God gives instructions for the people before they enter the land.  Consider:

• Preparation – Once again it is time to prepare to enter the land.  God tells them to count the men able to go to war.  They work out details regarding the inheritance of the land.  The transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua begins.  What is God calling you to do?  Are you doing what is necessary to prepare?
• Time – God describes how the people are to use their time, taking breaks from their regular work for Sabbaths and festivals.  God is king over our time as well.  Are you using your time in a way that pleases the Lord?
• Sacrifices – Consider how many animals were required to fulfill all of the sacrifices in chapters 28-29!  In Jesus we have a better sacrifice whose single sacrifice forever paid the debt of our sins (Hebrews 10:11-14), making any other sacrifice unnecessary.  Praise the Lord!

God’s people face opposition from the outside.  Observe:

• God’s Sovereignty – God gives the Amorites and the land of Bashan into Israel’s hands.  King Balak of Moab is afraid, and so he tries to get Balaam to curse Israel for him.  God won’t allow Balaam to do it, but instead requires Balaam to bless Israel.  Throughout, we are reminded that God is sovereign over all the nations.  And he is still in control today in our world!
• Prophecy – Balaam is required to speak the words God gives him, and as he speaks, he predicts the coming of a king (24:17).  Many years later a star will proclaim the birth of a king – our Savior!
• Idolatry – The people of Moab living around Israel invited Israel to join with them in their sacrifice and worship of other gods.  Many of the people of Israel joined them.  How does our culture invite us to worship other gods?  Have you had people invite you to join them in following another god or in disobeying the one true God?  How might the example of Israel in this passage help you to stand firm for the one true God?

In our passage, we see our failure and God’s salvation.

• Cleansing – God requires the sacrifice of a red heifer.  The ashes would be mixed with water to provide cleansing to those who became unclean.  Jesus sacrificed himself that he might cleanse us from all our sins.  Praise the Lord for his cleansing work in your life!
• Fall of a leader – Moses was given a relationship with God that few others on earth could claim.  Knowing God as he did, he should have treated God with proper respect.  But in a moment of weakness, he failed – and was refused entry into the land.  How quickly we can fall!  Watch your life closely!  And cry out to God for grace to stand!
• Bronze snake – In response to their complaining, God sends fiery serpents into their midst, and many die.  In response to their cries, God tells Moses to make a bronze snake.  When anyone is bitten, they are to look on the bronze snake, and they will live.  Jesus takes this episode as an example to us (John 3:14-16).  As they had to look to the bronze snake to be saved, so we must look to Jesus to be saved.  Faith is essentially looking to God.  Are you looking to God for your salvation?

In our passage today, God continues to provide for Israel, despite their rebellious nature.

• A reminder – God instructs the people to make tassels to remind them to follow God’s commands.  He provides this reminder as one more way to encourage the people to follow Him.  What has God placed in your life to remind you to follow Him?
• God’s patience – The people rebel against God’s choice of leadership, yet God doesn’t wipe them out.  He causes Aaron’s staff to sprout to end Israel’s grumbling about who should lead them.  God patiently provided them with proof of his choice of leaders.  How has God been patient with you?
• Portion – The Levites would not receive an inheritance of land like the other tribes.  Instead God would provide for them by giving them a part of Israel’s offerings to God.  God is their portion and inheritance (18:20).  The psalmists would later take this language to proclaim their satisfaction and fulfillment in God alone (Psalm 16:5, 73:26).  Is God your chosen portion?

Our passage today is the turning point of the book.  On the verge of entering the land, the people rebel.

• Grumbling and Unbelief – The spies return with tales of giants, and the people begin to grumble again.  They refuse to believe God can bring them into the land.  Note that grumbling flows out of unbelief: they didn’t believe so they grumbled.  When you grumble, you are failing to trust God.  Ponder how this truth intersects your life.
• God’s Judgment – God decrees that none of the people over 20 years old will enter the land.   Instead they will wander around in the wilderness for 40 years.  Tragically they missed the blessing God had intended for them.  Rebellion against God is serious!  Sin has consequences.
• God’s faithfulness – Despite their rebellion, God doesn’t utterly reject them.  He will bring their children into the land.  He will keep his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  As if to make this clear, God starts chapter 15 with the words, “When you come into the land….”  God’s purpose will stand.  You can trust God to be faithful to his promises even in spite of our sins.
• Good examples – In the midst of the rebellion, three men show us a better way.  When the mountain in your path seems gigantic, will you trust God like Caleb and Joshua?  When all around you are walking in sin, will you courageously stand like Caleb and Joshua?  When you see people straying and judgment nearing, will you intercede with God like Moses?  Don’t follow the crowd.  Swim against the current and live for God!