by Paul Apple | Jan 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE ONGOING GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING, THE LORD’S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HIS GRACIOUS SALVATIONINTRODUCTION:Our spiritual journey involves a myriad of different experiences. Sometimes the Lord graciously provides victory where previously we had suffered...
by Paul Apple | Jan 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION FOR THE NEW GENERATION THAT WILL ENTER THE PROMISED LAND (DESPITE THEIR CONTINUING CONTENDING AND COMPLAINING) REQUIRES THE DEATH OF ITS FAILED LEADERSINTRODUCTION:This is a sad chapter indeed. Sandwiched between the accounts of the...
by Paul Apple | Jan 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CLEANSING FROM CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH DEATH MAINTAINS CLOSE CONTACT WITH A HOLY GODINTRODUCTION:The previous chapters in Numbers have already addressed the distinctive roles of the priests and Levites and the protection against usurpers who...
by Paul Apple | Jan 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL LEADERS BEAR HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES BUT FIND THE LORD TO BE THEIR PORTION (OVER AND ABOVE GENEROUS COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICE)INTRODUCTION:Having validated the special role of the Aaronic priesthood and punished the usurpers who were not...
by Paul Apple | Jan 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD VALIDATES HIS APPOINTED SPIRITUAL LEADER TO SHUT THE MOUTHS OF DISPUTERSINTRODUCTION:The issue continues to be the validity of the uniqueness of the high priestly role of Aaron. The Israelites, despite previous revelation from God that should have been...
by Paul Apple | Jan 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA:THE WORK OF ATONEMENT AND PROPITIATION BELONG ONLY TO THE DIVINELY APPOINTED HIGH PRIEST AND MEDIATOR —ONE TRUE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MENINTRODUCTION:As we study this passage we must keep in focus the parallels to the ministry of Jesus Christ as our great...
by Paul Apple | Jan 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP ENVY STIRS UP UNJUSTIFIED ATTACKS THAT BRING DOWN THE HAMMER OF CATASTROPHIC DIVINE JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:Defying God’s appointed leadership reflects a fatal lack of fear of the Lord. Here we see the arrogance of those who attack Moses and Aaron...
by Paul Apple | Dec 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S DISCIPLINE WILL CONFIRM US IN HOLINESS AS WE:- REJOICE (PLEASE) THE LORD- RESPECT THE LORD- REMEMBER THE LORDINTRODUCTION:This passage of detailed instructions about various offerings and sacrifices may seem out of place in the...
by Paul Apple | Dec 22, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DEVOID OF GODS’ FAVOR, PRESUMPTION RECKLESSLY RUSHES FORWARD TO CERTAIN SPIRITUAL DEFEATINTRODUCTION:When God calls us out for our disobedience, we should never try to fix things on our own. We must follow the divinely prescribed formula of repentance and...
by Paul Apple | Dec 21, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PERSISTENT COMPLAINING TESTS THE LIMITS OF GOD’S PATIENCE BUT THE APPLICATION OF HIS MERCY AND JUDGMENT PROTECT HIS REPUTATIONINTRODUCTION:God is not someone to be trifled with. Complaining and grumbling are serious offenses. The authority of His appointed...
by Paul Apple | Dec 17, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DENYING GOD’S ASSURANCE OF VICTORY IN THE FACE OF HIS TRACK RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS DEMONSTRATES A SURPRISING FAILURE OF FAITHINTRODUCTION:Israel is finally positioned to enter the Promised Land and begin to take possession of all that God had promised to...
by Paul Apple | Dec 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP ENVY (WHICH CHALLENGES GOD’S AUTHORITY) RECEIVES GOD’S DISCIPLINE OF SHAME AND HUMILIATIONINTRODUCTION:The fear of God should give one pause when it comes to challenging His authority by speaking against His divinely appointed spiritual leaders....
by Paul Apple | Dec 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DEALS EFFECTIVELY WITH FRUSTRATION IN LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE SINFUL COMPLAINTS OF THOSE WHO DESPISE HIS GRACIOUS PROVISIONINTRODUCTION:This passage completes the first half of the chapter where various issues and complaints had been raised. Here God...
by Paul Apple | Dec 12, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CONFIDENCE IN THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S POWER TO MEET NEEDS IS THE ANTIDOTE TO ALL COMPLAINING AND TO FRUSTRATION IN LEADERSHIPINTRODUCTION:Moses certainly had a high degree of certainty regarding God’s call for him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to...
by Paul Apple | Dec 10, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF FAITHFUL PROVIDENTIAL CARE, GOD’S PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE PRESSURE OF ADVERSITY WITH GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING THAT BRING SEVERE DISCIPLINEINTRODUCTION:This more general introduction to the repeated theme of grumbling and complaining...
by Paul Apple | Dec 7, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DIVINE GUIDANCE DIRECTS THE ISRAELITES TO BREAK CAMP AT SINAI AND BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LANDINTRODUCTION:Most commentators argue that this passage begins the second major section in the book of Numbers – since they base their outline on the...
by Paul Apple | Dec 7, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD COMMUNICATES HIS FAVORABLE PRESENCE WITH HIS REDEEMED PEOPLE VIA CLEAR SIGNALSINTRODUCTION:The subject of how God guides His people in their wilderness journey continues with this presentation of the use of the silver signal trumpets. God wants Israel to...
by Paul Apple | Dec 4, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GUIDANCE FOR THE DEPARTURE AND ENCAMPMENT OF THE ISRAELITE TROOPS WAS PROVIDED BY THE CLOUD AND THE FIRE SIGNIFYING THE PRESENCE OF GODINTRODUCTION:Divine Guidance tests our patience and our dependency upon the Lord. As parents we are very familiar with the...
by Paul Apple | Nov 26, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT IS ROOTED IN THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT AND IS DESIGNED TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD INTRODUCTION: The structure of this important transitional chapter in the book of Exodus is very intentional. There are two main sections....
by Paul Apple | Nov 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DIVINE PROMISE OF GUIDANCE AND VICTORY MOTIVATES OBEDIENCE TO THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT IN LOYAL WORSHIP — DESPITE THE THREAT OF IDOLATRY INTRODUCTION: This is the Epilogue of the Book of the Covenant. It offers compelling motivation to obey the...
