Gospelchit-chat

  The people of Israel continued their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. Along the way, they faced many challenges and conflicts. First, they came to confront the Canaanite king of Arad in the Negev. The Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He granted them victory, destroying their enemies (Numbers 21:1-3). Then, Israel traveled along the road that skirts the lands of Moab and Edom. The Edomites refused to let Israel pass through their territory, so Israel took a longer route around (Numbers 21:4). As they journeyed, the people grew impatient and began to complain against God and Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless bread."  (Numbers 21:5) Because of their rebellion and lack of trust, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people. The snakes bit the Israelites, and many died (Numbers 21:6). The people came to Moses, admitting their sin: "We ...

As the Israelites continued their journey through the wilderness, they came to a place called Kadesh. There was no water for the people to drink, and they began to complain bitterly to Moses and Aaron. They were thirsty and worried about their survival (Numbers 20:1-5). Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and fell face down, praying to the Lord. God spoke to Moses and told him to take his staff, gather the people, and speak to a rock. God promised that the rock would pour out water for everyone to drink (Numbers 20:6-8). Moses gathered the people in front of the rock and said, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and all the people and their livestock drank (Numbers 20:9-11). Although God provided water, He was displeased with Moses and Aaron because they did not trust Him completely and did not follow His instructions exactly. Because of this, God told them they would ...

The Lord gave Moses special instructions about purification for the Israelites, especially concerning cleansing from the impurity caused by death. God told Moses to have the people bring a red heifer without defect or blemish, one that had never been under a yoke. The heifer was to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in front of the priest. The priest would then sprinkle some of the heifer’s blood seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting (Numbers 19:1-4). Next, the entire heifer was to be burned, including its hide, flesh, blood, and even its dung. While it was burning, the priest would throw cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn into the fire (Numbers 19:5-6). The ashes of the red heifer were carefully gathered and kept in a clean place outside the camp. These ashes were very special—they were used to make water for purification (called “water of cleansing”) to cleanse people who had become ritually unclean by touching a dead body (Numbers 19:7-10). If anyone touched a...