The Bible Story V:

NUMBERS

   After a year at Mt. Sinai, God led the Israelites to the Promised Land, but they didn't trust God to help them conquer the land. They rebelled against God's leading so God made them wander in the desert for forty years until all of the unbelieving adults had died. During all of that time, they ate manna from heaven and their clothes and sandals never got old or wore out.

   But many times the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses. One time, they grumbled because there was no water. God told Moses to speak to a rock and it would pour out water. Out of anger, Moses struck the rock and took credit for providing water. Because he did not honor God in this, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

   Another time when the Israelites grumbled, God sent poisonous snakes among the people and many people died. The people admitted that they had sinned and asked God to remove the snakes. Instead, God told Moses to make a brass serpent and mount it on a pole. When someone was bitten, he would not die if he looked at the brass serpent that Moses had lifted up.

DEUTERONOMY

   When the Israelites reached the Jordan River, Moses reminded them of all the things the Lord had done for them. He explained the covenant that God had made with them at Mt. Sinai. He described the blessings they would receive if they obeyed God and the curses if they disobeyed. Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo and saw the Promised Land before he died.