Week 8, February 18 - 24, 2018

Numbers gets its name from the counting of the people of Israel at the beginning and end of their 40 years in the wilderness.  But there is much more to this book than just numbers.  We see the results of obedience and disobedience, of faith and of doubt.  The New Testament tells us, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us."  (1 Corinthians 10:11)
In the book of Romans Paul gives us a straight forward explanation of the gospel.

Sunday, February 18, Numbers 1 - 3, Romans 1

• In Numbers 1, how many men who were able to serve in the army were counted?  Why weren't the Levites included?
• In Numbers 2 God told Israel how to arrange their camp.  What was in the center of the camp?
• In Numbers 3, the Levites were counted, but they counted all males that were a month old or more.  Why did the count of the other tribes only include males who were 20 or more years old?
• In Romans 1, why did Paul say he wanted to visit the Romans personally?
• Why does Paul call the gospel "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes"?
• In Romans 1:19-20 Paul says that God has made plain His own qualities through the things He created.  Why then are there people who say they don't believe in God?

Monday, February 19, Numbers 4 - 6, Psalm 22

• Why were the Kohathites required to carry the furnishings of the tabernacle, but not allowed to touch them or look at them?
• Numbers 5 includes a lie detector test for a woman suspected of being unfaithful.  Why was this only applied to women?
• Numbers 6 gives the rules for a Nazirite vow, a vow of separation for a period of time.  Numbers 6:2 shows that this vow was voluntary and either a man or woman could make the vow.  This chapter doesn't explain who should do this.  Why would a person want to make a vow of separation?
• Several verses in Psalm 22 make us think of Jesus on the cross.  What would prompt David to write this?

Tuesday, February 20, Numbers 7 - 9, Romans 2

• In Numbers 7 the Levites were given carts to help them transport the tabernacle.  Why weren't the Kohathites given carts?
• According to Numbers 8, in what age range did the Levites serve at the tabernacle?
• What was a person to do if they couldn't celebrate the Passover because they were unclean at the time?
• Why does Romans 2 tell us not to pass judgement on someone else?

Wednesday, February 21, Numbers 10 - 12, Psalm 23

• When were the trumpets in Numbers 10 to be used?
• According to Numbers 10, the Gershonites and Merarites were to travel after the first three tribes of Israel and the Kohathites were to travel after the next three.  The Gershonites and Merarites were to have the tabernacle set up before the Kohathites arrived.  How long do you think it took to set up the tabernacle?
• In Numbers 11, why were the complaints of the people about their hardships a serious issue?
• Why did Miriam become leprous?
• In Psalm 23 David pictures himself as a sheep and the Lord as his shepherd.  What do you need to do to have the peace, provision, and protection that David describes in this psalm?

Thursday, February 22, Numbers 13 - 14, Romans 3 - 4

• Why did Caleb have a different opinion from other spies in Numbers 13?
• In Numbers 14 who did God say would die in the wilderness?  Who would be allowed to enter the Promised Land?
• According to Romans 3, who is guilty of sin?  How can we be justified?
• What does it mean to be "justified by faith apart from the works of the law"? (Romans 3:28)
• What is Paul explaining in Romans 4 when he uses Abraham as an illustration?

Friday, February 23, Numbers 15 - 16, Psalm 24

• Numbers 15:30 says that someone who sins defiantly must be cut off from the people of Israel.  What does it mean to be defiant?  How would a person be cut off?
• Why did people oppose Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16?
• Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it."  How does knowing this affect the way you think, live, and pray?

Saturday, February 24, Numbers 17 - 18, Romans 5

• What was the purpose of the budding of Aaron's staff in Numbers 17?
• What is the meaning of God's statement to Aaron in Numbers 18:20, "I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites"?
• In Numbers 18:26, why did God have the Levites pay a tithe on the tithe they received?
• In Romans 5 Paul says we glory in our sufferings.  Why would we?
• Paul says in Romans 5:8, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Do you look at others, including those who may be far from God, as people for whom Jesus died?