PRAYER - "Praying to the Wrong God"
Not long before the wilderness journey came to an end, Moses reminded the people of all the mighty works God did for them in the previous forty years. Then He issued a stern warning: do not EVER turn toward any other gods! In these modern times, there is no shortage of people who believe in prayer. But the problem lies in WHO they are praying to! Praying to the wrong god stirs God's worst wrath.

Deuteronomy 11:16 - "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them."

PRINCIPALS - "The Nazarite Vow"

A Nazarite is one who is consecrated unto the Lord ("nazir" - consecrated). It has nothing to do with the city of Nazareth. Saying "I am a Nazarite," launched a period of 1) abstinence from the fruit of the vine, 2) avoidance from touching the dead, and 3) unshaven hair. At the end of the vow, the hair was shaved and offered as a sacrifice. The general purpose was to consecrate to the Lord during times of distress, affliction, or earnest prayer.

Numbers 6:8 - "All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD."

PRINCIPLES - "The Law of Jealousies"

If a man suspected that his wife had been unfaithful to him, he could bring her to the priest for judgment. The priest gave her a concoction of bitter water to drink. If certain symptoms developed, she was deemed guilty. If not, she was declared innocent and freed from the accusation. Immorality is wrong, but so is a false accusation. God intervened, and put an end to the matter. God always knows the truth from the lies.

Numbers 5:28 - "And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed."

PROPHECIES - "Keeping the Passover"

Certain men came to Moses because they had been exposed to dead bodies and were defiled. They wanted to know if God wanted them to keep the Passover in that condition. Moses talked to the Lord, and God said that everyone should take the Passover, even the strangers in their midst. Anyone who "forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people," (v. 13). Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.

Numbers 9:2 - "Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season."