In this episode we continue studying the book of Numbers. In this episode the Lord told Moses and Aaron to have the families or the armies of Israel pitch their tents around the tabernacle according to their standards.

Each tribe had their own ensign or flag but there were four standards or four military flags, three tribes under a standard.

The tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were the first to set up their camp and standard. They would be the first to move out when the cloud or pillar of fire set out to lead the people to a new location or when they marched out to battle.

The tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali was the rear guard.

We note that God promised to be with the armies as they marched forward to inherit the promised land.

He promised to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries.

But if they worshipped idols, their idols would be a snare to them.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh fell into idolatry.

They were exiled from their land and never returned. The sad account is noted in 4 verses.

Here’s the text:

1Chronicles 5:23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.

1Chronicles 5:24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

1Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

1Chronicles 5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.

Those tribes were expelled from the promised because of idol worship. And we are told in the New Testament that idol worshippers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The New Testament reveals at least two idols the church must avoid. One is called vain knowledge referring to doctrines of men, like science, philosophy and certain religous traditions.

We note that the Greeks loved knowledge and they even sought out Christ but He basically told them if they really wanted life, that had to follow Him and not the doctrines of men.

The church was warned against disputing about what's called science.

They were also told not to become students of philosophy, or they would be spoiled.


Here’s the text:

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.

1Timothy 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee.

The other idol Jesus and Paul warned the church about is covetousness.

Jesus said, in Luke chapter 12 verse 15, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of what he possesses."

In Ephesians chapter 5 verse 5 Paul said, a covetous person is an idolater.

Here’s the text:

Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Paul said in Galatians chapter 5 that covetousness is a work of the flesh.

Covetousness was included with a list of other sins that will prevent a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.

Here’s the text:

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.