The Book of Numbers

Review

God led Israel out of Exodus, laid out covenant stipulations for His people at Sinai, and even though they broke covenant, still made a way for them to live near His presence.

A year passes at Sinai and Israel finally rolls up their tents to journey toward the Promised Land.

The book is divided into three sections:

Chapters 1-10a — Mt. Sinai

Chapters 10b-12: traveling to...

Chapters 13-19 — Wilderness of Paran

Chapters 20-21: traveling to...

Chapters 22-36 — Plains of Moab (across from the P.L.)

Mt. Sinai

Chapters 1-4: a census is taken and the people are “numbered” — where the book gets its name. Then, laws and arrangements for how the people should be ordered.

The Tabernacle would be in the center, surrounded by the priests and the Levites.

Around them, the twelve tribes with Judah at the head.

It was meant to be an elaborate symbol, showing how God’s presence was meant to be at the center of their existence as God’s people.

Chapters 5-10: laws about ritual purity, from Leviticus. If God was going to be in their midst, every should be made to ensure the camps purity. It should be a place that welcomes God’s holiness.

Do we make every effort to ensure the “camps” purity? Could it be said that we WELCOME God’s holiness?

Traveling

God’s presence lifts from the tabernacle, and in chapter 11, things immediately go sideways. The people are complaining about hunger and thirst, believing it would be better to go back to Egypt.

Then in chapter 12, Moses’ bother and sister begin to bad mouth Moses before the people.

Wilderness of Paran

Chapters 13-14, they arrive in the wilderness of Paran, and God instructs Moses to send twelve spies, one for each tribe, to scout out the P.L. When they return, ten said, “NO! We won’t go!” fearing the Canaanites would destroy Israel. However, Caleb and Joshua came back and said, “No! God will save us!”

The ten spies whip the crowd into a frenzy and they start planning a mutiny to appoint a new leader so that they can go back to Egypt.

Understandably, the anger of God is roused.

Moses pleads with God and asks Him to remember His promises to Abraham.

God listens to Moses’ petition, but does not relax His justice, giving the Israelites exactly what they wanted: to not enter the land. The current generation will wander in the wilderness until they die, and only their CHILDREN will enter the Land.

What would your response be if such judgment was passed? Would it be a wake-up call?

In chapters 16-17, we see the rebellion of Korah. These are Levites, and they are challenging Moses/Aaron’s leadership, saying they’ve gone too far. In a crazy scene, the earth opens up and swallows them as God renews His commitment to Moses and Aaron.

Traveling

Once again, things head south. In chapter 20, the people are complaining again about their thirst, wondering why Moses brought them out of Egypt in the first place. God tells Moses to speak to a rock so that it can bring forth water for the people. But, Moses oversteps his bounds by striking the rock twice. He calls the people rebels before placing himself on God’s level when asks (Num.20:10 “Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?””)

With this action, Moses brings the fate of the wandering generation upon himself. He will die in the desert, never entering the P.L.

Then, guess what happens — yet more rebellion!

God’s judgment is venomous snakes among the people.

Moses again pleads for the people.

God’s answer: the bronze serpent. This is the background of John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,”

The symbolism is strange, but speaks to God’s “challenge” of being faithful to His covenant.

He’s right to bring judgment on Israel’s rebellion, but God’s justice (the snake) is transformed into a source of life for those who will look to God for healing.

Plains of Moab

Chapters 22-25 focus on the mysterious and strange character Balaam.

The king of Moab is frightened by this massive group of people moving through his land, and so he hires this pagan sorcerer Balaam to pronounce curses on Israel. But, every time he tries, on three occasions, Balaam can only utter blessings on Israel (See Genesis 12).

God then gives Balaam a vision of a future king from Israel that will one day bring God’s justice to all of the nations, recalling Jacob’s promise to Judah (see Genesis 49).

Let’s pause…consider the story so far. Israel finds itself rebelling time and again, and each one seems to get a little worse. God brings judgment on Israel, yes, but He also keeps showing mercy and kindness through His constant provision. Balaam’s story shows God’s grace vividly.

Israel is down in the camp grumbling against God.

Yet, up in the hills, unbeknownst to Israel, God is protecting and blessing them.

This contrast between Israel’s rebellion and God’s faithfulness serves as a lynch pen that the prophets, poets, and apostles will return to time and again, retelling the story.

Prophets (Isa.63; Ezk.20; Jer.7)

Poets (Ps.78; 95; 106)

Apostles (1 Cor.10; Heb.4-5)

These are retold in order to remind that God is faithful to His promises, but He will let His people walk away in rebellion and face the consequences.

Unpause.

The rest of the book focuses on the next generation (chps.26-36).

A new census is taken (Nu.26)

There are many battles won over enemies (Nu.32)

Some tribes even begin to settle (Nu.34-36)

The book ends with the new generation ready to enter the P.L. while Moses is about to deliver his final words of wisdom and warning.