Course 4: Session 6
THE WILDERNESS PERIOD
PART 2
The Book of Leviticus
- Title
Hebrew took from the first word, “Then He called.” Later it was called, “The Law of the Priests.” The Septuagint changed it to, “That which pertains to the Levites.” Latin Vulgate Changed to “Leviticus.” Which translated means “Pertaining to the Levites.” The Levites were the people responsible for the service of the Tabernacle. (Num. 3:1-13) - Author
Moses 1446-1406BC - Theme
- Genesis explains man’s sin and condemnation; Exodus is the book of redemption; Leviticus deals with separation and communion. The Lord speaks from the Tabernacle. (Lev. 1:1) He explains how sinful man can have communion with God. The words holy or holiness are found over 80 times in this book. The first section of the book deals with the sacrifices, for no one can approach God without blood. The word blood is found 87 times in the book. Blood atonement is repulsive to us today. We want a bloodless religion, but it was what God required. The 2nd half of the book covers the laws of purity. Manna was a type of Christ. (John 6)
- Chapter 16 deals with the Day of Atonement, every year on the same day. It was a covering of sin and not full forgiveness. (Atonement means covering.) Christ fulfilled this by one offering. “Totelestai” – It is finished. The blood of OT sacrifices could never take away sin. (Heb. 10:1-18) Manna was placed inside the Arc of the Covenant to remind them.
- Sacrificial System (Five offerings)
- Burnt offering – Chapter 1
- Meat offering – Chapter 2
- Peace offering – Chapter 3
- Sin offering – Chapter 4
- Principles in atonement (There are three)
- Identification – laying on of hands of the sacrifice
- Substitution – sacrifice took place of offeror
- Propitiation – God’s holiness demands payment
- Practical Lessons
- The Awfulness of Sin – Sin is not something to take lightly.
- The Holiness of God – God makes a distinction between the clean and unclean.
- The Graciousness of God – He provides a way to be restored. God provides different offerings so everyone, rich or poor, could be forgiven.
- Seven Feasts
- Passover – 1st month 14th day – Pictures Christ death for us on the cross.
- Unleavened Bread – 1st month 15-21 days – The Christian is putting sin out of his life and feeding on Jesus.
- First Fruits – 1st month 17th day. The resurrection of Christ.
(1 Cor. 15:20-21) - Pentecost – 50 days later – The coming of the Holy Spirit
- Trumpets – 7th month 1st day – Rapture of the Church, regathering of Israel.
- Atonement – 7th month 10th day – the highest day when sin was covered.
Tabernacles – 7th month 15-21 days – to remember what it was like it the desert. Points to the 1000-year reign of Messiah.
These 7 feasts present a prophetic picture for Israel and the church. The three feasts in the first month picture the death and resurrection of Christ. Pentecost is the coming of the Holy Spirit. There is a gap between Pentecost and the feasts perhaps to illustrate the gap between Christ resurrection and return.
Notes
The Book of Numbers
- Title
Takes its name from two numberings of the men of war. (Chapters 1-2, and Chapters 26-27) The first was made the 2nd year after they left Egypt and the 2nd was 38 years later when the new generation was about to enter Canaan. The numbering was only of the men able to fight. The first listed 603,550. The 2nd listed 601,730. - Theme
It is the wilderness book. It describes the failure of the 1st generation at Kadesh-Barnea. The longest funeral march in history. The sent spies to tell them what God already told them. The story of unbelief and lack of faith to take the land. The nation did not grow during this period. - Key Passages
- (Num. 13) Spies sent into the land. This was the desire of the people and not directly from the Lord.
- (Num. 14:33-34) The reason they wondered for 40 years.
- (Num. 17) Aaron’s rod. God established him as the priest.
- (Num. 20:1-13) The smitten rock, compared with (Exo. 17:1-7.) This time God told Moses to speak to the rock. He was angry and struck the rock. God would punish Moses by not allowing him to go into the land.
- (Num. 21:4-9) God sent serpents to bite the people because the complained. The brazen serpent represents Christ.
Notes
Problems in the Wilderness (Exo. 17-18)
- Water from the Rock (Exo. 17:1-7)
- The people had thirsted before, but this was different. They complained, so God instructed Moses to strike the rock.
- A second experience with the rock occurs in (Num. 20:1-13). They run out of water again, and Moses, in anger, strikes the rock, though God told him only to speak to the rock. (This was a reminder that Jesus was only struck once. Moses acted in anger and was punished by not being allowed to go into the Land.)
- Warfare with Amalek (Exo. 17:8-16)
- The people did fine when Moses held up his arms.
- He gets help from Hur and Aaron.
- God vows to destroy Amalek for this. (Picture of how we face Satan when we begin our Christian journey.)
- Saul had the opportunity to fulfill this pledge from God, but did not. He was punished by God for it.
Notes
The Book of Deuteronomy
- Title
Hebrew title is words. The Septuagint 2nd Latin Vulgate uses the Greek Deuteronomy. It is a summary of the other books of the law. Moses reminds the people in this book of significant things. - The Shema (Deu 6:4-9)
- Reasons Moses restated the law
- New Generation
- New Challenge
- New Leader
- New Temptations (Deut. 8:1-20)
- Moses reminds the people of:
- God’s Guidance
- God’s Glory
- God’s Goodness
- Dividing the land of promise is recorded in this book
- Death of Moses is recorded in this book
Moses had led them for 40 years. It was two years when they received the law and came to Kadesh-Barnea and 38 years of wondering. Moses was a shepherd who led the people in an organized way. The taking of the land however, would require a military leader, and thus Joshua was appointed to take over.
Notes