Bible Road Trip ~ covers Numbers chapters 21-36. This week, we are studying the second half of Numbers, the fourth book of the Pentateuch. The book of Numbers is a travel log. It tells the story of God s people wandering in the wilderness between Mount Sinai and the Plains of Moab - just outside the Promised Land of Canaan. Numbers is written in a variety of literary styles including legal documentation, historical narrative, poetry, and records of censuses. As we continue studying Numbers, we see both God s mercy and grace toward the Israelites, and His wrath. As the Israelites continue to complain, God disciplines them with plague and fiery serpents. Yet, the Lord protects His chosen people as King Balak summons Balaam to curse them. Balaam blesses the Israelites three times, then prophecies about the Davidic line. By the end of the book, the older generation has died, and the new generation of Israelites is preparing to enter the Promised Land. They fight and overcome kings Og and Sihon on the Plains of Moab, occupying the kings territory. In order to understand the New Testament and the Gospel fully, children must understand the Pentateuch. Numbers is an important piece of the story of God s grace, mercy and faithfulness to a spiritually adulterous people. The Israelites are quick to forget God s miraculous provision, and they even ignore His visible presence right in their midst. How often do we forget the past mercies of the Lord, even while He dwells inside of our very being? Numbers is a fantastic illustration of the struggle we all face between sin and submission. The events of Numbers are referenced throughout the Bible, as an example of stubborn, wayward, ungodly people. Families looking for additional material for their studies can read Nehemiah 9, Psalm 105 and 106, and 1 Corinthians 10. In the Grammar stages, our prayer focus this week is the United Arab Emirates, and for the Dialectic and Rhetoric stages we ll study Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
Researching the Word Grades 1-3 (Lower Grammar), Page 1 of 2 Dig Deep What the Bible is All About: Bible Handbook for Kids, Frances Blankenbaker o Read Aloud: Pages 48-50 (Chapters 21-36, Bible Lands Information) OR What the Bible is All About for Young Explorers, Frances Blankenbaker o Read Aloud: Pages 47-48, 50 (Chapters 21-36, Sinai Wilderness and the Promised Land) Reading the Word The Jubilee Illustrated Family Bible, Dr. Claude-Bernard Costecalde (Ed.) o Read Aloud: Pages 90-91 (Balaam Numbers 22-24)
Memorizing the Word Grades 1-3 (Lower Grammar), Page 2 of 2 Meditate on It Review your previous verses with your mom or dad. Memorize Numbers 23:19. Remember to record your verses. Notebooking about the Word Write down what happened to Balaam. What did he want more: to make money, or to follow God? How would you feel if your donkey (or your dog, cat or goldfish) started talking to you? Praying about the Word Window on the World, Daphne Spraggett with Jill Johnstone o Read: Pages 170-171 (United Arab Emirates) o Journal: Write down own thing to pray about for people of UAE this week. Learning More about the Word Explore Further There s nothing to watch this week, but if you d like, you can watch What s in the Bible with Buck Denver? - Volume 3 Wanderin in the Desert ~ Part Two again. You ll be watching that episode next week, too! Crafting Through the Word Make a puppet show of Balaam s encounter with the angel of the Lord. Don t forget to make his donkey! Create a work of art for your Bible Verse Catalog, using your verse for this week.
Researching the Word Grades 4-6 (Upper Grammar), Page 1 of 2 Dig Deep What the Bible is All About: Bible Handbook for Kids, Frances Blankenbaker o Read Aloud: Pages 48-50 (Chapters 21-36, Bible Lands Information) OR What the Bible is All About for Young Explorers, Frances Blankenbaker o Read Aloud: Pages 47-48, 50 (Chapters 21-36, Sinai Wilderness and the Promised Land) Reading the Word Read Numbers Chapters 22-23 ~ Balak Summons Balaam to Balaam s Second Oracle o How did God protect Israel in chapter 22? What was Balaam supposed to be good at? How was his donkey better at Balaam s job than Balaam? o How did Balaam s curse turn out? What did he say about God the second time he tried to curse Israel? (Numbers 23:19) Why do you think King Balak took Balaam to a third spot? Read Numbers Chapters 25, 27 ~ Baal Worship at Peor to The Zeal of Phinehas and The Daughters of Zelophehad to Joshua to Succeed Moses o Why was the Lord angry with the Israelites? What was His solution? (Numbers 25) o God would not speak directly to Joshua in his time as a leader. How did God direct Joshua to seek God s Will? (Numbers 27:21) Read Numbers Chapters 28, 30 ~ Daily Offerings to Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets and Men and Vows to Women and Vows o What condition did the animal sacrifices have to be in? (Numbers 28) o How seriously does God take vows? (Numbers 30) Read Numbers Chapters 31-32 ~ Vengeance on Midian to Reuben and Gad Settle in Gilead o What happened to Balaam? (Numbers 31:8) What did Balaam advise Balak to do after he was unable to curse Israel? (31:15,16) o What did the tribes of Reuben and Gad promise to do in order to inherit the land of the Moabites and the Midianites? (Numbers 32) Read Numbers Chapters 34, 36 ~ Boundaries of the Land to List of Tribal Chiefs and Marriage of Female Heirs o Why did God appoint specific men to divide the land? Can you think of any problems that might have occurred without God-appointed leadership? (Numbers 34) o How did God provide for women who had no brothers? How do chapters 27 and 36 show respect for women? (Numbers 36)
Memorizing the Word Grades 4-6 (Upper Grammar), Page 2 of 2 Meditate on It Review your previous verses with your mom or dad. Memorize Numbers 23:19 and John 3:14-15. Remember to record your verses. Notebooking about the Word Write down what happened to Balaam. What did he want more: money or to follow God? How would you feel if your donkey (or your dog, cat or goldfish) started talking to you? Praying about the Word Window on the World, Daphne Spraggett with Jill Johnstone o Read: Pages 170-171 (United Arab Emirates) o Journal: Write down own thing to pray about for people of UAE this week. Learning More about the Word Explore Further There s nothing to watch this week, but if you d like, you can watch What s in the Bible with Buck Denver? - Volume 3 Wanderin in the Desert ~ Part Two again. You ll be watching that episode next week, too! Read Tirzah, Lucille Travis o Chapters 17-21 Crafting Through the Word Make a puppet show of Balaam s encounter with the angel of the Lord. Don t forget to make his donkey! Paint a picture of a snake on a pole. You could also make a snake on a pole using a craft stick, pipe cleaners and google eyes, or a craft stick and colored clay. Create a work of art for your Bible Verse Catalog, using your verse for this week
Researching the Word Grades 7-9 (Dialectic), Page 1 of 3 Dig Deep The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook, J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall o Read (Aloud or Individually): Pages 99-103 from Encountering Balaam and Moab: God Still Protects His People to chapter end (Numbers: Take the Long Way to the Promised Land) Reading the Word Read Numbers Chapters 22-24 ~ Balak Summons Balaam to Balaam s Final Oracle o How did God protect Israel in chapter 22? What was Balaam supposed to be good at? How was his donkey better at Balaam s job than Balaam? o How did Balaam s curse turn out? What did he say about God the second time he tried to curse Israel? (Numbers 23:19) Why do you think King Balak took Balaam to a third spot? o How did Balaam know what to say in his blessing and in his prophecy? (Numbers 24:2-3) Read Numbers Chapters 25-27 ~ Baal Worship at Peor to Joshua to Succeed Moses o Why was the Lord angry with the Israelites? What was His solution? (Numbers 25) o The census in chapter 26 shows the generation forbidden to enter the Promised Land had died. Who were the only remaining adults from the first census? o God would not speak directly to Joshua in his time as a leader. How did God direct Joshua to seek God s Will? (Numbers 27:21) Read Numbers Chapters 28-30 ~ Daily Offerings to Women and Vows o What condition did the animal sacrifices have to be in? (Numbers 28) o When could citizens offer private/personal sacrifices? (Numbers 29:39) o How seriously does God take vows? (Numbers 30)
Reading the Word (Continued) Grades 7-9 (Dialectic), Page 2 of 3 Dig Deep (Continued) Read Numbers Chapters 31-33 ~ Vengeance on Midian to Drive Out the Inhabitants o What happened to Balaam? (Numbers 31:8) What did Balaam advise Balak to do after he was unable to curse Israel? (31:15,16) o What did the tribes of Reuben and Gad promise to do in order to inherit the land of the Moabites and the Midianites? (Numbers 32) o What were the Israelites supposed to do as they entered the Promised Land? What did God warn would happen if they didn t? (Numbers 33) Read Numbers Chapters 34-36 ~ Boundaries of the Land to Marriage of Female Heirs o Why did God appoint specific men to divide the land? Can you think of any problems that might have occurred without God-appointed leadership? (Numbers 34) o What distinction does God make between a manslayer and a murderer? (Numbers 35) o How did God provide for women who had no brothers? How do chapters 27 and 36 show respect for women? (Numbers 36)
Memorizing the Word Grades 7-9 (Dialectic), Page 3 of 3 Meditate on It Review your previous verses with your mom or dad. Memorize Numbers 23:19, John 3:14-15 and Hebrews 3:10-11 (add to Hebrews 3:7-9). Remember to record your verses. Notebooking about the Word Write about the event with Balaam and his donkey. At the time of Balaam s blessings (which were supposed to be curses), were the Israelites aware of what was happening? Do you think the Lord takes care of you when you aren t even aware that there s a problem? Also, write about the attitude of the Israelites. Were they still getting into trouble for complaining? How seriously did God discipline them for their attitudes? Praying about the Word Operation World, Jason Mandryk o Read: Pages 516-520 (Kyrgyzstan), 805-807 (Tajikistan), 89-93(Afghanistan) o Pray: Choose one Challenges for Prayer from each country to add to your prayer journal for the week. Don t forget to pray! Learning More about the Word Explore Further Do a mini-research project on the Moabites and the Plains of Moab. Write about what you find. Crafting Through the Word There are no dates to record this week. If you d like, you may continue to record dates from Before Christ. Be sure to include events from around the world.
Researching the Word Grades 10-12 (Rhetoric), Page 1 of 3 Dig Deep Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey, Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer o Read: Chapter 8: Numbers: Failure in the Desert Pages 135-139 from Preparations in the Plains of Moab to chapter end Reading the Word Read Numbers Chapters 21-24 ~ Arad Destroyed to Balaam s Final Oracle o Why did God send fiery (also interpreted poisonous ) serpents upon the Israelites? This chapter begins the long encampment on the Plains of Moab. Who did the Israelites fight? (Numbers 21) o How did God protect Israel in chapter 22? What was Balaam supposed to be good at? How was his donkey better at Balaam s job than Balaam? o How did Balaam s curse turn out? What did he say about God the second time he tried to curse Israel? (Numbers 23:19) Why do you think King Balak took Balaam to a third spot? o How did Balaam know what to say in his blessing and in his prophecy? (Numbers 24:2-3) Read Numbers Chapters 25-27 ~ Baal Worship at Peor to Joshua to Succeed Moses o Why was the Lord angry with the Israelites? What was His solution? (Numbers 25) o The census in chapter 26 shows the generation forbidden to enter the Promised Land had died. Who were the only remaining adults from the first census? o God would not speak directly to Joshua in his time as a leader. How did God direct Joshua to seek God s Will? (Numbers 27:21) Read Numbers Chapters 28-30 ~ Daily Offerings to Women and Vows o What condition did the animal sacrifices have to be in? (Numbers 28) o When could citizens offer private/personal sacrifices? (Numbers 29:39) o How seriously does God take vows? (Numbers 30)
Reading the Word (Continued) Grades 10-12 (Rhetoric), Page 2 of 3 Dig Deep (Continued) Read Numbers Chapters 31-33 ~ Vengeance on Midian to Drive Out the Inhabitants o What happened to Balaam? (Numbers 31:8) What did Balaam advise Balak to do after he was unable to curse Israel? (31:15,16) o What did the tribes of Reuben and Gad promise to do in order to inherit the land of the Moabites and the Midianites? (Numbers 32) o What were the Israelites supposed to do as they entered the Promised Land? What did God warn would happen if they didn t do it? (Numbers 33) Read Numbers Chapters 34-36 ~ Boundaries of the Land to Marriage of Female Heirs o Why did God appoint specific men to divide the land? Can you think of any problems that might have occurred without God-appointed leadership? (Numbers 34) o What distinction does God make between a manslayer and a murderer? (Numbers 35) o How did God provide for women who had no brothers? How do chapters 27 and 36 show respect for women? (Numbers 36)
Memorizing the Word Grades 10-12 (Rhetoric), Page 3 of 3 Meditate on It Review your previous verses with your mom or dad. Memorize Numbers 23:19, John 3:14-15, Hebrews 3:10-11 (add to Hebrews 3:7-9) and Nehemiah 9:20-21 (add to Nehemiah 9:16-19). Remember to record your verses. Notebooking about the Word Answer the Study Questions #6-8 on page 138 of Encountering the Old Testament. Take notes on any terms you want to be sure you remember later. Record your personal thoughts on what you ve learned this week. Praying about the Word Operation World, Jason Mandryk o Read: Pages 516-520 (Kyrgyzstan), 805-807 (Tajikistan), 89-93(Afghanistan) o Pray: Choose one Challenges for Prayer from each country to add to your prayer journal for the week. Don t forget to pray! Explore Further Learning More about the Word o There is nothing to watch this week. Do some research on the Moabites and the Plains of Moab. Crafting Through the Word Share what you ve learned this week! Make a video presentation or write a short blog post or paper sharing something specific that you learned. o Topics could include The Moabites throughout Scripture Balaam and King Balak Faith how are we called to follow Christ? How does this relate to the journey of the Israelites through the Wilderness? Teach what you ve learned this week to some of the kids in your church, or lead a study group among your peers (with a parent as a mentor) to discuss what you re learning.