• Moses’ Blessing and Death
  • What stuck out to you as God blessed these 10 tribes?
• According to 34:1-3 what was the territory God showed Moses?
• Where did Moses die?
• Who buried Moses?
• Where is Moses grave?
• Write out verse 7
• Write out verse 9
• What does the rest of the text say about Moses?

Reflection: To end our discussion on fasting here is a couple of thoughts Mr. Foster leaves us with. Although the physical aspects of fasting intrigue us, we must never forget that the major work of scriptural fasting is in the realm of the spirit. What goes on spiritually is much more important than what is happening bodily. You will be engaging in spiritual warfare that will necessitate using all the weapons of Ephesians 6. One of the most critical periods spiritually is at the end of the fast when we have a natural tendency to relax. But I do not want to leave the impression that all fasting is a heavy spiritual struggle – I have not found it so. It is also “…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. It is a means of God’s grace and blessing that should not be neglected any longer. Wesley declares “…it was not merely by the light of reason…that the people of God have been, in all ages, directed to use fasting as a means: …but they have been…taught it of God Himself, by clear and open revelations of His Will….Now, whatever reasons there were to quicken those of old, in the zealous and constant discharge of this duty, they are of equal force still to quicken us.” Now is the time for all who hear the voice of Christ to obey it.

***So if God is calling you to fast, obey His voice to do so. If you have not heard His call, then it is a good thing to learn about until you know He is calling you to this. Also, if you can not fast from food because of health issues – then you can fast from other things like: social media, television, your favorite snack you just can’t live without, coffee, soda, alcohol, secular music, spending money on certain luxuries. Whatever it is, you should feel the loss of that thing in your life. If you never drink alcohol but say your going to fast that – it doesn’t really count as a fast. It really does need to be something you indulge in. And like I said in the beginning of this, I am not asking you to fast. If you want to fast and want to partner with someone, or want accountability – I am willing to walk the journey with you. Or if you have questions we can walk through finding the answers together as well.

Psalm 25. May the cry of our hearts be this dependence on God. Meditate on this. Write down a verse or two to memorize. Pray this as an earnest prayer to depend on God for all things.

Deuteronomy 13

• The False Prophet (verses 1-5)
  • Write out verses 3-4
  • What is to happen to the false prophet?
• Intolerance to Idolatry (verses 6-18)
  • According to verse 6: what is the definition of idolatry
  • Write out verse 8
  • What are you to do instead of listening to them?
  • What is being explained in verses 12-15?
  • Write out verse 17

Deuteronomy 14

• Forbidden Practices (verses 1-2)
  • What are you not to do?
  • Why are you not to do these things?
• Clean and Unclean Foods (verses 3-21)
  • How did they know which animals they could and could not eat?
  • Write out verse 21
• A Tenth for the Lord (verses 22-29)
  • What are they to do with the tenth?
  • Where are they to go to do this?
  • What are they not to neglect?
  • What will happen if they follow these rules?

Deuteronomy 15

• Cancellation of Debts (verses 1-6)
  • How often are they to cancel debts?
  • Write out verse 3
• Lending to the Poor (verse 7-11)
  • Write out verses 7-8
  • Write out verse 10
• Release of Slaves (verses 12-18)
  • What is commanded in verses 12-14?
  • Write out verse 15
  • What are they to do if the slave doesn’t want to leave?
• Consecration of Firstborn Animals (verses 19-23)
  • What are the commands regarding firstborn animals?
  • When are they allowed to disregard this command?

What new things did you learn today? Are these laws fascinating or just plain boring? Do you see why God is asking them to follow these commands? Do you see how He is setting them apart or does it all just feel pointless? What lesson can you walk away with today?

Reflection: There are two reasons that the church as a whole has had a total disregard of the subject of fasting, which is so frequently mentioned in Scripture and so ardently practiced by Christians through the centuries. Today I will share the first one:

• Fasting has developed a bad reputation as a result of the excessive ascetic practices of the Middle Ages.
  • With the decline of the inward reality of the Christian faith, an increasing tendency to stress the only thing left, the outward form, developed.
  • And whenever there is a form devoid of spiritual power, law will take over because law always carries with it a sense of security and manipulative power.
  • Fasting was subjected to the most rigid regulations and practiced with extreme self-mortification and flagellation. Modern culture reacts strongly to these excesses and tends to confuse fasting with mortification.

Psalm 18. This is a longer Psalm. Pray this as a prayer of deliverance over you and your loved ones. Think about what the psalmist was saying as he wrote this as well.

• The journey was made longer because Edom refused to let them go through their land.
  • Note the lesson of despair and murmuring again, and God sends the serpents.
  • God provides a way to be saved in Numbers 21:8-9
    • Write out John 3:14-15
    • Write out 1 Cornithians 10:9-10
  • In chapter 22-25 we will read about the confrontation with Balaam
    • Write out 2 Peter 2:15
    • Write out Jude 11
    • Write out Revelation 2:14
• Chapter 21
  • The Defeat of the Canaanite King (verse 1-5)
    • What does verse 2 tell us the Israelites did?
    • What happens with the Israelites in verse 4-5?
  • The Bronze Snake (verses 6-9)
    • What is happening in verse 7?
  • Journey Around Moab (verses 10-20)
    • What was the journey they took?
      • If you can find a map of the territory in Numbers 21, look at their journey and see how far they went
  • The Defeat of the Amonite King (verses 21-35)
    • Describe what took place in this section
    • What did God tell Moses in verse 34?
• Chapter 22 Balaam’s Oracles
  • Balak’s Hiring of Balaam (verse 1-21)
    • In verse 6 what did Balak tell Balaam to do?
    • What did God tell Balaam in verse 12?
    • What happens in verses 15-17?
    • What was Balaams response in verse 18-19?
    • What did God tell Balaam this time according to verse 20?
  • Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel (verses 22-41)
    • Describe what is happening in verses 22-27
    • Write out verse 28 and 30
    • What did God do in verse 31?
    • What does the rest of the conversation look like?
    • What is taking place in verses 36-41
    • In verse 41 where did Balak take Balaam and what did he see?
• Chapter 23
  • Balaam’s First Oracle (verses 1-12)
    • What was happening in verses 1-10?
    • Why was Balak mad in verse 11?
  • Balaam’s Second Oracle (verses 13-26)
    • Where did Balak take Balaam in verse 13? What did Balaam see?
    • What did this next poem mean to Balak?
      • Write out verse 19
    • What did Balaam say in verse 26 to Balak?
  • Balaam’s Third Oracle (verse 27-30)
    • In verse 27 where did Balak take Balaam? What did that overlook?
• Chapter 24
  • Balaam’s Third Oracle Continued (Verses 1-14)
    • Write out verse 2
      • what did this poem mean to Balak?
    • What was Balak’s response to Balaam according to verse 11 and 12?
    • Write out verse 14
  • Balaam’s Fourth Oracle (verses 15-25)
    • Who was being blessed or cursed in this poem?
    • Who was going to be destroyed according to verse 20?
    • Who was being destroyed according to verse 21 and 22
    • Finally who is being destroyed according to verse and 24?
• Chapter 25 The Incident with Baal of Peor (verse 1-18)
  • What was happening in verse 2?
    • Write out verse 3
  • What was the Lord’s response to this behavior?
  • How many people died because of this behavior?
  • What happened next?

What things are you taking away from this lesson? What are you learning about the character of God? As you continue through the Old Testament are you seeing Him in a different light? How does that look for you?

Reflection: Meditation requires Stillness: Like other forms of meditation, it benefits from physical stillness, such as sitting with a straight back, to help calm the mind and focus attention. 

As you go through Psalm 7 today, practice stillness. Read the text, sit with it, maybe have it read to you. But be still and wait to hear from the Lord. Continue in the practice of silence and waiting. And don’t forget to pray this Psalm over you life today. What is the Lord speaking to you through Psalm 7?

We are continuing at looking at the instructions the Lord was giving Moses for the Israelites, in regards to the inward condition of the camp.

• Chapter 8: Describes the consecration of the Levites:
  • Verses 1-4 talk about setting up the lamps
  • Verses 5-26 talk about the setting apart of the Levites:
    • write out verse 7
    • Write out verse 14-15
    • What is happening in verses 20-26?
• Chapter 9: Shows the people keeping the Passover and tells us of the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
  • This indicated the guidance of the Lord
  • Don’t forget the Passover was a memorial of past deliverance.
    The Lord’s Supper is a memorial for us of deliverance from sin through Christ
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 11:26
    • Write out verse 8
  • The cloud above the tabernacle
    • Write out verse 17-18
    • What do you think about when you read verse 21? With as much work as you see taking place in the set up and tear down, do you feel the Israelites ever complained about this?
• Chapter 10:1-10 The Lord commands Moses to make two trumpets for calling the assembly. The pillar of cloud gave guidance for the eye while the trumpets gave guidance for the ear.
  • Write out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
  • Write out verse 3
  • Write out verse 9
• Chapter 10:11-36: Their journey out of Sinai begins
  • They had been at Sinai getting ready for the march to Canaan. Now the pillar of cloud lifts, the trumpets sound and the whole camp moves.
    • When did this take place according to verse 11?
    • Write out verse 13
    • What is the term used in verse 25 for the last group? What does that mean?
    • What was it that went out first before the people?

What did you learn today? Anything new, interesting, confusing, or fun? What are you going to do with what you have learned today?

Reflection: A distinction in Christian Meditation vs Eastern meditation is: Filling the mind, not emptying it:  A key distinction is that Christian meditation fills the mind with God’s word rather than emptying it. The goal is to be transformed by God’s presence through the content of scripture and prayer, not to achieve a state of nothingness. 

Today as we look at Psalm 3, take time to just sit with this text. Read it once and write down what you learn about God. Read it again and write down what you are learning about people in general. Read it a third time and see what it is the Lord is speaking to you, about you. Read it a fourth time, is there any key word or phrase that sticks out, any thought or idea that you want to ponder on more? Write this down and sit there for a bit in prayer. Use Psalm 3 to pray and allow the things you learned to guide you in that prayer time.

The Name:

• Numbers gets its name from the Greek name Arithmai, which in Latin is Numeri – in English “Numbers.”
• It was so named because in it the children of Israel are twice numbered
  • Once at the beginning and
  • Again toward the end
• The old Hebrew name was “In the Wilderness” – Numbers 1:1.
  • Both names tell the story
    • Numbers – In the Wilderness

The Nature:

• Numbers takes up where Exodus left off.
  • Just one month between the two books with Levitical instructions coming between
• Compare Exodus 40:17 with Numbers 1:1
• The census is taken – the people organized – the march begun to Canaan – God leads – Canaan is in sight – Israel disbelieves and rebels – judgment falls – forty years’ wandering set in – old generation dies off – new generation is numbered (counted) – to go into the land of Canaan

The Importance:

• Referred to in New Testament again and again
• Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-12.
  • Write out anything that stands out to you
• Read Hebrews 3:7-19
  • Write out the things that stand out to you here

The Structure:

• It is the book of movement by the people.
• It deals with two different generations. Thus the structure is:
  • The Old Generation – Chapters 1-14
  • The Wandering-Transition Era – Chapters 15-20
  • The New Generation – Chapters 21-36
• Remember in Numbers:
  • Two Generations: Chapters 1-14 & Chapters 21-36
  • Two Numberings: Chapter 1-4 & Chapters 26-27
  • Two Journeyings: Chapters 10-14 & Chapters 21-27
  • Two Instructions: Chapters 5-9 & Chapters 28-36

The Central Message: Numbers 9:15-23

• Guidance: Direction by the Lord God
  • write out John 14:6
  • write out John 8:12
• Deliverance:
  • Write out Numbers 10:29
  • Write out Numbers 21:6-9

As we move into this new book, take time to sit with the Lord and ask Him to give you clarity of what is happening in these chapters and verses. Ask for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He wants to give these things to you. All you have to do is ask. As we go through Numbers – we are going to learn about the spiritual practice of meditation. We will walk through what that looks like as a believer. Today, just sit with the Lord in silence, confessing anything you feel needs to be confessed and wait on the Lord to speak to you.

How much do you remember:

• What is the theme or central truth of Leviticus?
• Can you explain what “atonement” means in Leviticus?
  • What does it mean for you?
• What does “Pentecost” mean?
• Can you name five of the “offerings” of Leviticus 22?
• Do you remember any of the name of the feasts that are listed in Leviticus 25?

Share any thoughts, insights or questions you have after reading this book. What new things are you excited to continue to learn about as we move forward? What prayer requests might you have this week?

THE REGULATIONS FOR PRIESTS

Leviticus 21

• In verses 1-4 what things are allowed / not allowed in regards to being unclean?
• Verses 5-9 talks about what kind of actions?
• In verses 10-15 what rules are listed here that are different from others you have read so far?
• Verses 16-24 bring on some interesting laws. What do these laws make you feel? What do you think about God after reading these? Do you think you understand why He said these laws?

Leviticus 22

• In verses 1-9 what things make a person unclean? What rules are stated in regards to approaching the holy offerings?
• In verse 10-16 talks about the holy offerings. What things do you notice here?
• In verses 17-25 we read about the type of offerings that can be made. What do we learn about these offerings and what God expects?
• In verses 26-30 talk about sacrificial animals young and old – what is noted here?
• Write out verse 31-33

What have you learned about God today? Do you feel you are beginning to understand why He made all these rules for the Israelite’s or do they seem excessive and unfair to you? What are you discovering about man through all these rules? Is there something you can take away from today’s readings?

Today’s reflective question: Do I truly yearn to live a holy life?

Leviticus 15: Discharges causing uncleanliness

• Verses 1-3 tell us that unusual discharge makes one unclean and the rest of the chapter goes into how it will bring about uncleanness:
  • Verse 4-6
    • what things become unclean?
    • what must the unclean person do if they touch an unclean item?
  • Verse 7
    • what happens if you touch one with discharge?
  • verse 8
    • what happens if you are spit on by someone unclean?
  • verses 9-10
    • what happens to the things being ridden on by unclean person?
    • what happens to the person that touches those things?
  • verse 11
    • what happens to the one who is touched by someone with discharge?
  • verse 12
    • what happens to the articles touched by the unclean person?
  • verse 13-15
    • describe the timeline of ceremonial cleansing
  • verses 16-18
    • what is the form of cleansing in this text?
  • verse 19-23
    • how long is a woman unclean here?
    • what becomes unclean?
    • what must one do if they touch unclean items?
  • Verse 24
    • what time frame is a man unclean here?
    • what becomes unclean from him?
  • verse 25-27
    • how long will the woman be unclean?
    • what is unclean that she touches?
    • what must one do if they touch any of her unclean items?
  • Verse 28-30
    • describe the timeline of her purification
  • Verse 31-33
    • write out verse 31

Leviticus 16: A Clean Nation Through the Blood Atonement

• Verses 1-2
  • what is God telling Moses to tell Aaron?
• Verses 3-5
  • How is Aaron to approach the Most Holy Place?
• Verses 6-19
  • Describe the sacrifices that will be made and who/what they are made for
  • Write out verse 16
  • who is allowed to be in the Tent of Meeting with Aaron?
• Verses 20-22
  • Describe what Aaron is doing here
• Verses 23-25
  • Describe Aaron’s actions
• Verses 16-28
  • What is going on with the scapegoat?
  • What must the person do who is releasing the scapegoat?
• Verses 29-34
  • Write out verse 29-30
  • How often is atonement to happen and for what?

As you read today’s lesson, what did you think about? Did you learn anything new about God’s character and His expectations of you? Did the Lord speak anything to you about who you are and what He is wanting from you? Did He reveal any new insight or did you have new questions about God or people? What can you take away from this text today?

Today’s reflective question: “Do I understand and practice the ministry of receiving another persons confession and proclaiming the forgiveness of Christ? If not, why not?”

Leviticus 13: Clean Clothes

• Verses 1-46 Regulations regarding defiling skin diseases
  • Verses 1-4 the first 7 days
    • What is the person supposed to do who has a rash?
  • Verse 5 day 7-14
    • who is the one who is examining the rash?
  • Verses 6-8 days 15-21
    • What happens if the rash has faded?
    • What happens if the rash has spread?
  • Verses 9-11 chronic rash
    • What is different about this rash?
    • Is the person clean or unclean and will they be isolated or not?
  • Verses 12-17 full body rash
    • What is the deciding factor if the person is clean or unclean here?
    • Who is making the decision if they are clean or unclean?
  • Verses 18-23 Boils
    • When will the person be isolated? and for how long?
    • What decides in the end if they are clean/unclean
  • Verses 24-28 Burns
    • What is the priest looking for in a burn?
    • What makes the person clean or unclean in this situation?
  • Verses 29-37 Sores on head or chin
    • How many days total will this person be isolated?
    • What conditions is the priest looking for?
    • What part of the body is shaved when in isolation?
    • What must they do to be clean?
  • Verses 38-39 White spots on the skin
    • Who is to examine these and decide if they are clean or unclean?
  • Verses 40-46 Head rashes
    • What problem is addressed that is considered clean?
    • What makes a person unclean here?
    • What happens if the person is unclean (verses 45-46)?
• Verses 47-59 Regulations about defiling mold
  • Who is to look at the fabric to decide if it clean or unclean?
  • What happens after being isolated for the first 7 days if mold is discovered?
  • What will they do to the fabric if no mold was discovered after the first 7 days of isolation?
  • What will happen if after being washed, and isolated again, there is still mold – whether it spread or not?
  • What happens if the mold has faded at this point? What happens if it reappears?
  • How many times does the article have to be washed in order to be considered clean?

Leviticus 14: Clean Houses

• Verses 1-32 Cleansing from defiling skin diseases
  • As you read this section take note of the timeline as to when things happen
  • What do you notice the priest is supposed to do?
  • What do you notice the person with the disease is asked to do?
    • Write out verse 2
    • Write out verse 8 & 9
  • What type of offerings are made in this section?
  • What provision is made for the one who is poor?
• Verses 33-57 Cleansing from Defiling Mold
  • Who is putting the spreading mold in the houses?
  • Who is the owner of the house to go tell?
  • What is to be done before the priest comes?
  • What is the first step in ridding the house of mold?
  • What happens if the mold reappears?
  • What happens if you sleep or eat in an unclean house?
  • What do they do to purify the house?

As you read these laws on dealing with unclean situations, what do you think? What are you learning about God? What are you learning about people? What are you learning about yourself? What are you walking away with today?

Today’s reflective question: “Do I experience the joy that should result from confession? If not, what might be blocking it?”

The People: Chapters 11-16 begin to teach us about God’s expectations for the Israelites and their foods, bodies, clothes, houses, contacts and them as a nation. God’s people must be a clean people.

Leviticus 11: Clean Foods

• Verses 1-8: Land Animals
  • In verses 1-3 what was the rule on if you can eat a land animal or not?
  • In verses 4-8 describe the animals you could eat vs what was unclean?
  • With what you know about food today, why do you think these rules were made back then?
• Verses 9-12: Sea Animals
  • What type of animals are clean and safe to eat?
  • What type of animals are unclean?
• Verses 13-19: Birds
  • What birds are unclean?
  • What birds did you notice were not in the list?
• Verses 20-25: Insects
  • What insects were unclean?
  • What insects were clean?
  • What happens if you touch a carcass of one of these?
• Verse 26-46: Regulations for what is animals that die
  • What do you notice about these rules?
  • Do any of the rules seem outrageous to you? Why or why not?
  • With what you know about health and safety today, would you say these rules God gave made sense for back then?
  • What stood out to you in all these regulations?

Leviticus 12: Clean Bodies

• Verses 1-4: Purification for woman after giving birth to a boy
  • What stands out to you in these verses?
• Verse 5: Purification for a woman after giving birth to a girl
  • Contrast this to giving birth to a boy.
  • What do you think about or feel after seeing this difference.
    • Culturally it made sense back then, but today does it feel fair?
• Verse 6-8: Purification sacrifice after giving birth to a boy or girl
  • What sacrifice is being brought to make her ceremonially clean?
  • Knowing what you know about this type of offering, what reason do you think this was the one chosen?
  • In verse 8 there was a provision made for a poor female, what was that provision?
  • What provision was made for us?

What have you learned about the characteristic of God in these chapters? Do you have a greater sense of who He is, or are you more confused by the types of laws they are given? What can you take away from today about how God wants you to live? What things is the Lord asking you to do in order to leave a clean and holy life before Him.

Today’s reflective question is: “When I am ready to confess in the presence of another person, do I know to whom I can go? If not, where can I find such a person?”

Today we are going to just spend a few minutes seeing what we remembered and looking back at the things we may forgotten.

• Who was the deliverer, chosen by God, to lead the Exodus?
• What are the THREE principle subjects of Exodus?
• What THREE reasons did we say the law was given?
• How did God dwell with, and lead His people?
• What does the tabernacle teach us today? (Write out 1 Corinthians 10:11)
• Who is our Passover? (Write out 1 Corinthians 5:7)
• What does the book of Exodus teach us?

Take some time in silence and see if the Lord would give you a special word for you for today. Write out a prayer of gratitude for what He taught you through the book of Exodus. Share with someone what you are learning so far on this journey.

As we look into today’s text we will see Israel’s lapse into idolatry, building of the golden calf, causes the delay of the building of the tabernacle. We will learn why a temporary substitute is provided in the form of a tent, without the camp.

Exodus 31

• THE APPOINMENT OF ARITSANS: verses 1-11
  • Write out verse 3
  • Write out verse 6
    • What do we learn about God in these verses
• YAHWEH’S SABBATH: verses 12-17
  • What do we learn about what God says about Sabbath?
    • Do you practice Sabbath in your life? What does that look like?
• THE STONE TABLETS: verse 18
  • Write out verse 18

Exodus 32

• THE GOLDEN CALF – verses 1-6
  • Describe the state of the people in verse 1
  • What does Aaron command them to do?
  • What does Aaron do in verse 4?
• YAHWEH’S WRATH – verse 7-10
  • What is God’s response in verse 7? Who does He say the people belong to?
  • Write out verse 10
• MOSES’ INTERCESSION – verses 11-14
  • What was Moses’ plea to the Lord?
  • Write out verse 14
• MOSES’ WRATH – verses 15-19
  • Describe what is happening here
  • Write out verse 19
• PUNISHMENT – verses 20-35
  • Write out verse 20
  • Write out verse 24. What do you think about this statement? Is this truth?
  • Describe what is happening in the rest of the chapter
  • Write out verse 34

Exodus 33

• PUNISHMENT – verses 1-6
  • Write out verse 5
• OUTSIDE THE CAMP: THE TENT OF MEETING – vrse 7-23
  • Write out verse 7
  • What is happening in verses 8-11?
  • What is Moses prayer in verses 12-13? And what is God’s response in verse 14?
  • Write out verse 15
  • Describe the rest of the chapter

There is so much you can learn about God and about humanity in these verses. Think about one new thing you learned. How can you apply that lesson to your life? What is God calling you into? Is He asking for a deeper relationship that you say “I won’t go anywhere if you are not with me?” or is He asking you “to walk into the promised land, trusting Him to guide you?”

Sit with this thought today. Take some time in silence waiting on the Lord to answer your deepest question you have right now. Wait on Him to see what He says to you. He wants to speak to you, all you have to do is listen.

As we finish up looking at the life of Jacob (now named Israel) there is more family drama to watch for. But also we get to see the family line of the Israelite’s begin to be formed.

Genesis 34 opens up with a horrific and emotional story. How did Dinah’s brothers respond to her abuse? Were they in the right or were they acting in the flesh?

Genesis 35 we find the final son of Jacob being born and we find Rachel passing on. How did Jacob handle this? What did he do? The chapter ends with the death of his father Isaac. Who buried Isaac?

Genesis 36 gives some context into Esau’s life. How many wives did Esau have? How many children does it say he had? Is there anything interesting you saw in this chapter as you read about the kings and chiefs of these tribes?

What did you learn today about God, yourself, or others? How can you apply what you have learned in this text to your life? There is always a lesson, ask God what it is He is wanting you to see today. Then share something we can pray for you for this week.