Steve Webb 0:00 That's not the real problem. Steve Webb 0:09 Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring! One Year Bible in podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG Godcaster. Steve Webb, Today is Memorial Day here in the US the day we remember those service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms, we honor them. And I'd like to take this opportunity to implore you to do everything you can to stand against those who would take our freedoms away, so that these brave men And women did not die in vain. I'm reminded of Ronald Reagan's words. Ronald Reagan 0:42 Our founding fathers here in this country brought about the only true revolution that has ever taken place in man's history. Every other revolution simply exchanged one set of rulers for another set of rulers. But only here did that little band of men so advanced beyond their time that the world has never seen their life since evolved, the idea that you And I have within ourselves that God's given right And the ability to determine our own destiny. That freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protected, defended, And then hand it to them with the well taught lessons of how they in their lifetime was do the same. And if you And I don't do this, And you And I may well spend our sunset years telling our children And our children's children, what it once was like in America, when men were free. Steve Webb 1:40 That would be sad indeed. Today is The Law Monday, we'll read Numbers nine through 12. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. And I'll have contact information at the end of today's show. Before we get started, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the men And women who fought And died so that we could be free. Help us Lord, strengthen us, embolden us so that we will defend it as well And pass the knowledge on to the next generation. It is said that you Lord, shed your grace on this country. I beseech you, Lord, do not withdraw your blessing on the United States. Forgive us for our sins, Father, many of us, Lord still look to you. Help us to be salt And light to a lost generation. I thank you for our time together here, Lord, to study your word. Bless our time as we read, teach us Lord, I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Let's begin. Steve Webb 2:36 Numbers chapter nine. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert in the first month of the second year after they'd come out of the land of Egypt. The Lord said, Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at the time given for it. Keep it at its given time in the evening of the 14th day of this month. Keep it by obeying all its laws. So Moses told the people of Israel to keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover in the evening of the 14th day of the first month in the Sinai desert. The people of Israel did all that the Lord had told Moses, but there were some men who were unclean because they had touched a dead person. So they could not keep the Passover on that day. They came to Moses And Aaron that day And said to Moses, we are unclean because we touched a dead person. But why are we kept from giving the Lord's gift at its given time among the people of Israel. Moses said to them, wait, And I will listen to what the Lord will tell me to do with you. Then the Lord said to Moses, Say to the People of Israel, if any one of you or your children touch a dead person And become unclean, or if you are traveling far away, even so, he may still keep the Passover to the Lord. They will keep it in the evening of the 14th day of the second month, they will eat it with bread without yeast And with bitter tasting plants. They must not leave any of it until morning. And they must not break a bone of the Lamb. They must obey all of the law of the Passover. But if a man is clean And is not away, traveling yet does not keep the Passover, he must be cut off from his people. For he did not give the Lord's gift at the time he was to do so that man will be guilty of his sin. If the stranger staying with you wants to keep the Passover to the Lord And obey the law of the Passover. He may do so you will have one law both for the stranger And for the one who was born in the land. On the day that the meeting tent was set up. The cloud covered the meeting tent the tent of the law. In the evening, it was over the meeting tent. It looked like fire until morning. It was like this always the cloud would cover it during the day. What looked like fire would cover it during the night when the cloud was lifted from over the meeting tent that people Israel would move on where the cloud rested there, the people of Israel would set up their tents. The people of Israel would move on as the Lord told them, And they would set up their tents as the Lord told them, they stayed in one place as long as the cloud rested over the meeting tent. Even when the cloud rested over the meeting tent for many days, the people of Israel would obey the Lord And not leave. Sometimes the cloud stayed a few days over the meeting tent, but they obeyed the Lord And stayed in that place, then they would leave when the Lord told them. Sometimes the cloud stayed from the evening until morning. When the cloud lifted in the morning, they would leave. If the clouds stayed during the day And the night when it lifted, they would leave that place. Even when the clouds stayed over the meeting tent for two days, or a month or a year, the people of Israel would stay in that place And not leave, they would leave when it was lifted. They set up their tents as the Lord told them, And they moved on as the Lord told them. They obeyed what the Lord had told him to do through Moses. Steve Webb 6:06 Numbers chapter 10, the Lord spoke to Moses, make two trumpets of silver, you are to make them from a single hammered peace, you will use them for assembling the community And for directing the traveling of the camps. When they blow them both all the community must come to you to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. But if they blow with one trumpet than the leaders, the heads of the 1000s of Israel must come to you. When you blow an alarm, then the camps that are located on the east side must begin to travel. And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that are located on the south side must begin to travel And alarm must be sounded for their journeys. But when you assemble the community, you must blow but you must not sound an alarm. The sons of Aaron, the priests must blow the trumpets, And they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. If you go to war in your land against an adversary who opposes you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, And you will be remembered before the Lord your God into you will be saved from your enemies. Also, in the time when you rejoice, such as on your appointed festivals or at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with your trumpets, over your burnt offerings And over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they may become a memorial for you before your God, I am the Lord your God. On the 20th day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the testimony. So the Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai, And the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran. This was the first time they set out on their journey according to the commandment of the Lord, by the authority of Moses, the standard of the camp of the Judah heights set out first according to their companies, And over his company was Nahshon, son of a man ADAP over the company of the tribe of Issachar. Rights was Nathanael, son of Zhu R. And over the company of the tribe of sebelah. Knights was the lion son of Heelan. Then the tabernacle was dismantled And the sons of Gershon And the sons of Moray Rai set out carrying the tabernacle, the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their companies. Over his company was the lizer, son of shittier. Over the company of the tribe of Simeon knights was show humio Son of Zahra Shaddai, And over the company of the tribe of Gadites was Elias AF, son of duel, And the Kohathites set out carrying the articles for the sanctuary. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived, And the standard of the camp of the Aphria mites set out according to their companies. Over his company was Alicia Ma, son of a mayat. Over the company of the tribe of the Manasa Heights was Gamaliel Sana Pedraza And over the company of the tribe of Benjamin knights was a Biden son of giddy oni. The standard of the camp of the Dan I'd set out which was the rear guard of all the camps by their companies. Over his company was a high easer son of Emma Shaddai. Over the company of the tribe of the ASHA rights was Peggy Hill, son of operon. And over the company of the tribe of NAFTA lights was a Hira son of Enon. These were the traveling arrangements of the Israelites according to their companies when they traveled, Moses said to whole Babs son of rule, the Midianite, Moses father in law, we are journeying to the place about which the Lord said, I will give it to you, come with us, And we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things for Israel. But hobo web said to him, I will not go but I will go instead to my own land into my kindred. Moses said, do not leave us because you know places for us to camp in the wilderness And you could be our guide. And if you come with us, it is certain that whatever good things the Lord will favor us with, we will share with you as well. So they traveled from the mountain of the Lord three days journey, And the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was traveling before them during the three days journey. Ready to find a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they traveled from the camp. And when the Ark traveled, Moses would say, rise up, oh, Lord, may your enemies be scattered. It May those who hate you flee before you. And when it came to rest, he would say, return, oh Lord, to the many 1000s of Israel. Steve Webb 10:21 Numbers 11. Now, when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, for the Lord heard it in his anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them And consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, And when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. So he called the name of the place Tabora because the fire of the Lord had burned among them. Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving. So the children of Israel also wept again And said, Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions And the garlic. But now our whole being is dried up. There is nothing at all except this manner before our eyes. Now the manna was like coriander seed And its color like the color of Deleon, the people went about And gathered it, grounded on millstones, or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans And made cakes of it. And its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. And when the do fell on the camp, And the night the manna fell on it, then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent, And the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused. Moses also was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, why have you afflicted your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight that you have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them that you should say to me, carry them in your bosom as a guardian carries a nursing child to the land which you swore to their fathers? Where am I to get me to give to all these people, for they weep all over me saying, Give us meat that we may eat? I am not able to bear all these people alone because the burden is too heavy for me. If you treat me like this, please kill me here. And now if I have found favor in your sight, And do not let me see my wretchedness. So the Lord said to Moses, gathered me 70, men of the elders of Israel, whom you know, to be elders of the people, And officers over them, bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you, then I will come down And talk with you there. I will take of the spirit that is upon you, And we'll put the same upon them. And they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. Then you shall say to the people, consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, And you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord saying, who will give us meat to eat, for it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the Lord will give you meat And you shall eat, you shall eat not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor 10 days, nor 20 days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils And becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who was among you, And have wept before him saying, why did we ever come up out of Egypt? And Moses said, the people whom I am among our 600,000 men on foot, yet you have said, I will give them meat that they may eat for a whole month, shall flocks And herds be slaughtered for them to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to provide enough for them? And the Lord said to Moses, has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not. So Moses went out And told the people, the words of the Lord, And he gathered the 70, men of the elders of the people And place them around the tabernacle. Then the LORD came down in the cloud, And spoke to him, And took of the Spirit that was upon him, And place the same upon the 70 Elders. And it happened when the Spirit rested upon them that they prophesied, though they never did. So again. But two men had remained in the camp, the name of one was L dad, And the name of the other me, dad, And the spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed but who had not gone out to the tabernacle, yet they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran And told Moses And said, l dad And me dad are prophesying in the camp. So Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses, Assistant, one of his choice men, answered And said, Moses, my Lord forbid them. Then Moses said to him, I use Ellis for my sake, oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets, And that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them. And Moses returned to the camp, he And the elders of Israel. Now well wind when out from the Lord, And it brought quail from the sea, And left them fluttering near the camp, about a day's journey on this side, And about a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp, And about two cubits above the surface of the ground. And the people stayed up all that day, all night And all the next day And gathered the quail, he who gathered least gathered 10 homers, And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people. And the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place kibra tehava, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving from kibra tehava, the people moved to Hazur off And kept it has a Roth Steve Webb 15:36 Numbers chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan. They asked, Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn't he also speak through us? The Lord heard their complaint. Moses was a very humble man more humble than anyone else on Earth. Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, And Miriam, all three of you come to the Tent of Meeting. So all three of them came. Then the LORD came down on the column of smoke And stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron And barium And they both came forward. He said, Listen to my words. When there are prophets of the Lord among you, I make myself known to them And visions or speak to them And dreams. But this is not the way I treat my servant Moses. He is the most faithful person in my household. I speak with him face to face plainly And not in riddles. He even sees the form of the Lord. Why weren't you afraid to criticize my servant Moses? The Lord was angry with them, so he left. When the smoke left the tent. Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her And saw she was covered with the disease. So he said to Moses, please, sir, don't punish us for this foolish sin we committed. Don't let her be like a stillborn baby that's not completely developed. So Moses cried to the Lord, please, God heal her. The Lord replied to Moses, if her own father had spit in her face, wouldn't she be excluded from the community for seven days, she must be put in isolation outside the camp for seven days, then she can be brought back. So Miriam was put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't break camp until she was brought back. After that, the people moved from hazard Roth And set up camp in the desert of Paran. Steve Webb 17:37 Let's take a look at chapter 12. Verse One said Miriam And Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan. Okay, so as a reminder, Miriam And Aaron, were the brother And sister of Moses. And because of the way this sentence is constructed in Hebrew, And the fact that Miriam is listed first, she's probably the instigator of this confrontation. We'll talk more about that in a moment. Out of the 35 translations, I checked this translation the God's word translation, is the only one that says that Moses was married to a woman from Sudan. Most other translations say she was a Cushite woman. Others say she was Ethiopian. The original language says, Kushite what's a coup shyt? well, the coup Shi'ites were descendants of Cush or Cush, as some people might say. Cush was the oldest son of Ham. Ham was the son of Noah. So couche was the grandson of Noah, And get this one of Kushi his sons was Nimrod, who was thought to be the ruler of Babel when the Tower of Babel was built. So the great grandson of Noah probably built the Tower of Babel. There's just another reminder that it's imperative to teach faithfully each generation, the word of the Lord. Just because you're a believer is no guarantee that your children will be or their children, be diligent in living in such a way that your children see that God is real. Now the land of Cush might very well be And probably is synonymous with Ethiopia. Though the Ethiopia of the Bible is not exactly the same as the Ethiopia of today. However, the Ethiopia of the Bible included an area of what is Sudan today, so you can see how it all just kind of came together there. Given this background, it's probably not going to surprise you when I tell you that the Kushite people were dark skinned. As a matter of fact, the word Koosh means black. One last thing about Koosh I found this at God questions.org. I'm quoting them err significantly cautious also a nation that received the gospel And will be involved in the millennial kingdom. The evangelist Philip gave the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, who would have been referred to as a to shyt in Hebrew. And the unit was one of the first converts of Ethiopia to Christianity. We learned that in Acts Eight verses 26 through 39 And continuing God questions.org he undoubtedly took the gospel back to his land where he had great influence as a royal official to Queen Candice, we learned that from Acts 827. And during the millennial reign of Christ, Jesus will receive honor from Kush or Ethiopia. We know that from Zephaniah 310 from beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, my scattered people will bring me offerings. Pretty interesting, huh? So the fact that Moses was married to a Cushite woman is the reason Miriam And Aaron gave for their complaint. So why the complaint? well, it was not forbidden for Israelites to marry cu Shi'ites. So that's not likely to be the basis for their complaint. It is possible And maybe even probable that the reason was because of the color of her skin, something she had no control over. So it wasn't really fair to criticize her for that. But that's not the real problem. We'll find out as we read what the real problem was, there was a deeper problem, as is often the case. Verse two says, they asked, Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn't he also speak through us? Okay, so they come And they say, Hey, we're not Happy because Moses married this Kushite woman. And by the way, did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn't he also speak through us? Can't you just hear her? What do you think you are Moses, you think you're so special? Because God speaks through you. He speaks through me And Aaron too. well, in a way she was right. God spoke through Aaron in Exodus 430. And he spoke to Aaron And Exodus 12. One in Miriam spoke God inspired words in Exodus 1521. But the fact is, God spoke through Moses in a very unique way. And he selected Moses as the leader of Israel. Miriam And Aaron, were just playing jealous of Moses. They wanted to have some of that authority And attention. And they thought that by bringing Moses down, they would be elevated. And then verse two ends with this. The Lord heard their complaint. Of course he did. And what he heard was them accusing Moses of the sin Veva himself, we're guilty of pride. But Moses wasn't prideful. He didn't need to be brought down. Verse three says, Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on Earth. Okay, now, I have no reason to doubt the truth of this verse. But at the same time, I have to chuckle a little bit. It makes me think of a joke. I heard from my brother in law, Steve O'Brien, he's a pastor, And I love him very much, And he can be a killer. He talks about a book he wrote, not really, but he talks about this book he wrote called humility And how I achieved it cracks me up. Listen, the book of Numbers is one of the first five books of the Bible right, commonly called the Pentateuch. You know, who wrote the Pentateuch right, Moses. So Moses wrote that he was the most humble person on earth, when really, maybe not, it's entirely possible that somebody added this comment after Moses died. a very likely possibility is that Joshua wrote it. You see, Joshua was the man appointed by God to lead Israel after Moses died. And Joshua knew Moses very well. So I can very easily see him taking the scrolls that Moses wrote out, And added that in the margin or something, I get that continuing verse forces, suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, And Miriam, all three of you come to the Tent of Meeting. Notice the order of the names here, Moses, Aaron, And Miriam, we go from the one who is in the right, to the one who is most in the wrong. God is not Happy that he takes quick action makes me think of the parent who's had enough of a child's bad behavior And says, Go to your room. Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, And Miriam, all three of you come to the Tent of Meeting. So they go to the Tent of Meeting And it says, Then the LORD came down in the column of smoke And stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron And Miriam. And they both came forward. Can't you just see this? By now I think they know they're in trouble. heads were probably hung low, shoulders were probably slumping, And they probably very timidly stepped forward. And then God speaks to them from the column of smoke. I'm paraphrasing here, listen up. When I've got something to say to prophets, I do it through dreams And visions. But with my boy here, Moses, I talked directly to him, I tell him like it is he even gets to see me as much as the human body can stand, And you have the nerve to criticize him. We're told God was angry, so he left And that left the three of them standing there. Talk about an awkward silence. But when the smoke cleared, literally, Miriam was covered with an advanced state of leprosy. The skin being whitest snow tells us that And then Aaron seems a bit Weasley here. As soon as he sees Miriam, he says to Moses, Please, my lord, don't punish us for this foolish sin we've committed. Now remember, Aaron is the guy who let the people build a golden idol, while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets with the 10 commandments from God, And Aaron tagged along with his sister today. But as soon as he thinks that his goose is cooked, to save himself, he begs his big brother Moses for his help. I don't know maybe he truly saw that the accusations they made against Moses were foolish And sinful, but maybe he just didn't want to end up covered in leprosy. You think? And then now for the very first time in this chapter, Moses cried to the Lord, please, God heal her. He was falsely accused, yet he passionately prayed for her healing. Yeah, Moses had a good heart. The Lord did heal Miriam, but not until she was put out of the camp for seven days, during which the nation became aware of the shameful thing she had done in bringing petty And false charges against God's faithful servant in the hopes of elevating herself. If you have a comment or a question, contact information is just a moment away. Tomorrow will be history Tuesday, And we'll read first Chronicles 15 through 19 Jingle 27:36 Lifespringmedia.com/support Steve Webb 27:45 Our next time a prayer together here on the show will be Wednesday. So if there's a praise we should know about or if there's something you'd like us to pray with you about? Be sure to let me know. Thanks to Sister Denise Michael Haner. Scott Snider, Jason Paschall who did today's show, art And sister Brittaney. To send a comment a question or prayer request or a praise report. You can call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511 Or if you prefer for prayer requests And praise reports, go to prayer dot Lifespringmedia.com. For comments or questions, go to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com And my email address is steve@lifespringmedia.com. Obviously I love to get your boostagram. So with your comments or questions or praise reports or prayer requests. Thank you, beloved for inviting me to be with you today. Have a great Memorial Day And now until tomorrow may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Steve Webb 28:42 Lifespring media bringing the message of hope, love And good news since 2004 Transcribed by https://otter.ai