OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY I
LESSON ONE
ISRAEL CONTINUES THEIR JOURNEY
The history of man from the garden of Eden to the children of Israel's exit from Egypt covers a period of 2500 years.
The period in Israel's history we will be studying in Old Testament History I is from 1491 B. C. (when Israel was at Mount Sinai) until l098 B. C. (the end of the time of the judges). (B. C. means "Before Christ," or, in other words, before the birth of Jesus Christ).
This time period is covered by the book of Genesis, and the first twelve chapters of Exodus.
THE JOURNEY TO CANAAN RESUMED
After one year's encampment near Mount Sinai, God spoke to the children of Israel:
". . . Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them" (Deuteronomy 1:6-7).
At that time, the cloud lifted from the tabernacle. This was the signal for Israel to resume their journey. God had given them instructions to move whenever the cloud or pillar of fire moved:
"And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed" (Numbers 9:21-22).
The ark of the covenant went before the children of Israel, carried by the Levites. It symbolized the presence of God with them. When the ark set forward, Moses would say, "Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." When the ark rested (because the pillar of fire or cloud stopped), Moses would say, "Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel" (Numbers 10: 35-36).
ISRAEL COMPLAINS AGAIN
The children of Israel complained when they came to the Red Sea and were pursued by the Egyptians. They later complained because of a lack of water, and again later, because of a lack of food. God miraculously supplied their needs each time. It seems that they would have learned that their God would take care of them, but they did not. Only three days from Mount Sinai, some of the people started complaining, and this quickly spread throughout the camp:
". . . Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes" (Numbers 11:4-6).
Manna was food that God miraculously sent from heaven six days a week for them. The day before the sabbath there was a double supply, and they collected enough for two days. Nevertheless, miraculous or not, they missed the food they enjoyed in Egypt. They had already forgotten the bondage that God had brought them out of--their miserable existence in Egypt, and how they had wept and cried for God to do something about their heavy burdens.
Because of their ungratefulness and continual murmuring, the anger of the LORD "was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp." Only the intercessory prayers of Moses quenched the fire (Numbers 11:1-2).
THE SEVENTY ELDERS
About a year earlier, Moses had been about to suffer physical exhaustion, trying to act as judge over all Israel. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, made a valuable suggestion that was carried out. Officers were set over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. Moses was required to take care of only the more difficult problems.
Now, Moses was facing a new situation. As Israel's spiritual leader, he felt responsible to God for each person--but the burden was too heavy for him to continue to bear. He went before his God:
"I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness" (verses 14-15).
God did not rebuke Moses, because He knew his condition of self-pity was caused by spiritual fatigue or exhaustion; that is, the burden that he felt for the people was more than one man could possibly endure. God told him to choose seventy elders of the people who were officers, and have them come to the tabernacle. God said:
"And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone" (verse 17).
Seventy men were chosen, but only sixty-eight showed up at the tabernacle. As these men gathered around the tabernacle, the LORD came down and spoke to Moses, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders. When the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied
(verses 24-25).
Perhaps the other two men, Eldad, and Medad, did not feel that they were worthy of such a high calling, and that is why they did not come to the tabernacle. Nevertheless, they had been chosen for the position, and the spirit also rested upon them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man came running to tell Moses, "Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp." Joshua, feeling that it was an insult to Moses, since they did not obey his instructions, said, "My Lord Moses, forbid them" (verses 26-28). But this humble servant of God answered:
". . . Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (verse 29).
A prophet is a spokesman for God who speaks God's Word. Today God wants everyone to be filled with His precious Holy Spirit. He wants everyone to be prophets in the sense of sharing His precious Word. Another lesson we learn from Eldad and Medad is that if a man has a calling from God, it will do no good for him to run from it. It is impossible to flee from the presence of the Lord! (Read Psalm 139:7-10).
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GET THEIR MEAT
Because of the grumbling and murmuring of the children of Israel for meat, God decided to teach them a lesson. He sent a strong wind that brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp. They covered an area that takes a day's journey for a man to travel, in every direction around the camp, three feet deep! The people did not even have room enough to sit (Numbers 11:31-32).
"And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted" (verses 33-34).
Their lust, dissatisfaction, and grumbling brought punishment by God. Hundreds of years later, Paul wrote concerning these same people:
"But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (examples): and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come" (I Corinthians 10:5-11).
THE REBELLION OF AARON AND MIRIAM
Moses married an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1), and this brought the disfavour of Aaron and Miriam, his brother and sister. They began to boast that they were just as important as he was:
". . . Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?" (verse 2).
The Bible informs us that "Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3). They had no right to make such a statement! God was very angry, and ordered them to report immediately to the tabernacle. He then came down in the pillar of the cloud and talked with Aaron and Miriam, and rebuked them strongly for speaking against the man of God. He explained to them the difference between the normal prophet and Moses:
". . . If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently (clearly), and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (Numbers 12:6-8).
When the cloud departed, Miriam was white as snow with leprosy. Aaron begged for Moses' forgiveness, and requested him to pray for God to heal her. Moses did pray, but God insisted that Miriam be shut outside the camp for seven days, as punishment.
Lepers were required under God's law to separate themselves from the people and dwell outside the camp. Miriam would be able to see what her life would be like, except for the mercies of the LORD. In His mercy, God did heal Miriam, and we never again read of Aaron and his sister rebelling against their brother and leader.
VOCABULARY
admonition . . . . . . instruction, warning, caution
exhaustion . . . . . . great fatigue
fatigue . . . . . . weariness, tiredness
intercede . . . . . . to make intercession, here, to pray on behalf of another person
similitude . . . . . . a visible likeness, image
wretchedness . . . . . . a condition of being miserable and unhappy
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY I - LESSON ONE TEST
1. What time period does Old Testament History I cover?
2. How long were the children of Israel encamped near Mount Sinai?
3. What was the signal for Israel to resume their journey?
4. What was the signal for them to remain where they were?
5. What did the ark of the covenant symbolize to Israel?
6. What did Moses say when the ark set forward?
7. What did the children of Israel complain about only three days journey from Mount Sinai?
8. How were they punished for their complaining?
9. What two types of exhaustion did Moses suffer from?
10. Who did God give to Moses to help share the spiritual burden of Israel?
11. What two men refused to come to the tabernacle?
12. Did the Spirit of God still come upon them?
13. What did Joshua say about this?
14. What was Moses' answer to Joshua?
15. What lesson do we learn from Eldad and Medad?
16. How did God miraculously supply the children of Israel with meat to eat?
17. Tell of the rebellion of Aaron and Miram:
18. How was Miriam punished for her rebellion.
19. What did God say the difference was between a normal prophet and Moses?
20. What was of special interest to you in this lesson?
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY I - LESSON ONE TEST
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