1. Look at the following illustration. List some things that stand out to you.
Notice God was in the center, the heart of the camp. In the new covenant (us) where is God according to 1Cor. 6:19 and Eph. 3:17?
How should that change our mindset in regards to how we behave day to day?
How does that change your mindset about the church building?
Read Lev. 24:10-23 and Num.15:32-36. What were these 2 put to death for?
Now read John 8:3-11 and Col. 3:5-8. Using the above concepts, how have things changed in the new covenant?
2. Read Lev. 27:26. Why couldn't they dedicate the firstborn animal to the Lord?
Read Heb. 12:22,23. What are we believers called in this passage?
Read Rom. 8:15-17. In what way can we be considered "firstborn"/
What does that say about dedication and rededication services?
3. Read Proverbs 3:9 and James 1:18. What are we referred to as in James?
What is to be done with Firstfruits?
So, like the firstborn, who do we belong to as Christians?
4. Read Num. 8:15-19, 3:5-13, 1:47-53, 18:6-32. List 5 things you learned about The Levites
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Read 1Pet. 2:9. What are we as Christians referred to?
Like firstborn and firstfruits, what does being called "priests" tell us about our standing as compared to the Levites?
5. Read Num. 12:3. Now read the following passages and describe how they illustrate the fact that Moses was the most humble man on Earth.
Num. 12:1-13
Num 11:24-29
Num. 14:10-16
Num 16:42-48
6. Read Num. 13 - 14:11.
What did Joshua and Caleb believe about God?
Why did the other 10 spies believe about the Canaanites?
How did God view their opinion?
God had promised to give them the land. Why do you suppose He had Moses send out spies?
Read Num. 14:20-37. What was God's judgement on the people?
Why do you think he spared everyone under 20? (see also Deut.1:39, 2:14-16 and Num 26:2)
7. Read Num. 14:40-45 and Isa. 64:6. What does this tell you about our "good" deeds?
Notes to students/ teachers
The Israelites stretched out some estimate square miles. They camped according to tribes arranged with the tabernacle - presence of God - in the center/heart of the camp. To approach the presence of God could only be done by the priests and Levites and then only with great reverence, caution, and fear. Now that Christ has come and has gone into the holy of holies in heaven with His own blood, we can enter boldly into God's presence any time of the day without an earthly mediator going for us. The veil has been torn, praise God! Not only that but now God doesn't dwell in man made structures but actually lives inside of us. If you put a head, arms, and legs on the diagram of the Israelite camp, that is a picture of the new covenant. Christ is in our "hearts". We don't go to church to be in God's presence, we are in it constantly. To act reverently at church but not in our daily lives is to demonstrate a lack of understanding. To insist on standing when reading the Word at church but not at home or many other such acts of piety that aren't done through the week, in my mind is inconsistant. The updated diagram also explains certain things like why don't we put fornicators, adulterers, blasphemers, violaters of the Sabbath, etc. to death anymore? In the old covenant, those sinners were individuals and part of the body and were therefore removed. Now we(individually) are the body of Christ and sins such as these in our body must be put to death, not our whole body.
The whole symbolism of Firstborn, Firstfruits, and Levites is intriguing because we as believers in the NT are referred to as firstborn, firstfruits, and priests. What these have in common is they belong to the Lord completely. The whole idea of dedicating our lives to the Lord (although an incredible spiritual milestone in my life), is actually a misnomer because we already are dedicated. The idea of giving a tenth to the Lord is confusing when everything we think we own actually belongs to the Lord. The idea of chasing after earthly possessions shows a lack of understanding because God IS our possession.
We as Christians are called to be humble. What a great character study Moses is. Here he is the leader of a nation of millions who is the only person ever to talk to God face to face and who just defeated the most powerful king and nation in the world - yet he is approachable, caring, unafraid of sharing his power, not offended when his authority is challenged, longsuffering, more concerned about his cousin's reputation than his, let people choose not to follow his advice, and when given the chance to have his name made even greater chose to have God's name made greater instead. How are you matching up with Moses?
Just a few thoughts on the rebellion at Kadesh as this will be discussed more in the next section. When we don't trust God to come through or believe what he says, He views this as contempt. I believe He had them send out spies to test them. It's like He was going to give them one more chance to reveal their faith after grumbling and not believing Him "10 times" and they failed again. After all He had done for them and revealed to them His power, He says basically they don't deserve to enter the land, he will give it to their children. The NT states unless we become like children we can't enter the Kingdom of God. The kids under 20 were considered innocent of the rejection of God, rebellion, and unbelief. Maybe God has an older age of accountability than we generally do. Maybe it is because they weren't allowed to participate in battle until 20 so they couldn't be held accountable for being afraid to going to war. Whatever it was, everyone over 20 will die in the wilderness in the upcoming chapters. The people then tried to do a "good thing" and go to battle but now God wasn't behind it and they were defeated. What a great picture of the unbeliever trying to do good things to get to the "promised land'. God says, "believe Me and I will take you there." Mankind says, "I will get to the promised land on my own strength by doing good deeds and that will please God and He will let me in". That isn't how it works
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