Numbers 31: God’s judgment on the Midianites

• Numbers 25:1-9 – The reason God commanded vengeance on the Midianites.
• Numbers 31:6 – Phineas was going with the men to war, which must have been a great encouragement.
• Numbers 31:8, 16 – Balaam was killed for his part.
• Numbers 31:15-18 – They were specifically to kill the women who had caused Israel to sin.
  • The morality of this killing
    • God is sovereign as Creator.
      • Isaiah 45:9
    • God killed for certain reasons, not arbitrarily.
      • Deuteronomy 9:4; 12:31
    • God’s first desire was for people to repent.
      • Jonah 3:4; 4:11
    • God knows what’s best for innocent children.
      • Numbers 31:17
• Numbers 31:25-47 – God instructs them on how to allocate the plunder.
• Numbers 31:49 – Not a man was missing after the battle.

Numbers 31: Reuben and Gad settle in the land

• Numbers 32:5-18 – Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh settle, but promise to carry on fighting with Israel until the fighting it completed.

Numbers 33: Israel’s journey recounted

• We no longer know precise locations for many of the places listed here.
• Numbers 33:38 – Aaron dies.

Rebuke and forgive

• Luke 17:3-4, 1-2
• I Corinthians 5:1, 13; II Corinthians 2:6-8 – Rebuke and then forgive
• Matthew 27:3-5

Differ and admire

• Romans 12:3
• Acts 16:1
• Titus 1:2
• We should appreciate our differences and learn from each other.

Weep and rejoice

• Romans 12:15
• John 11:30-36
• Acts 15:3
• Philippians 1:3; 2:1
• Whether this comes naturally or not, this is a skill we must develop.

Seeking the Lord

• Deuteronomy 4:29
• Acts 17:26-27
• Matthew 6:33
• Zephaniah 2:2-3
• Proverbs 28:5
• Psalms 40:16; 70:4; 105:3-4
• II Chronicles 7:14-15 – Humbling yourself.
• II Chronicles 11:16 – Worship is a way of seeking God.
• Isaiah 51:1-2
• II Chronicles 20:1-4
• Ezra 8:21-22
• Daniel 9:2-5
• Zechariah 8:21-22
• Malachi 2:7 – Seeking to hear messages from God’s word is part of seeking Him. See Titus 1:9.
• I Peter 2:9
• Exodus 33:7-11 – We seek God through worship.
• Jeremiah 29:11-15 – We can seek God through our expressions of belief.
• II Chronicles 15:1-15; 17:3-4 – Seeking God comprises all sorts of righteous actions.
• What things hamper us from seeking God?
  • Hosea 7:7-11 – Doing things that don’t make sense.
  • Amos 8:11-14 – Not setting God above all else.
    • Psalms 83:16
    • II Thessalonians 3:14