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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 24
June 19, 2022
Week 24 Day 1: Census and Placement ⇧ ⇩
Question
How were the census conducted and tribes’ camps arranged?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The first census and where each of the tribes were placed around the Tent of Meeting.
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The census was for “twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army.” (1:3) The tribes were arranged according to their army divisions. God turned the Israelites from a group of slaves into an army. He prepared them for war to fight their way into the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - The Israeli tribes were arranged around the Tabernacle to put God in the center. Am I placing God in the center of my life?
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Identity - God promised Abraham to become a great nation when he had no hope of having offspring. By this time, those who were 20 or older numbered at 603,550, not counting the tribe of Levi. The promise was being fulfilled one step at a time. Is the value of everything I see based on God’s promise?
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Fidelity - He transformed the Israelites from slaves to army. Do I know that I was a slave of sin and now, with God’s salvation, an elite solder of His army?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 24 Day 2: Kingdom of Priests ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God make Israel a kingdom of priests?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Chapter 3 starts in Genesis like fashion with the lineage of the Levites.
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God established the kingdom of priests as the works for the tribe of Levi were around the Tabernacle signifying God’s covenant with Israelites and His presence.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Reference Genesis 49 and Exodus 32. Levites loved God and offered themselves to God. Now God took the Levites as substitute for all Israelite firstborns to serve Him. Likewise, when we turn to God, we are offering ourselves to Him and serve Him. Think about the transformation God has done for my life.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 24 Day 3: The Holy Nation ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God make Israelites the holy nation?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God called the Israelites to become His holy nation.
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The laws to keep the Israelites clean:
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Restitution for wrongs: to keep Israelites united.
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Holy marriage: to keep the descendants clean.
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Nazirites: a special testimony to God’s calling.
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Aaron’s blessing: Reaffirmed God’s promises and pointed the Israelites to the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - God made the Israelites His and established laws and rules on restitution to keep them united. Do I value the unity of Christians or am I damaging it?
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Fidelity - God put great emphasis on fidelity in marriage. Do I value my marriage as holy and being faithful to my spouse?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 24 Day 4: To Serve Wholeheartedly ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites celebrate and serve when the Tabernacle was set up?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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This chapter documents the events after Exodus 40 where Moses set up the Tabernacle as God commanded, and His glory filled the Tabernacle. Here, the celebration and offering continued for 12 days as response to God’s promises.
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The leaders of the 12 tribes brought 6 covered carts and 12 oxen as offerings. Moses accepted with God’s consent.
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The leaders of the tribes brought the offerings in the order of where they camped. This is the longest chapter besides Psalm 119 in the Old Testament because the same lists of the offerings were repeated 12 times. This shows that God was equally pleased with the offerings from all tribes.
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The chapter ends with Moses went into the tent of meeting and heard God’s voice from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark. This was the first time Moses spoke with God after the Tabernacle was set up.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The same offerings presented 12 times and recorded 12 times show clearly that the tribes were all accepted by God equally. In God’s eyes, there’s no difference between what others offered and what I offered. Do I see differences between the services of others and mine?
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Fidelity - The Israelites saw the glory of God and presented their offerings. Do I see God’s glory in my life? What can I present to Him as my spiritual offering to His faithfulness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 24 Day 5: Pure and Clean ⇧ ⇩
Question
How Levites purified and made themselves ceremonially clean before they serve?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In 8:1-4, God commanded Moses to tell Aaron to light up the 7 golden lamps the first time. God wanted the area in front of the lampstands to be filled with light.
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Verses 8:5-26 records God’s regulations for purifying the Levites. They were sent to the priests to be purified and made offerings. They were to work in the tent of meeting. The Levites were chosen as substitute for all firstborns to serve God and make atonements for the Israelites. Levites were positioned between the Veil and the Israelites, so they don’t have to get near the Holy of the Holies.
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Verses 9:1-14 records the first Passover after the Israelites came out of Egypt.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - In this passage we see God provided a way to celebrate Passover for those who wish to celebrate but unable to follow the regulations because they were unable to keep themselves ceremonially clean. However, those who were able to follow the regulations but chose not to celebrate would be cut off. It is the heart that God values. Do I desire God in my heart?
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Identity - High Priest Aaron lit up the lamps to make light shine in the Holy Place. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, lit up the path for us to walk on. What does it mean to walk in His light in my daily life?
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Fidelity - The Levites must first clean, then atone, and then present their offerings before they can serve. What does this ordering remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 24 Day 6: Follow the Cloud ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites follow God’s lead?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites encamped or moved on as God commanded.
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God gave the Israelites two silver trumpets at the foot of Mount Sinai to signal their movements. The silver trumpets and the cloud presented unified direction to the Israeli people. In the last days, God will also send his angels to sound trumpets to gather His people (Mat. 24:31; Rev. 8-9)
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Israelites started their passage to the promised land from the desert of Sinai a year and a month and 20 days after they have come out of Egypt. A journey that took 38 years to complete is covered in 10:11-22:1.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - The ark of covenant was at the very front leading the way to find a restful place for the Israelites (10:33). During the day, the cloud covered them from the burning sun. It might look like a lot of hard work to follow God but it is always filled with His mercy and protection. Think about the love and care He gave me as well the encouragements this passage gives me.
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Identity - When the cloud lifted, the Israelites set out. When the cloud settled, they stayed. They sometimes would stay at one place for a long while. Sometimes they would move on the next day. When the trumpets sound, they followed. Following God means not following our own desires, no matter what. What am I following today, my own desire or God?