Chapters 11-13

There were problems among God’s people. The
spirit of complaint was spreading like wildfire. This brought
“the fire” of God’s judgment upon them (11:1). The
spirit of complaint comes when people don’t like what God is
doing among His people.

We see this in 11:26-28. The words of prophecy are
described as the result of the working of “the Spirit”
(11:26). Joshua said, “Stop them, sir!” (11:28). Notice
Moses’ response, “I wish all the Lord’s people were
prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them” (11:29).

What we need is not the quenching of the Spirit but the release of the Spirit among God’s people.

In his leadership of God’s people, Moses
faced problems. It was not an easy pathway towards the Promised Land.
There was opposition from Miriam and Aaron (12:1). There was the
unbelieving report, brought back from the land of Canaan by most of the
spies (13:31).

Alongside these problems, there was the
encouragement which came from Caleb’s words of faith:
“Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be
more than able to conquer it” (13:30).

By faith, we shall overcome the problems.



Chapters 14-15

The problems continue. They increase (14:1-4).

Again, there is the word of encouragement. This time, it comes from Joshua as well as Caleb (14:5-9).

The people bring God’s judgment upon
themselves. They will not enter the Promised Land. Of the current
generation of adults, only faithful Caleb and Joshua were to enter the
Promised Land. They would lead the
next generation into the land of promise, thus fulfilling the
Lord’s promise of grace, which is always free grace but never
cheap grace.

Grace is freely given by God. It can never be taken for granted by us.

In verses 39-45, this message is very clear – we can never take God’s grace for granted!

God’s work among His people was directed
towards the future: “Once you’re settled in the land
I’m giving you” – and it was grounded in the past
– “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to
be your God” (15:2, 41).

Our present obedience draws strength from our past
redemption – “It is finished” – and our future
hope – “It is still to come”.



Chapters 16-18

In chapter 16, we read about the judgment of God upon those who sinned against Him.

God is perfectly holy. He calls us to be holy.
This is not to be a pretence. It is to be real. Those who came under
God’s judgment claimed to be holy (16:3). God saw what they were
really like.

This is a very challenging passage. It’s a
reminder that we must not take God lightly: “it is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.

We should also remember that Christ’s hands were pierced for us.

He waits to welcome all who return to Him, fleeing from “the wrath to come”.

Moses, the priests, the people – all were to honour the Lord in everything (17:1).

* Moses did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do” (17:11).

* The priests were “a gift given to the Lord to do whatever work is necessary at the tent of meeting” (18:6).

* “Out of all the gifts they had received”, the people were to “contribute the best and holiest parts to the Lord” (18:29).

Whoever we are, whatever our place in God’s
work, we are to be dedicated to the Lord. We are to commit ourselves to
doing His will. We are to be faithful in the work He has given us to do
for Him.



Chapters 19-20

When we read about being made clean, we must look
beyond what we read in the Old Testament – “the sprinkling
of the blood of a red cow that is perfect with no defects”
(19:2-4). We must look on to the New Testament where we read of
“the blood of Jesus who cleanses us from all sin” (1 John
1:7).

Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Neither Moses nor Aaron were to enter the land,
promised by God to His people (20:12, 24). This is a reminder to us
that we cannot presume upon God’s continued blessing. The fact
that he has blessed us in the past does not mean that He will always
bless us. We can lose out on His blessing. The blessing of God is to be
treasured. It is not to be taken lightly.



Chapters 21-24

The Israelites are journeying with the Lord. He is
leading them from victory to victory. Salvation for Israel, salvation
from the God of Israel, the true and living God, meant
“destruction” (21:3) for those who opposed God and His
people – “How horrible it is for you, Moab! You are
destroyed, you people of the god Chemosh” (21:29).

If there is to be real blessing among God’s
people, we must face conflict and overcome opposition from God’s
enemies.

The story of Balaam concerns the challenge of
speaking God’s Word in truth. God is the God of truth (23:19).
His messengers must speak the Word of truth. Before we can speak
God’s Word in truth, there needs to be a confession of sin, an
acknowledgment of how far we have deviated from the way of truth. This
confession of sin is to be accompanied by a fresh commitment to walking
in the way of truth (22:34). Speaking the Word of truth involves
looking beyond ourselves to the One who is the Word of truth, our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ (24:17).

Thanks for your appreciative and encouraging comment.
God bless you.
Charlie