Discipleship School: Numbers 20:14-29

Warm-up Quiz

Let’s talk family tree

Who did it start with? Abraham

Then who was his son? Isaac

Who were his sons? Jacob and Esau

Which son did the promise continue with? Jacob

Who were Jacob’s sons? 12 tribes

which tribe would the priests come from

Which tribe would King David come from

Which tribe would Jesus come from?

Review

Year 40 in the wilderness and the year is starting off rough for Moses

His sister dies . . . name? (Miriam)

the Next generation complained about water like the older generation did

Moses and Aaron messed up and hit the rock instead of speaking to the rock, and will not be allowed to enter the promised land

Numbers 20, verses 14-21 summary

Moses ask the king of Edom for permission to pass through their land as they head to Canaan.

He promised they would not take anything, just want to pass through . . . King said no, if you try to come through we will declare ware on you

Moses sent second message, asking again, adding some financial incentive . . . .King said no and showed up with his army to prove he was serious

Numbers 20:21 NLT

21 Because Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their country, Israel was forced to turn around.

Israel takes that “L”

Submitted Question: Why was the King of Edom so mean to Moses? What harm was it going to bring to Edom if they allowed the Israelites to pass through?

First, This is a big ask, let 2 million people pass through your country

Second, He didn’t know if he could trust Moses

Thirdly, and probably most importantly, there is a connection between Israel and Edom

Numbers 20:14 NASB95

14 From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us;

and this connection has some bad blood:

Abraham had Isaac

Isaac had two sons: Jacob and Esau

Jacob and Esau did not get along: Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright and blessing

The promise and blessing of Abraham was passed to Jacob and not Esau.

The children of Israel are descendants of Jacob, the Edomites are descendants of Esau

Moses hoped to use the family connection as a positive thing . . . but bad blood, jealousy outweighed the family connection

In the future, the book of Obadiah speaks of how Edom gloated, rejoiced when Israel was defeated by its enemies and exiled . . . . and they also plundered the land, and killed those Israelites who tried to escape . . . that’s bad blood

The King decided to go with the bad history between the two brothers

Submitted Question: Why didn’t the Israelites just fight the Edomites?

God told them not to

Deuteronomy 2:4–6 NASB95

4 and command the people, saying, “You will pass through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful; 5 do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, even as little as a footstep because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 “You shall buy food from them with money so that you may eat, and you shall also purchase water from them with money so that you may drink.

it seems because of their connection to Abraham because God called them “your brothers”

Edom’s land is the land God promised to Edom. Other land is promised to Israel . . . their promise land, Canaan.

They got their blessing and you have yours

Also, Edom did not attack them, it seemed in the future other people not only said, “no” but also attacked them

Death of Aaron

Numbers 20:22–24 NLT

22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor. 23 There, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.

The time has come . . . end of an era . . . the very first high priest of Israel . . . it made me sad, so I started reflecting

Aaron was Moses 2nd ride or die (after his wife)

He obeyed the voice of the Lord to go meet Moses in the wilderness (faith, obedience)

he became the spokes person for Moses (used his talents as a good speaker)

pioneering spirit/gift (you don’t join the cause because its popular, you start the cause before it becomes popular/foundation of the cause) - God, Moses, and Aaron against the world

Aaron made his share of mistakes

golden calf

spoke against Moses with his sister

rebelled against God concerning the rock

and he suffered consequences

two of his sons died: indirect consequence of his influence in my opinion

seeing his sister suffer

not being allowed in the promised land

But overall, Aaron fulfilled his calling/mission and was very blessed

family blessed with the honor and favor of always being the high priest

got to live the longest except for Moses

got to see his son become the next High Priest

God defeated their enemies (like Korah)

GOT TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

(don’t get caught up in this discipline from the Lord and forget to count Aaron’s blessings . . . and the same goes for your life, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS)

Numbers 20:25–26 NASB95

25 “Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be gathered to his people, and will die there.”

Again, the Lord had already commanded that the next high priest was to always come from descendants of Aaron

I think this is a blessing Moses lost because he kept making excuses at the burning bush.

Only son of Moses ever mentioned in the Bible is his youngest son, barely

Numbers 20:27 NLT

27 So Moses did as the Lord commanded. The three of them went up Mount Hor together as the whole community watched.

public ordination service - letting the people see that a transference of office is about to take place

Numbers 20:28 NLT

28 At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar went back down.

How sad for Moses to see his brother and ministry partner die

Moses is now the last one from his generation (Joshua and Caleb are older too, but not as old as he is)

Lesson: everything belongs to God

our possessions don’t belong to us, but God

our positions in the church don’t belong to us, but to God

neither does our ministry belong to us, but God

So, we must run our race and then pass the torch

Numbers 20:29 NLT

29 When the people realized that Aaron had died, all Israel mourned for him thirty days.

they had an official time of mourning . . . this provides a good example for us

let’s talk about mourning and grief

Grief is the internal experience of loss — the emotional, mental, (like sadness, hurt, confusion, anger) that a person feels after a loss.

Mourning is the external expression of that grief — through crying, wearing black, attending funerals, making memorials . . . it helps you begin to process that grief, because you take out time to acknowledge it

2 mistakes we often make

some try to grieve without mourning

try to move on immediately, like it didn’t happen . . . but you cannot stop grief, so its best that you begin to deal with it now than later . . . because you will have to deal with it

some never stop mourning, (life is centered around mourning for years)

Yet, mourning has to end (grief will continue) . . . you should not shut down your life forever, you have to get on with your life and keep running your race

Moses’ time is almost up, but he has a lot left to do!!!

(haven’t even got to Deuteronomy)

Announcements

Thank you for everything!!!!

Quiz Questions

Understanding the Bible - TC3

Text - is it actually written in the scripture, if so then actually read it

Context - consider the verses around it, the book, the testament to determine meaning

Consistency - is it a consistent theme, lesson, principle taught in other parts of the Bible

Character - does it fit the character of God

(4th)Common sense - use your brain

What does the word Exodus mean?

If you want to read what happened before Exodus, which book of the Bible should you read?

What is the land of Goshen?

12 Tribes of Israel - Joseph’s tribe works a little different. How and why?

1/2 tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh

12 Tribes of Israel - Judah, Benjamin, Levi, Dan, Nephtali, Manasseh, Ephraim

Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Asher, Issachar

what tribe Moses, Aaron from

What tribe David from

What tribe Jesus from

Paul?

Where did the name of Israel come from?

First national holiday for Israel?

Other names for Abraham’s descendants - Jews, Hebrews, children of Israel, Israelites, Israel . . . new one (Judah)

How many plagues? 10

Name them

blood, frogs, gnats

flies, death of livestock, boils

hail, locust, darkness . . . death of first born

How many years in Egypt? 430 years

What did Pharaoh ask for when the children of Israel left Egypt?

How many people left?

What is God’s name?

What are four Hebrew consonants that make up God’s name called? Tetragrammaton

After the Red Sea Miracle, what complaints have the people had so far?

no water

no food

no water

What does Jehova-Nissi mean?

What did Moses call the place where the Israelites complained about water (the 2nd time)?

Massah - test

Meribah - arguing

Moses Father in law’s name - Jethro

Moses wife’s name - Zipporah

Where were the children of Israel when God gave them the 10 commandments?

What are the 10 commandments

Here’s a brief version of the Ten Commandments:

1. **No other gods** – Worship only God.

2. **No idols** – Don’t make or worship idols.

3. **God’s name is holy** – Don’t misuse God's name.

4. **Keep the Sabbath** – Rest and keep the Sabbath day holy.

5. **Honor parents** – Respect your father and mother.

6. **Don’t murder** – Value human life.

7. **Don’t commit adultery** – Be faithful in marriage.

8. **Don’t steal** – Respect others’ property.

9. **Don’t lie** – Speak truthfully.

10. **Don’t covet** – Avoid envy of others’ possessions.

What is another name (popular Bible word) for contract, agreement, covenant? Testament

How did the people first break the covenant? (golden calf)

What do you know for certain about God:

God of compassion and mercy

slow to anger, filled with unfailing love and faithfulness

and it’s overflowing . . . he forgives

does not excuse the guilty

What was God’s tent called? Tabernacle

what was the most sacred place in the Tabernacle called, Holy of Holies

Where does the book Leviticus get its name from?

Where does the book of Numbers get its name from?

How many spies were sent out to view the promised land and what was their report? 12

Name two spies who had faith in God?

Joshua and Caleb

What was the punishment for rebelling against the Lord after believing the bad report of the 10 spies?

40 years in the wilderness, 1 year for each day the spies were gone

everyone 20 and up will die in the wilderness

those 10 spies died right away

Name of rebel leader who got swallowed up by the ground? Korah

What did God do to prove to the people that Aaron was selected by him to be the high priest?

Info about Moses

wife - Zipporah

Brother - Aaron

Sister - Miriam

Father in law - Jethro

Tribe - Levi

Race - Jewish

Most famous Ancestor - Abraham

how old was he when he ran away as a fugitive - 40

age when he returned to Egypt - 80

age when he died? - 120

What are the books of Moses? - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

nickname - the great Law-giver

What caused Moses and Aaron to not make it to the promised land?