Survey of Numbers
Notes
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God’s Message: OT Survey (Numbers)
God’s Message: OT Survey (Numbers)
Numbers – 1:1
dābar - “And [Yahweh] Spoke [to Moses]”
Numbers – “In The Wilderness”
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 399 דָּבַר
(midbār) II, wilderness
“In the Wilderness”
benmidbār - “In The Wilderness”
“In The Wilderness”
The English title of Numbers is derived from the censuses taken in the book.
Facts About Numbers
Numbers is able to make one wise unto salvation and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
Numbers covers a 38 year period from the fist day of the month of the second year of the Exodus to the first day of the month of the fortieth year.
Census totals add up to more than 600,000 fighting men each. This meant the population had increased to 2 - 3 million!
The book of Numbers is a powerful narrative of God’s Sovereign care of His chosen people who are constantly complaining, grumbling, and rebelling, in response God graciously provides them atonement, redemption, and forgiveness while at the same time He is pointing His people to a greater Mediator, Priest, and Sacrifice by whom they will enter the true Promise Land.
He goes on to write, the book of Numbers “was a text for worship of God for Moses and those who aligned themselves with him. By God’s grace it may become a book of worship for us as well.”
I. Author and Setting
I. Author and Setting
B. Recipients and Date
The book was written to the people of Israel in the second generation from the Exodus while they were waiting to cross over into Canaan.
C. What Type of Genre? Narrative plus law, administration records, and speeches.
Numbers is an integral part of the Pentateuch. It is united to the other books in two crucial ways. First, there is continuity in the history. Numbers follows Exodus and leads on to Deuteronomy. Exodus moves from Egypt to the first year at Sinai; Numbers covers the next forty years, moving from Sinai to Moab. Secondly, there is unity of theology. The main unifying factor is God’s covenant made with Abraham. (New Bible Commentary; D.A. Carson)
II. Main Themes and Doctrines
II. Main Themes and Doctrines
Main Characters:
God
Moses
Aaron
Miriam
Joshua
Caleb
Phineas
Israel
Korah
Balaam (His donkey)
Zimri
A. God’s Chosen People
A. God’s Chosen People
The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head.
God called for a count of the congregation. God wanted his people counted by clans, name by name, head by head. God wanted His specific people marked out for His glory. God wanted Moses and all of Israel to know the work God had done calling out, choosing, and multiplying His people! A people that was not strong, that was not mighty, that was not wise, but that God chose, made a covenant with, and caused to grow into a great nation.
There was no application process.
No interview process.
No try outs.
No other qualification, other than being born into the family of God
God was identifying and organizing His people in preparation for battle, they were preparing to go to war and overtake the land of promise!
These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.
Numbers 1:
God had from the beginning chosen specific men, a specific clans, and specific tribes to lead His people to battle for the nation of Israel.
So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— all those listed were 603,550.
So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel—
The people who started from an old man and a barren woman. Who became a mighty nation under an evil Egyptian master. Who God miraculously rescued from slavery now had over half a million fighting men! All this because of God’s sovereign selection!
God not only had a chosen people,
In the book of Numbers we see God’s
C. Chosen Priesthood
C. Chosen Priesthood
These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests.
These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
God called out a people, a tribe, a clan to serve Him. To minister to the people.
Aaron and his descendants were of the tribe of Levi:
They had the right to handle sacrificial blood.
They were able to touch the altar.
They were able to enter the tent of o meeting.
They were authoritative teachers of Israel.
They were mediators between God and Israel. (Gordon Wenham)
God has chosen them for this purpose!
Numbers 3
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle.
This chosen priesthood was to keep guard over the congregation before the tent of meeting as they minister at the tabernacle. This service was not for any one. Only for these men chosen by God, anointed and ordained to serve as ministers before the Lord.
Why was this so important? Why could only select men be chosen to serve as priests and ministers in the tabernacle and before the tent of meeting?
Because of the third doctrine we see revealed in the book of Numbers.
D. God’s Holiness
D. God’s Holiness
The tabernacle was the place where God met with His people. The place of His presence among His people. Because of God’s holiness, apartness, otherness, and His transcendent majesty no one could approach Him or the things used in service to Him!
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things.
Numbers 4:
These men were counted, set apart to work in the tent of meeting. They were called to handle the most holy things. The things that were used to serve, minister to, and offer sacrifices to the One True, Holy God!
This was not just a ceremonial choosing of priest, this was a God ordained calling of men for the protection of the congregation of Israel.
Notice,
but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”
Notice how even members of this priesthood could not enter into look on the most holy things for a moment.... They were still kept from the condemnation that would come being in the presence of the holy things of God!
There were also men who sought to be especially set apart, separate and holy unto the Lord.
The Nazarites made special vows to separate themselves as holy to the Lord:
“All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.
Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary iv. The Nazirite (6:1–21)
Israel was called to be ‘a kingdom of priests’ (Exod. 19:6), and the rules voluntarily assumed by the Nazirites resembled those governing the behaviour of priests, while their distinctive hairstyle reminded the laity that even they were called to be kings and priests to God (cf. Rev. 5:10). Thus as marriage symbolized the relationship between God and Israel (Num. 5), so the Nazirites epitomized the holy calling of the nation (Jer. 7:29). If pollution through dead bodies demanded the expulsion of ordinary laymen from the camp (5:2–3), it had an even more drastic effect on the Nazirites, the quintessence of sanctity (6:9–12).
Do you see how the holiness of God permeates the book of Numbers. We have just scratched the surface, but we will see God’s holiness emphasized as we consider some of the other doctrines that are taught in the book of Numbers.
God’s holiness leads us to the next doctrine we see in the book of Numbers.
Man’s
E. Sin/Disobedience
E. Sin/Disobedience
Numbers
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
The LORD command Moses to remind the people of the truth and certainty of their sinfulness. Notice the LORD doesn’t say if they sin, but when a man or a woman commits any of the sins. Just like we can be certain that God is holy, we can be certain that man is sinful. We don’t have time to break down the doctrine of total depravity, but I am confident you are already thinking of verses in the Scriptures that teach mans sinful nature, man’s falleness, and man’s depravity!
Notice how sins are committed, by breaking faith with the LORD. By failing to trust in God’s sovereign care, by failing to believe in the promises of God, by seeking fulfillment outside of the things God has given.
However, I love that the LORD doesn’t leave His people in the dark on what to do when they sin. Man is to, Realize his guilt, and he shall confess his sin that he has committed. REPENT!
Notice next the effect of Sin!
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”
We know from the Scriptures God commands the people of Israel to drive out all of their enemies from the land. He commands at times for Israel to kill everything that bleats or bellows. Here He warns them if you fail to do this your sin and disobedience is going to cause you great pain. Your disobedience will be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
What happens throughout the OT? The people fail to go in multiple times and drive out and put to death the enemies of God and His people. And every time the people are pestered and brought great pain for disobeying this command!
Now we could go on and on about sin here. But, we need to keep moving and don’t worry we will continue to see the sin of God’s people!
In the book of Numbers we see God’s election, God’s Holiness, Man’s Sin, and as a result we see,
F. God’s Wrath
F. God’s Wrath
First we see,
God’s Anger Toward The People’s Complaining:
And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
Listen to what they were complaining about...
This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
Numbers 4:4-
Back when we were farming, my brother said the same thing about Noon every day, “I am getting weak.” His strength was dried up, he was ready to go eat....Israel is saying we are weak, we miss the food we used to eat, never mind we were in cruel bondage, id doesn’t even matter God has fed us by His grace!
They were complaining about the Food God had graciously provided them! What was God’s response?
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
Numbers 4:
You want to know what happens when the anger of the LORD burns hotly? He gives you your hearts desire!
In 11:20 The LORD says, you want meat? You miss Egypt? My food does not satisfy you? I am going to give you meat until it comes out of your nose and you hate it(Buck’s translation).
Oatmeal!!!
You would think this would straighten God’s people out.
God’s Anger Toward THE People’s Continued Grumbling:
Numbers
And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
Do you see what the people of God are grumbling against now? They are grumbling about Following the leaders God had appointed!
God’s response,
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
They don’t want to follow? I will destroy them and make of you another nation!
I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them! God does not like discontentment, God does not like His people fussing about following his appointed leaders and he will pour his wrath out on those who are ungrateful and unruly.
God’s Anger Toward Unregulated Worship:
The LORD takes serious His people’s worship of Him. We already know about Nadab and Abihu and what happened when they presented strange fire, but in Number 16 we are about to see another example of God’s wrath poured out on those who decided they have a better plan for worship!
Numbers 16:1-
Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
Korah and his cohorts decide they all should be leaders and priests. They decide that Moses and Aaron have no right to regulate worship. They are holy enough and they should be exalted and made leaders and worship however they want.
Notice Moses response,
and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”
And God told Moses,
Numbers 16:31
And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
Numbers 16:
God told Moses I have got this one, you better back up from these rebels. I am about to consume them!
And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
Do you think God is serious about right worship? Do you see the danger in denying the rules and regulations God has laid out for His people to worship Him?
It would be a pretty bleak book of this was all the book of numbers taught. If all we learned about God from this book was about His holiness, Man’s Sin, and God’s wrath on man’s sin we would all go home distraught because of the damnation all mankind would be sure to receive!
But the next great doctrine we see in the book of Numbers is,
E. God’s Grace
E. God’s Grace
In the book of Numbers we see,
God’s Grace through atonement:
But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him.
Here in numbers 5 we see God offering way for man to find forgiveness for sin through the ram of atonement.
(kāpar). vb. to atone, make atonement, cover, appease, expiate. The verb primarily describes the action of covering over iniquity.
Used in the sense of to cleanse from sin or the defilement of sin, most often by sacrifice.
Is the language of atonement sounding familiar? Do you hear the ring of a coming Sacrifice for the atonement for God’s new covenant people? Do you see the doctrine of substitutionary death, blood shed for the sins of God’s people out of His lovingkindness, mercy, and Grace!
Maybe you are thinking back to the ram caught in the thicket when Abraham had Isaac strung up on the alter. But by the grace of God he provided another sacrifice.
We not only see God’s grace through atonement, we also see,
Grace through Redemption:
And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs), and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.” So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Numbers 3:46
Ronald B. Allen notes,
“The redemption of the firstborn was a marvelous expression of God’s grace. Never since the story of the binding of Isaac had God demanded the firstborn of any of His people be slain as a sacrifice to His majesty.”
He continues,
“Christians cannot help but turn their thoughts to the NT and the Savior who has redeemed his people—not by the payment of silver or gold but with his own precious blood. And so we have been redeemed.”
Redeemed not with perishable things...
So we see God’s grace through atonement, redemption, and next we see,
God’s Grace Through Mediation/Intercession
Hear this prayer of Moses as he pleads for forgiveness of the people of God.
G. God’s Grace
G. God’s Grace
Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”
Numbers
Over and over in the Pentateuch we see God showing grace to His people as Moses mediates between sinful men and God. Moses over and over falls and His face before the Lord and begs for the pardon of the iniquity of His people. We see in Exodus and now we see it in Numbers. If time permitted we could look at more examples of this in Scriptures. However, I just want us thinking of the favor God showed His people as Moses prayed for them, begged for mercy for them, and even mediated battles for them.
As great a mediator as Moses one we know we need a greater Mediator. We know Moses was imperfect as in intercessor. We know we needed one who was Perfect, one who was obedient unto death and who did not die short of his purpose because of His disobedience as Moses did.
Do you see the grace God has shown his people from the time of the book of Numbers even until now. From the wanderings of the people of God in the wilderness to the modern world we walk in now! God is a God of grace, mercy and steadfast love.
We see that in the way He kept his covenant with His people in the midst of their disobedience, while maintaining His holiness remaining just and providing grace for His people.
This brings us to one more doctrine I want us to see before we get to the main point of Numbers. This final doctrine I want us to see is,
H. God’s Sovereign Care
H. God’s Sovereign Care
First we see,
Care through camping instruction:
The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”
The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard.
God commands Moses to give instructions to the congregation of Israel on how they should camp through the entirety of Chapter 2. Wouldn’t you think they would have sense enough to pitch a tent? They probably would if it wasn’t that the holy presence of God was in their midst in the Tabernacle. Therefore the Levites were to camp around the tabernacle and keep guard over it.
Why was this so important? So that there may be no wrath on the congregation! God cared for His people by ordaining the priests to keep guard to protect the congregation for being condemned for defiling the tabernacle in their sinful state!
Next notice God’s
Care through cleanliness laws:
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead.
Pastor Adam walked us through this last week in his survey of Leviticus, but the theme continues in the book of Numbers. God is holy, pure, and perfectly clean. Therefore, His people are to maintain cleanliness by separating from things that defile the body, that causes us to be unclean.
These laws not only show God’s care and concern for us spiritually but also physically.
God also provided,
Care through the cloud.
On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.
God provided care through his presence in the tabernacle and He also cared for His people by his leading and guiding presence in the glory cloud!
He covered the camp by day with His presence in the cloud.
He provided light in the dark in through an appearance like fire by night.
He provided them guidance through the lifting of the cloud and lead them to their next location.
He provided the spot for them to set up camp as the cloud settled on their next site!
This next is probably one of my favorites.
Care through the communication with a donkey!
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
If you are not familiar with this narrative go back and read Numbers chapter 22-23 it will be well worth your time.
Short story is Balaak a Moabite King was trying to hire Balaam a foreign prophet to pronounce a curse on the people of God.
God used Balaam’s talking donkey to stop, look at, and listen to the angel of the LORD who warns Balaam of his “perverse way.” So the angel of the LORD tells him only to speak what the tells him to. Instead of pronouncing three curses on Israel Balaam pronounces three blessings.
Now do you see the sovereignty of God at work? If he can use a donkey to take care of a dummy like Balaam and provide providential care for his people how much more should we trust Him!
Next Numbers teaches God’s,
Care through the covenants:
Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’ ”
Numbers
If you are familiar with you know what is going on prior to these verses. Sexual sin is taking place among God people in God’s presence. It reaches the tipping point when Phineas sees an Israelite man with a Moabite woman in what must have been an immoral action at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.
Numbers 25:7
Therefore, he turned the anger of the LORD away from the Israelites!
Just to be clear as New Covenant believers we are called to mortify our own sin, not mutilate other sinners!
Once again amidst the faithlessness of God’s people he remains faithful to the Abrahamic covenant, through a covenant of peace, by providing a covenant of perpetual priesthood!
I have one more example of God’s Sovereign care.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,
Care through the commissioning of Joshua
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.
We know Moses will not make it to the promised land. We know he will sin in the sight of God and will be disciplined by death before they enter into Canaan! But God cared for His people by commissioning a faithful man who would lead His people from the land of wilderness to the land flowing with milk and honey. From the desert to the divinely promised land where God’s people would find temporal rest.
God commissioned Joshua so that His covenant people would be cared for!
Now that we have considered the Main Themes and Doctrines of the book of want us to look at the Christ-centered
Heber
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
III. Message of numbers.
III. Message of numbers.
For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
A. Main Point
The book of Numbers is a powerful narrative of God’s Sovereign care of His chosen people. Despite their constant complaining, grumbling, and rebelling, God is faithful to keep His covenant. God graciously provides them atonement, redemption, and forgiveness while at the same time He is pointing His people to a greater Mediator, Priest, and Sacrifice by whom they will enter the true Promised Land.
The book of Numbers is a powerful narrative of God’s Sovereign care of His chosen people. Despite their constant complaining, grumbling, and rebelling, God is faithful to keep His covenant. God graciously provides them atonement, redemption, and forgiveness while at the same time He is pointing His people to a greater Mediator, Priest, and Sacrifice by whom they will enter the true Promised Land.
The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Characteristics and Primary Themes
The events of Numbers vividly portray the faithfulness of the covenant God despite the failures of an erring humanity. God directs His people as they prepare for their journey through the wilderness, comforts them in difficulties, deals with their fears and failures, and rebukes or punishes them when necessary. This portrayal of God’s faithfulness stands in sharp contrast to the book’s repeated depiction of human faithlessness, the utter failure of humanity to meet God’s standards by its own strength.
The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Characteristics and Primary Themes
Human failures are clearly portrayed and contrasted with the wise measures of the ever-faithful God. Even Moses, their great leader, sinned and was not permitted to enter the Promised Land, although he saw it from a distance (20:6–13 and notes; 27:12–14). This shows that even the best of persons are still sinners and are saved only through the merits of Christ—salvation comes only by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
This brings us to where we want to land the plane tonight.
B. The Message of Jesus
B. The Message of Jesus
First of all we must understand,
Jesus is the greater Moses.
who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
Moses was a great servant of God, a great mediator and a great leader of God’s people. But we all know that Moses was just a man and like all men Moses needed a Savior! Christ is that Savior! He is the greater Moses, worthy of more glory than Moses because Jesus is more than a man, He is the God-Man he in the one perfect mediator between God and Man.
Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the perpetual priesthood:
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:9
Hebrews 9:11
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is the greater tent, sacrifice, and redemption.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Jesus was the greater Rock!
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:
1 Corinthians 10
Paul goes on to write,
I corinthians 10:7-
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
Here is where I want to hit some points of application. If these things were written for our instruction what are we to learn? How do we apply the book of numbers.
Do not be idolaters — as some of them were.
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did.
We must no put Christ to the test as some of them did and were destroyed.
We must no grumble....Remember what they grumbled about?
Food---oh that we had meat. Have you ever grumbled about God’s provisions?
Following God ordained leaders…I know none of us have ever fussed about the men of God that he has gifted us. We have never complained about the direction they are trying to lead, the counsel they offer, the care they provide for our soul? We must remember God ordained, church affirmed Pastor/Elders are a gift from God and we must no grumble against them.
Let me give you one more we didn’t get to cover, the Foes we must fight. Remember the spies, “we can’t conquer the land” the “land is overrun with giants!” We might say it this way, we can’t mortify that sin, I am to weak…You and I must realize God doesn’t dwell with us in a tent and a cloud anymore but his presence is within us by the indwelling of His Spirit!
Well let’s be honest, we are all grumbling, sexual immoral idolaters in need of a Savior! There is good news!
Jesus was lifted up that all who believe may have eternal life!
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Have you looked on Him? Have you recognized you are a rebel, an enemy of God?
I plead with you tonight, look at Him! Gaze at the Son of God, Submit to the Son of Man as your Master. He will free you from your bondage to sin and death! Look to Him!
•Have you recognized your discontentment with God?
•Have you complained and grumbled against the God who is gracious, merciful, abounding in steadfast love and slow to anger?
Confess your sin that he may provide redemption for you.
•Have you looked up at and believed in the Son of Man that you might live?
Call out to Him that He may reconcile you to God!
That He may satisfy God’s wrath for you!
That He may provide atonement for you!
That He may make you a member of the chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s on possession!
If you have already been redeemed, Repent, Believe and Rejoice that you have been born again by the mercy of God.
Then proclaim the excellencies of Him!