Numbers 13

Numbers 13
1-20

Twelve men were gathered to spy on Canaan. Notice that there is no directive from God to do this, the instruction only comes from Moses. This may be where the first mistake was made that led to the rebuke that follows. Moses did not seek God for guidance in the matter but moved, spoke and directed without Him.

21-25
Canaan and the fruit taken out of it by the spies are representative if Heaven here. The spies caught a glimpse of the land overflowing in milk and honey. They took a sample of the fruit growing within it. Much in the same way we catch glimpses of Heaven here on earth. We catch these glimpses when God speaks to us, when we feel His presence in worship, even when our loved ones smile and greet us. The Israelites were promised Canaan, God promises us Heaven when we believe that Jesus sacrificed himself for us. When we reach the promised land we will experience God's presence and love in fill measure without interruption.

26-33
God promised Canaan to the Israelites, yet when the spies returned all but two of them said the promised land was not for them. They claimed that reaching it would be too difficult, that giants would keep them out. We all do much of the same thing with the difficulties in our own life. We magnify them turning the problems from an 4 foot tall problem into a 10 foot tall problem. When we turn to God and bring our problems to Him in prayer they begin to shrink away to nothing.

The Canaan-Heaven representation goes a step further here as well. The spies for some reason become afraid. The fear causes them not to take what was already promised them. How often does fear prevent people from choosing salvation? Fear of having your sins exposed, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown or the new. Instead, we shrink back and choose to remain in the difficult life of this world.

Numbers 11

Numbers 11

1-9

Complaining is not the only sin that the people commit here. They also forsook their salvation, when God and God alone saved them from slavery in Egypt.
The people begin to wish for meat like they had in Egypt. Wanting to go back to the they way they were before God saved them. Often we too want to go back to the way we were before God saved us, pray we never fall into this temptation. When you wish to undo everything that God has done for you, God feels burned and rejected by that wish.
Also notice here that Moses initially did not hear the people's complaints. He was unaware of their sin, unaware that God's fire was burning the camp. Moses asked for God to stop the fire without knowing it's cause.

Numbers 8

Numbers
1-4

The lamp is representative of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:19 says that scripture is a light shining in a dark place. The tabernacle of meeting did not have any windows. Not because of lack of planning but to set as an example of how scripture can illuminate the church.

5-26

Notice that the Levites did not decide amongst themselves that they would be priests. Instead, God Himself set them aside for priestly service. This still happens today. Now, it is a tugging on ones heart and mind. That is the Holy Spirit nudging at them to begin serving God's people. The Holy Spirit's direction always precedes the decision to go into the priesthood.