In the Wilderness: An Introduction to the Book of Numbers

Text: Numbers 1:1

Theme: In introduction to the Book of Numbers and the reasons we need to study it.

Date: 01/19/2020 Title: InTheWilderness-01.wpd No:

Numbers! We’re going to spend some time in the Book of Numbers. Aren’t you excited! I announced last Sunday that we’re going to be spending some time in this Old Testament book, and I know that some of you have been waiting all week with baited-breath for this morning to roll around! (OK ... maybe not). If someone asks you “What’s your favorite book of the Bible?” my guess is that it’s not the Book of Numbers. It’s probably not one of your ‘go-to’ bible books for devotional reading. You may be wondering how a study of Numbers could possibly be helpful or relevant to those of us living in the 21st century. Let me give you some reasons:

It’s a book of history. Now I know that some of you thoroughly agree with Henry Ford when asked his opinion of history replied “History is bunk!” Well ... no, it’s not. The Book of Numbers is a book of history of God’s Elect People, and thus their lives and experiences serve as examples for us. Paul the Apostle says so. “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 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.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 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. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:1–12, ESV). George Santayana was correct in saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” That’s true spiritually as well.

It’s a book of people behaving badly. Yes. Exactly! That’s the whole point. They’re just like us, and if you are going to learn how to live life in the wilderness, if you’re going to learn how to deal with temptation and sin, it might be helpeful to read about people that lived life in the wilderness and struggled with temptation and sin. And so a book like this is exactly what the Church today needs to hear from. See 1 Corinthians 10:1-12!

It’s a book filled with long sections of laws and bizarre procedures and regulations. But it’s also full of riveting stories that teach us important lessons about faith and obedience. See 1 Corinthians 10:1-12!

God had Moses write the Book of Numbers for you and me! See 1 Corinthians 10:1-12!

This morning’s message will introduce you to the book and it’s basic story. We will look at: 1) the Background of the Book, 2) the Backsliding of the People, 3) the Blessings of God, and some application.

I. THE BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK

1. the English title of the book is taken from the title of the Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint

a. in the Septuagint the given title is Arithmoi—do you hear the word arithmetic in there?

b. the title Numbers is an appropriate title and reflects the census of the tribes of Israel take at the beginning and end of the book

2. the original Hebrew name of the book is In the Wilderness and is taken from the opening line of the text

“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,” (Numbers 1:1, ESV)

a. “In the Wilderness” is a more appropriate way of describing the contents of the book both literally and spiritually

1) literally “in the wilderness” describes where the Hebrews are and where they will find themselves for the next 40 years

a) the book opens with them at the foot of Mt. Sinai, and follows them through their desert wanderings over the next four decades

b) some have referred to the Book of Numbers as a travelogue tracing Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the Plains of Moab

2) spiritually “in the wilderness” describes where the Hebrews are in their relationship with God

a) their desert wandering is a commentary on their spiritual condition as we see example after example of a vacillating faith

ILLUS. Just consider Exodus, chapter 19 ... The people have arrived at Mount Sinai to worship the God of their fathers; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God tells Moses, “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” When Moses delivers the message, the people’s response is, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And yet, four months later we find them dancing idolatrously dancing around the figure of a Golden Calf.

3. the Hebrews turn out to be a cantankerous people, quick to complain, quick to rebel, and quick to give up on God

A. AUTHOR AND DATE

1. the Book of Numbers is, as many of you know, part of a group of books referred to in Judaism as Torah—or The Book of The Law

a. these are the first five books of our Old Testament ... Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

b. they are regarded as Judaism’s central document of faith

c. they contain 613 Commandments—the backbone of all later Jewish law and faith

2. Jewish tradition ascribes authorship of the Torah to the Prophet Moses, and there are no good reasons for us to doubt his authorship

a. it was a tradition never doubted until the period in Western Culture called The Enlightenment

1) one of the primary arguments against Mosaic authorship is the liberal contention that Moses lived too early in human history to have written it, and that the Torah was written 1,000 years after he live

2) this theory that Moses lived before the age of writing was debunked almost as soon as it was theorized, and yet liberal scholars still trot it out as if it were true

ILLUS. “Fake News” is alive an well even in the field of biblical studies. The truth is, numerous archaeological discoveries of the past 125 years have proven once and for all that the art of writing was known not only during Moses’ day, but also long before Moses came on the scene. Unfortunately, skeptics, liberal theologians, and college professors continue to perpetuate the falsehood that it wasn’t.

b. as an adopted son of Pharaoh, Moses would have been one of the most highly educated men of his day, trained in all the arts and sciences of Egyptian society

3. the era that all of this takes place in is 1,400 years before the life of Jesus

a. the events of the Book of Numbers bring us to last third of Moses’ life

1) when the Israelites arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai in chapter one he is 80 years old, when we arrive at the Plains of Moab at the end of the book he is pushing 120 years old

b. everything in the Torah, including the Book of Numbers, rings with the authenticity of someone who was there, and witnessed it all

4. historians look at Moses’ era of history and call it The Age of God-kings and yet Israel is going to discover that their King is the God of Creation who introduces Himself as I Am who I Am

II. THE BACKSLIDING OF THE PEOPLE

1. one of the major themes of the Book of Numbers is the disobedience and faithlessness of God’s elect people

a. nine times we read that Israel disobeyed, or rebelled

b. eleven times in Numbers we read that the Israelites either grumbled or complained

A. COMPLAINT #1: Where’s the Beef?

“And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, ... 4 And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”” (Numbers 11:4–6, ESV)

1. God has miraculously provided for the Israelites during the first year after their Exodus

a. His presence has been continuous, the Manna has miraculously appeared each morning, that water has always flowed, but their attitude is “God; What have you done for us lately?”

2. in response God gives them quail to eat, but along with the quail comes a very great plague (Num. 11:33)

a. we are not told how many people died, but it’s a significant number

b. they call the place Kibroth-hattaavah which means graves of craving

3. we also see Moses indulging himself in a self-pity party, complaining before God that he cannot endure the incessant complaints of so large a throng of people

a. he essentially seeks to excuse himself from caring for these people because, they’re really not his problem!

b. God uses the moment to teach Moses about shared leadership

B. COMPLAINT #2: We Have a Beef!

1. this had to be an especially difficult moment for Moses because now his two older siblings get in on the complaint train

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.” (Numbers 12:1–9, ESV)

2. Miriam and Aaron challenge Mose’s fitness to lead when he marries a Cushite woman—a native of what is today Ethiopia

a. Zipporah, his first wife, has in all likelihood, died because nowhere is she here mentioned

b. but Miriam and Aaron, both older than Moses seem incensed at Moses’ choice

1) details of who this woman is, and where she and Moses meet, and what’s an old man like Moses with grown kids doing marrying this new chippy are lacking

3. the shoe drops in Number 12:2 ... “ ... And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?”

a. translation? “Moses, you’re not the only important person around here. We’ve earned some authority, and if you’re going to make decisions like this without us, you’re not worthy of leadership.”

4. God’s reaction is swift ... I love the line at the end of vs. 2 “And the Lord heard it”

a. God defends his servant Moses. and punishes Miriam with leprosy and banishment from the camp for seven days

b. only through Moses’ intercession is Miriam healed

5. fifteen hundred years later, Jesus would feel a similar sting when his siblings questioned not only his leadership, but his sanity (Mark 8)

C. COMPLAINT #3 We’re like grasshoppers, let’s go home!

1. this event takes place after Moses has sent ten men into the Promised Land to spy it out

a. at the end of forty days the men return with a split report ...

1) two men are absolutely convinced that they can take the land, after all, if God is for us who can be against us?

2) eight men are absolutely convinced it can’t be done, after all, the inhabitants are giants and we’re like grasshoppers compared to them—they’ll squash us like bugs

2. the Israelites despair and conclude that they are better off going back to Egypt to live as slave

“Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 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! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”” (Numbers 14:1–4, ESV)

a. God is so incensed at Israel’s lack of faith, that he floats the idea with Moses of striking down every last man, woman and child and making a nation out of Moses’ descendants that will exceed those of Abraham!

1) Moses intercedes for Israel in one of the great intercessory prayers of the Bible ... it’s found in Numbers 14:13-19 ... here is the last verse

“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 14:19, ESV)

3. God does pardon Israel, but there is a price for their disobedience

a. none from the generation of Israel aged twenty or above who left Egypt with Moses will enter the Promised Land with the exception of Caleb and Joshua—the two spies who brought the minority report

4. Israel will be a nomadic people for the next forty years with no permanent home

D. COMPLAINT #4: Who Do You Think You Are?

““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. 2 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. 3 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?”” (Numbers 16:1–3, ESV)

1. it’s known as Korah’s Rebellion and is the most serious challenge to Moses’ leadership

a. in particular these men are claiming equal authority with Aaron’s priesthood

1) Korah is also of the tribe of Levi, and a near kinsman to Aaron

2) he resented his exclusion from the priestly class, and challenged the claim of Aaron and his sons to hold sole rights as priestly mediators before God

2. when the moment of truth came, the Lord appeared in His glory, threatening to destroy not only Korah and his collaborators but the entire congregation

a. again, only the intercession of Moses and Aaron prevented this (16:20–24)

b. Korah, with his friends and family, was swallowed up in a great crevice in the earth (16:25–35)

3. God affirms Aaron and his descendant’s as Israel’s priestly clan

E. COMPLAINT #5: Yadda, Yadda, Yadda

1. yadda, yadda, yadda, according to the Urban Dictionary, it’s a shorthand way of saying “and just more of the same old, same old”

a. in Numbers 21 we find the Israelites once again grumbling against the Lord

“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:4–6, ESV)

1) it’s the same old complaint ... no water ... not food except for the Manna stuff ... let’s go back to Egypt

2) it’s beginning to sound a little repetitions, isn’t it?

2. this time, however, there’s recognition by the people that they have sinned in speaking against the Lord and against Moses

a. God instructs Moses to create an image of a serpent out of bronze, and mount it on a tall pole, and when anyone is bitten by a venomous snake, they should look at the bronze serpent in faith, and they will live

3. in his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus refers to this very event, saying ...

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,” (John 3:14, ESV)

III. THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

1. the other major theme of the Book of Numbers is God’s faithfulness toward His Elect people in spite of their repeated acts of faithlessness toward Him

2. despite being a cantankerous and stiff-necked people, God blesses His people

“For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.” ’” (Deuteronomy 2:7, ESV)

“I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.” (Deuteronomy 29:5, ESV)

a. in these verses we see the remarkable manner in which God had cared for all the wants of His people during that period

1) they were hungry ... God sent manna

2) they were thirsty ... God sent water gushing from a rock

3) they wanted meat ... God sent them a migration of quail

b. every day a miracle was right before their eyes

1) they just had to pick up the manna, drink the water, and accept the blessing

2) their cloths and their shoes never wore out

“I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 29:5–6, ESV)

c. the children of Israel had to rely on God for everything as they were completely without any measure of support for their survival

1) God met their needs so completely they took Him for granted

d. nobody who reads the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy can ever doubt God’s love and protection of His Elect

2. the blessings of God included the forbearance of God

a. grace, and mercy, forgiveness and healing are seen throughout the book

1) does God judge Israel’s sin?

a) absolutely

b) but he never punishes the nation as their sins deserve

b. God’s forbearance is seen most clearly in Numbers 14:13-20

1) the people of Israel are on the edge of the Promised Land, but due to the majority report of the spies are unwilling to proceed by faith in God’s strength

2) in what I believe is a test of Moses, God declares that He will strike down every last Hebrew except Moses and his family and start over with them

a) the promise is that Moses’ progeny will be greater and mightier than Abraham’s descendants

c. at that moment Moses reminds God of His forbearance

“And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ 19 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 14:17–19, ESV)

3. God responds by telling Moses, “I have pardoned, according to your word ... “

V. APPLICATION

1. let’s go back to what Paul the Apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 10

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 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.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 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. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:6–12, ESV)

2. the Apostle writes that the wilderness wanderings of Israel provide a moral exhortation for New Testament Christians

a. 1st, we are not to be idolaters like Israel was

1) we think idolatry is committed by sub-civilized people in primitive cultures

2) Not so! ... idolatry is alive and well in high-civilized, industrial cultures like ours, and if we are not careful even believers can be lured into trusting something or someone else before God

3) the Apostle John’s final warning to his congregation at Ephesus is “children, keep yourselves from idols”

b. 2nd, we are not to be immoral like Israel was

1) we think immorality is the unregenerate man’s problem alone

2) Not so! look at the Church at Corinth and the immorality that infested the lives of those who professed Christ

ILLUS. We live in a culture where, unfortunately, the sexual morality of many professing Christians differs little from their non-Christian neighbors.

3) God’s people really are to morally outshine the lost

c. 3rd, we are not to presumptuously put God to the test like Israel did

1) we think spiritual presumption is a sin of the scoffer

ILLUS. Robert Ingersoll was a famous 19th-century skeptic, and one of the most popular orators of his day, when oratory was public entertainment. He was an agnostic and campaigned in defense of agnosticism. During his public lectures he would regularly dare God to strike him dead in five minutes. When God didn’t strike him dead he used it as an argument that God didn’t really exist.

2) but how many times do we presumptuously put God to the test? “God, if you just get me out of this jam I’m in, I’ll ... “ ”God, if you just help me pass this test I didn’t study for, I’ll ... “ ”God if you just keep my boss from finding out, I’ll ... “

3) do any of those sound remotely familiar?

d. 4th we are not to grumble like Israel did

1) you think that grumbling against God is a problem only the Israelites had, but we don’t?

2) Not so!

3) how often do you list your misfortunes instead of counting your blessings?

3. all of those are contemporary sins, alive and well in the lives of God’s people right here in Linn

Con.

• The purpose of the Book of Numbers is to show Israel (and us) how He alone can infallibly guide them through dark and unknown terrain where they would encounter many enemies and temptations.

• The purpose of the Book of Numbers shows Israel (and us) the futility of refusing to follow His commands, and that the consequences of disobedience to His commands has serious results.

• The purpose of the Book of Numbers reveals God as a jealous God who want Israel (and us) to worship Him alone, and to stay clear of foreign religious influence.