We look back over our time in the book of Numbers and consider what God has been speaking to us around: His plan and purpose for us, His process of purification in us, and His perfect provision for us. We look at how this propels us forward together with strength in numbers!
God has given us all we need to thrive in life. It’s not all happy rainbows and warm hugs, though. There are baddies and boundaries around us which we need to know how to deal with in order to live in the fulness of all God has for us. We can learn a thing or two from what God says in Numbers 33 just before His people entered the Promised Land.
As we come towards the end of our series on Numbers, Stephen shares from Numbers 33 about how we are on a journey, and God is with us! Even during difficult stages of the journey there is a provision and refreshing for us. God wants to fill every aspect of our lives whilst we are on this journey, and despite set backs and, sometimes, failures, we are called to press on and finish the race.
In Numbers 27, tantalisingly close to the Promised Land, we’re introduced to five sisters whose story has much to say to us about the characteristics of those who pursue and possess the promises of God. Step up Generation Faith!
In Numbers 27 we read of the instruction that God gave to Moses at the end of his life. We will be looking at how Moses responded to this instruction and what this teaches us about Moses’s character, about God’s faithfulness and the view that we can enjoy as we look out over God’s covenant promise to us.
This Sunday, as we look at Numbers 25, we’re going to discover the connection and correlation between danger, anger and zeal!
We turn to Numbers 22-24 and read from the prophecy of Balaam the glory and wonder of the church of Jesus Christ…that’s US!
In Numbers 20 and Exodus 17 we find two similar, yet distinct incidents, at the beginning and toward the end of Israel’s wanderings in the desert. Both mark periods of testing, for God and for Israel, and become future reference points in the Scriptures, which demonstrate the dangers of testing God to prove Himself to us, and the reason why God allows us to go through periods of testing. As His workmanship, God is not shaping our circumstances to suit us, but shaping us to suit His purposes. He will sometimes allow us to be tested beyond our limits, so that we rely solely upon the fresh living water, from Jesus, our Spiritual Rock. Water that tastes as sweet at honey! (Ps 81.16)
In the old Testament we read of the Israelites who receive water that gives them life from a rock. In the new Testament Paul tells us that, that rock travelled with them on their journey and that rock was a spiritual rock, and that Rock was Christ! We will look together at the abundance of life in The Rock, poured out for everyone.
Numbers 11 helps us to understand that living in uncertainty can cause us to grasp for control. When we’re rooted in the certainty of who God is though, we can let go of control and lay hold of all God has for us. We can live in certain times.
Numbers 7 gives a detailed account of the offerings brought to the Lord on behalf of the people. It’s a passage that’s easy to skim over due to its repetitive nature, but it contains principles that are important for us to grasp as we prepare to gather around The Lord’s Table this morning.
As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness on their way to Canaan they had the best local guide you could think of – The Presence of God. Although they went the long way round to reach their destination, their journey was an important experience for them to go through and a necessary preparation. As believers in 2020 we can know that the presence of God is no longer restricted to a tent, or even a grand temple, but now lives inside us – Transformed people. The presence of God leads us in the wilderness, causes us to worship and moves us to witness. Let’s be a church that is ready to move when The Lord commands and follows the leading of His presence.
God is so good and this is wonderfully expressed at the end of Numbers 6. Let’s look at the powerful priestly blessing, and see what it means for us as Christians today.
The book of Numbers is a story of wanderings. A people on a pilgrimage through the wilderness, called to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. However, not yet ready to take hold of it, they became nomads instead of pilgrims. God has a plan and purpose for each of us as well. A journey which should have taken weeks for the Israelites, instead took them years, with a whole generation dying out. Numbers provides us with a helpful picture about making progress in own journey, to avoid wandering and being taken off course. Like the Israelites, most of the time the biggest obstacle to our progress is US; sometimes it’s our CIRCUMSTANCES, and occasionally GOD Himself steps in, to protect us from our mistakes! Numbers has been given as an instruction to us (1 Co 10:11), so let’s embrace it so we can be pilgrims rather than nomads!
We take some time to overview the book of Numbers and then explore hints and pictures that point to Christ, they help us to see who Jesus is and what He has done.
**Numbers Overview: BibleProject is the author and owner of the video. To see our full library of free content, please visit BibleProject.com
The opening chapter of Numbers describes the census taken to count Israel’s army, before they began their journey to the promised land. And as we read the story in its context we find several features relevant to our day. Everyone was “counted by name”, a reminder that we’re known and loved by God. Everyone was “qualified to serve”, a reminder that all of us have a vital part to play. But – tragically – none of those counted (except Joshua and Caleb) ever made it into the promised land, a reminder (and a warning, 1Corinthians 10:11) that we must embrace God’s promises and provision and do all we can to make sure our lives count. This timely message will inspire you to take every opportunity to serve God’s purpose in our generation!…
Mike continues in our new series in the book of Numbers and will be sharing about how we all have a part to play in outworking the mission of the church, no matter who you are or what’s going on around us!
We take some time to overview the book of Numbers and then explore hints and pictures that point to Christ, they help us to see who Jesus is and what He has done.
**Numbers Overview: BibleProject is the author and owner of the video. To see our full library of free content, please visit BibleProject.com
When we read books of the bible (or any books for that matter!), it is always helpful to know background and context in which they are written. Before we begin to look at the book of Numbers, let’s firstly remind ourselves of the story so far…
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