Key Thought: When we are restless at heart, we struggle to walk by faith. Too little rest affects our emotions, causes bad choices, and unhappiness.
.July 10, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Numbers 11:1-15.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What are the Israelites complaining about?
3. Personal Application: Why is it so easy to remember the past as better than it really was? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why did the Israelites complain as much about being free from Egypt and slavery? Did they really want to be slaves in Egypt rather than free in the desert?” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Numbers 12:1-3.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What were Miriam and Aaron upset about? How does God respond to this complaint?
3. Personal Application: Is it better to pray for our church leaders or complain and criticize and wish we had different leaders? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “If we are forgiven from our sins, do we still have to live with the consequences of these sins? How does sin negatively affects us?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Numbers 14:11-15.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What opportunity does God offer Moses in the face of rebellion?
3. Personal Application: Are you more concerned with interceding with people who don’t seem to know God, or moving on to reach those who would be more interested? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why did Moses respond the way he did to God? If he had went along with God’s proposal, would it have been done?“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 10:1-11..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What similarities do you see in Israel’s wanderings and God’s people living just before the second coming?
3. Personal Application: What is the difference between acting on faith and acting on presumption?” Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(1)

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The story begins on a positive note. The Israelites have finally reached the borders of Canaan, and 12 spies are sent to explore the land. Their report is extraordinary.

Read the spies’ report in Numbers 13:27-33. At which point are the expectations of the Israelites dashed?

In spite of Caleb’s intervention, the voices of the doubters and skeptics prevail. Israel does not set out to conquer what God had promised them. Restless at heart, they choose weeping and murmuring over marching and shouting for victory.

When we are restless at heart, we struggle to walk by faith. Restlessness, however, affects not only our emotions. Scientists tell us that there is a straight line of cause and effect between too little rest (including lack of sleep) and bad choices, resulting in obesity, addictions, and more restlessness and unhappiness.

Read Numbers 14:1-10. What happened next?

Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com

Things move from bad to worse. Caleb’s desperate plea, “only do not rebel against the LORD” (Numbers 14:9), goes unheeded, and the entire assembly prepares to stone their leaders. Restlessness leads to rebellion, and rebellion ultimately leads to death.

“The unfaithful spies were loud in denunciation of Caleb and Joshua, and the cry was raised to stone them. The insane mob seized missiles with which to slay those faithful men. They rushed forward with yells of madness, when suddenly the stones dropped from their hands, a hush fell upon them, and they shook with fear. God had interposed to check their murderous design. The glory of His presence, like a flaming light, illuminated the tabernacle. All the people beheld the signal of the Lord. A mightier one than they had revealed Himself, and none dared continue their resistance. The spies who brought the evil report crouched terror-stricken, and with bated breath sought their tents.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prohets, p. 390.

Right then, however, the glory of the Lord manifests itself publicly. When we read the story in Numbers 14, it seems as if the entire scene has been frozen, and we are now privy to listen in on God’s conversation with Moses. God recognizes that even though the stones are meant for Moses and Caleb and Joshua, ultimately the rebellion is directed against God Himself.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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