King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, March 04, 2024
Chapters: Numbers Chapters 20-21
Message: To Live is Christ
Hello My Friend,
Yesterday as my husband and I were headed to church last night and extremely late for the service due to an accident on the highway, we both concluded that it was either the devil trying to discourage us or God trying to warn us not to go to the church that we were going to. We arrived ten minutes before the service ended, but what we did hear was much needed and it was blessing afterwards as we were able to speak with some people that confirmed that it was in fact the devil discouraging us. God, is strange in that while He gives us choices, but it is those choices that we make that will determine His support of the choices we make, [Philippians 1:21-22 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.]
Anytime we make decisions based upon our own flesh we can expect that God will not support us on it, even if it was all with good intention. And do you know why? God, is a jealous God and will not share His glory with anyone. As long as we acknowledge Him then He is going to give us the support to endure the challenges we face, [Exodus 20:5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.]
Speaking of visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children who hate God, the living generation of Israelites were not doing much better than their fathers. At this point, it had been thirty-eight years since they were told that they could not go unto the promise land for forty years, and pretty much all of the elders died tragic deaths under their rebellion. As we continue in the reading of Numbers we learn that Miriam died and while burying her they realized that there was no water for them to drink.
[Numbers 20:1-5 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.]
[that we had died when our brethren died…And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt,] Remember, most of these people were the younger generation, not only were they bringing up the deaths of the rebels, they still could not let go of Egypt. How can anyone expect God to provide for them let alone save them if they have no faith in Him in the first place? [Hebrews 11:1,6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.]
I can understand how the Israelites were disappointed when God told them that anyone over the age of twenty could not go into the promise land. I guarantee you that if some kind of repentance came into play that God would have had a change of heart, but they did not and therefore they would die in their sin. Well, Moses and Aaron walked over to the Tabernacle where they fell on their faces no doubt with the same questions as to what they were supposed to do with these people and that was when God appeared. He gave them instructions on what to do in order for them to get some water.
[Numbers 20:6-10 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?]
[and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes;] There was a reason why God wanted them to speak to the rock as doing so would have proved to the people that God was among them. Nevertheless, Moses, let his anger get the best of him, you can actually hear it in his voice when he says, [Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?]
If those words were not enough to bring God to tell both him and Aaron that they would not be going into the promise land, his actions would, [Numbers 20:11-13 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.]
[and with his rod he smote the rock twice:] Do you see what happened between the first and second strike of the rock? Obviously, God, was attempting to show Moses that he was making a bad decision when he hit it the first time. It was probable that Aaron told him to hit the rock the second time, which may explain why God told them both that they did not believe in Him and denied them entrance into the promise land. Rules are rules, and if we are going to go against the rules, even if influenced by someone else, then we only have ourselves to blame when God is displeased and takes something from us, [James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
[the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.] The word sanctify means, [To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.] So, had they spoke to the rock as they were instructed then the people would have glorified God, but instead they glorified themselves. Even Jesus, although He is God in the flesh, would not allow Himself to be given glory to Him over His Father, [Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.]
I can definitely understand how Moses got distracted from what he was supposed to do and hit the rock instead. I can also understand how people can pressure you into making unwise decisions, but some of those unwise decisions will cause us to forfeit promises of God. While no saved person can lose their salvation, they can lose out on earthly blessings if they make unwise decisions. The true test of our faith comes when God has denied us. Now, with Moses and Aaron both being denied entrance into the promised land, another test of their faith would come. The nearest way to Canaan from the place where they were was through the country of Edom. Just like any country, they could not just walk through, they had to get permission, Moses, sends some men to the king to get permission, but were denied.
[Numbers 20:4,17,20-21 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: 17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.]
[Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border:] You know, there is much to learn here, first of all, repentance does go a long way, second; the repercussions of sin do not just affect one party, it affects an entire nation. And third; there is no easy way to the promise land, it is strait, and it is narrow, and if we are going to attempt to get in ourselves then we can forget about it, [Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.]
This is also reminder that our time on earth is not very long, and we do tend to waste so much of it living in so much doubt and fear that we lose focus on why we are here to begin with. We are here to leave a Godly legacy for our children (whether they be biologically or spiritually connected) to follow. Now, Aaron’s time on earth was up, God, commanded that Moses take Aaron back to where he was born, which was Hor.
[Numbers 20:22-25,28-29 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.]
[And strip Aaron of his garments,] God, was talking about his high priestly garments here, he would take them off hand them over to his son and then he would become the next high priest. We are not promised tomorrow, we are given today, therefore, we cannot put off for tomorrow what we need to be doing today. If God has called us to lead someone to Christ, then we are required to do so. Why? We are the one who know the truth, [Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.]
As you can imagine, the Israelites were rather discouraged after such a long march round the land of Edom on top of Aaron was gone and now, they had one of the kings among the Canaanites attack and capture some of them. They became angry, and this time not only took their anger out on Moses, they took it out on God.
[Numbers 21:1-3 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. 2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.]
[heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies;] Do you see how the people knew that all the stories of the Israelites headed for them were true? And for a short time the Israelites actually stopped complaining and worked together with God to break the prisoners free.
[Numbers 21:4-6 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.]
[and our soul loatheth this light bread.] Did you ever have a discouraged soul? You feel like everything you do is for nothing. That is when I say, God has to take a bite out of us, well, not literally, but you never know. I will be the first to admit that a discouraged soul brings the temptation to sin in the first place, [James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.]
I tell you what, God, does not have to lift a finger to send judgment on those who pretend to be Christians, they bring all upon themselves. The sad thing is that they can pressure some of God’s faithful to do things that could bring trouble for them. Are we guilty of this? Do we need God to send fiery serpents upon us? Well, thankfully, God has mercy, and when He does send them, He also sends a cure. God, commanded Moses to make a rod with a brass serpent.
[Numbers 21:7-9 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.]
[pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.] The very first and really the only thing that saved the ones who looked at the serpent was not their looking upon it, it was that Moses prayed for them and made the intercession. Jesus, is the one who prays for us well before we even ask Him to save us, He makes the intercession for us. Then when we pray by faith, and that is when we look to Jesus and live, [Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.]
[when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.] Why was it made of brass (bronze)? It resembled the color of the fiery serpents. They had to look up to the serpent by faith, and when they did, they were cured. The fiery serpent actually represents Satan and sin, and how it kills us by its disease. The brass serpent represents Christ, and just like anyone who looked to the brass serpent was cured, we are cured when we look to Jesus, [John 3:13-15 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Numbers 21:8-9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your Word that teaches us everything about You. We do not need a special degree to understand You, we just need to have faith in You. Even through we live by faith in Your Son saving us, at times our faith does lack, and when that does You can deny us earthly things that You promised us. We can become discouraged, frustrated, and even angry as we think about what we have lost. Lord, Let us be reminded that even though Your deny us some earthly things, we are still granted access into Your Kingdom, because we have believed in Your Son, and received Him as our Saviour. You are truly the One who meets all our needs. There is nothing we lack when we commit our faith and trust in You and obey Your commands. Keep our hearts open so that we may follow Your will, and receive all that You have for us, and let us not get deceived by those who encourage us to go against Your will. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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