The Bible by David Alley

In this video listen to Numbers 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 33 Moses recounts the journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, where they are about to enter the promised land, and he does so step by step, location by location. THe starting location is the region of Rameses, which is modern day Tel Daba, or the ancient city of Avaris. Most of the locations are k...

In this video listen to Numbers 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 32 the tribes of Reuben and Gad request land be given to them east of the Jordan. This was in the territory they had conquered from the eastern kings. (see previous chapters of Numbers) Moses was wary of repeating the problem of 40 years earlier, of shirking the fight because of a lack of faith. But...

In this video listen to Numbers 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 31 They are now taking on the source of their temptation, and going to war against the forces which led Israel into sin and temptation previously. Phinehas is chosen to be the leader. This is hugely sensible because he is resistant to the potential for temptation that exists and other Israelites suc...

In this video listen to Numbers 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 30 we consider making vows. God took vows seriously, and here indicates vows shall not be broken. In the New Testament we are told by Jesus to simply let our yes be yes and our no be no, everything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt 5:37 ) Making vows doesn’t make us holier, but instead bind...

In this video listen to Numbers 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 29 the summary of sacrifices in the feasts continues. Confusingly for those not in the know, there were two years in the Jewish calendar, There was the usual year and the religious or ceremonial year. This is similar to Australians who have the normal year, and the financial year. Here the feast of...

In this video listen to Numbers 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 28 and the next chapter, all the offerings and feasts of Israel are summarised. This video considers a couple of things in this chapter. First, on the daily sacrifices. The daily sacrifice was two lambs, one in the morning at 9am, and the other in the afternoon at 3pm. These coincide with the time C...

In this video listen to Numbers 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 27 two points are covered. First, How exactly does a father keep his family name, and his inheritance, when he has only daughters? This chapter explains how. Some of the specific details as to how this would happen were ironed out in Numbers 36 where the daughters would be required to marry within t...

In this video listen to Numbers 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 26 we find the second census. The first was taken about one year into the wilderness time in the early chapters of Numbers, and the second at the end of 40 years. This provides the opportunity for comparison. Reuben: Down 2,270 (-6%) Simeon: Down 37,100 (-63%) Gad: Down 5,150 (-11%) Judah: Up 1,900...

In this video listen to Numbers 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Numbers 25 is a continuation of the Balaam story from the previous chapter. At first this seems at surface value to have no connection with Balaam, yet what happens in this chapter is the result of his advice to Balak. Balaam instinctively knew that God would be displeased with his own people if they sinned ag...

In this video listen to Numbers 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 24 we have the last 5 of 7 prophecies by Balaam who was wrongly motivated, but spoke truly. Unlike the previous two prophecies, the Holy Spirit now comes upon the very unholy Balaam. This point is notable for a few reasons. Firstly, the idea that the Holy Spirit will not come on an unholy person is...

In this video listen to Numbers 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 23 the story of Balaam’s attempt to curse Israel continues. He is determined to go through with his attempt, even though he knows God doesn’t approve. He tries various ways to get God to speak evil, but only good comes out each time. Out of his mouth come some of the most profound prophetic blessing...

In this video listen to Numbers 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 22 the nation of Moab is terrified of the Israelites. In the last 40 years they defeated the Egyptian Empire, and then brought down the two big kings on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og. They didn’t engage with the Edomites because of God’s requirement to leave them alone, but they also def...

In this video listen to Numbers 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 21 the Israelites come to the south of Canaan and engage in a battle with the King of Arad, who they defeat. They then endeavor to shortcut through Edom to the main part of Canaan, but Edom refuses and they have to go the long way around. They end up complaining and God sends a plague of venomous sn...

In this video listen to Numbers 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 1 we start the fourth book of Moses, which in reality is the fourth section of one big book. In Hebrew it is named Bemidbar which means wilderness. This entire book is placed in the desert and starts about 14 months after leaving Egypt. The Israelites could have in theory gone directly to Canaan, a w...

In this video listen to Numbers 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 19 we meet the red heifer. A heifer is a female cow that hasn’t had a calf yet, so is technically a virgin cow. This is an interesting symbol which represents both Christ and the Church. First of Christ because it is a sacrifice that happens outside the camp, just as Christ was sacrificed outside th...

In this video listen to Numbers 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 18 Aaron and his sons are told they have to “bear the iniquity” or carry the responsibility of the administration of God’s holy things. Thus they were accountable for things that others were not accountable for. In the preceding chapters Korah and others with him had aspired to this role and perishe...

In this video listen to Numbers 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 17 we have a continuation of the former chapter which relates the story of Korah’s rebellion. Here God is going to settle the question once and for all who he has chosen. God initiates a test. The twelve leaders of the twelve tribes placed their staffs in God’s presence, and God said the staff of th...

In this video listen to Numbers 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 16 we find the story of Korah, a Kohathite responsible for moving the tabernacle. He was not a priest, because he was not a son of Aaron. He wanted elevated responsibility, and wanted a position not assigned to him. He had ministry jealousy. The need for recognition is something we all have. Why God...

In this video listen to Numbers 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 15 we consider defiant sin, the tassels on the clothing of Jews, and whether the law was excessive when it killed a sabbath breaker for collecting wood. FIrstly, defiant sin is not only wilful, but deliberately wilful. All people at some time have committed willful sin, but in their minds they were...

In this video listen to Numbers 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 14 the problem with the Israelites wasn’t the realisation they couldn’t take the land, but not trusting God who could do it. Joshua and Caleb had it figured out, they knew the Lord was with them, and He is with you. It is a fact that when God is with you, you STILL go to difficult places, but you go...

In this video listen to Numbers 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 13 we finally come to the moment when the spies are going into the land. Its well over a year since they have left Egypt. Moses is going to name the twelve spies from the twelve tribes. We should keep in mind that all of these people had been born into slavery and served thier entire lives as slaves...

In this video listen to Numbers 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 12 we hear that Moses had an Ethiopian wife, and it's a bit surprising. Josephus tells us her name was Tharpa. Previously when he was serving Pharaoh in Egypt, Moses had gone on a military campaign to Ethiopia and conquered. He had taken a princess to be his wife. Now Moses’ family complains about h...

In this video listen to Numbers 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 11 and in the following chapters, are going to outline a LOT of complaining from people, including Moses’ own family. There is not doubt that life was tough in the desert, but it was a test. And in the same way, we are also tested by tough things. As believers we must REFUSE to blame God. The NT scr...

In this video listen to Numbers 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 10 we have instructions about how to use two silver trumpets. These were for summoning the people to gatherings, and to signalling them when the entire group was about to set off for travel. Trumpets are everywhere in the Bible used for many purposes. Firstly, earlier in Exodus when the people were...

In this video listen to Numbers 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 9 some people missed being able to celebrate the passover because they had touched a dead body and were ceremonially unclean. Moses sought the Lord and they were required to celebrate a week later. This demonstrated the importance of making it a priority. This also meant that people would not deliber...