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Podcast Episode

There Isn’t a Law For That

How do God’s people follow his will in situations where there are no explicit rules or laws given? At the conclusion of the third movement of Numbers, the Israelites don’t know how God wants them to respond to a situation. Join Tim and Jon as they explore Numbers 6-9 and how followers of Jesus today can learn to understand the will of God.

Episode 3
1hr 7m
Aug 15, 2022
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Show Notes
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QUOTE

The story of the Bible is trying to shape God’s people into men and women who assume that there’s always more to learn, that they can always gain more wisdom and insight to navigate life’s complexities, and that they have to keep returning to the Torah to discover greater insight so that they trust that they’re living by God’s will.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Numbers 6:22-8:4 is a subsection within the first movement of Numbers designed to remind us of the ways the tabernacle mirrors Eden.
  • God’s people were to celebrate Passover as a way of reaffirming their identity as a nation formed by God’s justice and mercy.
  • As caretakers of Eden and images of God, humans have a responsibility to evaluate and seek wisdom from God in situations where there is no law.

The Mobile Garden of Eden

In part one (00:00-19:22), Tim and Jon bring us up to speed with what we’ve already covered in the Numbers scroll. Up to this point, Yahweh has been working with the people of Israel, transforming them into a community that mirrors the blessings of Eden in the midst of the wilderness (Num. 1-6). The narrator of Numbers communicates all of this by cycling through the repeating melody of the Hebrew Bible, the themes and patterns from Genesis 1-9.

At the end of Numbers 6, the Genesis 1-9 refrain begins again to prepare Israel to move in the direction of the promised land.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “Yahweh bless you and keep you; Yahweh make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; Yahweh turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

This famous blessing is rich with echoes of Eden. A priestly representative is chosen to mediate God’s presence and blessing to other people. Yahweh’s presence shines light and creates shalom, and a group of people bear Yahweh’s name and identity.

Yahweh, Giver of Life and Light

In part two (19:22-32:42), Tim and Jon dive into Numbers 8, which continues the theme of light that started in Numbers 6 with the light of Yahweh’s presence. Now, Yahweh gives additional instructions regarding the lampstands within the tabernacle. The lamps in the tabernacle were lit every morning and evening so that the tabernacle was perpetually filled with light (Lev. 24).

The rest of Numbers 8 contains instructions for how the Levites were to purify themselves to enter Yahweh’s presence. Numbers 6:22-8:4 is a subsection within the first movement of Numbers designed to remind us of the ways the tabernacle mirrors Eden. In Genesis 1-2, Yahweh is the generous giver of life and good things to humans in the garden. Now, as the light within the tabernacle shines upon Israel’s offerings, the story picks up with humans generously offering their best to Yahweh in return as they take care of this new Eden space.

What Do We Do When There Is No Law?

In part three (32:42-45:40), the guys move ahead into Numbers 9, where all of Israel is preparing to celebrate the Passover (except for those who were ritually impure). Those who are unable to celebrate ask Moses, “What do we do?” (Num. 9:7).

Moses asks Yahweh what the answer is to their question, and Yahweh says that anyone prevented from celebrating Passover because of ritual impurity, or simply because they’re out of town, can celebrate Passover a month later. However, whether on time or at a later date, every one of God’s people was to celebrate Passover. This celebration reaffirmed their identity as a nation formed by God’s justice and mercy.

Stories like this are important for our own understanding of the Torah. While God’s laws are good and right and cover a lot of topics ancient Israelites dealt with on a daily basis (and some we do too), there were and always will be situations that aren’t explicitly mentioned among God’s laws. Here, we see that being caretakers of Eden and images of God means humans have a responsibility to evaluate and seek wisdom from God in situations where there is no law. In this case, Moses sought a word from Yahweh directly. Today, we have an even better mediator than Moses: Jesus the Messiah. Followers of Jesus can seek wisdom from God’s Spirit of wisdom and consult the wisdom of the Torah.

A People of Lifelong Learning

In part four (45:40-01:06:50), Tim and Jon continue to explore the process of utilizing the Bible to live wisely and understand God’s will.

The story of the Bible is meant to shape God’s people—from all times and places—into men and women who assume there is always more to learn about how to navigate the complexities of life. And we learn more by returning repeatedly to the Bible to gain greater insight into God’s will. This is exactly what Jesus does in his famous Sermon on the Mount. He calls on the laws of the Torah to derive greater wisdom and deeper meaning, showing his disciples that outward actions come from inner motives that are just as important to God.

Referenced Resources

  • Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
  • You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

  • “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
  • "Evening Flight" by Sam Stewart
  • "I Ain't Got an Answer" by Propaganda
  • "Butterfly" by Sleepy Fish

Show produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel, Tyler Bailey, and Frank Garza. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by MacKenzie Buxman.

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Scripture References
Genesis 1
Genesis 8:20-22
Numbers 6:22-27
Leviticus 1-7
Exodus 25-31
Leviticus 16
Exodus 12
Exodus 40
Exodus 14
Song of Solomon 6:3
Psalms 119
Exodus 12-13
Leviticus 8-9
Leviticus 8
Exodus 13
Leviticus 24
Numbers 1:1-6:21
Exodus 6:7
Numbers 7
Numbers 1
Numbers 8
Numbers 6:22-8:4
Numbers 8:5-26
Leviticus 14
Numbers 9
Numbers 27:1-11
Numbers 27:15-23
Numbers 11:24-30
Proverbs 2
Galatians 3:24
Numbers 9:15
Numbers 9:16
Numbers 10:10
Numbers 10:11
Psalms 119:34

10 Episodes

Episode 10
What Do Moses and a Rock Have to Do With Jesus?
Are numbers in the Hebrew Bible literal? Is it dangerous to adapt God’s laws? Does Israel’s conquest of Canaan justify other historical conquests? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore audience questions about the Numbers scroll. Thanks to our audience for your insightful questions.
1hr 9m • Oct 26, 2022
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Episode 9
Entering the Promised Land
After years of wandering in the wilderness and what seems like way too many rebellions against Yahweh, Israel has finally arrived on the edge of the promised land. What could possibly go wrong now? And yet even here, two of Israel’s tribes rebel, repeating the sins of Adam and Eve and dividing themselves from their brothers. Join Tim and Jon as they wrap up the Numbers scroll.
1hr 3m • Sep 26, 2022
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Episode 8
Joshua: The New Adam and Moses
As Moses’ death draws near, Yahweh selects Joshua to lead the people of Israel. What made Joshua uniquely qualified to lead? How does his leadership differ from Moses’? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss how the Hebrew Bible depicts Joshua as a new Adam, a new Moses, and a precursor to the Messiah himself.
1hr 5m • Sep 19, 2022
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Episode 7
Five Women and Yahweh’s New Law
In the third movement of Numbers, five sisters approach Moses with a legal case not covered in God’s laws: Without any brothers to inherit their father’s land, their family inheritance will be lost unless women are allowed to receive an inheritance too. Yahweh agrees with these five women, setting an important precedent for not just how Israel was to engage the laws of the Torah but for later followers of Jesus as well. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the story of Zelophehad’s daughters and Jesus’ fulfillment of the law.
1hr 12m • Sep 12, 2022
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Episode 6
Why Couldn’t Moses Enter the Promised Land?
So far in the second movement of Numbers, the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel have rebelled against Yahweh, the people have rebelled against Yahweh, and even the Levites have rebelled against Yahweh. In fact, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb are the only people that haven’t rebelled. So what happens when those closest to Yahweh fail to obey his word, too? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about Moses’ rebellion, the high cost of leading God’s people, and humanity’s deep need for a more faithful representative to intercede on our behalf.
56m • Sep 5, 2022
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Episode 5
Yahweh’s Judgment and Mercy
God chose the Levites to take care of the tabernacle, and, within the tribe of Levi, he picked Aaron's family to have the special duty of offering sacrifices and burning incense. In Numbers 16, a Levite named Korah and 250 Israelite leaders accuse Aaron and Moses of setting themselves above everyone else. What’s going on here? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the story of Korah’s rebellion, God’s judgment and mercy, and the responsibility of the leaders God chooses.
43m • Aug 29, 2022
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Episode 4
Twelve Spies and the Promised Land
We’re looking at a story about God’s chosen ones facing a test with fruit trees in a beautiful garden—sounds like Genesis 3, right? Surprisingly, this is a story from Numbers 13-15, with another tree and another test. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the second movement of Numbers and the choice Israel faces when they reach the border of the promised land. Will they choose to trust their wisdom or Yahweh’s?
1hr 5m • Aug 22, 2022
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Episode 3
There Isn’t a Law For That
How do God’s people follow his will in situations where there are no explicit rules or laws given? At the conclusion of the third movement of Numbers, the Israelites don’t know how God wants them to respond to a situation. Join Tim and Jon as they explore Numbers 6-9 and how followers of Jesus today can learn to understand the will of God.
1hr 7m • Aug 15, 2022
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Episode 2
What’s a Nazarite Vow?
Confession of sins, strange water rituals, Nephilim, and Nazarite vows—Numbers 5 and 6 might feel like a confusing mix of laws, but the scroll’s author is cleverly reminding us of the Hebrew Bible melody we first encountered in Genesis 1-9. In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about four odd laws that are part of the intricate story we’ve been following through the Torah.
58m • Aug 8, 2022
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Episode 1
What Made the Tribe of Levi Special?
The scroll of Numbers can be difficult to make sense of without context, and there’s a reason for that. The scroll was never meant to be understood on its own. Numbers picks up where Leviticus leaves off and mirrors the scroll on the other side of Leviticus (Exodus). To fully understand all of these scrolls, we need to read them together. Join Tim and Jon as they dive into Numbers, trace the theme of the temple, and discuss the unique role of the tribe of Levi.
59m • Aug 1, 2022
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