What do we learn about the people of Israel and God’s promises to them in the last chapters of Numbers? The Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing (Professor of Theology & Ministry, Paul Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of The Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 4 of our series on his book Hope in the Wilderness: Practical Insights from the Book of Numbers to talk about Israel’s track record of idolatry, the account of Balaam and Balak and how it points us to Christ, why the account of Zelophehad’s daughters is unique, the last Promised Land update in Numbers, and how Numbers point us to Christ, our Conqueror and Redeemer.
Find Hope in the Wilderness: Practical Insights from the Book of Numbers from Concordia Publishing House at cph.org/hope-in-the-wilderness-practical-insights-from-the-book-of-numbers.
As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you’d like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.
Today’s episode of The Coffee Hour is underwritten in part by Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. You can learn more about Concordia University Wisconsin at cuw.edu and Concordia University Ann Arbor at cuaa.edu. Live Uncommon.

