Children's Bible Study
(Lesson #6)

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

By our Bible studies together, you will learn that God has a plan:

A plan for the nation of Israel
A plan for providing man with forgiveness and eternal life.
A Plan for YOU!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Every week you will find a new Bible Study here. These studies are designed for youth ages, 6 - 12.

This is Lesson #6. Have you studied our earlier lessons?

Always BEE prepared for Bible Study by first saying a prayer asking God to help you receive what he is trying to teach you with his word.

One more thing, please e-mail me and let me know that you like our Bible Studies. We would also like to get to know you as we learn about our Heavenly Father together.

Are you ready?

Numbers
(An Overview of the book of Numbers)

(If you don't have a Bible, you can open up an online Bible here. Right click with your mouse and the Bible will open up in another window. That way you can switch back and forth easily!)

Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible. The book of Numbers gets its name from the census that is taken in the book. Numbers is the book of the "roll call." Numbers is about the Israelites wanderings in the desert from Mount Sinai to the border of Canaan. Canaan is sometimes called the "Promised Land" because it is the land that God promised to His people.

Who wrote the book of Numbers?
Moses wrote the book of Numbers which is the fourth book of the Law. We learned in our last lesson that there is evidence that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible. Do you remember which verses pointed to Moses as the author of "The Books of the Law?"

In studying the book of Numbers, we will learn about the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert.

What happens in the book of Numbers?

We will learn about the Israelites preparations for their journey. (Numbers 1- 10)
We will learn all about the years that the Israelites spend wandering the desert. (Numbers 10 - 20)
We will learn about the journey to the "Promised Land." (Numbers 21 - 36)

In Lesson #1, we learned that the first 5 books of the Bible are called the "Books of the Law."
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

Numbers is the fourth book of the Law.

Who are the main people that are
mentioned in the book of Numbers?

Moses
Aaron
Joshua
Caleb
Miriam
The Priest

You can also listen to Numbers on Real Audio right here!

Tell Me More!!!

Numbers ( 1- 10)
In the chapters 1 through 10, the Israelites are wandering around in the Sinai wilderness. The Law has been given to God's people and they have built the Tabernacle. God is preparing his people for its work. God leads the Israelites to move their camp to Kadesh.

Chapters 1 - 4
God's people prepare to leave Mount Sinai. The Israelites count everyone and plan how the 12 tribes would line up for the march. Very careful directions for how the Tabernacle is to moved are given.

Chapter 5 - 10
In chapters 5 through 10, God's people are being very careful to obey all of the laws that God has given them. As the Israelites prepare to leave, they celebrate the Feast of the Passover. By celebrating the Feast of the Passover, the Israelites were reminded of how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

Chapters (10 - 20)
Chapters 10 through 20 tell how the Israelites did not trust and believe God and his promise to give them the Promised Land. As a result of their lack of faith in God, the Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Chapters 10 - 12
God's people set out with God leading them in the same way that he had before they had camped at Mount Sinai. The Israelites began to complain about not having any meat to eat. God gave them meat but he also punished them for complaining.

Chapters 13 - 15
Twelve spies went to scout out the Promised Land for the rest of the Israelites. When they returned, Joshua and Caleb told God's people that the Israelites should go into the land that God had promised them. The other 10 spies did not agree with Joshua and Caleb. They did not trust God. The Israelites decided not to do as Joshua and Caleb said and they did not trust God either. God punished the Israelites for their lack of faith by making them wander in the wilderness 40 years instead of going into the Promised Land.

Chapters 16 - 20
There was a group of people who disobeyed God and they were swallowed up by the earth. God sends a sign to the Israelites that God has chosen Aaron to be the High Priest. Moses does not obey God's command and he sins. Aaron dies at Mount Hor. Eleazar, who was Aaron's son becomes the High Priest.

Chapters (21 - 36)
God's people travel from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab. At this time they are just right across the river from the Promised Land.

Chapter 21
The Israelites are grumbling and complaining against God. God punishes the Israelites by sending snakes. God's people become sorry for their sins. Moses prays and God has Moses make a bronze snake on a pole. Looking at the pole would cure a snake bite.

Chapters 22 -24
The Israelites camp in Moab. The Moabites are afraid. The king sends for Balaam to come and put a curse on God's people. While Balaam is traveling towards God's people to put a curse on them, an angel appears to Balaam. The angel tells Balaam to only tell the Israelites what God tells him to say. Balaam decides to obey and do as the angel has told him to do. Balaam blesses the people of Israel and does not put a curse of them. This made the king of Moab very angry.

Chapter 25
God protects His people from their enemies. God's people sin again by worshipping idols.

Chapter 26
The Israelites count their people again. When the Israelites finished counting their people, they found that all of the people who had doubted God's promise about Canaan had died during their 40 years of wandering.

Chapters 27 - 36
God chooses Joshua to be the new leader of the Israelites. God tells the Israelites what the boundaries of the Promised Land will be. God chooses men to divide the land among all of His people.

When did all of these events take place?

1450 BC through 1400 BC

The bronze serpent on the pole give us another picture of Jesus. The serpent on the pole is a picture of Jesus on the cross. Those who believed God's promise to heal them looked at the bronze serpent and they were saved. Everyone who believes in God's son Jesus who died on the cross for all our sins will be saved.

Related Links
Sinai Egypt
Feirgan Oasis (Place where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water.)
The Mountain of Moses
Map of Sinai

Did you know?

That when the Israelites camped near the Sinai Mountain, God gave the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle. After God gave the instructions for the Tabernacle, He told the Israelites HOW to camp around the Tabernacle. (Numbers 2:1 - 31; 3:21-38)

God chose the tribe of Levi to be the Priests and their job was to take care of the Tabernacle. When the Israelites moved around from place to place, the Levites carried the Tabernacle and its furnishings. God chose Moses to lead the Israelites and He chose Aaron to serve as the High Priest.

What do YOU think?

What do you think about the Israelites lack of faith in God and His promise to give them the land of Canaan? Have there been times in your life when you need to have faith in God and trust Him? We know that God cares about us and what happens to us. God wants us to trust Him and have faith in Him in every part of our lives. Sometimes in our lives, it is hard to do the RIGHT thing. By putting your trust and faith in God, He will always help you make the right choices in your life. Whenever you have to make a decision in your life, be sure and pray to God and ask Him to guide you in your choices. God loves you and so do we!

Would you like to know more about the census
that is taken in America?

Next week when you return, you will be ready to study Lesson #7! Please tell all your friends about our Bible Study so that we can help share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ with every boy and girl in the WHOLE WORLD!