Numbers 10-14, 20-21, 25,27
Deut. 1-2;4;6;8-9;29-34
God’s plan was clear: deliver His people through a series of
miracles, defeat their enemies, give them a covenant and set of laws to make
them a chosen nation, and provide them a land of promise. Simple, right? God
speaks, the people listen. God delivers, the people believe. God provides, the
people trust. Well, maybe not so much.
God always held up His end of the bargain: He always provided,
always delivered, always kept His promises. It turns out the people were
equally consistent: They always forgot, always questioned, always rebelled.
Their lack-of-faith list was long. When daily bread fell from heaven, they
craved a taste of Egypt. Even Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron, grew jealous
and undermined their brother’s leadership.
Then they reached Kadesh, and the perimeter of promise became a
pinnacle of rebellion. Moses sent twelve leaders to spy out the Promised Land
of Canaan. Ten of the twelve said the cities were too strong, the people too
big and God was too small. Only two, Caleb and Joshua, trusted God. They
encouraged Israel to go and take what God had given them, but the people
complained and failed to believe.
Failure always begins with unbelief. So, Israel spent the next
forty years wandering aimlessly in the wilderness. The faithless generation
would die out before they set foot on the other side of the land of promise.
Only Caleb and Joshua would outlive them all to eventually cross over into
their inheritance.
Forty years later, the story comes full circle again to Kadesh,
the edge of the promised frontier – and little had changed. The people needed
water, so they did what they do best…they complained. And God did what He does
best…He provided. The LORD pointed Moses to a rock. He told him to speak to the
rock and water would pour out. Moses struck it with his staff instead. The
water still gushed out, but Moses and Aaron had ignored God’s instruction and
lost their right of admission to the Promised Land.
Moses then commissioned Joshua as Israel’s new leader before
giving his farewell address. He reminded them of all that the LORD had done. He
told them again about their special role as His chosen nation and how they
would enjoy His blessings if they would simply love and obey Him. Then Moses
died and was buried by the LORD.
The wilderness wanderings remind us that faith leads to life, and
unbelief leads to death. Faith honors God, and God always honors the faithful.
Questions
1. When have you felt overburdened like Moses did? When have your
burdens caused you to question God’s goodness? How might Moses’ honest
conversation with God help you handle heavy burdens in the future?
2. Israel believed the report of the faithless spies out of fear.
What do you think was the cause of their consistent lack of faith and trust?
3. The manna and quail episode ended in a severe plague (p.
56-58). What Upper Story lessons was God trying to teach? How do they apply to
us today?
4. God asks the question: “How long will these people treat me
with contempt?” (p. 61). Do you think their actions merit such a severe word as
“contempt”?
5. Israel’s rebellion led to a 40 year punishment and kept an
entire generation from seeing the Promised Land. How might you minister to
someone whose life choices resulted in irrevocable consequences?
6. Moses is described as a “very humble man, more humble than
anyone else on the face of the earth.” (p. 59) What examples from his life
illustrate this? How would you rate your humility level? (Yes, this is another
trick question.)
7. Despite his years of service, Moses’ disobedience kept him from
entering the Promised Land. What did Moses do wrong? Do you agree with the
punishment? What does this teach you about God’s expectations for leadership?
8. Moses charged Israel with passing the commandments down to
their children. What is your role in teaching the next generation? What are
some practical ways you can serve as a parent, grandparent or mentor?
9. Carefully reread Moses’ farewell message (p.
68-71). How does he emphasize God’s Upper Story of redemption?
