Numbers - part 2

 Numbers 16-30 (These are my notes from my reading.)

 Leadership can be a lonely place.  When God chooses leaders, He doesn't promise them that everyone will willingly follow them.  The important thing to remember is that God is the leader.  He may choose people to lead under Him, but He is in charge.  When we rebel against God's chosen leaders, we are really rebelling against God.  When we question the leaders, thinking we know best, we are questioning God.  This means that, if we have a problem with a leader, we need to go to God with it so that He can show us what, if anything we should do.  But we have to be willing to be shown that we are wrong and we just need to follow.  God also takes care of the leaders He places over His people.  He shows the people His choice and provides for all their needs.  God expects His leaders to respect Him and to show the people that He is holy.  Leaders are held to a higher standard.  When Moses and Aaron act in frustration, no matter how understandable, they are not showing the people that God is holy.  They are not representing Him well.

 The people of God are expected to obey Him and His leaders.  Anything else is sin.  Sin leads to death.  The snakes in the camp are punishment for sin, but, once again, God extends grace.  There is a way for the people to be saved by grace through faith just like Abraham.  All they have to do is believe that looking at the bronze serpent will heal them because that is what God said.  They have to believe enough to actually look at it.  This is just like with Jesus.  We can be saved by His grace through faith by believing in His finished work on the cross enough to look to Him for salvation, to repent and believe.

 Balaam shows us the sovereignty of God.  No matter his mistakes, his selfish motives, his need for power and praise, God would not allow him to curse Israel.  We later see that he found other ways to cause problems in Israel.  He helps the Moabites lead Israel into idolatry and sexual sin.  These sins are punished by God.  We all need to eradicate the sin in our lives.  Like Phinehas, we need to be zealous for God, for His holiness, for His people to be holy and blameless.  

 God continues to have Moses remind and instruct the people in holiness and righteous behavior.  Israel is to be a people set apart, as we are as Christians.  God even gives people many opportunities to be reminded of His sovereignty and that He is their King.  From weekly sabbaths to yearly festivals, people can "reset" back to eyes fixed on God through their lives.  God takes these festivals and sacrifices seriously.  He also takes our vows seriously.  We must honor Him by always keeping our word.

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