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Weekly Guide：Week 29
July 26, 2020
Week 29 Day 1: Curses and Blessings ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why Balaam blessed Israelites when Balak wanted him to curse them?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moab wasn’t their target when the Israelites came to camp across from Jericho. Balak summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites but God made him to bless them instead.
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Balaam was not a prophet. He seemingly proclaimed himself a prophet was in fact a spokesperson for all false gods. He was condemned many times in Bible for his immorality, injustice, and low ethics. (Num. 31:7-8,15-16, Deu. 23:3-6; Jos. 13:22;24:9-10; Neh.13:1-3;Mic. 6:5;2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14)
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Why did Balaam changed locations and the ways to curse the Israelites? How was God’s power shown through Balaam’s failures?
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Identity - God intervened and protected Israelites when Balak summoned Balaam to curse them. God always protects without us knowing. Let me count the blessings I received last week and know they were from God, not myself.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 29 Day 2: Corruption from Within ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Moabites deceive Israelites, cause them to sin and anger God.
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In reference to Numbers 31:8,16, the incident in this chapter was Balaam’s plan. He tried to corrupt the Israelites to cause them to separate from God and lose His protection.
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Phinehas was zealous for God’s honor. He killed those sinful Israelites and turned away God’s anger for the Israelites. God made with Phinehas and his descendants the covenant of peace, the lasting priesthood.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Satan’s deception is like Balaam’s, to corrupt God’s people from within to lure them away from God. Am I falling for Satan’s deception? Ask God to remind me and keep me alert.
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Fidelity - Phinehas’ zeal for God’s honor contrasts with Israelites. By no mean God wants us to judge upon others nor He wants us to carry out justice for Him. What does zeal for God’s honor mean in my daily life? How do I live it out?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 29 Day 3: The Second Census ⇧ ⇩
Question
What blessings and protections from God were revealed in the second census?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites’ number had not changed much in the 40 years. This was a blessing from God for He promised Abraham’s descendants would become a great nation.
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God blessed Zelophehad’s Daughters for they had the rightful view of their inheritances.
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Moses was denied entry into the land of Canaan. He asked God in his last prayer for a new leader who would lead the Israelites into the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Israelites number changed little after plagues, disasters, killings, and other punishments. God’s promises never change because of our weakness. Looking back in my life, do I often see my own failures or God’s faithfulness?
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Community - Moses’ heart was with the people even though he was denied entry into the promised land. What can I pray for my family, church, and God’s leading in my services?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 29 Day 4: The Daily Offerings ⇧ ⇩
Question
What were the Israelites’ offerings in an entire year?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The day of Moses’ passing was getting closer. God commanded him to pass on the honor of leading the Israelites to Joshua. God commanded Moses to pass on the regulations on the offerings for each day, each sabbath, beginning of each month, and each festival. This was to prepare the Israelites for the worship centered life under the leadership of Joshua and high priest Elijah when they entered the promised land.
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These were the minimum offerings required of the Israelites in addition to the voluntary offerings for sin, cleansing, etc.
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These two chapters record the details of the materials for offerings.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Priests presented burnt offerings each morning. Do I have a God centered life? Am I presenting the best of me and everything I do to God?
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Walking with God - Priests have a lot of tasks on their hands. Their works doubled on each sabbath when the rest of the community didn’t work. Matthew 12:5, the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent. No work is allowed during sabbath and many other festivals so that we may worship God with our full attention. Have I been ignorant about those days that are set apart for worshiping?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 29 Day 5: War with Midianite ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites divide up the plunders and spoils from the war?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Numbers chapter 30 is the regulation for woman who took vows. Her father before she marries or husband after she marries are responsible for her spiritual direction and protection.
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Numbers chapter 31 documents the holy war against the Midianites in the plains of Moab. God destroyed the Midianites for they deceived Israelites to cause them to separate from God. Balaam who planned the deception was killed in the war. Israelites had a complete victory and lost not a single life. Israelites followed God’s direction regarding the captives, cleansing of those who touched the dead, offerings, plunders and spoils of the war. This set a precedence for the wars after the Israelites have entered the land of Canaan.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - God gave fathers and husbands great responsibilities to protect their daughters and wives. For daughters and wives, they must obey and follow the spiritual leadership from their fathers and husbands. As a father or husband, what will from God have I learned for teaching or guiding my daughter or wife? How have I applied it to my life?
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Identity - Israelites did not lose one life in the war with the Midianites. God gave them special commands for cleansing themselves from the captives and spoils. What do the protection and requirements God gave Israelites for the war remind me of in the spiritual wars that I often face?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 29 Day 6: Land of Wandering ⇧ ⇩
Question
What should the Israelites’ life be like when they arrive at the promised land?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In Numbers chapter 32, the Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had their eyes on the land to the east of Jordan river. They promised Moses that they would help the rest of the Israelites enter the promised land first. They saw the land was fertile and suitable for grazing, wanted to settle down quickly. Later, due to the lack of natural barriers, they were the first to be captured and occupied by the Assyrian before the entire nation of Israel fell.
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Faithfully following God’s command, Moses documented the 40 encampment sites during the 40 years of wandering in Numbers chapter 33.
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God commanded Israelites to drive out the idol worshiping people to end idolatry from the promised land. He also commanded the tribes to distribute the land by lot according to their sizes.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh choose the land by the value seen in their own eyes. But they never expected the disaster to follow. Are there things in my life that are valuable to the eyes of the world but not pleasing to God?
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Integrity - When victory was in sight, God commanded the Israelites not to relax allowing idolatry to corrupt their hearts once they enter the promised land. Entering the promised land does not make an end to the journey of faith. While I enjoy many freedoms and privileges in my faith today, how can I remind myself to stay vigilant?