Title: Lecture by topic
From now on, we are going to make a pilgrimage to Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament. Numbers, the fourth of Moses' five books, historically shows the journey through the wilderness from Mount Sinai to the Plains of Moab for about 38 years.
The historical plot of Numbers is roughly as follows: First, Numbers begins with the formation of the ranks through the first census, such as organizing the army for the effectiveness of the wilderness march and the expected combat performance. After leaving Mount Sinai, the Israelites reach the plain of Paran in the north, where the negative reports of the spies lead the people to distance themselves from God and resent them.
In the end, those who betrayed God were punished with a terrible punishment of wandering in the wilderness for 38 years. At the end of the period of punishment, they entered the plains of Moab east of the Jordan, where they took over the entire Jordan of Trans, north of the Arnon River. But here they again disobey God by committing adultery with a Moabite and Midianite woman.
Israel, replaced by a new generation, conducts the second census again, which was in preparation for the conquest of Canaan and land distribution. Ahead of the great work of conquest of Canaan, Israel was reorganized and reorganized to be more efficient and mobile. After completing the second census, Israel destroyed the Midianites and took over the east side of the Jordan, and the end of Numbers is decorated with Joshua as the successor of Moses.
What is the lesson for us in this book of Numbers, which records the bitter experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness? It was not easy for the Israelites to get rid of the spirit of slavery that had been stained for 400 years in Egypt. Through the trials and trials of 40 years in the wilderness, God regenerated them into the true people of God.
That's right. That God is training us through pain and refinement in order to change our negative self-image that is equally tainted with worldliness today.