Dec12-18: The Second Generation: Admonitions

Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 26 to 32 and make chapter outlines.

ANSWER: 

• Num. 26:1-51 Taking census to gather the men of war
• Num. 26:52-65 Land division
• Num. 27:1-11 Zelophehad’s daughters asking for inheritance
• Num. 27:12-23 Joshua, the new leader for the children of Israel
• Num. 28:1-29:40 Continual Offerings
• Num. 30:1-16 Vows
• Num. 31:1-54 War against Midianites
• Num. 32:1-42 The tribe of Reuben and Gad asking to settle down in the land of Jazer, and Gilead

2. Read Numbers 27:1–11. What important principles do we see being made manifest here?

ANSWER: 

• No discrimination against female gender
• Take good care of the fatherless and widows

OBSERVATION: 

• God gives tender care over those who are afflicted and poor.
• Ex. 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. Ex. 22:23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry
• Deut. 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
• James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• Do you have anyone in the church that needs help? What are you doing about it? 

3. Read Numbers 27:12–23. After the Lord told Moses again that he could not cross into this land because of his sin, how does Moses respond?

ANSWER: 

• Moses’ main concern was the children of Israel—that they may have a new shepherd to lead and guide them.

OBSERVATION: 

• Truly, Moses is a man of God. He did not even ask God to rethink about His decision. He could have pointed out all his sacrifices and dedication for God, but his words only point to his true care for the people. Selflessness has to be the main characteristic of a good leader:
• Selfless Stephen, Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
• Selfless Paul, Eph. 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
• Selfless Daniel, Dan. 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• Is it possible to love your religious work more than the people that are around you?
• Are you ready to separate yourself from the people because they do not appreciate your work?
• It is interesting to observe that sometimes we treat the non-SDAs much better than our own members. How could we develop more love for the people that we are working with? 

4. Read Numbers 30 regarding vows and oaths. What important principle can we take away from this chapter for ourselves today? What does this tell us about the importance of our words? What warnings should we take away from here too?

ANSWER:

• Keep your words.
• Say things very clearly. If it is yes, say yes. If it is no, say no.

OBSERVATION: 

• In the New Testament, we have something very similar to Num. 30.
• Matt. 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
• James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
• James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. 

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• How could we have more honest communication without hurting people’s feeling unnecessarily? 

5. Read Num. 32 and make observations.

OBSERVATION: 

• Reubenites and Gadites made a reasonable request.
• Moses called their action sinful, expressing his concern for their real motive.
• Reubenites and Gadites came back with assuring promise that they will fight until other tribes are settled down in the Promised Land.
• Moses agreed and trusted their words.
• I am sure Moses thought that his concern was valid about it not a good idea for Reubenites and Gadites to settle down before other tribes. Moses, however, was not a dictator. He was willing to go with trusting their words. This is another example of a good leader. Trust begets trust.

CONCLUSION: 

• Definitely God is preparing the newer generation for the final settlement in the Promised Land. I see change of leadership, re-organization, and re-education. 1Cor. 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.” We as a church have a lot to learn from the book of Numbers. God is so good with details. I think of a car. In order to make a car move, all the details have to be just right and in the right place. A missing part in a car can cause a big havoc later. So even with our church, we need all the parts so that this church can have movement with great speed. It is a foolish thing to think that we can do God’s work without proper organization.

APPLICATION QUESTION: 

• How do we balance between standing firm for principle and being open to suggestions?
• “Think about your own relationship to the church body as a whole. How much are you seeking to give to the church, in contrast to how much you take from it? What does your answer tell you about yourself?” SSL p. 101