The book of Numbers begins in the second year of Israel coming out of Egypt. It’s here that we see a purposeful census and numbering of warriors, leaders, priests, and duties while “in the wilderness.”
We must ask. Is there a priority of duty for congregations today? If so, why do so many forget about responsibility in order to “find themselves” during a time of soul searching? Is there a tendency for us to forget about the necessity of numbers and their purpose while in the wilderness?
As you meet in home groups this Sabbath to discuss B’midbar, I want to challenge you to make it relevant.
Here are just a few questions that got me going:
- If YHWH is the one who does the fighting, what is the purpose of an army?
- Is there strength in numbers? If so, why and how?
- When you compare Numbers 1-4 to I Corinthians 12, how do you see the many parts of a congregational body fighting for the well-being (physically and spiritually) within the “tribe?”
- Is there a need for people to stand up and be counted for kingdom work today? If so, what does that exactly look like? Should there be purposeful order, should we just acknowledge we believe, and how do we make a stand?
- Why was it important for Yeshua to be tested in the wilderness(Matt. 4) ? If we are to be like Yeshua, what type of testing should we expect for ourselves? Have you or are you being tested?
- Even though Hosea was told to take a prostitute as a wife, why does YHWH still say that Israel’s numbers will be countless? Is this a prophetic word regarding an expanded people even in the midst of sin?
Have fun digging deep!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rollyn