Come, Follow Me · Week 19 · May 4–10

Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27

This Week's Reading

This week’s reading in Numbers recounts the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, highlighting their frequent complaints and lack of faith despite witnessing God’s mighty power. The people often grumbled about food and water, doubted God’s promise to give them the land, and even plotted to return to Egypt. Yet, amidst their failures, we see faithful individuals like Joshua, Caleb, and the daughters of Zelophehad who trusted in God’s goodness and justice. These stories teach us that Jesus Christ is the source of true contentment, faithfulness, and hope, inviting us to rely on Him rather than our circumstances.

Key Passages

Numbers 11:1–3 When the people complained, God’s anger was kindled and fire burned among them, but Moses prayed for mercy, showing that Christ is our intercessor who turns away divine wrath through His own sacrifice.
Numbers 12:1–10 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, yet the Lord declared that He speaks to Moses face-to-face, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God’s glory and perfect servant.
Numbers 14:1–9 While most Israelites feared the people of the land, Joshua and Caleb encouraged them to trust that the Lord delights in His people and will bring them into a good land, reflecting Christ’s assurance of victory for those who believe.
Numbers 20:1–10 At Kadesh, the people lacked water and murmured against Moses; though he acted as commanded by God, his sin reminds us that only Jesus perfectly obeys the Father to provide living water for our souls.
Numbers 27:1–10 The daughters of Zelophehad asked for an inheritance for their father who died without sons, and the Lord affirmed their request, teaching us that Christ honors every person and ensures no one is forgotten or excluded from His blessings.

Questions to Ponder

In what ways do I complain or lose faith when things do not go as I expect?
How can I learn from Joshua and Caleb’s courage to trust God’s promises even when others are afraid?
What does the story of Miriam teach me about humility and respecting those whom God has called?
How can I honor my family members, especially if they have passed away, by living faithfully as they would wish?

A Thought to Take Home

Though the Israelites often stumbled in faith, their stories point us to Jesus Christ, who never failed and always provided for His people. We are invited to trust in Him, knowing that He hears our prayers, honors our families, and leads us into a land of promise. Let this week’s reading encourage you to turn your heart toward the Savior, who is faithful in all things.

Further study

Numbers 11:1–3 Numbers 12:1–10 Numbers 14:1–9 Numbers 20:1–10 Numbers 27:1–10

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This guide was prepared with AI from the scriptures and checked against the text; it can still make mistakes. For the Church's own guidance, read the official Come, Follow Me manual for this week. Nephite Atlas is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Key passages

Numbers 11:1–3

¹And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. ²And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. ³And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

Numbers 12:1–10

¹And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. ²And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. ³(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) ⁴And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. ⁵And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. ⁶And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. ⁷My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. ⁸With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? ⁹And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. ¹⁰And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Numbers 14:1–9

¹And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. ²And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! ³And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? ⁴And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. ⁵Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. ⁶And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: ⁷And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. ⁸If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. ⁹Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Numbers 20:1–10

¹Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. ²And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. ³And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! ⁴And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? ⁵And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. ⁶And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. ⁷And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ⁸Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. ⁹And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. ¹⁰And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Numbers 27:1–10

¹Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. ²And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, ³Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. ⁴Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. ⁵And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. ⁶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ⁷The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. ⁸And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. ⁹And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. ¹⁰And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.