Numbers
What is a Nazirite?
3 Rules: Numb 6
No dead body touching
No grape products
No razor
What was the function of the Nazirite?
Person separating himself to YHWH
God over one’s food, family & body
Visible memorial
Giving up things for God
Completion of Nazirite vow
Sacrifices
Shave head & burn hair
Samson, Samuel, Paul takes Nazirite vow (Acts 21:24ff)
Jesus not a Nazirite (Nazarene)
Oldest piece of Scripture ever found: Num 6:23ff; 600 BC not= P (450 BC)
Numbers Cycles
Problem
Peoples’ complaint
God’s response
Moses mediates
God relents
Lesson summarized
Mini-cycle: Numbers 11:1-2
Problem: Desert Hardships
People’s complaint:
God’s response: fire burned in outskirts of camp
Moses mediates: Moses prays to God
God relents: fire dies down
Summary: Place called Taberah because fire of LORD
Why is it the people complain & God judges
Moses complains and God helps him (Num 11:2,10; 11-15)
Complaint versus Lament distinction
Inability of Christians to verbalize lament
Are you supposed to discipline children in anger?
Why does God discipline Israel when He is angry? (Num 11:4ff)
Is anger always wrong? (conditions; justice issues)
Moses use of rhetorical questions
Can a Christian person ever long to die?
On workaholic Moses: sharing the load (11:16f)—70 elders ŕ Sanhedrin (Eldad)
What do you think about inter-racial marriage?
What does the Bible say?
Moses and the Cushite wife
Moses and the prophetic function
Miriam and God’s ironic sense of humor
Why not Aaron?
Who wrote Num. 12:3?
Doesn’t this statement from the pen of Moses sound a little odd? Joshua?
Could a humble person write this?
Does humility really fit the context?
Another way of looking at it: “oppressed”
Can a human being have impact on God?
Can God change? Is He static or dynamic?
If He can’t change is it possible for Him to think and interact? How is relationship possible?
If He is dynamic in what sense or areas can He change? Is everything up for grabs?
Does God still experience choice?
Giants in the Land: