From Bashan the Israelites moved to the plains of Moab across from Jericho. (Numbers 22:1)
King Balak of Moab had seen what the Israelites had done to the Amorites and they were afraid of them. Balak thus sent elders of Moab and Midian to Balaam to ask him to curse the Israelites because they were too mighty for them.
When the messengers arrived, Balaam asked them to spend the night so that he could hear from God. God told Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the Israelites because they are blessed. (Numbers 22:12)
Balaam did not go with this first group of men. However, King Balak did not give up and he sent another group of more important men to Balaam with the following message: "Do not let anything hinder you from coming to curse these people because I will certainly honor you greatly and do what you say." (Numbers 22:16-17)
When the messengers arrived, Balaam asked them to spend the night so that he could hear from God. God told Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the Israelites because they are blessed. (Numbers 22:12)
Balaam did not go with this first group of men. However, King Balak did not give up and he sent another group of more important men to Balaam with the following message: "Do not let anything hinder you from coming to curse these people because I will certainly honor you greatly and do what you say." (Numbers 22:16-17)
Balaam asked this second group to also spend the night but he eventually went with them to meet King Balak. When he did, he was taken to three strategic places where he could see the Israelites and he offered sacrifices of 7 bulls and 7 rams on each of those places.
However, God placed blessings in the mouth of Balaam and he was unable to curse the Israelites even though the sacrifices had been offered to curse them.
Lesson #1
God is a shield for His people and He protects His people.
Chances were that the Israelites did not know how King Balak was working so hard to curse them but God knew.
God knew and He took measures to protect them for God came unto Balaam at night (Numbers 22:20) and told him not to curse the Israelites because He who keeps Israel shall neither sleep nor slumber. (Psalm 121:4)
Therefore Connect with God and trust him to protect you even when you do not know you are a target by believing that He is your shield.
Chances were that the Israelites did not know how King Balak was working so hard to curse them but God knew.
God knew and He took measures to protect them for God came unto Balaam at night (Numbers 22:20) and told him not to curse the Israelites because He who keeps Israel shall neither sleep nor slumber. (Psalm 121:4)
Therefore Connect with God and trust him to protect you even when you do not know you are a target by believing that He is your shield.
The Israelites began to commit harlotry with the Moabite women. They went to the sacrifices of their gods, bowed to them and as a result, they were joined to Baal of Peor and this angered God. (Numbers 25:1-4)
God told Moses to hang the people who had sinned by being joined to Baal of Peor and a plague erupted which killed 24,000 people. (Numbers 25:9)
God told Moses to hang the people who had sinned by being joined to Baal of Peor and a plague erupted which killed 24,000 people. (Numbers 25:9)
Lesson #2
Do not sin against God
King Balak had been unable to curse the Israelites by hiring Balam, a man renown for his prowess in cursing for the king said, "I know the person you bless is blessed and the one you curse is cursed." (Numbers 22:6)
However, the Israelites cursed themselves and 24,000 of them died because they sinned against God by being joined to Baal of Peor.
Therefore try to not sin against God by putting on the breastplate of righteousness which involves doing the right thing in the sight of God.
Lesson #3
Be zealous for God
Phinehas who was the grandson of Aaron, killed Zimri who had brought a Midianite woman called Cozbi to the Israelites as they were weeping at the door of the tabernacle. By killing this man, Phinehas turned back God's wrath and stopped the plague that had already claimed 24,000 lives.
God rewarded Phinehas by telling Moses that He would give him "My covenant of peace" (Numbers 25:12) which was to be for him and his descendants "A covenant of everlasting priesthood because He was zealous for God and made atonement for the Israelites." (Numbers 25:13)
Therefore be zealous for the things of God and He will reward you as He sees fit.
Lesson #4
God is aware of your enemy's schemes.
God told Moses, "Harass and attack the Midianites because they harassed you with their schemes by seducing you in Peor and with Cozbi." (Numbers 25:16-18)
God repeated this command when he told Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." (Numbers 31:2)
God repeated this command when he told Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." (Numbers 31:2)
God had noted this scheme of the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men to commit harlotry and join themselves with Baal of Peor.
This shows us that God was aware of the schemes that the Israelites' enemies were using to destroy them.
Chances are that He watched to see if they could stand and resist the temptation. When they fell, He punished them by sending the plague.
However, He did not forget their enemies who made them fall for He gave Moses permission to attack them. (Numbers 31:2)
Vengeance belongs to God but He can give you permission to avenge yourself. We can see this because He told Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." (Numbers 31:2)
Moses, therefore, told the Israelites to arm themselves for war and To take vengeance for the Lord. (Numbers 31:3) So they recruited 1000 men from each tribe of Israel to go to war. The Israelites fought and killed all the males. They killed the 5 kings of Midian together with Balaam the son of Beor. (Numbers 31:8)
Balaam had to die because It was through the counsel of Balaam that the Israelites sinned against God in Peor and this caused the plague. (Numbers 31:16)
They also took the Midianite women captive with their children, cattle and all their goods. They burned with fire their cities, their forts and took all the spoil. (Numbers 31:9-11)
To show that God approved of this, not a single Israelite soldier was killed in this battle. (Numbers 31:49)
Zimri the man who presented the Midianite woman to the Israelites as they were weeping at the door of the Tabernacle was the son of one of the Israelite leaders from the house of Simeon.
Cozbi, the Midianite woman he presented, was the daughter of one of the Midianite leaders named Zur. (Numbers 25:14-15)
This shows us that sometimes misleading can come from leaders.
This is not the first example of the Israelites were misled by their leaders since they had initially refused to fight to possess their Promised Land because 10 of their 12 spies had told them it was impossible. These 10 spies were also leaders of their father's houses in Israel.
Therefore, pray for God's guidance so that you can choose the right thing to do. To learn more read Who Are You Listening To?
God asked Moses and Eleazar (Aaron's son who was the priest) to take a census of the Israelite men who were aged 20 years and above (Numbers 26:1-2) and they were found to be 601,730 (Numbers 26:51) excluding the Levites.
Of these men who were counted by Moses and Eleazar only Caleb and Joshua had remained from those who were counted by Moses and Aaron after the Israelites had left Egypt and were in the Wilderness of Sinai. This was because God had said, "They shall surely in the wilderness" (Numbers 26:63-65) because they had rebelled against Him and refused to fight for their Promised Land.
Lesson #5
Vengeance is mine says the LordVengeance belongs to God but He can give you permission to avenge yourself. We can see this because He told Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." (Numbers 31:2)
Moses, therefore, told the Israelites to arm themselves for war and To take vengeance for the Lord. (Numbers 31:3) So they recruited 1000 men from each tribe of Israel to go to war. The Israelites fought and killed all the males. They killed the 5 kings of Midian together with Balaam the son of Beor. (Numbers 31:8)
Balaam had to die because It was through the counsel of Balaam that the Israelites sinned against God in Peor and this caused the plague. (Numbers 31:16)
They also took the Midianite women captive with their children, cattle and all their goods. They burned with fire their cities, their forts and took all the spoil. (Numbers 31:9-11)
To show that God approved of this, not a single Israelite soldier was killed in this battle. (Numbers 31:49)
Lesson #6
Misleading can come from leadersZimri the man who presented the Midianite woman to the Israelites as they were weeping at the door of the Tabernacle was the son of one of the Israelite leaders from the house of Simeon.
Cozbi, the Midianite woman he presented, was the daughter of one of the Midianite leaders named Zur. (Numbers 25:14-15)
This shows us that sometimes misleading can come from leaders.
This is not the first example of the Israelites were misled by their leaders since they had initially refused to fight to possess their Promised Land because 10 of their 12 spies had told them it was impossible. These 10 spies were also leaders of their father's houses in Israel.
Therefore, pray for God's guidance so that you can choose the right thing to do. To learn more read Who Are You Listening To?
Lesson #7
God keeps His WordGod asked Moses and Eleazar (Aaron's son who was the priest) to take a census of the Israelite men who were aged 20 years and above (Numbers 26:1-2) and they were found to be 601,730 (Numbers 26:51) excluding the Levites.
Of these men who were counted by Moses and Eleazar only Caleb and Joshua had remained from those who were counted by Moses and Aaron after the Israelites had left Egypt and were in the Wilderness of Sinai. This was because God had said, "They shall surely in the wilderness" (Numbers 26:63-65) because they had rebelled against Him and refused to fight for their Promised Land.
We also see that Moses did not also enter the Promised Land because he rebelled against God by not glorifying Him before the Israelites in the Wilderness of Zin.
However, unlike the other Israelites, God allowed him to see the Promised Land for He told him to climb Mount Abarim and see it before he died. (Numbers 27:12-14)
It was also at this time that Moses asked God to set another man over the Israelites and God chose Joshua. (Numbers 27:15-23)
Lesson #8
Stand up for your rights
The daughters of Zelophehad who were called Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah can and stood before Moses, Eleazar, the Israelite leaders and all the other Israelites by the doorway by the Tabernacle of Meeting. (Numbers 27:1-2)
These 5 women were seeking an inheritance because their father had died and he did not have a son. Moses wisely presented their case to God (Numbers 27:5) and God said their father's inheritance should pass to them. (Numbers 27:7)
God even changed the Law because of them because He said that if a man dies without having any son, then his inheritance shall pass to his daughters. (Numbers 27:8)
This shows us that you have to stand up for yourself and ask for what you need if you think you have a valid case and even if no one has ever done such a thing before you.
Lesson #9
Ask for your Promised Land
The Israelites from the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad had very many livestock and when they saw that the land on the East of the River Jordan was suitable for livestock, they asked Moses, Eleazar and the Israelite leaders if they could settle there instead of crossing to possess their Promised Land on the other side of the River Jordan. (Numbers 32:1-5)
Moses agreed to their request on condition that they helped the other tribes fight for their Promised Land which was across the River Jordan. (Numbers 32:20-22) Thus tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh received their Promised Land on the Eastern side of the River Jordan. (Numbers 32:33)
The lesson here once again is to ask. They asked and they received their Promised Land on the Eastern side of the River Jordan but they accepted to fulfill the conditions of helping the other tribes fight and possess their Promised Land on the Western side of the River Jordan.
Of importance to note is that the Israelites were now not afraid of fighting because when they were given that condition they did not back down from their original request. Therefore do not fear to wage spiritual warfare by praying and fasting.
Lesson #10
Record your history
God asked Moses to record the journey of the Israelites from Egypt. (Numbers 33:1-49)
Their journey was as follows:
From Rameses on the 15th day of the 1st month which was the day after the Passover
From Rameses they camped at Succoth.
From Succoth they camped at Etham which is on the edge of the wilderness.
From Etham they went to Pi Hahiroth and camped near Migdol.
From Hahiroth they crossed the Red Sea and went into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
From Marah they camped at Elim.
From Elim they camped by the Red Sea.
From the Red Sea beach they camped in the Wilderness of Sin.
From the Wilderness of Sin they camped at Dophkah.
From Dophkah they camped at Alush.
From Alush they camped at Rephidim.
From Rephidim they camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.
From the Wilderness of Sinai they camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
From Kibroth Hattaavah they camped at Hazeroth.
From Hazeroth they camped at Rithmah.
From Rithmah they camped at Rimmon Perez.
From Rimmon Perez they camped at Libnah.
From Libnah they camped at Rissah.
From Rissah they camped at Kehelathah.
From Kehelathah they camped at Mount Shepher.
From Mount Shepher they camped at Haradah.
From Haradah they camped at Makheloth.
From Makeheloth they camped at Tahath.
From Tahath they camped at Terah.
From Terah they camped at Mithkah.
From Mithkah they camped at Hashmonah.
From Hashmonah they camped at Moseroth.
From Moseroth they camped at Bene Jaakan.
From Bene Jaakan they camped at Hor Hagidgad.
From Hor Hagidgad they camped at Jotbathah.
From Jotbathah they camped at Abronah.
From Abronah they camped at Ezion Geber.
From Ezion Geber they camped in the Wilderness of Zin which is also known as Kadesh.
From Kadesh they camped at Mount Hor. (Aaron died here at the age of 123 years which was 40 years after the Israelites had left Egypt) (Numbers 33:38)
From Mount Hor they camped at Zalmonah.
From Zalmonah they camped at Punon.
From Punon they camped at Oboth.
From Oboth they camped at Ije Abarim.
From Ijim they camped at Dibon Gad.
From Dibon Gad they camped at Almon Diblathaim.
From Almon Diblathaim they camped in the mountains of Abarim.
From the mountains of Abaraim they camped in the Moab plains along the River Jordan across from Jericho. (Numbers 33:1-49)
Therefore make it a point to record where you have come from and what God has done for you along the way so that you can remind yourself of His power and His faithfulness.
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