Introduction
The Lord revealed to Moses how to organize the children of Israel. The Lord also gave additional laws to the children of Israel to guide them while in the wilderness. As the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, Moses grew weary of their murmuring and sought help from the Lord. As a result, the Lord chose 70 leaders to help Moses govern Israel. Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses, and the Lord chastised them for speaking against His chosen servant.
Note: This lesson provides an opportunity for two students to teach the class. To help prepare these students to teach, provide them with a copy of the section they are to teach a few days in advance. Or you could choose to teach the section yourself.
Suggestions for Teaching
Numbers 1–10
The Lord organizes the camp of Israel, gives them specific laws, and leads them in the wilderness
Before class, draw or display the following diagram on the board.
Explain that the book of Numbers begins with the Lord directing Moses to number the children of Israel (see Numbers 1).
Point to the diagram on the board, and explain that the Lord taught Moses how to organize the Israelite camp.
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What do you notice about the camp of Israel? (The tabernacle is at the center.)
Explain that each tribe was assigned a position surrounding the tabernacle, with the Levites given charge over the tabernacle itself. A captain was appointed to represent each tribe. Moses also gave instructions for how the camp of Israel was to travel as the Lord led them by a cloud. When the cloud rested they camped, and when the cloud moved they traveled. An “appearance of fire” was upon the tabernacle at night. (See Numbers 9:15–20.) The Levites were given the responsibility to serve in the tabernacle and to transport it during their travels. Through Moses, the Lord also instructed the children of Israel concerning disease, repentance and forgiveness, cases of immorality, and other offerings and observances.
The next portion of this lesson is designed for two students to teach. The student teachers may take turns teaching the entire class, or the class could divide into two groups and rotate between teachers. Give each student teacher about eight minutes to teach.
Student Teacher 1—Numbers 6:1–8
Invite your classmates to describe some of the differences between the lifestyle of a full-time missionary and their own current lifestyles.
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What are some reasons why full-time missionaries are asked to meet these standards and expectations?
Explain that, in a similar way, a group of Israelites known as Nazarites made vows (a vow is a promise or covenant) to dedicate themselves to God for specific periods of time (much like missionaries setting aside one and a half to two years to serve the Lord). The Nazarite vow could be lifelong.
Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from Numbers 6:1–8. Prior to reading, point out that in these verses the word separation is used in relation to men and women following the Nazarite vows (see Numbers 6:2). Ask the class to follow along, looking for living standards associated with the vow of a Nazarite. You might suggest that they mark what they discover.
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What Nazarite living standards did you find?
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What word is used in verse 8 to describe the Israelites who chose to follow the Nazarite vows?
Explain that people who entered into the Nazarite vow did so to dedicate themselves to the Lord and His work.
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What can we learn about showing dedication to God from the Nazarite vow? (Students may identify a variety of principles, but be sure to emphasize something similar to the following: We show our commitment to God when we strictly observe His standards.)
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What are some specific things we can do to show our commitment to God? (Help students understand that separating ourselves from the world does not mean refusing to interact with others. Rather, we are to separate ourselves from practices and beliefs that are contrary to the Lord’s commandments and standards.)
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What examples have you seen of others dedicating themselves to God?
Write the following incomplete statements on the board, and invite students to complete them in their class notebooks or study journals:
I will separate myself from the world by …
I will dedicate myself to God by …
To conclude, consider sharing your testimony of the principle you have taught. Encourage students to live by the statements they have just written down.
Numbers 11:1–20
The Israelites complain, and Moses asks the Lord for help in governing the people
Student Teacher 2—Numbers 11:1–10
Invite your classmates to ponder how they usually respond when they experience challenges and frustrations. You may want to invite two or three students to share their thoughts with the class if they feel comfortable doing so.
Explain that Numbers 11 describes some of the challenges and frustrations Moses and the Israelites experienced as they journeyed in the wilderness toward the promised land. Invite the class to look for principles as they study Numbers 11 that can help them know how to deal with the challenges and frustrations they may experience.
Invite a student to read Numbers 11:1 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what the Israelites did when they experienced challenges and frustrations. Invite students to report what they find.
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What did the Lord do after some people complained?
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Why do you think the Lord was so displeased with the Israelites for complaining? (Their complaining showed ingratitude for all the Lord had done for them.)
Summarize Numbers 11:2–3 by explaining that the people cried unto Moses. Moses then prayed to the Lord, and the fire ceased.
Invite a student to read Numbers 11:4–9 aloud. Invite the class to follow along and look for words or phrases indicating that some Israelites were ungrateful despite the Lord’s blessings. (You may want to explain that the phrases “fell a lusting” and “flesh to eat” in verse 4 mean the people desired meat or fish to eat.)
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What words or phrases indicate that some of the children of Israel were ungrateful despite the Lord’s blessings? (As students give their answers, you may want to ask them how the word or phrase they found might show ingratitude.)
Summarize Numbers 11:10 by explaining that Moses heard the people continue to weep or complain about their circumstances. The Lord and Moses were displeased because of these continued complaints.
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What principle can we learn from the Israelites’ poor example? (Students may identify a variety of principles, including the following: Failing to recognize our blessings is ingratitude to the Lord.)
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What can we do to better recognize our blessings? How has doing this in the past helped you?
To conclude, consider sharing your testimony of the principle you have taught. As part of this testimony, you may want to share an experience you have had when your gratitude to the Lord increased as you recognized His blessings in your life.
Numbers 11:11–12:16
Moses feels overwhelmed by his challenges and Aaron and Miriam speak against him
Invite a student to read Numbers 11:11–14 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for the challenge Moses faced and expressed to the Lord.
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What challenge did Moses present to the Lord?
As students respond, write the challenge on the board:
Moses felt overwhelmed trying to lead a large number of people who were selfish and ungrateful.
Invite a student to read Numbers 11:16–17 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the solution the Lord provided to Moses.
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What solution did the Lord provide to help ease Moses’s burden of leadership?
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What did the Lord say he would put upon the 70 elders of Israel that would help them bear the burden of the people?
Invite a student to read Numbers 11:18–20 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how the Lord said He would respond to the Israelites’ complaining for meat to eat. Invite students to share what they find.
Summarize Numbers 11:21–12:16 by explaining that the Lord blessed the 70 men he had chosen to receive revelation and speak as inspired by the Holy Ghost. As promised, the Lord also provided an abundance of quail for the Israelites to eat. As the people gathered the quail, many overindulged and gathered more than was needed. The Lord was again angry with them (apparently because they lusted after or hoarded the quail—again showing ingratitude). The Lord then sent a plague, and many Israelites died. Aaron and Miriam complained against Moses. Because Miriam criticized the Lord’s chosen servant, she was struck with leprosy and was shut out of the camp for seven days. The Lord then healed her, and she returned to the camp.
Conclude by inviting one or two students to testify of the truths they have learned from Numbers 1–12.
Commentary and Background Information
Numbers 1:1–46. How many people did Moses lead through the wilderness?
“The first census of Israel after the Exodus numbered 603,550 men over twenty years of age who could go to war (see v. 3). This included none of the Levites (see v. 47) who numbered 22,000 (see Numbers 3:39). It also excluded all females, old men, boys under twenty years of age, and men unable to bear arms. This record has caused some scholars to estimate the total number of the children of Israel to be over two million souls (see Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 1:3:4–5). Other scholars believe that there have been textual errors in the transmission of numbers down through the centuries and that the total number of Israelites would be closer to half a million (see Enrichment Section E, “The Problem of Large Numbers in the Old Testament” [Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 193]). Whatever is correct, the task Moses faced was incredibly huge. To lead even five hundred thousand people into a harsh and barren wilderness and attempt to keep their hunger and thirst satisfied, their needs for shelter and protection from the elements met, as well as bring them to a state of spiritual maturity and obedience—no wonder Moses cried out, ‘I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me’ (Numbers 11:14)” (Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 197).
Numbers 6:1–21. What was a Nazarite?
The term Nazarite comes from a Hebrew word that refers to someone who is consecrated, devoted, or dedicated through the making of a vow. It does not have anything to do with the word Nazareth or necessarily those who came from Nazareth. The Nazarite vow could be of short or long duration, a temporary or a lifetime commitment (see Bible Dictionary, “Nazarite”).
“A Nazarite took three vows: he would abstain absolutely from wine or strong drink, including any products of the vine in any form (see Numbers 6:3–4); he would not let a razor touch his head, but would let his hair grow naturally as a crown to God (see Numbers 6:5); and he would not allow himself to draw near a dead person, even a member of his own family (see Numbers 6:6). His life and all his efforts were completely and expressly dedicated to the Lord. This consecrated life bore some resemblance to that of the high priest (see Leviticus 21:10–12). Those who seem to have taken such vows, or had parents who made the vows for them, include Samson (see Judges 13:5), Samuel (see 1 Samuel 1:11, 28), and John the Baptist (see Luke 1:15). In some cases, these Nazarite vows were for life, but more often they were for a specific period of time, after which the person returned to a normal life. (Two instances in the New Testament that seem related to this vow taking are recorded in Acts 18:18–19 and 21:23–26.)” (Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis–2 Samuel, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 199).
Numbers 11:29. “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets”
The word prophets as used in Numbers 11:29 does not refer to presiding authorities of the Church. Rather, the word is likely used in a general sense to describe anyone who receives revelation through the Holy Ghost. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“The spirit of revelation is available to every person. … This blessing is not restricted to the presiding authorities of the Church; rather, it belongs to and should be operative in the life of every man, woman, and child who reaches the age of accountability and enters into sacred covenants. Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives” (David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 87).
Numbers 12:3. “Moses was very meek”
The statement in Numbers 12:3 that “Moses was very meek” suggests that he was patient with Miriam and Aaron when they spoke against him. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike. Without it we won’t be able to develop other important virtues. Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.
“Meekness was one of the most abundant attributes in the Savior’s life. He Himself taught His disciples, ‘Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart’ [Matthew 11:29]” (Ulisses Soares, “Be Meek and Lowly of Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 9).
