Scholarship, context and study plans for Come, Follow Me
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.” — Isaiah 1:18
Come, Follow Me · Old Testament 2026 · Week 19
“Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear”
May 4–10, 2026Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 2710 chapters · 312 verses
Israel is a few days from the promised land. Twelve spies come back with fruit and fear, and ten say the people there are giants. Only Joshua and Caleb say, “Rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear.” The people side with the ten, and a short journey becomes forty years. Along the way come complaints, fiery serpents, a bronze serpent to look at and live, and a prophet-for-hire whose donkey sees more than he does.
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Place
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Study guide
Numbers covers Israel's forty years between Sinai and the promised land. These chapters show how fear and faith shaped a whole generation.
How to read this week
Notice the murmuring. Complaints come about food (ch. 11), leadership (ch. 12), the land (chs. 13–14) and water (ch. 20). Each time, ask what the people are really afraid of.
Compare the spies' reports. All twelve saw the same land. The difference was whether they factored in the Lord (13:27–33; 14:6–9).
Don't let Moses's mistake overshadow his meekness. He bore enormous pressure. His one lapse at Meribah (20:7–12) shows that even great prophets are accountable.
Read the brass serpent with the Book of Mormon. Alma 33:19–22, Helaman 8:14–15 and 1 Nephi 17:41 explain its meaning and why some refused to look.
Watch Balaam's heart. His words are often right, but he keeps trying to get permission for what he wants.
Forty years in the wilderness
Year 2 — Israel leaves Sinai (10:11–12)
Kadesh — Spies sent; the people rebel (chs. 13–14)
38 years — Wandering until the faithless generation passes (14:33–35; Deut 2:14)
Year 40 — Miriam and Aaron die; the rock at Meribah (ch. 20)
Around Edom — Fiery serpents and the brass serpent (ch. 21)
Plains of Moab — Balaam's blessings; Joshua appointed (chs. 22–27)
Images and ideas to recognize
Passage
Image
What it means
Num 11:7
Manna
Daily provision that Israel grew tired of.
Num 13:23
Cluster of grapes
The goodness of the promised land.
Num 13:33
Grasshoppers
Seeing ourselves through fear instead of faith.
Num 20:8
Rock that gives water
Christ, the source of living water.
Num 21:8
Brass serpent on a pole
Christ lifted up; look and live.
Num 24:17
Star out of Jacob
The coming Messiah.
Restoration connections
Alma 33:19–22 — “If ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes … would ye not behold quickly?”
1 Nephi 17:41 — “Because of the simpleness of the way … there were many who perished.”
D&C 107:91–92 — The President of the Church is “to be like unto Moses.”
D&C 28:2–7 — Only the prophet receives revelation for the whole Church.
Questions for the week
Where are you tempted to “remember Egypt” more fondly than it deserves (11:5)?
When have you seen giants and grasshoppers in your own life? What helped you see like Caleb (13:30–33)?
What does it mean for you to “follow the Lord fully” (14:24)?
Why do you think some people refused to look at the brass serpent? What simple things does the Lord ask you to do?
How can you support the prophet and other leaders, as the seventy elders did (11:16–17)?
Conference talks & Church resources
Talks the Church's lesson points to this week, plus other Church resources that teach from these chapters.
Scholarly papers
Faithful scholarship from BYU and related publishers, tagged with the chapters each one discusses.
Podcasts & video
Come, Follow Me shows and episodes covering this week's reading.