Numbers

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The book of numbers in Hebrew is called “בְּמִדְבַּר” (Bəmiḏbar), which means “in the wilderness” or “in the desert.” This title reflects the setting of much of the book’s narrative, as it primarily deals with the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. The Israelites move from Sinai to the wilderness of Paran and finally the plains of Moab (on the edge of the Promised Land).

We can also compare this book to our own lives, where deliverance from Egypt is like our salvation and belief in Jesus and the Promised Land is heaven. We are living in a period of waiting for the Promised Land in the wilderness of our lives.

God’s presence with the Israelites and his holiness is still very important throughout the book of Numbers. The Levites were responsible as guardians of God’s holiness and worked in the Tabernacle. They also transported the Tabernacle and it’s furniture. The many laws given by the Lord were to ensure the purity of the camp.

Numbers narrates the transition of the old generation who left Egypt, who sinned due to their lack of faith to the new generation who was allowed to enter the Promised Land. Numbers revealing the new generation therefore gives us hope.

The generation of people who were saved from slavery in Egypt were forbidden to enter the Promised Land because they rebelled against the Lord. The Lord said that only those 20 years old and younger would be eligible. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness and the older generation died before they entered the land God promised. They were constantly grumbling against the Lord’s provision for them. They were tired of eating the same food all the time and having no water at times.

Moses sent twelve men, (Numbers 13) one from each tribe of Israel, to spy out the land of Canaan, which God had promised to give to the Israelites. These spies spent forty days exploring the land, returning with a report about its inhabitants, its fertility, and the challenges it presented. Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb had faith, the other 10 spies were afraid of the inhabitants and demonstrated a lack of faith in spite of what the Lord had already done for them. The Lord was angry and this is when he said that only those 20 years old or less would enter the Promised Land.

Then there was Korah (Numbers 16) who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, challenging their authority. He, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 other prominent Israelites, confronted Moses and Aaron, questioning why they should have exclusive leadership roles. They accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the rest of the congregation. This rebellion ultimately resulted in a dramatic showdown where God intervened, affirming Moses and Aaron’s leadership by causing the ground to swallow Korah and his followers. In spite of this rebellion, the Lord continued to provide for his people.

Even Moses was excluded from entering the Promised Land in Numbers chapter 20. The reason is that he disobeyed God’s command when he struck the rock at Meribah instead of speaking to it, as God had instructed. This act of disobedience demonstrated a lack of faith and reverence for God’s authority, leading to the consequence of Moses being unable to enter the land he had led the Israelites toward for forty years.

In Numbers 21:4-9, the Israelites, frustrated with their journey in the wilderness, spoke against God and Moses. As a consequence, God sent fiery serpents among them, which bit the people, causing many to die. Upon realizing their sin and the consequence it brought, the people repented and asked Moses to intercede on their behalf. In response, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone who was bitten and looked at the bronze serpent would live. This event served as both a punishment for the Israelites’ disobedience and a lesson about the importance of repentance and faith in God’s provision for salvation.

We can see a link with Jesus in this plague of fiery serpents. To be saved from death, the people just had to look at the serpent. This required an act of faith, but it was just looking and nothing more. We need only have faith in Jesus, looking upon him to be saved. Saved by faith!

John 3:14-17 NLT
[14] And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. [16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

The Lord ultimately did not abandon his people, even though they rebelled against him, he honoured his covenant with them. Each generation of Christians is like the new generation of the book of Numbers. The Lord redeems his people and therefore brings hope and gives our lives meaning.

The book of Numbers ends with the Israelites encamped on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from the land of Canaan, which is the Promised Land. They are on the verge of entering and conquering it under the leadership of Joshua, who succeeded Moses.

Despite the shortcomings of the Israelites, God remains faithful to His promises, ensuring that they eventually reach the outskirts of the Promised Land.

The importance of leadership and obedience to God’s commands is emphasized through the examples of Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb. Obedience leads to blessings, while disobedience results in consequences.

Overall, the book of Numbers underscores the enduring relationship between the Lord and His people, highlighting His faithfulness, guidance, judgment, and the importance of obedience.

The Lord is relational and loves his people: ‭Numbers 6:22-27 NLT‬
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:  ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus help is to be like Joshua and Caleb whose faith did not waiver even though they saw that the Promised Land had many giants and walled cities. They still believed they would have the victory in battle against these people. Thank you for your faithfulness Lord Jesus and for the new covenant we have where we have access to speak with you at any time. Thank you that we have your Holy Spirit who dwells within us, making our bodies the Tabernacle. Because you are holy Lord, I pray that we would repent of our sins as soon as you bring them to our attention, so that we can well maintain our relationship with you. Amen.

References:

1) An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Apollos, Leicester, p83-90.

2) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Leviticus

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Leviticus is all about the Lord’s covenant with his people. We have a holy God who wanted to be in a relationship with his people, the Israelites but they needed to be holy in order to do so. The word ‘holy’ means dedicated to God or set apart for a special purpose i.e. the purposes of God.

The way to relate to God in the Old Testament was through the priesthood. Because of sin, human beings could not relate directly to God. They needed to go through a priest, and in particular they needed a high priest.¹

In the Old Testament, according to the Jewish tradition, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place), the innermost sanctum of the Tabernacle, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The high priest would communicate with God on behalf of the people of Israel, offering sacrifices and prayers for forgiveness of sins.

However, regular priests were permitted to enter the Holy Place, the outer chamber of the Tabernacle, to perform various rituals and duties, but they didn’t directly converse with God in the same way the high priest did in the Holy of Holies.

Sacrifice of animals was core to worshipping God in the Old Testament. It is difficult for us to understand why this barbaric practice would have been necessary, yet it was. The Lord required an offering for sin, the death of the animal would take place instead of the death of the person who sinned. This was the requirement of a holy God who detests sin.  In order to stay in a relationship with God the people had to sacrifice an animal to atone for their sins. The word, ‘atone’ means to make amends or to reconcile for a wrongdoing or a sin, often through repentance (saying sorry to God and the people we hurt and being committed to change and taking serious action in that regard) for forgiveness. It’s about seeking reconciliation or making right for past transgressions. “When the covenant relationship was broken through certain types of offences, repentant Israelites could obtain God’s forgiveness by offering a substitute to take the penalty of their sin. In this way, sacrifice served as a divinely sanctioned means for restoring covenant relationship.”²

The people’s most valued possessions were their animals, often they would not even eat meat as they could not afford to kill their animals. By giving an animal as an offering they were also giving something valuable to the Lord, which meant something to them. It had to be an animal without defect, so giving their best to the Lord was not only necessary, it was a sign of love and respect.

There were many laws given about different types of sacrifices (gifts to God), for example burnt, purification and guilt offerings, which were for sin; a grain offering, which was a gift and given to the priests afterwards to eat; a peace (or fellowship) offering was for fellowship with others and God and the food would be shared and eaten.

There were special rules for the priests who were responsible for keeping the people holy. Aaron and his sons were dedicated to the priesthood in a special ceremony, where a sin offering, a burnt offering and peace offering were made.

Leviticus also contains other laws, such as food laws, indicating which animals could be eaten and those which should not. These laws were quite likely included to protect the people from food which carried disease or contaminated easily. There were also laws about childbirth, where women having given birth were unclean for a prescribed amount of time; laws about suspected skin disease, where people had to be quarantined as well as washing instructions for the body.

The Day of Atonement took place once a year in September or October. This was when Aaron, the high priest went into the Most Holy Place (after forgiveness of his own sin) and spoke with the Lord. He then cleansed the Tabernacle and the people from their sins. This ceremony reminded the people of their sin which cut them off from God and the need for atonement to bring forgiveness and restore their relationship with God.

There were also laws for life and worship. Blood was considered as sacred and all sacrifices had to take place in the right place and to the right person, i.e. the Lord. This contrasts offerings made to other gods by other nations, who the people would later encounter.

The law also spoke of sexual taboos, like marriage between those closely related by blood, adultery, child-sacrifice, etc. Such behaviour would bring judgement on the land. 

The law also contained rules for helping the poor, foreigners and disabled people. The Lord cared for all of these people too.

There were also rules for feasts and celebrations, like the Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, The Feast of Weeks (Pentacost) etc. Each celebration had a special meaning and purpose.

The Lord gave very specific instructions to the people he loved as a way for them to maintain their relationship with a holy God. The system of animal sacrifice was not ideal but it was necessary. It was not the Lord’s final plan for his people and the rest of the world.

In the New Testament we see that Jesus was the Lord’s final plan to set humanity free from death caused by sin. Jesus became the final sacrifice, a once and for all offering for the sins of everybody. Here we see that Leviticus is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus shed his sacred blood to atone for the sins of the people (everyone). Now under the new covenant, when we sin we talk to the Lord and ask for forgiveness, without the need to sacrifice an animal. The Lord, who is still holy can look upon us because of the blood of Jesus shed for us. We are protected by the blood of Jesus and everyone (not just the hight priest) can go into the presence of God or approach the throne of God freely and talk to him. Because they did not have Jesus, the Israelites were not able to go into the presence of God in the Most Holy Place, only the high priest, Aaron could do this and only once a year. The priests were the go-between God and his people. Jesus death and resurrection changed everything.

“The death of Christ: He is the true lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29); He gave his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45); His blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7); … Christ is both the perfect priest who offers sacrifice and the ultimate sacrificial victim, whose death makes all further animal sacrifice unnecessary.”³

Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT‬
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”19)It is amazing what Jesus did for us. He was fully human and felt pain, just like we do, yet he was obedient to death by crucifixion because of his love and the Father’s love for us.

“Through repentance and forgiveness your relationship with God is utterly transformed and you can come directly into God’s presence, just as the Old Testament priests did when they entered the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle).”⁴

Hebrews 10:22 NLT‬ “Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for agreeing to carry out your purpose on earth, which was to die and be resurrected.  Although you knew that you would have to experience the pain of crucifixion and take upon yourself all the sins of the world, you still choose to do it. It is because of your love for humanity that you chose to follow that difficult path anyway. Thank you Lord that now our sins can be forgiven by asking for your forgiveness. Thank you that the blood you shed makes us pure and reconciles us with God. Thank you for saving us Jesus. Amen.

Footnotes:

¹The bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumble, Classic version, 2024, Day 62, Publisher:  Alpha

²An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Apollos, Leicester, p77.

³’Sacrifice’ by Nobuyoshi Kiuchi in The Lion Handbook to the Bible,third edition, Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p183.

⁴The bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumble, Classic version, 2024, Day 62, Publisher:  Alpha

References:

1) An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Apollos, Leicester, p76-82.

2) ‘Leviticus’ in The 5 Books by John Taylor in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, third edition, Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p180-192

3) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Moses (Exodus 1-40)

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1) Chapters 1-11

The exodus is about the birth of Israel as a nation. It took place in about 1450 BC. Moses is central to the narrative and it was he who led the Israelites out of Egypt. God used Moses to give the law ‘the rule of life,’ to the people and made them his own through this covenant. We see that the Lord is in control, leading his people and we see a God who is known and one who rescues the oppressed. God is seen as holy, good and just.

1.1 Israel in Egypt

Joseph’s death was some 400 years prior to the exodus. Their once privileged status was gone. The Israelites had become numerous and this worried Pharoah, so he made them slaves. Even under this oppression they continued to increase in number. Pharoah took a more direct action and gave orders to kill all male Hebrew babies.

1.2 Moses

Moses parents kept him hidden until he was 3 months old then set him in a basket along the Nile in an attempt to save his life. He was discovered by Pharoah’s daughter who raised him. So Moses grew up like a prince in Pharoah’s royal household.

“As so often happens in the Old Testament, God preserved the future deliverer’s life through great danger in his infancy. Not only did God preserve Moses’ life, but he did so in such a way that Moses was raised under the nose of Pharoah himself”¹

40 years passed before Moses was ready to be used by the Lord. He was living in Midian. The Lord had seen the oppression of his people and decided that it was time to act. One day while Moses wondered in the desert, he saw a burning bush. He was amazed that the bush was not being consumed by the fire. ‭

Exodus 3:4-6 NLT‬ “When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.  “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.”

The Lord spoke to Moses: ‭Exodus 3:9-10 NLT‬ “Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

Moses was reluctant to do what the Lord had asked of him, because he felt inadequate because he was slow in speech. However, the Lord equipped Moses, with the ability to carry out miraculous signs for the people and said he would be with him. He also agreed for his brother Aaron to go with him to be the spokesperson. After this Moses agreed to do it. He was 80 years old and Aaron, 83.

God’s way is not always easy – it is extraordinarily challenging but, at the end of the day, wonderfully fulfilling.²

When Moses told the Israelite people about his plan, showing them the miraculous signs the Lord had given Moses, they believed. Moses and Aaron confronted Pharoah and asked him to let God’s people go, so that they might worship the Lord. Pharoah said he would not comply as he did not know the Lord. The Lord then sent the following plagues on Egypt, which took place over a period of 6 months to one year. The Lord turned their drinking water into blood, sent a plague of frogs, gnats or lice, flies, a deadly disease on their livestock, festering boils on humans and animals, hail, locusts and darkness. Not a single Israelite or their livestock suffered from the plagues. After each plague Pharoah would agree to let God’s people go but as soon as the Lord made the plague go away, he would harden his heart again.

2) Chapters 12-18

2.1 The Passover

The final plague sent was the death of every firstborn Egyptian child, which included Pharaoh’s firstborn. For this final plague, the Israelites had to put lamb’s blood over their doorposts so that the angel of death would pass over their homes. The Israelites continued to celebrate the Passover each year and sacrificed a lamb without defect. This lamb sacrifice pointed to the future sacrifice of Jesus in the New Testament. It was only after this final plague of death that Pharoah actually did let the Israelites go. ‭

Exodus 12:31-32 NLT‬ “Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.  Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.”

The plagues or judgements taught Pharoah and his people who the Lord is and showed them the extent of the Lord’s power over creation. Pharoah even asked for the Lord’s blessing before they left. That’s quite a change of heart! Pharoah had learnt who the Lord is. The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

2.2 The exodus

The Lord did not take a direct route to Canaan because he was concerned the people were not ready to face a battle with the inhabitants of the promised land. He led them to the Red sea. After the Israelites left, Pharoah changed his mind again and decided to chase after them. He left with horses and chariots and caught up with the large group of people. They were terrified because they were trapped between the sea and Pharoah’s army. They cried out to the Lord and accused Moses of betrayal. This was a test of faith for them. The Lord parted the water so the Israelites could cross on dry land. Once they were safely across, the waters rushed back and Pharoah’s army drowned.

“Israel learns the truth of Moses words ‘The Lord will fight for you; there is no need for you to do anything.’³

The Lord was faithful and gracious. He sent the plagues and parted the Red sea so that his children could be free, just as he promised. He rescued the Israelites before he gave the law, which means by grace he saved them before teaching them to be his people by means of the law, which he gave later.

2.3 Egypt to Sinai

The Israelites soon became mutinous in the desert because the conditions were harsh. They had no food or water. Some Israelites even longed for Egypt again where they had what they needed. The Lord heard the cries of his people and provided for them in the following ways: Manna: God provided manna, a miraculous bread-like substance, for the Israelites to eat every morning (Exodus 16:4-36). Manna sustained them throughout their journey in the desert. They ate manna for 40 years as they crossed the desert until they arrived at the border of Canaan. Quail: In addition to manna, God provided quail for meat in the evening (Exodus 16:11-13). He sent a large flock of quail to the camp of the Israelites. Water: God miraculously provided water for the Israelites in the desert. He instructed Moses to strike a rock at Horeb, and water gushed out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:1-7). Guidance: The Lord provided guidance and protection for the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert. He led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). This divine guidance ensured they stayed on the right path and were protected from their enemies. Clothing and shoes: Despite their wandering in the desert for forty years, the Israelites’ clothing and shoes did not wear out. (Deuteronomy 29:5).

Overall, God’s provision for the Israelites in the desert demonstrated His faithfulness, compassion, and care for His people, even in the most challenging circumstances.

3) Chapters 19-40 Two months after the Israelites left Egypt they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai.

3.1 The people of God. The people camped at the base of mount Sinai. Moses went up the mountain to speak with the Lord and he asked Moses to give the following message to the Israelites.

‭Exodus 19:4-5 NLT‬ “‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

3.2 The Ten Commandments God revealed himself in a cloud, fire and smoke. The mountain (Mt. Sinai) had become a sacred place because of the Lord’s presence. Nobody, except Moses and Aaron were allowed to go near the boundary at the base of the mountain or they faced death. This is when the Lord verbally gave his 10 Commandments. They were given out of the Lord’s love for his people and they explain how to live life. These commandments were the pinnacle of God’s covenant-agreement with his people. The 10 commandments can be found in Exodus 20:3-17. The first four commandments are about how we respond to God’s love and love him back: ‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19)

The first and most important commandment is ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The second is:  “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’ (Matthew 22:37–40).

The last six are about how we should treat other people, for example: No murder. No adultery. No stealing. No lies about your neighbour. No coveting your neighbour’s house or wife.

3.3 God’s Tent and worship The Lord gave Moses special instructions for a tent to be made where He would reside and be near to his people. God would guide and be with them wherever they went. The tent or Tabernacle, as it was called, was a sacred tent for worship.  The Tabernacle was significant as it was the physical dwelling place of God’s presence among the Israelites, a central location for worship and animal sacrifice to atone for the sins of each person. Overall, animal sacrifices played a central role in Israelite worship and religious life, serving as a means of seeking forgiveness, expressing devotion, maintaining covenant relationship, and achieving purification according to the religious beliefs and practices prescribed in the Mosaic Law. Sacrificial offerings symbolically represented the Israelites’ commitment to God and their desire to maintain a covenant relationship with Him. The act of sacrificing emphasized the seriousness of their relationship with God and their willingness to submit to His authority.

The priests had to atone for their sins too before they could minister to the people. The Tabernacle was a symbol of the covenant between God and his people. It had to be a tent, a temporary dwelling, because the Israelites had not yet taken possession of the promised land and they moved from place to place, as the Lord directed. The Tabernacle was made to specific measurements with specific materials, including precious metals and stones. The instructions were given to Moses by the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets with the inscription of the 10 Commandments and the Book of the Covenant were kept inside. The Ark was kept in the middle of the Most Holy Place in the centre of the Tabernacle. The nearer to the Lord’s dwelling place in the Most Holy Place (in the centre) the more ornate and precious the decorations were. All of the materials used in building and decorating the Tabernacle came from offerings given by the people and they helped build it.  The materials like gold, bronze, silver, etc. were given to the people by the Egyptians just before they left Egypt, per the Lord’s request. The acacia wood was found in the desert and their own herds provided the skins. The people of the ancient Near East were skilled at spinning, weaving and using natural dyes. The craftsman’s skills were spiritual gifts for serving God. 

“It was entirely voluntary: ‘All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded’ (35:10). For example, ‘everyone who had acacia wood… brought it’ (v.24); ‘Every skilled woman spun with her hands’ (v.25)”⁴

Later on, once the Israelites took possession of the land the Lord promised them, they would build a permanent structure, the Temple, during the time of King Solomon. (1 Kings 8-8) The temple would be similar to the Tabernacle, made with special instructions and materials.

Hebrews 8:5 NLT‬ “They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. ”

In other words the Tabernacle is a shadow or copy of what we will find in heaven. The Tabernacle priests could enter the Holy Place but not the Most Holy Place. After Jesus death and resurrection we can all be in the Lord’s holy presence, (enter the Most Holy Place or approach the throne of God) under the new covenant.  The blood of Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, was offered once for all. Thereafter, there was no need to sacrifice animals. With the new covenant, Jesus is the new temple, in fact God dwells inside all who accept Jesus as their saviour, by his Holy Spirit. Our bodies then become the temple of the Holy Spirit (the spirit of Jesus).

3.4 Law and Covenant The law refers to the 10 commandments given to the Israelites, but the Lord also gave them other instructions called the Book of the Covenant. It was given to God’s people at Mount Sinai and refers to a portion of the Old Testament containing laws and regulations, to be found in Exodus 20:22–23:33. It includes various laws and ordinances given by God to the Israelites through Moses, covering issues such as social justice, worship, and ethical conduct.

The covenant made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai is often referred to as the Mosaic Covenant. It’s a central theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In this covenant, God promised to be the God of the Israelites and they promised to be His people, with obligations on both sides. God gave the Ten Commandments and various laws and regulations, and the Israelites agreed to obey them. Now that the people had the law, not abiding by it was called sinning. The law was given to help people live a good or righteous life.

Moses was called up to the mountain to receive the commandments on stone tablets, written by God. He was there for 40 days. During this time the people disobeyed the Lord by worshipping a golden calf, which they made. They all too quickly forgot what the Lord had done for them and reverted to worshipping idols as they did in Egypt. The Lord was angry and punished them. Moses was also angry and he broke the tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written. This symbolises that the covenant had been broken by the people’s sin of idolatry. However, we see in chapter 34, the covenant is renewed (the tablets are engraved anew) and the Lord gives additional laws to protect His people.

The reason the Israelites stayed in the desert for such a long time (40 years) before going into the promised land was because the Lord had to teach them how to be his people. They had to learn about the holiness of God and his power. But later we see that the Lord keeps them in the desert because of their lack of faith to enter the promised land. (Numbers 14:28-30) They were afraid of the people they had to do battle against in the land of Canaan. Later, in the New Testament we see that Jesus became flesh and tabernacled (was present) among the people for some time. (The Lord implemented a new covenant through Jesus).

3.5 A Relational God Throughout the book of Exodus, The Lord developed His relationship with His people, the Israelites, in several ways:

3.5.1) Calling and Commissioning Moses: God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His initiative in reaching out to His people and His desire to deliver them from oppression.

3.5.2) Revelation and Guidance: God reveals Himself to Moses through the burning bush and provides guidance and instructions for the liberation of the Israelites, demonstrating His presence and concern for their welfare.

3.5.3) Provision and Protection: God provides for the needs of the Israelites in the wilderness by supplying manna, quail, and water, and protecting them from enemies like the Amalekites, demonstrating His faithfulness and care for His people.

3.5.4) Establishing Covenant: At Mount Sinai, God establishes a covenant with the Israelites, giving them the Ten Commandments and other laws, and inviting them into a special relationship based on obedience and mutual faithfulness. Moses had a close relationship with the Lord and spoke with him as friends would. ‭

Exodus 33:11 NLT “Inside the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle), the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…”

Through these actions, 3.5.1 – 3.5.4, God actively engages with His people, forming a relationship characterized by His love, faithfulness, provision, guidance, and desire for obedience and fellowship.

‘‘Ultimately, the tabernacle and temple, which represented heaven on earth, looked forward to the merging of heaven and earth in the New Jerusalem. (Rev. 21-22)”⁵

We look forward to heaven or the New Jerusalem because of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross and our steadfast relationship with him.

4) Conclusion The epic story of Moses shows the Lord using a man who was afraid of doing God’s bidding because he felt inadequate. The Lord used him anyway because the power of God is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9: “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’…”

The New Testament reveals the new covenant with the Lord’s people, in which all people are included. The new covenant, through Jesus sets us free from the curse of the law because Jesus became the final redemptive sacrifice for our sins. Jesus sets us free from sin and death. The prophets foretold that one day there would be a new covenant written not on tablets of stone but on our hearts. We are made righteous through faith by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and accepting His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. This faith in Jesus and His redemptive work justifies us before God, meaning that we are declared righteous in His sight and do not require animal sacrifices anymore. It’s not based on our own efforts or merits but on the grace of God and our trust in Him. A personal relationship with Jesus is characterized by a deep, intimate connection between an individual and Jesus Christ. Overall, a personal relationship with Jesus is dynamic and life-changing, shaping every aspect of one’s life and providing hope, purpose, and fulfillment.

Prayer: Lord Jesus please come into my life that I may get to know you. You are a loving and kind God and I would like to have a relationship with you. Thank you Lord for people like Moses who chose to obey you and follow you, even when circumstances seemed impossible. Thank you for revealing yourself to the Israelites, please reveal yourself to me today. Lord I believe in you and your power to transform my life. Please forgive me for my sins, I now choose to follow you Lord. Amen.

Footnotes:

¹An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Apollos, Leicester, p65.

² The bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumble, Classic version, 2024, Day 40, Publisher:  Alpha

³’Exodus’ in The 5 Books by John Taylor in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, third edition,  Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p165

⁴The bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumble, Classic version, 2024, Day 55, Publisher:  Alpha.

⁵An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Apollos, Leicester, p71.

References:

1) ‘Exodus’ in The 5 Books by John Taylor in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, third edition,  Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p159-179.

2) An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995, Dillard, Longman p64-68

Jacob (Genesis 25-35)

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1) Isaac (Gen 25: 1-26) Isaac married Rebecca when he was 40 years old. She was the sister of Laban. Isaac and Rebecca pleaded with the Lord to have children and twenty years later, Esau and Jacob were born. When Rebecca was pregnant with the twins the children struggled with each other inside her womb. Rebecca asked the Lord why this was happening. He answered her:

‭Genesis 25:23 NLT‬ “And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

2) The birthright (Gen 25:27-34) Esau, the hunter, was the firstborn son and this meant he would become head of the family when Isaac died and inherit a double portion of the estate. One day Esau came home from hunting, exhausted and hungry. Jacob, who liked to stay home, had made a lentil stew. He pleaded with Jacob for some of the stew, saying he was famished.

Genesis 25:31 NLT‬ ““All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.””

Esau responded: ‭

Genesis 25:32 NLT‬ ““Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”” ‭

Genesis 25:33 NLT‬ “But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.”

Jacob gave Esau the stew. Esau ate and left, thus showing contempt for his rights as first born.

2) Isaac’s blessing (Gen 27) Jacob and Rebecca tricked Isaac, who was very old and turning blind so that Jacob would receive Esau’s blessing.  Isaac thought he was blessing his eldest son but he blessed Jacob. The Lord intended the blessing to be Jacob’s but when Esau found out he wanted to kill Jacob. Isaac and Rebecca’s relationship was damaged by this and Jacob had to go into exile in fear of Esau. Rebecca never saw Jacob again.

Isaac blessed Jacob before he left and told him to find a wife at his uncle’s house in Haran (Paddan-aram), which was to the north of Canaan.

Genesis 28:3 NLT‬ “May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations!...”

This blessing recognised Jacob as the true heir to God’s promise.

3) Dream at Bethel (about 88km from Beersheba) (Gen 28) Jacob left home in Beersheba alone and set off for his uncle’s house in Haran. That night, Jacob had a dream where the Lord clearly spoke to him. ‭

Genesis 28:12-15 NLT‬ “As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.””

In spite of Jacob’s deceipt the Lord graceously stood by his promises. This was an unforgettable encounter with the Lord and was not just the God of his father, but now his own God. He had a new found personal relationship with God. Jacob set up an alter to commemorate the place, which he called Bethel, meaning ‘House of God’, where heaven touched earth. It was the place of his profound spiritual experience with the Lord. Jacob was now fully committed to the Lord.

4) Jacob and Laban (Gen 29-31) Jacob spent 20 years in exile at Laban’s house. Jacob, who did not have a traditional marriage gift, worked 7 years for Laban to marry Rachel, but Laban tricked him into marrying his eldest daughter Leah and he had to work another 7 years for Rachel. Then he had to work another 6 years to obtain flocks of his own. Leah was unloved by Jacob and she continued to hope that after the birth of their sons, he would change his mind. Rachel on the other hand was loved by Jacob, but remained childless.  ‭Rachel was very unhappy as a result of this and she cried out to the Lord.

Genesis 30:22-24 NLT‬ “Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.””

Genesis 31:3 NLT‬ “Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather (Canaan) and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.””

Jacob had accumulated much of his own livestock while working for Laban which Laban was loath to let him take with him. Jacob had to flee with his possessions and family, while Laban was occupied with sheep shearing. Laban was furious when he found out and went after Jacob. He wanted to keep his daughters and grandchildren but God spoke to him and told him to leave Jacob alone. They ended up making a covenant agreement to end the hostilities between them. Laban left in the morning and in spite of  his previous outrage and resentment he left his blessing.

5) Jacob wrestles with God (Gen 32) Jacob sent gifts of livestock ahead for Esau, as he was worried about how he would be received, in fact he was terrified that Esau would still want to kill him. ‭

Genesis 32:3 NLT‬ “Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom.” He sent a message to Esau concerning the livestock sent: “They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my Lord Esau.”

He hoped this gift would placate Esau, but Jacob was still troubled.

Jacob knew he had to face his fears alone with God, so he sent his family on ahead, across the Jabbok river. That night he couldn’t sleep and found there was a strange man there with him. This man wrestled with Jacob until dawn. 

“Alone and sleepless, Jacob’s lifetime struggle against God culminates in this strange wrestling-bout.”¹

Jacob lost the fight and had his hip injured but he refused to let go unless the man blessed him. Others had gone through a crisis in their lives, like Abraham, but Jacob was the first to fight with God and emerges a new man with a new faith. Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel (God strives) after their wrestling encounter. Jacob asked the name of the person he wrestled with, but was not told. His own new name was sufficient evidence that he had wrestled with God, including the hip injury. The name of the place was Peniel.

Jacob and Esau finally met again and Esau welcomed Jacob. ‭

Genesis 33:4 NLT‬ “Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.”

Esau didn’t want to accept Jacob’s gift initially because he said he had plenty of livestock, but Jacob insisted and so he agreed. What a wonderful reconciliation between the two brothers.

6) God’s promise (Gen 35)  God reaffirmed his promise to Jacob, reiterating the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac. Specifically, God promised Jacob land, descendants, and blessings. This reaffirmation marked Jacob’s spiritual renewal and his continued role as the patriarch of the nation of Israel. ‭

Genesis 35:11-12 NLT‬ “Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!  And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.”

While en route to Canaan, near Bethlehem, Rachel gave birth to another son called Benjamin, the last of Jacob’s 12 sons. Sadly, Rachel died giving birth to him.

Finally the Lord told Jacob to move to Bethel and settle there. ‭

Genesis 35:1 NLT‬ “Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.””

Bethel was significant to Jacob because he’d encountered the Lord for the first time there and had that special dream, we call Jacob’s ladder. It was a sacred place to him. Jacob’s household still had foreign gods in their possession and before they left for Bethel, Jacob asked them to surrender these gods and to purify themselves. Then they left for Bethel. Jacob did what God asked, as he was committed to him.

“There was no doubt in Jacob’s mind that commitment to the God of Bethel involved allegiance to him alone, for he was no mere territorial deity, but the God of all the families of the earth.(Gen 28:14)”²

7) Conclusion The underlying thread of Jacob’s narrative in Genesis is his journey of transformation and growth, both spiritually and personally. Jacob starts as a cunning and deceitful individual, but through various trials, encounters with God, and life experiences, he undergoes a process of change in character for the better and becomes the patriarch of the nation of Israel.

The purpose of God was at work, even through the deviousness of personal ambition. God takes us as we are and changes us, just as Jacob was changed by his encounters with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord thank you that in spite of all my weaknesses you meet with me, touch my life and transform me. Please continue your good work in me until it is complete. Your will be done in my life Jesus. Amen.

Footnotes:

¹’Genesis’ in The 5 Books by John Taylor in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, third edition,  Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p142

²The Message of Genesis 12-50:1986, Joyce G. Baldwin, p148.

References

1) ‘Genesis’ in The 5 Books by John Taylor in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, third edition,  Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p140-146)

2) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

3) The Message of Genesis 12-50:1986, Joyce G. Baldwin, p118-119; p128; p133-134; p136-137)

Job

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The Lord had blessed Job with many sheep, donkeys and cattle and he had a large family, 7 sons and 3 daughters and many servants.  He was ‘blameless and upright, feared God and shunned evil’ (Job 1:1). In addition Job was generous to the poor and a respected member of the community. He was a good man. Job 31:32 His ‘door was always open to the traveller’.

One day,  the enemy said to the Lord that should Job suffer, he would certainly curse God. Satan accused Job of having a superficial religious life because of what he would gain from it. The Lord allowed the enemy to test Job, but not take his life. Job lost everything, including his wife and children, his property was destroyed and he was also covered from head to foot in painful leprous sores. The latter made him lose all standing and dignity wth the community. Job became dispised by the people because they thought he deserved his suffering as he must have sinned to be in that awful state.

Job 16:10 ‘People open their mouths to jeer at me, they strike my cheek in scorn.’ Job 30:10 ‘…they do not hesitate to spit in my face.’

Job had three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, who visited him to speak with him and tried to console him, but they just ended up condemning him with their lack of wisdom. They said he must have sinned to bring about his awful circumstances and suffering. This faulty doctrine, called the doctrine of retribution is corrected by the book of Job. Suffering is not necessarily a result of sin – real life is not like that. It’s full of uncertainty and meaningless suffering but we have faith, even if it is difficult.

The Lord allows suffering because we learn and grow from it, it deepens our faith and it removes things which hinder our walk with God. (Our dead branches are pruned.) Suffering develops our character and produces perseverance and hope (Romans 5:4).

Job continued to maintain that he had done nothing wrong, which we know was true. In Job 7:11-21, Job turns to God and pours out his heart to him – his fear and his longing for death, but the Lord did not offer an explanation. Although Job protested and had thoughts of death, he also continued to have hope. Job 13:15 ‘Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.’ Job 19:25 ‘I know that my redeemer lives…’ Instead of giving up on God, Job tries to understand his relationship with God despite the suffering, hardship and grief.

Key in the book of Job, besides looking at suffering, is wisdom. Job’s three friends’ words were without wisdom and they could not correctly explain what or why this was happening to Job. They only managed to condemn him. Job 42:7 shows that the Lord was angry with the 3 friends, the useless comforters, who were stuck in their narrow dogmatic thinking. Who is wise then except God?

Eventually the Lord speaks to Job and shows him that his thinking is limited and he is in no way capable of doing the things only God can do. He used examples like creating the earth or knowing what God knows, or how many stars he put in the universe. Job was guilty of being impatient and not trusting the Lord.  The Lord is accessible (he does hear and speak to us) and we should not try to limit him by our imperfect understanding.

After the Lord spoke to Job, he quickly saw his error and sin and voluntarily repented for questioning the Lord’s wisdom and power. The question of why Job had to suffer was not answered but the Lord humbled Job to accept his sovereignty. In Job 28:28 Job’s conclusion was: ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding.’

The book of Job illustrates that ‘God is glorified through the suffering of his faithful servants’ because the transformation of our lives brings glory to God. Only the Lord is wise and we need to repent and submit, even in the midst of suffering, just like the Lord led Job to do.

The Lord in his mercy and grace, redeemed Job from his suffering and restored his wealth, his family and servants to more than he had before. Job was restored, he reached a new level of faith because of his meeting with God and lived a long life, seeing his children grow up. Importantly, Job remained faithful to the Lord and did not give up. Job’s belief in the Lord’s love for him, his redeemer and advocate, got him through the worst possible circumstances. Job did not curse God when his life fell apart, he continued to hope in his final redemption.

In the New Testament, the most profound reaction to suffering by God, is Jesus, God’s own son, suffering on the cross voluntarily to help sinners. In Christ, God suffered deeply and so is with us in our suffering. Although Jesus’ death on the cross did not put an end to suffering, he is with us and alongside us holding us closely when we do suffer and he has the deepest understanding of it.

We share in the sufferings of the Lord, but through the Holy Spirit and our Christian community we receive comfort.

The Lord restored Job to a better position than before. The Lord turns our suffering around for good (Romans 8:28) as we trust him and continue to put our faith in him. He delivers us from our suffering as we continue to be submitted and guided by the Lord. Jesus loves us and wants to help us, even though we may not receive all the answers as to why we are suffering. Trust the Lord Jesus anyway. Psalm 46:1 ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’

Lord Jesus, I depend on you in difficulties and times of suffering. Please lead the way out of this situation or these circumstances. I depend on you completely for guidance and wisdom. I surrender all to you Lord. ‭Hold me in your arms Lord. You are my strength, my everything. Amen.

Psalms 30:5 ‘… weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.’

References:

1) An Introduction to the Old Testament:1995, Dillard, Longman p208-p210

2) ‘Job’ by Derek Kinder in The Lion Handbook to the Bible, Pat and David Alexander, eds., Lion Publishing: Oxford, 2002, p352-353)

3) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.