In our last episode, Korah and his posse decided that they wanted to present offerings to the Lord, but the Lord God has made clear, that Aaron and his sons were to receive the priesthood as an inheritance. When this rebellious cohort presented offerings, the ground beneath them opened up and swallowed them alive. Today, the Lord makes it clear that Aaron and his sons are to guard the tabernacle and the priesthood from iniquity. Later, the people rebel again when there is no water to be found. God instructs Moses to speak to a rock so that it will produce water, demonstrating God’s holiness, but Moses fails to trust the Lord’s instruction. In so doing, he is told that he and Aaron will not enter the land with the next generation.

Numbers 18 - 1:01 .

Numbers 19 - 8:01 .

Numbers 20 - 12:28 .

Psalm 55 - 17:59 .

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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You’d think that by this point, the people of Israel would have settled on the well-established conclusion that Moses is in charge by command of the Lord and by the signs and wonders performed that confirm he is God’s chosen leader. Even so, in today’s reading, a man named Korah incites a rebellion against Moses, questioning his authority. Armed with the conclusion that the entire community of Israel is holy, he contends that Moses and Aaron have no right to go before the Lord exclusively. Korah and 250 men appear before the Lord, and what happens next is unprecedented. Later, God gives Israel a symbol in the tabernacle to remind them of what took place and to discourage future challenges to the authority of Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16 – 1:01 .

Numbers 17 – 10:49 .

Psalm 53 – 13:05 .

Psalm 54 – 14:22 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Israel has finally arrived just outside the Promised Land, and all that’s left to do is enter it and take from those people whom God has set apart for destruction. Their journey should have ended here with a military campaign against the inhabitants of the land, but instead of confronting their enemies as the Lord had commanded, they cower, complain, and make excuses. Lacking faith and conviction, the Lord tells Moses that his people will not enter the land, but instead, they will wander in the wilderness until their generation dies so that the next generation can act upon the promises of God. After Moses gives them this news, they decide to try and take the land without the Lord’s blessing.

Numbers 13 - 1:01 .

Numbers 14 - 5:23 .

Numbers 15 - 14:04 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Just like any family trip to a far away place, everyone starts getting grumpy quick. New complaints arise about not being able to take the Passover while unclean. After Israel leaves Mount Sinai for the Promised Land they all become dissatisfied with what the Lord provides, complaining that the food they had in Egypt was better than manna from the Lord. Moses complains to the Lord that these people aren’t his babies and he shouldn’t have to nurse them. Finally, Miriam and Aaron get jealous of the authority given to Moses, and criticize him in order to elevate themselves, but just like a dad who pulls the van over to maintain order, God makes it clear that he won’t tolerate any of that kind of behavior.

Numbers 9 - 1:01 .

Numbers 10 - 5:13 .

Numbers 11 - 10:55 .

Numbers 12 - 17:37 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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As noted in previous episode introductions, we are in a section of Numbers that includes a lot of numbers and repetition, but take heart: after this episode, we’ll begin the narrative section of Numbers that covers the 40 years of Israel wandering in the wilderness. With that being said, take note in today’s episode that things begin well in Israel, and leaders from every tribe bring an equal offering for the dedication of the tabernacle’s altar. Moses and the Levites follow the directions given by the Lord, and there seems to be general feeling of anticipation and obedience. It won’t be long, however, until the Israelites lose heart and rebel against the Lord’s commands.

Numbers 7 - 1:00 .

Numbers 8 - 13:56 .

Psalm 52 - 18:22 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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We’re continuing in the book of Numbers today, which has a reputation for putting people off both because of the title and because the first seven chapters (or so) contain a good bit of repetition. You’ll experience some of that repetition today, so if you want to put me on 2x speed for that section, I won’t judge! Consider, though, that the repetition is intentional. When you’re writing everything by hand, there is no copy/paste function. The repetition is a deliberate choice, in part, because the ritual was meant to invoke repetition and meditation. Moreover, these handwritten details would have also been read aloud, and would have impressed upon the hearer that God had provided for the Israelites lavishly.

Numbers 4 - 1:00 .

Numbers 5 - 8:56 .

Numbers 6 - 15:15 .

Psalm 51 - 20:11 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Numbers are boring, right? I mean, who gets excited about counting things? Well, did you ever count your Christmas presents as a kid? Have you ever memorized the stats of your favorite athletes, or checked the number of likes on a post, or rejoice over the number of indigenous believers saved through the work a missionary? The numbers presented in these first few chapters may seem boring to us, but they represent the faithfulness of God to Israel. And don’t worry, the title of this book as a little misleading; while it opens with counting heads, it gets more exciting in coming chapters.

Numbers 1 - 1:01 .

Numbers 2 - 9:01 .

Numbers 3 - 13:05 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Our time in Leviticus comes to a close today as we hear a foreshadowing of the coming exile of Israel some 900 years before it occurs, as the Lord God makes plain that to abandon the covenant is to exchange blessing for a curse. God warns that the covenant is not to be taken lightly, for if Israel fails to observe the Lord’s commands, they will be cut off from the Lord, and their sacrifices will no longer be pleasing to God. He will no longer turn his face toward the nation of Israel with power and unmatched favor, but will instead turn against them in wrath whereupon they will be scattered and overtaken by another nation.

Leviticus 26 - 1:02 .

Leviticus 27 - 10:39 .

Psalm 50 - 16:50 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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