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: Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Chapters: Numbers Chapters 25-27
Message: The True Worshipers of God
Hello My Friend,
The other day I was sitting in my truck about to go into the store when I saw a man hand a woman some lottery slips, then she takes them, does the sign of the crucifix and kisses them. There were two things that came to my mind, God does not hear her and why would God bless their sin. There are many who have great faith in God, but have no idea who they are worshiping. This is why Jesus said this to the woman at the well, [John 4:22-24 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.]
The word worship actually means, the act of paying divine honors to God, in other words, we are to honor and respect Him and since He is God, He expects us to do it His way. From creation, God, made it simple, [Exodus 20:3-6 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 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.]
God, does not force anyone to worship Him, but if they choose to do so, then we need to respect Him and honor Him naturally as He would want us to. Think about it, how would you feel if you married someone and they felt that it was okay to see other people as well? While some may approve of this in the beginning, eventually one of them will get jealous and things will not end well. This is similar to the way that God gets jealous over those who choose Him yet worship other things as well, [1 Corinthians 10:21-23 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.]
Yesterday, we read about Balak and how he used Balaam to try and put a curse on Israel to get God to turn on them. Well, both of them learned the hard way that you cannot curse God’s people, but what they failed to realize was the one thing that can. As we continue in the reading of Numbers, while they were all sitting there in the plains of Moab, we learn that the Israelites started becoming friendly with the Moabites and Midianites.
[Numbers 25:1-4 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.]
[And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods:] You see, while Balak was unsuccessful at cursing Israel spiritually, he succeeded in plan B, and that was to get the Israelites to turn on God. This is how the devil succeeds in turning away the hearts of those who only worship God in the moment. It is like Jesus said about the seed being cast onto stony soil, [Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.]
[and hang them up before the LORD against the sun,] These were the heads of their tribes and after all that they had seen over the past thirty-eight years they should have known better. And since they were not only guilty of committing idolatry themselves, but encouraging the others to do so in public, then God would judge them publicly. God, is merciful and will even forgive someone who ignorantly worshiped Him if they repent, but it must be sincere repentance, [2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.]
That godly sorrow was a plague that was taking many people, and when the people realized that they had sinned against God, many wept, standing at the Tabernacle. One man, Zimiri, had the nerve to set up a tent in front of the Tabernacle and used a woman named Cozbi, a Midiante, to bring more sin upon Israel.
[Numbers 25:6-8 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.]
[brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses,] This woman was a prostitute and Zimi set up a tent in front of the Tabernacle where the men would indulge themselves with her. Well, Phinehas, who was Eleazar’s son, saw them go into the tent, he as so angry that he took a javelin and threw it at them, killing them both. I am not going to say that I understand all of God’s methods, we do not really know what is going on with people. I will say that God’s methods toward His faithful are thought out, planned out, and He sees things what we do not see. When Phinehas took the initiative to execute these two who brought all this evil upon Israel, God commended him.
[Numbers 25:11-13,16-18 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. 16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them: 18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.]
[that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.] God, takes it seriously when people worship Him along with anything else, this includes people, things, hobbies, and extracurricular activities as He considers it all idolatry. Now, God does not recommend killing those who lead His people to worshiping false gods, but we are to remove them from our lives otherwise it will bring a lot of pain, maybe even death. And we cannot feel sorry for them as they brought it upon themselves, [2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.]
[Vex the Midianites, and smite them:] While Moab was guilty of seeking the help of the Midianites, the Midianites were guilty of not only helping Balaam attempt to curse the Israelites, they also enticed them with idolatry and fornication. Twenty-four thousand people lost their lives that day solely because they acted on the sin, and that meant that there was only Moses, Caleb, and Joshua left of those who left Egypt, Now, God, calls for another census for them to get a count of how many will be crossing over into the promise land.
[Numbers 26:1-2,64-65 And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel. 51 These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty. 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.]
[six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.] All those who were numbered thirty years ago were now dead, except Joshua and Caleb. Compare that number to the first census done thirty-eight years ago, which was six hundred three thousand, five hundred and fifty people, and that number decreased by one thousand eight hundred and twenty people. God’s people will keep decreasing in number until the very last soul to receive Christ gets saved, and that is when He is coming for His people as the tribulation will begin, [2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.]
Another reason for the census was to give an account of how many were from each tribe so that when they reached the promised land they would be appointed a specific amount of land according to how many were in each tribe. Moses gave the instructions that once they got into the promised land, they would divide it according to the number of people in each tribe, the daughters of Manasseh hearing this came to Moses with a question.
[Numbers 27:1-4 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.]
[and he was not in the company of them…but died in his own sin,] Each and every one of us are responsible for our own sin regardless if we were enticed or not. As long as we have not believed in Christ in vain, God is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sin, and even help us get out of it should we fall into it. Yes, we do have to continue to confess sin after we are saved, it is not to keep our salvation, it is to keep us faithful to God. God, confirms several times throughout the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that we do not get denied a part of His inheritance due to others sins and confirms this with His response.
[Numbers 27:7-11 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.]
[The daughters of Zelophehad speak right:] All who believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour get more than an entrance into the promised land, they inherit a portion of land, and also become heirs with Christ and God Himself, [Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.]
God, is the one who decides when we are born and when we die, sometimes it is to strengthen us, heal us, grow us, or empower us through our grief. Sometimes it is show His Son, His grace, His mercies, or His wrath, but not one person dies for the sins of someone else. While we never lose our place in the Kingdom of God, we can lose out on earthly inheritances when we sin. Now, God sends Moses up to Mount Abarim, which was a cluster of mountains joined together, the very top was Pisgah, from this mountain, Moses was able to see every inch of the beautiful land, but he was not allowed to enter, being reminded of why he was not allowed to enter.
[Numbers 27:12-13,15-17 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.]
[be not as sheep which have no shepherd.] Before God took him to paradise (that is where saved souls went until Christ’s passion), Moses wanted to make sure that there was someone to lead them there when he was gone. God never leaves His sheep without a shepherd. As much as we would like to believe that we can stay faithful to God on our own, we need that guide, someone to keep us going in the right direction, and that is where Jesus comes in, He is not only our Saviour, He is our Shepherd also, [John 10:9-11 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.]
Joshua, had been Moses’ right hand man for nearly forty years, and now he was given the opportunity by God Himself to lead the Israelites into the promise land, [Numbers 27:18-21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.]
[And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him,] Joshua, went from being a mere servant to a leader of God’s people. God, does not seek qualifications in order to be used of Him, He seeks faithful servants who are willing to do whatever He asks them to do, then He qualifies them, [John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Numbers 27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for making the way to the promise land simple, it is only by our faith and trust in Your Son that we can enter. It is truly a journey as we walk the path You take us, as we will face lots of plagues and famines along the way, sometimes by our own doing. Nevertheless, You are faithful and just to forever forgive us of all our unrighteousness when we come confessing our sin. The trials and temptations we endure now will be all worth it when we get to receive our eternal inheritance. Lord, lead us and guide us as we travel this earth, abiding in our temporary dwelling until You come and get us, keep us reminded of Your promise and let us be a walking, talking testimony of Your Son in our lives. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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