Numbers 14-30 Q&A

There are several key accounts and themes in Week 8 of Bible in the year. To answer some questions that may come up, here are some brief answers to key questions.

Why was Israel punished for 40 years in the wilderness?

Israel was punished to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief and rebellion when they refused to enter the Promised Land. After hearing the spies’ report, the people feared the inhabitants of Canaan and doubted God’s promise, even suggesting returning to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). In response, God declared that for every day the spies spent scouting the land (40 days), Israel would wander a year in the wilderness until that unbelieving generation perished (Numbers 14:34). This judgment was a direct consequence of their lack of faith and disobedience, reinforcing that God requires trust and obedience from His people.

Why was the punishment for the man collecting sticks on the Sabbath so severe?

The Sabbath was considered sacred because it was a divine ordinance established by God as a sign of His covenant with Israel, setting them apart as His holy people (Exodus 31:13-17). It was a day of rest modeled after God's own rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and was meant to be a time of worship, reflection, and trust in God's provision. By keeping the Sabbath, Israel demonstrated their dependence on God rather than on their own labor. Violating the Sabbath was not just breaking a rule—it was an act of defiance against God's authority and a rejection of the covenant that set Israel apart from the surrounding nations.

The man gathering sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36) may seem like a minor offense, but his actions represented willful disobedience rather than ignorance. This was not an accidental mistake, but a deliberate act that disregarded God’s clear command. Since the Sabbath was a holy day, even small acts of labor were considered violations because they undermined its purpose. God’s severe punishment was meant to instill reverence for His laws and serve as a warning to the entire community. It emphasized that faithfulness in seemingly small commands reflects one’s attitude toward God’s authority and that holiness requires obedience, even in the details of daily life.

Why was God's response to Korah's rebellion so severe?

God’s response to Korah’s rebellion was severe because it was a direct challenge to His authority. Korah and 250 leaders accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves, but in reality, they were rejecting God’s chosen leadership (Numbers 16:1-3). In response, God caused the earth to swallow Korah and his followers and sent fire to consume the 250 men (Numbers 16:31-35), showing that defiance against His appointed order leads to judgment. This served as a warning that rebellion against God’s commands brings serious consequences and that His authority must be honored.

What did Moses strike the rock and why was his punishment being kept out of the Promised Land?

Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded because he was frustrated with the Israelites’ constant complaints (Numbers 20:7-11). In doing so, he took credit for providing water and failed to honor God’s holiness (Numbers 20:10-12). As a result, God declared that Moses would not enter the Promised Land, showing that even great leaders are accountable for their obedience. This moment was significant because the rock symbolized God’s provision, and Moses’ actions distorted the message that God alone is the source of life.

This event also foreshadowed Jesus, our ultimate source of living water (John 7:37-38). In Exodus 17:6, God told Moses to strike the rock to bring forth water, just as Jesus was “struck” for us through His suffering and death (Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Corinthians 10:4). But in Numbers 20, Moses was only supposed to speak to the rock, symbolizing that after Jesus’ sacrifice, we now receive God’s provision through faith, not by repeated acts. Moses’ disobedience disrupted this picture, making his punishment not just about his actions but about misrepresenting God’s redemptive plan.

Why would God use a serpant image to relate it to Jesus on the cross for us?

In Numbers 21:4-9, when the Israelites complained against God and Moses, God sent venomous serpents to punish them, and many were bitten and died. However, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole, so that anyone who looked at it would be healed. This image of the serpent was a symbol of sin and judgment—by looking at it, the people acknowledged their sin and received healing. The bronze serpent acted as a form of substitution, bearing the punishment of the people’s sin.

Jesus refers to this moment in John 3:14-15, saying, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." The serpent, symbolizing sin and the curse, was lifted up so people could be saved, just as Jesus, who became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), was lifted up on the cross to take on the judgment for our sins. By faith in Christ, we are healed from the deadly effects of sin, just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the serpent.

Why would God punish Balaam for doing what He said to do?

In Numbers 22:22, we see that Balaam was on his way to meet King Balak, having been summoned to curse the Israelites, yet God was angered by his actions, even though Balaam was following God's instructions to go to Balak. This apparent contradiction stems from the fact that while God permitted Balaam to go, His anger was provoked because Balaam's heart was not fully aligned with God's will.

Balaam had already shown a willingness to compromise, seeking personal gain from cursing Israel despite knowing God's clear command to bless them (Numbers 22:12). Balaam’s actions were driven by a desire for worldly profit rather than obedience to God's will. God's anger was not because he went, but because his heart remained divided, and he was inclined to use God's message for personal advantage. Furthermore, God had to intervene with the miraculous event of the talking donkey to show Balaam that his path was leading him astray and to prevent him from being an instrument for harm. God's judgment here emphasizes the importance of inner obedience, not just outward compliance with His instructions.

What was Baal of Peor and why did the Israelites sacrifice there?

Baal of Peor was a Canaanite fertility god associated with sexual immorality and idol worship, specifically worshiped by the Moabites and Midianites. The Israelites, during their time in the wilderness, were enticed to sacrifice to Baal of Peor through the seduction of Moabite women, who led them into both idol worship and sexual immorality as part of the fertility rituals. These acts were deeply corrupt, involving public grotesque and perverse sexual acts as a means to appease Baal, in hopes of receiving blessings such as fertility, prosperity, and military success. In Numbers 25:1-3, we see that Israel’s involvement in these practices brought God’s wrath, resulting in a plague that killed 24,000 people. The sacrifices to Baal of Peor were not just acts of idolatry but also involved grave sexual sin, marking a tragic moment of spiritual rebellion and defilement for the Israelites.

Why were there so many feasts and what are their meanings?

The numerous feasts in the Old Testament were an essential part of Israel’s worship and cultural identity, serving as both religious observances and times of community celebration. God instituted these feasts as ways for the Israelites to remember His acts of deliverance, provision, and faithfulness. For example, the Passover (Exodus 12) commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost, Leviticus 23:15-22) marked the end of the grain harvest, symbolizing gratitude for God's provision. These feasts were not just religious rituals; they were acts of remembrance that kept God's past works alive in the people's hearts and minds, reinforcing their covenant relationship with Him.

The feasts also had prophetic significance, pointing to deeper spiritual truths and foreshadowing the coming of Christ. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which followed Passover, symbolized the purity and holiness that believers were called to embody (Leviticus 23:6-8). The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) represented the need for atonement for sin through sacrifice, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ’s atoning death on the cross (Leviticus 16). The feasts, thus, served both as a means to sustain Israel’s faith through remembrance and celebration and as shadows that pointed to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in Jesus.

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