In Joshua chapter 3, the families of the Israelites are packed up and ready to cross the Jordan River into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The priests carried the ark of the covenant first. They stayed about a mile ahead of the tribes. When the priests set foot into the water, the water stopped flowing! They stood in the middle, while the Israelites passed through on dry land. Twelve men, one from each tribe, took a stone and made a memorial where the priests had stood. When Joshua commanded the priests to get out of the river bed, the water started flowing again. 

Joshua sends two spies into the land to find out what Jericho is like. The spies stop at Rahab's house. When the king sends soldiers to capture them, Rahab hides them on her roof. Then she asks them to protect her family when they come to battle for the city of Jericho. The spies are safe, and they will keep Rahab safe, too. 

When the Israelites traveled in the wilderness they passed through the land of other nations.  God told them not to fight in Seir, or in Ar. But there were two kings that God did want them to fight.  God caused those other nations to lose! But they lost because they were wicked. And the Israelites didn't win because they were good, but because God was on their side.  God was keeping his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now, Joshua was going to lead the people into the promised land. Moses cautioned them to trust God and not try to do things their own way. 

In Numbers 22 we hear the story about what happened when the Israelites complained against Moses and against God. Instead of trusting God, they said negative words! God sent poisonous snakes into the camp as a punishment for their sin. When they realized they were wrong, they asked Moses to pray for them. God gave them a way to be healed. He put the punishment for their sin up on a pole. When they looked at it, they didn't die. 

When the Israelites couldn't find water, they complained to Moses. They asked him why he had brought them out of Egypt. They said they wished they had died. They griped about not having nice food and water.  Moses and Aaron went right away to ask God what to do.  God told them that Moses could speak to the rock and the water would come out. But something was wrong with Moses that day. Instead of speaking to the rock, he yelled at the Israelites and he hit the rock! Moses disobeyed God. What will the consequences be?

Balaam's donkey talks to him. Balaam realizes he is making a mistake, thinking he can curse the Israelites. But he continues on to meet with King Balak. King Balak is expecting Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam builds seven altars, and sacrifices seven bulls and seven rams to God. Then God gives him the message. It's not a curse. A second time, Balaam builds seven altars and kills seven bulls and seven rams. This time, God gives Balaam another beautiful blessing. One more time, Balak gives Balaam a chance to curse the Israelites. What will he say?

King Balak is afraid of the Israelites that are traveling near his country. He wants them to go away. He wants Balaam to speak a curse over them. Balaam talks to God about it, and God says not to go. He doesn't want Balaam to curse the Israelites, because they are blessed by God. So Balaam refuses to go with Balak's messengers. They come again, this time bringing even more money with them. Balaam goes with them this time, but God is angry. God sends an angel to stand in Balaam's way! Balaam is heading into danger! 

When God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and warn them to stop being bad, Jonah didn't want to go. He went down to the sea and bought a boat ticket. He tried to go as far away as he could get. A big storm came up and the boat was going to sink. Jonah told the sailors that if they threw him overboard, the storm would stop. He was right  But God wants to save Jonah! What will happen to him when he sinks down into the water?

God gave a special job to the Levites. The Levites got to work in the tent of meeting. They kept track of the incense, the bread, and the candles. They served as helpers to the priests. As payment for their work, the Levites received ten percent, or a tithe from each tribe. The priests, Aaron's family, served the Lord by actually offering the sacrifices. The Levites gave the priests ten percent and also the best part of the sacrifices to eat. Some people wished that God had chosen them to be priests, but God had them set up a test. Each tribe provided a staff with the leader's name on it. Whose staff would sprout? Which staff did God pick?

From Numbers 14. When the Israelites turned away from entering the land that God had promised, they brought a punishment on themselves.  God told them that everyone who had grumbled against God and had rejected his promise would not be able to enter the land, but would die in the wilderness. Their children would have to live as shepherds for forty years in the wilderness until the older generation had all died. Now, the Israelites wanted to change their minds and go into the land, but would they succeed without Moses, and without the Lord?