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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 15
April 14, 2024
Week 15 Day 1: 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 15 Day 2: 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 15 Day 3: 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?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 15 Day 4: Boundaries of Canaan ⇧ ⇩
Question
How the Israelites should have lived in the promised land?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God gave Israelites the boundaries of the promised land and selected leaders, one from each of the 9 and half tribes. They followed the leadership of Joshua and high priest Elijah to distribute the land.
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In Numbers 35, God gave the regulations on establishing towns. God also established the cities of refuge for those who have killed someone by accident as their places of refuge. This was to keep them away from the avengers to prevent endless revenge killings that would defile the promised land.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - It is God’s grace to establish cities of refuge for those who killed unintentionally to ensure proper trials. Sins of blood can only be cleansed with blood. Those who fled to the cities of refuge must wait for the death of the high priest. The blood of Jesus Christ has forgiven all our sins, intentional or not. He is the city of refuge for all God’s people. Let me atone in front Jesus and pray to Him to release me from my sins, to give me protection and freedom in Him.
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Identity - God’s promise to Abraham was about to be realized! God kept His promise through 40 years of continuing complaints and rebellions from the Israelites. Even today, His promises to His people have not changed. What encouragements do I receive and how do I value myself with the promises He has given to me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 15 Day 5: Security of Inheritance ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God ensure the land of those who has no son will not go to other tribes?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- With God’s permission, the daughters of son-less Zelophehad inherited his land. The family heads now faced a new problem. Namely, a tribe’s land may go to other tribes in the Year of Jubilee if daughters with inheritances marry men from other tribes. Therefore, by God’s command, Moses ordered: “They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan.” The daughters obeyed.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - Zelophehad’s daughters obeyed all God’s commands. These daughters not only cared for themselves but also their father’s property. God’s children should look after not just themselves. Do I follow any of the world’s viewpoints but against God’s? What can I do to care for the church and fellow Christians?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 15 Day 6: Failure of Rebellion ⇧ ⇮
Question
Why did the previous generation of Israelites fail to enter the promised land 40 years ago?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The new generation of Israelites who have not reached 20 or yet to be born at the time of exodus from Egypt, have now finally reached the plains of Moab across the Jordan river from the promised land after 40 years of wandering journey. The Book of Deuteronomy documents the last days of Moses where he followed God’s command to reiterate the laws and regulations so that they “fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deu. 10:12-13)
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Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43 reflects on the past 40 years of Israelite’s history.
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Chapter 1 reflects on the event 40 years ago when the previous generation of Israelites forgot God’s protection and the miracles God performed for them. They rebelled against God for their lack of faith in God and the fear of the large and powerful descendants of Anak.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Israelites spent 40 years wandering on a journey that could have been completed in 11 days. It wasn’t the geographical distance but their lack of faith kept them from reaching the promised land. The distance to God’s wonderful promise is probably a lot closer than I think. What do I need to let go of in order to win over my disobedience and to follow God whole heartedly?
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Community, Fidelity - In addition to calling the knowledgeable and renowned to become spiritual leaders, God also calls on all to serve and be responsible in all kinds of tasks in church. How am I responding to Him to serve with others as a unified team in His work? How am I letting go of my own agendas and objectives so God can use me fully?