Monday, March 16   Numbers 30-33; Psalm 35; Luke 3

Numbers 30: If a man made a vow to God, could it be unbound?

Numbers 31: Why did the Israelites attack the Midianites (remember Moses’ wife and father-in-law were Midianites) and why was Moses angry with the officers of the army?  What concession did Moses make?

Numbers 32: What special request did some of the tribes make?

Numbers 33: What did the Lord command Moses to tell the Israelites prior to entering the promised land?

Luke 3: Why do you think Luke included the names and positions of all the political leaders at the time? What did John the Baptist warn the people to not rely on?

Journal Prompt:  In Psalm 35, David seeks God’s help against his enemy.  Take time today with our eyes on Jesus, to ask God to fight against this enemy that we as a world are facing.

Numbers 30: A man couldn’t break a vow.  A woman, if in her father’s home, made a vow, it could be broken by her father. 

Numbers 31: Numbers 25:16-17 explains that the Midianites, particularly the women, in Moab were responsible for enticing the Israelites to sin and worship the god Baal of Peor. Moses was angry with the soldiers because they did not ‘devote to destruction’ all of the inhabitants of Moab – they allowed the women and children to live. 

 Numbers 32: The tribes of Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh requested that they be allowed to settle in the lands of the Moabites.

Numbers 33: God told Moses to tell the Israelites to drive out all of the inhabitants of the land.  

Luke 3: Luke was showing the historical setting to give this account veracity. John warned the Jews not to rely on their heritage – just because they were descendants of Abraham doesn’t mean they are guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom.