Experiencing God in the Wilderness: An Overview of the Book of Numbers
Weekly Reading
Monday: Leviticus 12
Tuesday: Leviticus 13, Luke 13
Wednesday: Leviticus 14, Luke 14
Thursday: Leviticus 15, Luke 15
Friday: Luke 16
Saturday: Psalm 45-47
Sunday: 2 Kings 11-18
Tuesday: Leviticus 13, Luke 13
Wednesday: Leviticus 14, Luke 14
Thursday: Leviticus 15, Luke 15
Friday: Luke 16
Saturday: Psalm 45-47
Sunday: 2 Kings 11-18
Sermon Notes
Key Passage: Numbers 14:11
John 3:14
Romans 12:1
Romans 15:4
Luke 24:27
1 Corinthians 10:4
John 4:10
“The Redemptive-Historical approach necessarily yields ethical application, which is an essential part of the preaching of the Word.” -Edmund P. Clowney
“Numbers shows us how God responded to the unbelief of the Israelites. There are consequences to our disobedience, but God’s grace remains, and His redemptive plan and desire for us will not be stopped. The book of Numbers underscores for us the importance of obedience in the life of a Christian, and Paul reminded us of the value of learning from the way God has worked in the past.” -Charles Spurgeon
“Some people think the Bible is a book of rules. Or a book of heroes. But the Bible is most of all a story. The Jesus Storybook Bible tells that wonderful story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Every story whispers His name.” -Sally Lloyd-Jones
“The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the March. Yet they were as truly part of the company as were the foremost tribe. They followed the same fiery/cloudy pillar, ate the same manna, drank from the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Even though last and least, it is our privilege to be in the army and to fare as those fare who lead the expedition. Someone must be at the rear in honor and esteem; someone must do the menial work for Jesus, and why shouldn’t it be me? In a poor village among an ignorant peasantry or in a back street among degraded sinners, I will work and take my assigned place at the rear. The Danites occupied a useful place. Stragglers have to be helped along, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward to learn fresh truth and win more souls to Jesus, but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state, one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole company.” -Charles Spurgeon
“Give Me Thy Best”
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But he asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few; these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
Andrew Wilson’s Root Causes for the Israelite Failure
John 3:14
Romans 12:1
Romans 15:4
Luke 24:27
1 Corinthians 10:4
John 4:10
“The Redemptive-Historical approach necessarily yields ethical application, which is an essential part of the preaching of the Word.” -Edmund P. Clowney
“Numbers shows us how God responded to the unbelief of the Israelites. There are consequences to our disobedience, but God’s grace remains, and His redemptive plan and desire for us will not be stopped. The book of Numbers underscores for us the importance of obedience in the life of a Christian, and Paul reminded us of the value of learning from the way God has worked in the past.” -Charles Spurgeon
“Some people think the Bible is a book of rules. Or a book of heroes. But the Bible is most of all a story. The Jesus Storybook Bible tells that wonderful story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Every story whispers His name.” -Sally Lloyd-Jones
“The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the March. Yet they were as truly part of the company as were the foremost tribe. They followed the same fiery/cloudy pillar, ate the same manna, drank from the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Even though last and least, it is our privilege to be in the army and to fare as those fare who lead the expedition. Someone must be at the rear in honor and esteem; someone must do the menial work for Jesus, and why shouldn’t it be me? In a poor village among an ignorant peasantry or in a back street among degraded sinners, I will work and take my assigned place at the rear. The Danites occupied a useful place. Stragglers have to be helped along, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward to learn fresh truth and win more souls to Jesus, but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state, one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole company.” -Charles Spurgeon
“Give Me Thy Best”
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But he asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few; these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
Andrew Wilson’s Root Causes for the Israelite Failure
- The first and last one sees Israel grumbling about their misfortunes — Numbers 11:1-3 and 21:4-9.
- The second and sixth trials involve a lack of faith that God will provide food — Numbers 11:4-34 — and water — 20:2-13.
- The third and fifth incidents refer to challenges to Moses’ leadership — Numbers 12:1-15 and 16:1–17:13.
- In the fourth text, Israel fails to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief — Numbers 13:1–14:38.
Discussion Questions
1. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in the passage or the sermon?
2. Ralph talked about in the sermon the pendulum of belief and unbelief in the Israelites. What has that look like in your life?
3. What are things you can do to increase your faith in the Lord?
4. Consider as a group with verse, Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” How can reading the word of God and hearing it increase your faith?
5. Share some testimonies of obedience to encourage one another’s faith.
6. Ralph spoke in sermon about the tribe of Dan. When the Israelites took of camp and journeyed, they were called to be the last one’s in the rear. Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon about the importance of the rear tribe. Then discuss how we can choose to encourage everyone’s individual gifts.
“The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the March. Yet they were as truly part of the company as were the foremost tribe. They followed the same fiery/cloudy pillar, ate the same manna, drank from the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Even though last and least, it is our privilege to be in the army and to fare as those fare who lead the expedition. Someone must be at the rear in honor and esteem; someone must do the menial work for Jesus, and why shouldn’t it be me? In a poor village among an ignorant peasantry or in a back street among degraded sinners, I will work and take my assigned place at the rear. The Danites occupied a useful place. Stragglers have to be helped along, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward to learn fresh truth and win more souls to Jesus, but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state, one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole company.” -Charles Spurgeon
2. Ralph talked about in the sermon the pendulum of belief and unbelief in the Israelites. What has that look like in your life?
3. What are things you can do to increase your faith in the Lord?
4. Consider as a group with verse, Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” How can reading the word of God and hearing it increase your faith?
5. Share some testimonies of obedience to encourage one another’s faith.
6. Ralph spoke in sermon about the tribe of Dan. When the Israelites took of camp and journeyed, they were called to be the last one’s in the rear. Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon about the importance of the rear tribe. Then discuss how we can choose to encourage everyone’s individual gifts.
“The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the March. Yet they were as truly part of the company as were the foremost tribe. They followed the same fiery/cloudy pillar, ate the same manna, drank from the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Even though last and least, it is our privilege to be in the army and to fare as those fare who lead the expedition. Someone must be at the rear in honor and esteem; someone must do the menial work for Jesus, and why shouldn’t it be me? In a poor village among an ignorant peasantry or in a back street among degraded sinners, I will work and take my assigned place at the rear. The Danites occupied a useful place. Stragglers have to be helped along, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward to learn fresh truth and win more souls to Jesus, but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state, one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole company.” -Charles Spurgeon
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