Week 11 Reading Guide
Order and Obedience
Numbers 1-12
Big Idea: God organizes His people for their journey to the Promised Land, leading them by His presence. Yet, despite His provision, they grumble and doubt. Their struggles reveal the human tendency to resist God’s ways, but also point us to Jesus, who leads us in faithfulness where we often fail. He is the true pillar of cloud and fire, guiding us by His Spirit and securing our place in God’s kingdom.
Reading Plan
Monday: Numbers 1-2 (The Census and Camp Arrangement)
Tuesday: Numbers 3-4 (Levites Set Apart for Service)
Wednesday: Numbers 5-6 (Community Purity and the Nazirite Vow)
Thursday: Numbers 7-8 (Offerings and the Dedication of the Levites)
Friday: Numbers 9-12 (The Cloud of Guidance, Complaints, and Miriam’s Punishment)
Saturday: Reflection and catch-up; revisit passages, meditate on the week’s themes.
Weekly DNA Questions
Discover
Why does God take such care to organize the tribes and the Levites’ service?
What is the significance of the Nazarite vow? How does it reflect dedication to God?
What do the events in Num. 11-12 (complaints and Miriam’s punishment) reveal about the challenges of trusting and obeying God in the wilderness?
Nurture
How do you respond when life feels like a wilderness journey? What does trust in God look like for you during those times?
Have you ever struggled with envy or criticism, like Miriam and Aaron did in Num. 12? How did God work in that situation?
What might it look like for you to dedicate part of your life more intentionally to God, like the Nazirite vow symbolized?
Act
Identify one specific area in your life where you need to trust God more fully and surrender control to Him.
Commit to praying daily for a spirit of gratitude and trust in God’s provision, even when circumstances are difficult.
Serve someone in your community this week, reflecting the spirit of dedication and purity seen in the Levites’ service.
Key Verse: Numbers 9:23
They camped at the LORD’s command, and they set out at the LORD’s command.
Reflection for the Week
How does Israel’s struggle to trust and follow God reflect our own hearts? In what ways do the pillars of cloud and fire point to Jesus as our perfect guide? Reflect on how Christ’s faithfulness makes a way for us to follow God, even in our weakness. How can you actively trust His guidance in your life today?