There are many more noteworthy events that marked the life of Moses and the wandering Children of Israel as they wandered for forty years in the wilderness; but this study is just “The Essentials.”
Reading the Bible all of the way through can typically be done by devoting just an hour a day for ten weeks or 70 hours. There are many audio Bibles available on DVD, CD, MP3 and even Free Online at www.Biblegateway.com. These narrators read aloud the entire Bible in 70 hours. Listen and read along with them and they will keep your reading speed up. They also help with the hard to pronounce names. As we leave the story of Moses, who dies at the end of the book of Deuteronomy; check out the stories below in your own Bible.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS OF MOSES
God Gives Miriam Leprosy For Speaking Against Moses – Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ Brother and sister
Spoke against Moses and God called them together with Moses; chastised Aaron and Miriam and then struck Miriam with Leprosy for seven days. Numbers Chapter 12
The LORD Tells Moses To Send Men To Spy Out The Land – One man from each of the twelve tribes was sent to spy out the new land. All but Caleb gave a bad report of fear. Numbers Chapter 13
Rebellion Of Korah – 250 Princes were swallowed up in the earth; plus 14,700 of his rebellious follows were struck dead by a plague from God. Numbers Chapter 16.
God Sent Poisonous Vipers Because Of The People’s Rebellion – The Children of Israel murmured against Moses again and God sent vipers to kill many of them. Numbers 21:4-9
OVERVIEW OF THE PENTATEUCH (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers & Deuteronomy)
The first five books of the Bible are writings attributed to Moses’ authorship. They are called, The Pentateuch; which means, “A Five Fold Vessel.”
Genesis is the Book of Beginnings – Theocracy (God’s Government) born
Exodus is the Book of Deliverance – Theocracy Established
Leviticus is the Book of the Law – Theocracy Established
Numbers is a Book of Testing – Theocracy Tested
Deuteronomy is a Book of Remembrance – Theocracy Tested
Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land because he disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Moses lost his temper and lost his opportunity to cross over Jordan into the Promised Land.
Numbers 20:7-13 ESV and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (8) "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle." (9) And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him. (10) Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" (11) And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. (12) And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them." (13) These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
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| Joshua and Moses |
All along, the LORD was preparing Joshua to be the leader of Israel after Moses. So Moses tells the people that the LORD has told him that he can’t go over Jordan and into the Promised Land. The reigns of leadership are passed to Joshua before the assembly of the people.
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 ESV So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. (2) And he said to them, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.' (3) The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. (4) And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. (5) And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. (6) Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (7) Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. (8) It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
JOSHUA: BOOK OF CONQUEST
After Moses tells Joshua, twice and God tells him once, before the people; “Be Strong and Courageous,” Moses dies. Then the LORD speaks to Joshua and charges him to lead Israel. He tells Joshua four more times in the first chapter to be “Be Strong and Courageous.”
We can’t imagine the thoughts that went through Joshua’s mind as he was given this incredible responsibility. We know that Joshua was faithful and loyal to God and Moses. Joshua was in Egypt; he saw the hearts and attitudes of the people through the entire time of plagues against Egypt and the Exodus. This apparently was not a responsibility that Joshua was looking for. It took a lot of bolstering of Moses and the LORD to reassure Joshua that he was the man chosen. Ultimately Joshua is the one telling the people to “Be strong and of Good courage.”
The Book Of Joshua Is Divided Up Into Four Segments:
1. PREPARATION for war: chapters 1 through 5
2. CONQUEST: the campaigns: chapters 6 though 12
3. INHERITANCES: land allotments chapters 13 through 21
4. CONSECRETION for continued BLESSINGS: chapters 22 through 24
The LORD Says, “Circumcise The Sons Of Israel A Second Time."
During their wanderings in the wilderness, the Israelite males babies were not being circumcised
Joshua 5:3-7 ESV So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. (4) And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. (5) Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. (6) For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. (7) So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
Circumcision was the last preparation before going on a campaign of conquest to unseat the pagan nations; who inhabited the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, you are my source of strength and courage. Lead me to your blessings. Lead my work to please you, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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