Numbers 10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Journey to the Promised Land Begins

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Divine guidance does not eliminate human leadership.

  2. Divine guidance does not exclude human help.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Communicate in no uncertain terms if you are a spiritual leader.

  2. Let’s pray before and after our travels.

QUESTIONS

  1. List the five ways the silver trumpets were used.

  2. Were these trumpets only for the Israelites’ time in the wilderness?

  3. How long were the Israelites encamped at Mount Sinai?

  4. Where was the Wilderness of Paran (verse 12)?

  5. Who was Hobab? Did Hobab decide to stay with the Israelites as a scout?

  6. Was Moses showing a lack of faith by asking Hobab for help?

ANSWERS

  1. 1. To summon the people to assemble at the tabernacle 2. To assemble the leaders only 3. To signal the people when to move out for travel 4. To sound an alarm in time of war 5. To announce special days such as feast days

  2. No, verse 9 says they were to be used once the Israelites went into “their land.”

  3. They camped at Mount Sinai for about eleven months; they left about two months after the tabernacle was erected.

  4. The Wilderness of Paran was south of the Land of Canaan. This area included Kadesh Barnea, from which the spies went into the Land.

  5. He was Moses brother-in-law, a Midianite. Probably so, Judges 1:16 and 4:11 record Hobab’s descendants as part of Israel.

  6. No, Moses was using common sense to take advantage of Hobab’s scouting skills and knowledge of the area.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. In the last chapter we read how God gave His cloud to lead the people in the wilderness. God also commanded the priests to blow the trumpets to lead the people. It is true, then and today, that divine guidance does not eliminate human leadership. Discuss the ways God will guide a believer individually. Discuss how God uses spiritual leaders to guide His people as well. Have you placed yourself under spiritual leaders whom God can use to guide you? Are you respecting and following their guidance?

  2. God often uses human advisors to help His people make the right decisions. Review instances of this in the Bible. The same can be true in your life. Are you seeking the counsel of godly Christians when you have an important decision to make? Read Proverbs 11:14 and discuss this principle.

CHALLENGE

  1. Moses prayed for victory whenever the people broke camp, and he prayed for peace whenever they set up camp. We too can pray before and after our travels. What an excellent example to show your children.

KEY VERSES

  • “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.” Numbers 10:2

  • “The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.” Numbers 10:33

Talks, Old Testament, NumbersRon ReidNUMBERS 10