The Book of Numbers “In the Wilderness”

The Book of Numbers“In the Wilderness”

The Book of NumbersIn Hebrew this book is called

Bemidbar, which means “In the wilderness.”

Why is it called the book of “Numbers”?

Numbers 1:2 Census #1:

Israel is about to go to war (to fight their way into the promised land). How many potential warriors do we have?

Numbers 3:11-13Census #2:

How many Levites are there?They are to become the substitutes for each of the firstborn sons of all Israelite families.

The SettingIsrael has been at Sinai for 11 months.

They are about to leave toward the promised land.

Numbers covers about 40 years of history.

Numbers 1-10. Preparations to leave Sinai and instructions about how to move the tabernacle, how to march, and how to camp.

Numbers 10-36. A record of their journey through the wilderness to the borders of the Promised Land.

Numbers 2

Numbers 3:11-13. The ransoming of the Firstborn.

The Levites are substitutes for the firstborn in all Israel.

Numbers 3

Commandments regarding the purity of the people. • Purity of the camp (vs. 1-4)• Personal purity through repentance

(vs. 6-8)• Purity within marriage (vs. 12-31)

Numbers 5

Numbers 6:1-6The Vow of the Nazarite

Nazarite comes from the Hebrew nazir which means “consecrated or devoted.”A voluntary (temporary) higher commitment of separation and consecration to the Lord. • Diet (vs. 3-4). Abstain from these

foods• Appearance (vs. 5). Don’t shave your

head• Associations(vs. 6). Don’t touch dead

bodies

Numbers 6

Numbers 11Numbers 11-36 contains many relevant lessons for us today as we journey toward the promised land of the Celestial Kingdom.

Note: Most of these lessons will be learned by “sad experience.”

The Book of Numbers:A Wilderness Survival Guide

for Your Journey to the Promised Land

Wilderness Survival Guide

Lesson #1. Numbers 11:1

Numbers 11:1Who got burnt?

Main Camp

Main Camp

Lesson #1 Stay in the main camp of the church.

“Please do not put too much stock in some of the current views and vagaries that are afloat, but rather, turn to the revealed word, get a sound understanding of the doctrines, and keep yourselves in the mainstream of the Church….“The proper course for all of us is to stay in the mainstream of the Church.”

Bruce R. McConkieQuorum of the

Twelve(Brigham Young

University, March 1982)


Lesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6

The Lord blesses us with what we need, not always with what we want. Craving more while failing to appreciate what we have is dangerous.

Lesson #2Be Content with God’s daily gifts

“Being content means acceptance without self-pity….“Thus, within our allotments we see how the saintly display kindness even within barbed-wire circumstances, yet others have barbed attitudes even within opulence. Meanwhile, the discontented continue to build their own pools of self-pity, some Olympic size.”

Neal A. MaxwellQuorum of the

Twelve(Ensign, May 2000)


Lesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34

Text

Lesson #3Educate your desires!

Alma 29:4“I know that [God] granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men … according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.”

Jacob 4:14“… God hath taken away his plainness from [the Jews], and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.”

Lesson #3Educate your desires!

Avoid the “if only” game“If only we had some quail, then we would be happy!”

If only I had _______, then I would be happy.

President Joseph F. Smith declared, “the education then of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in life.” Such education can lead to sanctification until, said President Brigham Young, “holy desires produce corresponding outward works.” Only by educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies!


Twelve(Ensign, November

1996, 21)


Lesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29

Lesson #4Become a prophet!

Revelation 19:10“… the testimony of Jesus is the

spirit of prophecy.”

“The Prophet Joseph Smith has declared that every man who has come into this Church; and every woman, for that matter, who has received the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, is a prophet or a prophetess; that every man should be a prophet, because every man in the Church should have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy; and he should declare the truth, teach the principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, call upon the people to repent of their sins, and instruct them in the things of the kingdom.”

Joseph F. SmithPresident

(CR, April 1918, 159)

“What will protect you from the sin and evil around you? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior and of His gospel will help see you through to safety…. It is essential for you to have your own testimony, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far.”

Thomas S. MonsonPresident

(Ensign, May 2011)

Numbers 12

Wilderness Survival GuideLesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29Lesson #5. Numbers 12, 16

Lesson #5Never speak evil of the Lord’s anointed

“I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.”

Joseph SmithPresident

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph

Smith, p. 156–57)

“I repented of my unbelief, and that too, very suddenly; I repented about as quickly as I committed the error. It was not for me to question whether Joseph was dictated by the Lord at all times and under all circumstances or not…. He was called of God; God dictated him, and if He had a mind to leave him to himself and let him commit an error, that was no business of mine. ... “It was not my prerogative to call him in question with regard to any act of his life. He was God's servant, and not mine.”

Brigham YoungPresident(Journal of

Discourses, 4:297-298)

“[T]he officers of this Church … are responsible to God. God chose and nominated [them], and it is for him to straighten [them] out if [they] do wrong.”George Q.

CannonQuorum of the

Twelve (Deseret Weekly, May 21, 1898, p. 708; “We Thank

Thee, O God, for a Prophet,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p.33)

An example of God correcting His prophetNumbers 20:3-12; 27:12-14

At a place called Meribah, one of the greatest ever, Moses, was fatigued by people clamoring for water. Momentarily, Moses “spake unadvisedly,” saying, “Must we fetch you water?” (Ps. 106:33; Num. 20:10; see also Deut. 4:21). The Lord mentored remarkable Moses through the pronoun problem and further magnified him.


Twelve(Ensign, May 2002)

Numbers 13-14

Wilderness Survival GuideLesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29Lesson #5. Numbers 12, 16Lesson #6. Numbers 13-14

Numbers 13:23

The Spies’ ReportThey all agree that the land is amazing!

They all agree that the children of Anak are humongous!

But 10 react with fear and only 2 react with faith.

Numbers 14:6-10

Numbers 14:36-37. How did the Lord react to the 10 fearful spies? Numbers 14:29-33. How did the Lord handle the murmuring masses?Numbers 32:10-12. How did he respond to faithful Joshua and Caleb?

Holy lands are for those who “wholly follow the Lord.”

Can you hear the echoes of Jackson Country, Missouri (see D&C 101:1-8)?

Lesson #6The Lord rewards faith and despises fear. As you look toward your future, respond

with faith, not paralyzing fear.

The offering of the red heifer was introduced as an ordinance for cleansing an area. The ash of the completely burnt red heifer is to be used to cleans the area.

Numbers 19

Numbers 21

Wilderness Survival GuideLesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29Lesson #5. Numbers 12, 16Lesson #6. Numbers 13-14Lesson #7. Numbers 21

Text

Numbers 21:1-3Nege

v

What are some of the “snake bites” today?

How are people “poisoned” by poor choices, or “bit” by

unfortunate circumstances today?

What’s the solution?What solutions to snake

bites does the world have to offer?

What’s the Lord’s solution?

Why did some people not look?

Alma 33:20“Now the reason they would not

look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.”

“The solutions to life's problems are always gospel solutions.”

Jeffrey R. HollandQuorum of the

Twelve(BYU Devotional, 15

February 2000)

[T]he gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to all of our problems.… It can unlock the door to true happiness. It is not someone’s theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. It springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe, who knows truths we cannot even begin to comprehend. And with that knowledge, He has given us the gospel—a divine gift, the ultimate formula for happiness and success.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

First Presidency(Ensign, May 2009, 75–78)

Lesson #7Healing and wholeness come as we truly

apply Christ’s Gospel to our lives.

“The Error of Balaam” (Jude 1:11)“The Madness of the Prophet” (2 Pet. 2:16)“The Doctrine of Balaam” (Rev. 2:14)

Numbers 22-24

Wilderness Survival GuideLesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29Lesson #5. Numbers 12, 16Lesson #6. Numbers 13-14Lesson #7. Numbers 21Lesson #8. Numbers 22-24

Text

Sometimes we’re the donkey• We see the danger in a loved one’s

decision• We try to turn them from it• They resent and ill-treat us for doing

so

Sometimes we’re the donkey• We see the danger in a loved one’s

decision• We try to turn them from it• They resent and ill-treat us for doing

soSometimes we’re Balaam• We move toward the allure of the

world (sometimes under a pretense of righteousness)

• We ignore or resent those who try to warn us away from dangerous situations.

Robert D. HalesQuorum of the

Twelve(Ensign, May 1990,

39)

“A true friend makes it easier for us to live the gospel.”

Lesson #8

But can’t you have the best of both

worlds?(No man can serve two

masters)

The way to destroy Gods people?

Numbers 25

Wilderness Survival GuideLesson #1. Numbers 11:1Lesson #2. Numbers 11:4-6Lesson #3. Numbers 11:18-20, 31-34Lesson #4. Numbers 11:14-17, 24-29Lesson #5. Numbers 12, 16Lesson #6. Numbers 13-14Lesson #7. Numbers 21Lesson #8. Numbers 22-24Lesson #9. Numbers 25

What exactly did Balaam do that was

wrong?Revelation 2:14

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

“If purity of life is neglected, all other dangers set in upon us like the rivers of waters when the flood gates are opened.” Joseph F. Smith

President(Gospel Doctrine:

Selections from the Sermons and Writings of

Joseph F. Smith, p.312-313)

“The plaguing sin of this generation is sexual immorality. This, the Prophet Joseph said, would be the source of more temptations, more buffetings, and more difficulties for the elders of Israel than any other (see J of D, 8:55).”

Ezra Taft BensonPresident

(Ensign, May 1986, p.4)

“When the Quorum of the Twelve was first organized, Joseph said that the Elders of Israel, and particularly the Twelve Apostles, would receive more temptations, be more buffeted, and have greater difficulty to escape the evil thrown in their way by females than by any other means. This is one of Satan's most powerful auxiliaries with which to weaken the influence of the ministers of Christ, and bring them down from their high position and calling into darkness, shame, and disgrace.

Brigham YoungPresident

(J of D, 8:55-56)

“You will have to guard more strictly against that than against any other evil that may beset you. Make up your minds not to yield, for one moment, to the subtle insinuations of the animal propensities of your natures…. Rather, suffer your heads to be taken from your shoulders than to sacrifice your honor, violate your covenants, and forfeit the sacred trust reposed in you.”

Brigham YoungPresident

(J of D, 8:55-56)

The Phineas ApproachNumbers 25:10-13. How did the Lord feel about Phineas’ drastic actions?

Lesson #9Fight for and protect the chastity of those you love.

An Example from the Eyring Home

Henry J. EyringHenry B. Eyring

Sister Kathleen Eyring

“My brother and I were in front of the TV one Saturday night around midnight,” says Henry J. “A tawdry comedy show that we shouldn’t have been watching was on. The basement room was dark except for the light from the television. Without warning, Mother walked in. She was wearing a white, flowing nightgown and carrying a pair of shears. Making no sound, she reached behind the set, grabbed the cord, and gathered it into a loop. She then inserted the shears and cut the cord with a single stroke. Sparks flew and the set went dead, but not before Mother had turned and glided out of the room.

Unnerved, Henry J. headed to bed. His innovative brother, however, cut a cord from a broken vacuum and connected it to the television. Soon the boys had plopped back down in front of the television, hardly missing any of their show.

“Mother, however, got the last laugh,” Henry J. says. “When we came home from school the next Monday, we found the television set in the middle of the floor with a huge crack through the thick glass screen. We immediately suspected Mother. When confronted, she responded with a perfectly straight face: ‘I was dusting under the TV, and it slipped.’ ”

President Eyring honored his wife’s wishes, the children honored their mother’s desires, and that was the end of television in the Eyring home.

Moses will see but not enter the promised land.

Joshua ordained as Moses’ successor

Numbers 27

End

Documents

The Book of Numbers “In the Wilderness”