ And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.). Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, ‘You three come out to the tent of meeting.’ So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, He said, .... So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed.... , behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, ‘Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!’ Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘O God, heal her, I pray!’ But the Lord said to Moses, ‘If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.’ So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again." 

SPYING OUT THE LAND  (Numbers 13-14)

Eventually, the Israelites left Sinai heading toward Canaan, the Promised Land. They stopped in the Desert of Zin at Kadesh, just at the edge of the Promised Land. There were twelve men chosen, one from each tribe, to go and explore the land bringing back a report. They were given an extensive list of things to investigate. This list included: living conditions, locations of towns, soil conditions, people, and produce. Hoshea, the son of Nun, was chosen as the scout. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. This Hoshea was actually Joshua, who later led His people into Canaan. Moses changed his name to Joshua, meaning "The LORD saves."

The scouts journeyed from Canaan for forty days and then returned, bringing grapes, pomegranates, and figs with them from the Promised Land. Their report about the land began on a positive note since they had seen that the land was rich and fertile. But when they gave a frightening report on the people of the land, and about how strong and overwhelming they were, the Israelites became frightened listening to their stories. These became more exaggerated and horrid as they went on telling their stories. Fortunately, two of the scouts remained confident, but the other ten spread doubt and began murmuring against Moses and Aaron among them. The Israelites began to question whether or not they would be able to conquer the Promised Land demanding a new leadership.

Moses and Aaron in response to this grumbling and complaining fell face down in front of the people.  Number 14:5. The Israelites' doubting and murmuring were a direct assault on God's leadership as well as His promises. And Moses and Aaron were preparing themselves for God's judgment against the people of Israel, Numbers 16:4, 22, 45: 20:6.

Caleb and Joshua to calm the Israelites about their murmuring began pleading for the Israelites to move into the land by telling them to trust God. "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”  They wanted to reassure them that God was going to keep His promises and would take care of them.  But, not being satisfied, they began talking among themselves about stoning their leaders. 

 

"All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’  So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’  But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel." Numbers 14:1-10 NASB.

And this is when the LORD stepped in saying, "The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they."  Numbers 14:11-12 NASB.

Moses kindly interceded for His people before the LORD.  He persuaded God to forgive them.  And He did!  But despite His forgiveness, God did not allow them to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites were forced to wander in the wilderness until all the adults from twenty years old and upward who had murmured against Him had died. Only their children then under twenty years of age would be allowed to enter the Promised Land, along with Caleb and Joshua.  Numbers 14:20-35.  That is so sad!

Again, in rebellion, the people of Israel chose to disobey God deciding to go to the Promised Land and take possession by taking a part of it to themselves.  This was without Moses' blessing.  Tragically the Amalekites and the Canaanites came down and struck them and drove them out as far as Hormah, Number 14:45 NASB.  So they wandered grumbling in the wilderness for forty years. The LORD provided for them and cared for them in spite of their rebellion throughout this time.  He kept guiding them!

They continued grumbling and murmuring as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  Korah took men from among the congregation who gathered together against Moses and Aaron unto the door of the Tabernacle. This is when the glory of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD told Moses and Aaron saying "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.’ But they fell on their faces and said, ‘O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?"  The LORD again speaks with Moses to speak on behalf of Him.

He spoke with the elders of Israel who followed Him. This is what Moses told the congregation, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.’ So they gathered up their wives, sons and their little children and stood in the door of their tents. Moses then said to them, ‘By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.’  As Moses finished speaking the ground that was under them split open and the earth opened its mouth swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions."  Numbers 16:26-32 NASB.

Fire then came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense which were not of the seed of Aaron. What a terrible thing it is to fall into the hands of an angry God!!

 

Again, the Israelites began grumbling gathering and rebelling against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the LORD appeared before the Tabernacle, and the LORD said to Moses, "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly. Then they fell on their faces."  Numbers 16:45 NASB.  Moses then told Aaron to take up his censor putting in fire from the altar laying incense on it.  He then quickly brought it to the congregation and made atonement for them since God's judgment and wrath had begun. There was a plague among the people.  So He put on the incense making atonement for the people.  The plague killed 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked.  Numbers 16:46-50.

In Chapter 17 of Numbers, the LORD told Moses to bring a staff from each tribal leader, twelve rods, to the Tabernacle to stop the grumbling. Aaron's staff blossomed.

In Chapter 18 of Numbers, the LORD told Aaron: “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting."

In Chapter 19 of Numbers, The LORD told Moses and Aaron to burn a heifer outside the camp for the water of cleansing. Anyone who is unclean and does not cleanse themselves shall be cut off.

In Chapter 20 of Numbers, The LORD told Moses to speak to a rock to produce water but instead he disobeyed and did not sanctify Him striking the rock. In this chapter, Edom refused Israel passage, and Aaron died on Mount Hor.

In Chapter 21 of Numbers, the people grumbled again, so the LORD sent snakes. Moses made a bronze snake and whoever looked at it lived. The inspired account is found in verses 6-9.

"The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived."

Also in this chapter, the Israelites defeated the Amorites of Heshbon and Bashan. Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites and possessed the land.  The brief account of this conquest is recorded in verses 21-31.

"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, ‘Let me pass through your land. We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have passed through your border.’ But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer. Israel took all these cities and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all her villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon..."  

WATER FROM THE ROCK  (Numbers 20:1-13 and 27:12-14)

After some time had passed, the Israelites passed again through the Desert of Zin, at Kadesh. Miriam, Moses and Aaron's sister, died and was buried there. Where they decided to camp, there was a shortage of water. The quarreling began. Again, the Israelites began to moan and grumble about their hard luck. They were wishing and longing for the good old days in Egypt. They longed for the figs, grapes and pomegranates of the Promised Land. It is evident that they never learned their lesson!

Again, Moses and Aaron, realizing that the judgment of God against their grumblings was likely to happen, both fell face down on the ground. The Lord's glory filled the place. God then instructed Moses saying:

1. Take the rod

2. Gather the people
3. Speak to the rock

Then water would pour from the rock.   



Instead, Moses:

1. Took the rod
2. Gathered the people
3. Spoke to the people
4. Struck the rock

Still, water poured from the rock.

But the LORD became angry with Moses. Remember, God had instructed Moses to speak to the rock, asking for water. He had stood before the people gathered in a solemn assembly before the rock. The purpose of this was to demonstrate God's provision for His people's needs. Instead, Moses spoke to the people himself, striking the rock as though he was the provider of the water himself. Moses' problem was that he refused to sanctify God.  The following is what God said to him, "But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  Numbers 20:12 NASB.  How sad it is that Moses and his brethren lost their right to go to the Promised Land!

The LORD did allow Moses to see the Promised Land before he died. He viewed the land from Mount Nebo of the Abarim Mountain. This is what the LORD told Moses, "Go up to this mountain of Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession. Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel."  Deuteronomy 32:48-52. (See also Numbers 27:12-17).

 

Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses. "So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.’ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses."  Numbers 27:18-23 NASB.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

In Exodus 20, we read of  Ten Commandments and again in Deuteronomy 5.  These were spoken by God to Moses on Mount Sinai/Horeb and then carved by God into two tablets of stone, Deuteronomy 5:22.

When our Lord Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:36-40 and also in Mark 12:28-34 which Commandment was the greatest, He said,

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Notice that the first part of Jesus' response came from Deuteronomy 6:5, and the second part came from Leviticus 19:18.

These two passages summarize the Ten Commandments:  The first 3 or 4 Commandments deal with loving God while the last 7 or 6 Commandments involve loving others, that is to say, our neighbor.  The Sabbath Commandment, number 4, was a day of rest for them where they merely worshiped God, but it was also a day to rest. Today, we Christians, do not keep the Sabbath, but we do assemble to remember the death and resurrection of Christ on the First Day of the week, which falls on Sunday.  The rest of the Commandments have been given again under the authority of Jesus our Lord!

The Ten Commandments

No other gods

No idols

Honor God's name

Rest of Sabbath

Honor your parents

Do not murder

Do not commit adultery

Do not steal

Do not lie

Do not covet

SACRIFICES AND THE THREE ANNUAL FESTIVALS

In Numbers 28-29 we read of the sacrifices that the LORD commanded the Israelites to offer daily as well as for Sabbaths and other festivals. There were three annual feasts for the Israelites which were: The Passover which was the first feast of the year. The second feast was the Feast of Weeks.  The third feast was the Feast of the Tabernacles.  These are found in Exodus 23:14-19; Exodus 24; Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16:1-13.

THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES (SUKKOTH)

The Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles comes from Leviticus 23:33-44.  This festival is observed on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, which falls either in September or October of their modern calendar. The people were to erect booths called, Sukkoth, according to the law in Leviticus:

"Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. 'I am the Lord your God.' So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the Lord."  Leviticus 23:40-44 NASB.

This celebration commemorates the Israelites' time in the wilderness and also is associated with the end of the harvest year. On the first day and the eighth day, the Israelites were to present burnt offerings to the LORD. They were to live in booths on all of these days. These booths were made out of branches and were often decorated with pictures and verses.

CONCLUSION

The Wilderness experience taught the young nation of Israel some of the fundamentals of trusting and obeying God.  Often we face this problem as Christians.  We do not want to leave behind the old man of sin getting stuck in the past way of thinking and living, rather than letting the new man of righteousness live in us.  Their trust was in the flesh rather than in God.  This brings to mind what the Apostle Paul said by inspiration of God, " But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ..."  Philippians 3:7-11.  May the Lord help us to learn from the experiences of these children of God.

 

Luci

THE LAW AND THE WILDERNES - GOD'S TABERNACLE

GOD'S TABERNACLE

The Tabernacle was very different in substance and purpose from other ancient temples. Even though it had some items that were similar to those of the other temples such as a Holy of Holies for God Himself, a Holy Place for the Levite priests, courtyards, incense, candlesticks, food and basins for washing. God's Tabernacle was much different.  Consider the following:

• God's purpose to reside in the Tabernacle was not in order for His people to meet His needs.  He did not have to be fed, clothed or washed as the ancients did their gods.
• The Holy of Holies contained only an ark and a lid that was called the Mercy Seat.
• No idol god sat in the Holy Seat.
• God never needed light, a bed, a dresser for His clothes, a throne or a table for food. All of these items were in the Holy Place for the priests to use.
• The Tabernacle was not stationary, but portable.
• God was never confined to the Tabernacle.
• God would go in front of His people in order to guide them when the Tabernacle was packed up for travel.
• God was willing to live in a tent, just as His people who also were living in tents. God did not need a high dwelling place that stood high above those of His people.  He just resided among His people.  His only desire was for His people to know Him and obey Him!  
• No food was ever brought before God to taste or consume.
• God's required sacrifices were simple compared to those of the Near Eastern ancient gods.
• God never needed to wash His hands. The water basin was used only by the priests to wash themselves for purification and cleansing purposes.
• To enter into God's presence was a holy and reverent act. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies.  He only entered once a year.  Notice there were no windows to allow others to see inside.
• There was no class system. The Tabernacle was available to everyone. Even the poor could participate of the special offerings when available. 
• God did not need clothing. The laws regarding clothing only covered what the priests wore, not what God wore.

INSIDE THE TABERNACLE

The Tabernacle was separated into sections:  the Outer Courts, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.  Both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were confined in a tent.  The entire Tabernacle along with its courtyard was surrounded by a fence.

The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were shielded with hangings of blue, purple and crimson linen, colors of royalty, which could be seen only from the inside. The linen covered a durable layer of black curtains made out of goat's hair. All around this was a tent layer made of ram's skin, followed by another layer of skin on top. The Tabernacle looked like any other tent from the outside.  Its layers of skin provided protection from the ceremonial elements.

Altar of Burnt Offering:   Exodus 27:1-8:   This was made of acacia wood covered with bronze. All the utensils were also covered with bronze. This altar was designed to be carried. The sacrifices on the altar covered the unintentional sins of the Israelites in order that they might have been cleaned.

"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  Hebrews 9:13-14; see also Mark 14:24, Hebrews 19, I Peter 1:18-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Laver or Basin for Washing:  Exodus 30:17-21:    This was made of bronze. The priests used it to cleanse themselves before entering the Inner Courts.	"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."   Hebrews 10:22.
Table of Shewbread:   Exodus 25:23-30 This sat in the Holy Place. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It was designed to be portable like the rest of the Tabernacle. All the utensils were also covered in gold. Twelve loaves of bread were placed in two rows of six each, on the table each Sabbath. This stood as a reminder of the Covenant God made with the twelve tribes of Israel as well as Israel's dependence upon God as their Provider.	"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." John 6:35, 48-51
Lampstand or Menorah:   Exodus 25:31-40:  This was made of pure gold and supported seven lamps. It gave light for the priests.	"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."  John 8:12
Altar of Incense:   Exodus 30:1-10 This was made of acacia wood covered with gold. It sat in the Holy Place. It was burned twice a day by the Priests.	Psalm 141:1-2 indicates that our prayers are like incense to the Lord. Likewise in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3, an angel of the Lord offers incense before the throne and the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
The Veil:   Exodus 26:31-35: This was made of wool and linen. It was decorated with cherubim. It separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.	"And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split."   Matthew 27:51  "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh" Hebrews 10:19-20

The Ark of the Covenant:    Exodus 25:10-22:  The ark was a chest made of acacia wood covered with gold inside and out. "The Mercy Seat," was its gold cover. It featured two golden cherubim facing each other. God spoke to Moses from above the Mercy Seat, between the two cherubim. Inside the ark there were the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments.

In John 1:14 Jesus says, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." "For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."    Hebrews 9:15

NOTE: God showed Moses the design of the Tabernacle on Mount Sinai. According to the Book of Hebrews, what Moses saw was exactly the pattern that God wanted him to follow in building the Tabernacle:  

"According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it."

 Exodus 25:9 NASB

"See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." 

Exodus 25:40 NASB

See also Exodus 26:30, Numbers 8:4, Acts 7:44 and Hebrews chapters 8:5 and 9:1-10 related to the building of the Tabernacle.

In our last discussion we will consider examples of  disobedience toward God and the terrible consequences. We will also discuss the Ten Commandments and the Feast of the Tabernacles.  

Luci