Numbers - In the Wilderness

Preparing for a big journey

In the summer of 2018, I had an opportunity to take a big road trip as a part of a one month sabbatical. The road trip itself covered a little over 2 weeks. It spanned over 7000 miles, 17 states and one Canadian province. During the course of the sabbatical, I got to interview pastors from six different churches of various denomination. We got to visit old friends, participated in my brother’s running of an Ironman, jump off a bridge, camp near mount hood and in the rockies, zip through Yellowstone and see Old Faithful, and visit the Ark Museum. Now, preparation for that trip started over a year earlier and I tried to pull together the concept, requested funds in the budget, contacted the pastors, established the objectives, and more.

As the time of the trip drew near, we began to encounter some challenges causing us to depend on friends for a different vehicle. There was planning, prepping, adjusting, more prepping, packing, more adjusting - and then we finally got to go. And then there were more adjustments along the way. While the trip was a big trip, the preparation was even bigger - and even at that - it was far from perfect.

Nearly every encounter that we have requires some preparation - whether that’s

preparing a meal-which seems to take hours to prepare and minutes to eat),

preparing for a wedding -months of preparation for a 30-60 minute ceremony and 2-4 hour party - it is funny how we often spend more time preparing for the wedding than we do for the marriage - but that’s another sermon

preparing for a worship service - from the work that Rick and Bryan do in planning the service, to the rehearsals, the time Reneta and Steve pour into the power point slides, the bulletin preparation, coordinating people to play so many different roles each week (inside and outside the sanctuary). There are probably over 50 person-hours spent simply preparing for one service.

Even with all of this preparation, there are adjustments that take place along the way - even at the last moment.

I tell you that because in many ways, as we are walking through the Bible in these sermons, much of what we’ve seen in Exodus and Leviticus is preparing the people of Israel to enter into the promised land. The book of Numbers was supposed to be the continuation and fulfillment of that preparation - only to result in a big adjustment.

For modern readers, the book of Numbers is a bit of an odd or difficult book for us to read. It gets its name from the censuses at the beginning and near the end. For us, these lists seem like they are random and meaningless - though I believe there is some great value in know a bit more about who made up the people of Israel at that time. In the Jewish Bible, the book is called “In the Wilderness” - which seems like an appropriate and accurate title since it took place in the wilderness. Beyond the lists of tribes and numbering of people, this book contains some some narrative features - chronicling some of the events in the lives of the Israelites while in the wilderness. It also contains a couple of songs and some prophecy and some instruction in the law. There are some stories that are quite familiar to us from Numbers - such as Balaam and his talking donkey, the budding of Aaron’s staff, the bronze serpent on the rod - which Jesus mentioned in John 3 and has become the symbol of the medical field, and the family that got swallowed up by the ground. It is in the book of Numbers that we get the stories about the conquests of Og - King of Bashan and Sihon - King of the Amorites which comes up frequently in the Psalms. It is also in the book of Numbers that we get the Aaronic Blessing - in Numbers 6:24-26.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

This varied book is both challenging to read because of its attention to details that seem irrelevant to us, and yet it’s also full of action as God works to bring the people of Israel into the promised land.

The book generally takes place in three locations as it covers three broad categories. Mark Dever has summarized the message and the story of Numbers in this way:

“God prepares the people (at Sinai), but the people do not trust God (at Kadesh), yet God perseveres with the People (at Moab).” (Dever, 130).

That statement will guide our discussion as we look at the preparation for entry into the promised land and the big, 40 year adjustment that prompts the delay in this journey to the promised land.

God prepares the people (at Sinai) (ch. 1-10)

In some ways, we could say that God is continuing to prepare them, here at Sinai. Remember, the people of Israel arrived at Sinai in Exodus 19, and remained there through the book of Leviticus. The book of Numbers overlaps a bit of Leviticus by way of timeline as both Leviticus and Numbers refer to the observance of the Passover, one year after the first Passover in Egypt.

In these first chapters of the book, God in continuing to prepare the people of Israel to be his people - distinct from the world around them. He seems to prepare the people in three ways.

Firstly, He prepared them by...

Giving them Priests (1-4; 7-8)

In the first four chapters of the book, we read about the census that Moses took of the people and found that the males aged 20 and older of 11 of the tribes numbered 603,550. The males of the tribe of Levi were not numbered, because they were supposed to be set apart for service in the Tabernacle. As the tribes travelled about - the Levites where given the charge of carrying the elements of the tabernacle and taking care of them. When they camped, the tribes were arrayed in a specific order - with the tabernacle in the middle and the Levites immediately around them. This priestly tribe was set aside to facilitate worship and to instruct the other tribes in religious and moral matters.

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Regarding the census here at the beginning, I think this census gives Moses a feel for who can go into battle, but there is another interesting reason for the census. If you remember, back in Egypt, God referred to the people of Israel as his “firstborn” and then threatened Pharoah by telling him he would take his firstborn if he did not let the people go. Pharoah of course ignored what God said and so at the Passover, the angel of the Lord passed over the people of Israel, but punished the Egyptians by killing the first born sons. Later, in Exodus 13:2 - God expected that the first borns of all humans and animals be dedicated to the Lord. The animals would be sacrificed and the humans would be redeemed.

Exodus 13:2 ESV

“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Here in Numbers, God has Moses count all of the males in the tribe of Levi - the priestly tribe, and finds that there are 22,000 Levite men (one month old and older). He then counts all of the first born men from the other tribes and finds that there are 22,273. Even though Levi was the third born son of Jacob, his descendents are set apart as priests and so they are dedicated like the firstborn. The difference between the number of Levite men and the number of firstborns among the other tribes (273) is then redeemed with a sort of payment.

I realize this all sounds a bit like bean counting, but I think there is a great deal of beauty and logic in it. Because the whole tribe is set aside for priestly service, but the number of males does not equate to the number of firstborns among the other tribes, there is a redemption accounting that is made - a sort of 1 for 1 correlation.

This is not unlike the redemption that we receive through Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten son of God and is able to redeem us all because He is the one true perfect sacrifice. We saw this briefly last week...

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

In addition to preparing the Israelites by giving them priests, God prepared them at Sinai by...

Teaching them about purity (ch. 4-5; 6:1-21)

While He has already dealt with some of this in Leviticus, God instructs them through Moses about keeping the encampment free from people who are unclean because of disease or death. He also teaches them about marital purity and about the importance of fulfilling vows.

The final way that God prepares them for this journey into the promised land is by...

Giving them His Presence (ch.6:22-27; 9-10)

I believe this is one of the most significant ways that God prepares them. His abiding presence as they journeyed through the wilderness was a daily reminder that they were not wandering aimlessly. His presence became a reminder of His great plan for them - leading them to the promised land.

We get a glimpse of the way that the priests were to pronounce a blessing on the Israelites -

Numbers 6:22–27 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

The Passover feast also became a reminder of God’s presence with them by causing them to re-tell the story each year of how God miraculously brought them out of Egypt.

More than that, God’s presence appeared like a cloud above the tabernacle by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the cloud would raise up, that (along with the sounding of the trumpets), would be the signal that the Israelites would begin moving.

As I think through the things that God did for the people of Israel, in order to prepare them for life the promised land, it seems like there are several parallels between them and us as God is in the process of sanctifying us fully and ushering us into His holy presence.

Just as God gave the Israelites priests, He has made us a "royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). - Since God has provided redemption for us through Jesus Christ - we no longer need a group of people to mediate between us and God - we have direct access.

Secondly,

Just a God prepared the Israelites by teaching them about purity, God has giving us His Word, His Spirit, and His body - the church - to teach us how to live.

2 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

One of the reasons I think it’s important for us to do these overview sermons of the Bible and to study the Bible each week is because I think the Bible is telling one grand story of what God has done, is doing now, and will do in the future. I think the Bible is also authoritative - teaching us truth about God and His Kingdom and about how we should live as Kingdom people.

Thirdly - and we already alluded to this...

God prepared the Israelites by giving presence, He has given us His Spirit to dwell within us, convicting us of sin, righteousness and the coming judgment (John 14:7; 16:8-9)

So in these opening 10 chapters, we see that God prepared the people to enter the promised land while they were encamped at Sinai...

But the people do not trust God (at Kadesh) (ch. 11-16)

In these next couple of chapters, God’s presence lifts from above the tabernacle and the people of God begin to move, and yet it’s not long into the journey and the people of Israel begin to complain about their difficulties and the food that they are eating. Even Moses’ own siblings begin to complain and speak against Moses. So God responds to each of these complaints with discipline - some of it seems to be a bit harsh.

In one case, the wrath of God was displayed in a fire that consumed several on the outer edges of the camp.

When they complained about the food - the manna - that God had been providing - he responded by giving them quail in a HUGE quantity. This quail began to rot even as they ate it.

When Moses’ sister Miriam and her brother Aaron began to complain against Moses - God struck Miriam with Leprosy - forcing her to be outside the camp for a time (I’m not exactly sure why Aaron didn’t get punished).

All of this complaining weighed on Moses - so 70 elders were appointed to help.

But, for these people, the greatest demonstration of their lack of trust came in chapter 13. In this chapter, the people of Israel are encamped just on the edge of the promised land. They appoint 12 men, one from each tribe, to go into the land to check it out. After forty days of spying, the men return. Two of the (Joshua - Moses’ assistant, and Caleb) return telling the people how good the land is - that it is just as God had promised. The other 10 affirm the goodness of the land but then speak fearfully about the inhabitants - stating that their cities are fortified and there are giants in the land.

In response, the people rebel and refuse to trust God, refusing to enter into the promised land (ch. 14:1-10). This results in a sort of rapid turn of events:

God threatens destroy all of the Israelites and start over with Moses

Moses intercedes on behalf of the people - reiterating what God has spoken about himself - quoting the “riddle of the Old Testament” (cf. Ex. 34:6-7)

Numbers 14:17–19 ESV

And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘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.’ 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.”

God pardons their sin, but still disciplines them by promising 40 years of wandering so that a generation can die off.

God strikes down the 10 spies who gave a bad report.

Some of the people realize what they have done and then try to go into the promised land on their own (without God) - and they lost their very first battle (14:39-45)

There is an interesting thing that happens even as the people rebel and God begins to punish them - in chapter 15, God seems to affirm the fact that He will bring them into the promised land).

Numbers 15:2 ESV

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you,

Numbers 15:18 ESV

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you

I hope that this brings us hope and confidence that even in the midst of our own rebellion and sinfulness - God’s promises are true. Beloved, if you are a follower of Christ, God’s word affirms that you are sealed, permanently as His child.

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sure - God will allow challenges to come our way, but He is faithful to fulfill His promises - to the people of Israel, and to you and me through Jesus Christ.

Will we trust God through the difficulties he allows us to encounter?

Will we wait until his perfect timing and his leading?

This brings us to the final section of the book. For the remainder of the book the people wander in the wilderness. Even as he is disciplining them...

Yet God perseveres with the people (at Moab) (Ch. 17-36)

He remains with them and even protects them. During these 39 years, we get to see God continuing to instruct them in how the priests should act and in matters of purity. We also get to see how God continues to protect them, in spite of the fact that they are continuing to sin and rebel. We learn of Miriam’s death (Moses’ sister).

We also get this tragic instance when the people complain again - God tells Moses to speak to a rock. Moses, in a fit of rage, says:

Numbers 20:10–11 ESV

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?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

This act of distrust on Moses’ part cost him the promised land. God allowed him to see it but He did not allow him to enter.

We may think this is harsh, but I think it’s helpful for us ti remember two things:

God’s holiness - I think that while Moses generally understood God’s holiness, he took credit for something that only God should receive credit for. Moses’ words and his actions tarnished the holiness of God in the eyes of the Israelites.

Leaders should be held to a higher standard. This was not only true for Moses and the people of Israel, but it’s also true for the church. I should be held to a higher standard. I need to remember that, daily.

One of the most beautiful examples of this is in the encounter with Balak and Balaam. As the people are encamped in the plains of Moab - Balak - one of the local kings can see the Israelites as this massive horde of people. Threatened by their size, he sends emissaries to go to this pagan seer named Balaam. They pay him a price for divination in order that he might curse the people of Israel. God refuses to let him go the first couple of times. Finally, God allows him to go, but then threatens to kill him, but his donkey intervenes. When he finally does go to see Balak, he is prevented by God from cursing the Israelites - and ends up blessing them - three times. All of this seems to happen without the people of Israel even knowing!

There is another census and some more instructions. We even get to see the initial stages of the conquest as some of the tribes get to settle in lands on the East side of the Jordan.

Through all of their rebellion and distrust - God prepares them and fulfills His promises.

Conclusion

When we began discussing the book of Numbers, we referred to it as a journey. The trip that should have taken a couple of weeks ended up taking forty years as God had to discipline the people because of their rebellion and lack of trust. Just as every activity has margin for adjustments, this path to the promised land had some big detours.

Beloved, as you and I walk with Christ, we know that He is preparing us for the promise of eternal life that He has made. We also need to recognize that we are rebellious and sinful which will result in challenges and even suffering. I wonder, will we remain faithful? Will we trust Him even in the midst of those challenges, even in the midst of suffering that he may allow us to encounter? God is faithful. 2 Peter 3:9 says -

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

If you are not yet a follower of Christ, if you’ve not been redeemed by God’s only begotten Son, turn from your sin, repent and believe on Him. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).