Devotional

1. God diverted Balaam from cursing Israel and protected His people from Balak by doing so. Israel, without realizing that disaster had been averted from Balak, inflicted a greater disaster upon themselves by serving the false gods of Moab. Israel dishonored God and went outside of His protection by sinning. What was the result of Israel’s sin?

2. Compare how many Israelites entered the wilderness and how many were counted in the second census (Compare Numbers 1 and 26). Which tribes prospered in the desert and which ones diminished?

1. What factors affected Israel’s inheritance of the land as a whole?

2. How was the land proportioned among the various tribes of Israel? What was unique about the tribe of Levi?

1. God gave the Israelites specific instructions on how they were to deal with those they encountered in the land of Canaan. Why do you think it was important for Israel to follow through with God’s command exactly as He spoke? What pitfalls could be avoided by doing exactly as He instructed?

2. God did not simply instruct Israel, but also encourage them. How did He do this? What did He promise?

1. Why was it important that Moses recounted the history of the first generation of Israelites who had entered the wilderness from Egypt?

2. What was about to happen to Moses that made it important to tell Israel their history? Why was this about to happen to Moses?