Teacher Notes

Bible Stories for Adults

God Leads His People to the Promised Land

Numbers



Welcome and Announcements
    Next Week - The Fall of Jericho and The Conquest (Joshua)
    Bible Words to Remember:
      Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15

Opening Prayer


At Mount Sinai (Numbers 1-10)
    What was God's basic message for the Israelites on Mount Sinai?
      Exodus 19:3-6 = Obey me & keep my covenant, be my kingdom of priests & holy nation
    What three types of Law did God give Israel at Mount Sinai?
      Exodus 20 = Moral Law (Ten Commandments)
      Exodus 21-23 = Civil Law (Governmental)
      Exodus 24-40, Lev., Numbers 1-9, Deut. = Ceremonial Laws

    How long had Israel traveled when they reached Mount Sinai?
      Exodus 19:1 = Three months to the day
    How long did Israel stay at Sinai?
      Numbers 10:11 = Almost 2 years (1 week shy); Left 2/20/2
    How did Israel know it was time to go and where to stop?
      Numbers 10:12-13 = God's command, Cloud led them to Desert of Paran
    Had God's miraculous signs before & at Sinai made Israel TRUST IN THE LORD?
      Numbers 11:1-3 = People complained about hardships, God sent fire

Miriam & Aaron (Numbers 12)
    Who were Miriam and Aaron?
      Numbers 26:59 = Moses' sister and brother
      Exodus 15:20 = Miriam was a prophetess
      Leviticus 8:1-3, 12 = Aaron was first high priest of Israel
    What prompted Miriam & Aaron to oppose Moses and what did they claim?
      Numbers 12:1-2 = Married an Ethiopian (Cushite); They also talk to God
    Was this a result of Moses being arrogant because of his position?
      Numbers 12:3 = Moses was the most humble man around
    How did God respond to Miriam and Aaron's opposition?
      Numbers 12:4-9 = Moses is more than a prophet, We speak face-to-face

    How did God punish this rejection of His selection?
      Numbers 12:10-12 = Gave Miriam leprosy, Aaron asked for forgiveness
    How did Moses and God respond to Aaron's request?
      Numbers 12:13-15 = Healed her leprosy, Prescribed 7 days cleansing

Spies Sent to Canaan (Numbers 13-14)
    What did God command when Israel reached Kadesh (southern edge of Canaan)?
      Numbers 13:1-3 = Send men to explore the Promised Land, one leader from each tribe
    How far did the spies travel and how long were they gone?
      Numbers 13:21-25 = To northern edge (Hamath), 40 days
    What kind of report did the spies give upon their return?
      Numbers 13:26-28 = Flowing with milk & honey, fruitful, people prosperous & powerful

    Were the spies ready for God to lead them into the Promised Land?
      Numbers 13:31-33 = Didn't trust God, People of the land are too strong
    How did the Israelites respond to this report?
      Numbers 14:1-4 = Grumbled & decided to pick a leader to take them back to Egypt

    Did any of the spies disagree with the others and trust God to lead them?
      Numbers 14:5-9 = Joshua & Caleb, God is more powerful than the people
    Did Joshua and Caleb's speech turn the Israelites back to God?
      Numbers 14:10 = No. The people planned to stone Joshua & Caleb
    What was God's punishment for this lack of faith? = Wander 40 years
      Numbers 14:26-30, 33-34 = All over 20 to die in desert, except Joshua & Caleb
    What was God's punishment for the spies who had said not to go?
      Numbers 14:37-38 = God killed them with a plague

    Did Israel recognize their sin? How did they plan to correct their evil?
      Numbers 14:39-40 = We have sinned, We will go into the Promised Land
    Did Moses agree with their plan?
      Numbers 14:41-42 = No. This is against God's command. You will lose.
    Did Israel carry out their plan?
      Numbers 14:44-45 = Yes. They were defeated

The Korah Rebellion (Numbers 16)
    What did the 250 men with Korah say about Moses' leadership?
      Numbers 16:2-3 = The whole community is holy...Why do you set yourself above?
    How did Moses respond to this rebellion?
      Numbers 16:28-30 (4-5) = God will show us who is His & who is holy
    How did God show His support for Moses and Aaron?
      Numbers 16:31-33 = An earthquake swallowed the rebels & households

    Did the Israelites then trust God and accept Moses & Aaron?
      Numbers 16:41 = No. They blamed Moses & Aaron for killing God's people
    How did God respond?
      Numbers 16:43-45 = Began to kill off the assembly for lack of faith
    How did Moses and Aaron turn God's wrath from the people?
      Numbers 16:47-49 = Aaron made atonement for the people, plague stopped

Aaron's Staff (Numbers 17)
    What was God's plan to show His choice of leaders?
      Numbers 17:1-5 = Take staffs from all 12 leaders, one that sprouts belongs to my chosen
    Which staff sprouted?
      Numbers 17:8-9 = Aaron's staff sprouted, budded, blossomed & grew almonds overnight

Water From the Rock (Numbers 20)
    Did the people finally stop grumbling and trust God, Moses & Aaron?
      Numbers 20:2 = People opposed M & A because there was no water
    How did God solve this crisis?
      Numbers 20:7-8 = Told Moses to speak to rock and it will produce water
    Did Moses follow God's instructions?
      Numbers 20:10-11 = No. He struck the rock twice, water gushed out
    How did God punish Moses for disobeying Him?
      Numbers 20:12 = Moses would not enter the Promised Land with the people

The Bronze Snake (Numbers 21)
    Did the people finally stop grumbling and Trust God?
      Numbers 21:4-5 = Spoke against God & Moses. No bread or water, crummy food
    How did God punish Israel for their lack of faith?
      Numbers 21:6-7 = Sent poisonous snakes, many Israelites died
    How did God solve this crisis when the people confessed?
      Numbers 21:8-9 = Had Moses make snake on a pole for people to look at and live

    How does God solve our crisis of death when we confess?
      John 3:14-15 = Just as Moses lifted the snake, the Son of Man must be lifted...
    What are some similarities between the bronze snake and Christ's death?
      Bronze snake lifted on a pole = Jesus lifted up on a cross
      Bronze snake looked like real snake = Jesus was true man but without sin
      Israel looked to snake in faith = We look in faith to Jesus
      Snake saved Israelites from death = Jesus saved us from eternal death

Passing Through Edom (Numbers 20)
    How did Israel decide it was time to head north?
      Deuteronomy 2:1-3 = God told them to
    Why did God protect the Edomites from conquest by the Israelites?
      Deuteronomy 2:4-5 = I have given Esau the hill country of Seir
    How did Edom respond to Israel's request to pass thru on the King's Highway?
      Numbers 20:14, 17-21 = Wouldn't let them through, They went around

God Protects Moab and Ammon (Numbers 21)
    Why did God protect the Moabites from conquest by the Israelites?
      Deuteronomy 2:9 = I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot
    Why did God protect the Ammonites from conquest by the Israelites?
      Deuteronomy 2:19 = I have given it to the descendants of Lot

    How long had passed when Israel reached Moab (Zered Brook)?
      Deuteronomy 2:14-15 = 38 years since Kadesh, Entire generation had died

Moses Dies (Deuteronomy 34)
    What did God need to take care of before Moses died?
      Deuteronomy 31:14 = Commission Joshua as His chosen replacement for Moses
    Where did God bring Moses to die and why?
      Deuteronomy 34:1-5 = To Mount Nebo so he could see the Promised Land
    Did the Israelites accept Joshua as their new leader?
      Deuteronomy 34:9 = Joshua filled with spirit of wisdom, Israel listened to him
    How exceptional was Moses?
      Deuteronomy 34:10-12 = No one else knew God face-to-face or performed awesome deeds

Closing Prayer



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

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