20.5.31a - Numbers - Failing to Enter

If you have kids or have been around kids for any length of time, you will probably be aware of the whiney tone. This is the tone they get when they don't receive what they want. It is a manipulation tool and a sign that they are struggling to be content with what they have. They also cry and whine when they are scared of irrational things. I remember dropping Jenna off at a store one time and hearing one of my children whine and cry because we left mommy. My child was inconsolable at two years old because they didn't understand, and they were terrified that I would abandon their mother. There is nothing rational about these thoughts. But where do our children get this whiny tone and this irrational fear? The book of Numbers reveals that these selfish, disrespectful, and untrusting ways are prevalent in full-grown adults.

The Book of Numbers

The people of Israel have been called out of Egypt to Mount Sinai. They have been there for two years, setting up the Tabernacle and learning how to worship God according to Exodus and Leviticus. Numbers is a continuation of that story. The first ten chapters prepare Israel to leave Mount Sinai.

The Good Part (1-10)

The book is called Numbers because there are multiple censuses taken. In Chapter 1, God has his people take a census of the men above 20 years of age, except the Levites. In Chapters 3-4, he also takes two censuses of the Levites. One was for all the men, and the other for the men between age 30-50. He gives these men the work of carrying all the Tabernacle items and serving Aaron and his sons, the priests.

In Chapter 2, we get a picture of the camp of Israel with all twelve tribes stationed around the tabernacle. Do you see the beauty of that picture? God is at the center of the nation. He is what their existence is all about.

Chapters 5-6 reiterate the primary message of Leviticus, God's desire for Israel to be holy. He discusses the need to remain clean, to make restitution for sins, a test for a woman who is suspected of committing adultery, and a Nazirite vow that a man can take to show his devotion to the Lord.

In Chapter 7, there are 12 days of sacrifices to the Lord to dedicate the altar of God. The people of each tribe offer a grain offering, a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a peace offering to the Lord. In Chapter 8, Aaron sets up seven lamps in the Tabernacle. Then, the priests are instructed to cleanse the Levites for their work. In Chapter 9, the people were once again commanded to keep the Passover, and provisions were made for those who are unclean to eat the Passover at another time. Then, at the end of Chapter 9, God makes a statement about people's faithfulness.

Numbers 9:18--23 (ESV) --- 18 At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

In Chapter 10, we see that Israel sets out from Sinai following the pillar, and Moses would say this.

Numbers 10:35--36 (ESV) --- 35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

The Ten Rebellions

1. No Meat (11)

The next section of the book is full of events that show how evil and rebellious the people still were. In Chapter 11, people complain about not having meat, so God sends them more quail than they could ever eat. Quail were everywhere.

Numbers 11:19--20 (ESV) --- 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?” ’ ”

As a result, we start to see Moses cracking as he deals with the discouragement of leading a faithless people.

2. Opposing Moses’ Marriage (12)

In Chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron, Moses' own brother and sister speak out against Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. God speaks on Moses’ behalf and makes it clear that Moses knows God and God knows him. In the end, Moses has to intercede to keep Miriam from dying of leprosy.

3. Refusing To Enter (13-14:38)

Chapters 13-14 are a tremendous letdown. Israel has come so far and seen so much. God has been so patient and faithfully provided them with all that they need. In Chapter 13, they reach the southern border of the promised land and decide to send twelve spies into the land to prepare them for what was ahead. When they go in, they see how the land is everything God promised them it would be. But they also see giants and fortified cities. Ten of the twelve spies returned with a terrible report and frightened the people from entering the land. But Caleb and Joshua are encouraged Israel to put their trust in God. The response of Israel is sad.

Numbers 14:1--4 (ESV) --- 1 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.”

Caleb and Joshua continued to encourage the people, but they would not listen and decided to stone all of the leaders. Interestingly, fear has led the people to murder those who are trying to help them. Before they could stone anyone, the glory of the Lord appeared, and he tells Moses that he will strike them down and make a new nation out of Moses' line. But Moses again appeals to the Lord and makes intercession for the people. Just like the golden calf incident, Moses points to God's glory and God's character in his request for forgiveness. God again pardons, but he also brings about consequences for their sins. No one over the age of twenty will enter the promised land, except Caleb and Joshua. All of the people will be forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years until the older generation dies off.

4. Going In Anyways (14:39-45)

In response to this, some Israelites changed their minds and tried to go out and fight the Canaanites. God was not with them. They didn't have faith in God's word. They presumed that God would fight for them because of their great faith, but that only made matters worse!

5. Sabbath Rebellion (15)

Chapter 15 returns to a discussion of laws about sacrifices and explains the difference between unintentional sins and sins of rebellion. In verses 32-36, we have an example of rebellion as a man decided to pick up sticks on the Sabbath day.

6. Korah’s Rebellion (16:1-40)

In Chapter 16, we have another story of rebellion, but this is a much bigger story than a man picking up sticks. Under the leadership of a man named Korah, a group of Levites wanted to be priests. They joined with a group of Reubenites to take over the priesthood. They did not like the way God set things up. They didn't understand why God gave them a different role than all the rest of Israel. Nor did they understand why Moses and Aaron were so special. They even persuaded many of the leading officials to join them. But, at Moses' command, the earth opened up, and fire came out to consume 250 of them.

7. You Killed Them! (16:41-49)

The next day, all the congregation of Israel was upset and grumbled against Moses and Aaron. God wanted to destroy them, but Moses told Aaron to take a censer and stop the plague from killing everyone who rose up. In Chapter 17, God makes Aaron's staff bud with flowers so that everyone knows he is the one God has chosen. Then, he gives laws to priests and Levites in 18-19.

8. Rebellion Brings Down Moses (20)

In Chapter 20, we have another story of rebellion. This time they have finally gotten under the skin of Moses. He is told by the Lord to speak to the rock, but he does not talk to it.

Numbers 20:10--12 (ESV) --- 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?” 11 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. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

This is a significant blow. Moses is the most righteous man in Israel, but he will not go into the promised land with them because he failed to honor God as holy. Also, in this chapter, Miriam and Aaron die. The sin of the people has taken its toll. They were all supposed to be enjoying the promised land, but their sin would not allow that to happen.

9. The Serpent Is Lifted Up (21)

In Chapter 21, the people show signs of hope by defeating Canaanites and relying on the Lord. But they soon return to complaining and speaking against God. So God sends serpents to bite them. But something interesting happens when they are bitten. They confess their sins, turn to Moses, and ask him to pray to God on their behalf. In response to this, God has Moses lift up a bronze serpent to give life to those who were about to die. If they refused to look at the bronze snake, they would die.

The rest of this chapter finds Israel defeating two great kings and taking over their land, east of the promised land.

10. Balaam Blesses Israel, Then Causes Stumbling (22-25)

Chapters 22-24 give us a side story about a prophet named Balaam. The king of Moab, Balak, tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel, but he ends up blessing Israel instead. However, we find out later that Balaam does harm Israel. He tells the king of Moab to send their daughters to marry Israelites. Then, they can make Israel abandon their God, and their own God will defeat them. That is precisely what Balak does, and Israel falls for it! One Israelite walks his Moabite wife right in front of the congregation to show her off, and Phinehas drives a spear through both of them.

A New Generation (26-36)

The final section of the book has much less rebellion in it. It seems like the older generation has taught the younger generation what not to do. This section begins with another census, and this section is full of instructions about offerings and directions about women.

This section also shows us that Joshua will be replacing Moses after he dies. Israel will take vengeance on the Moabites through God's help, and two and a half clans decide to settle east of the promised land after defeating the Canaanites and Amorites. One statement in this section stands out to me. As Moses is telling Israel about God's laws for murder or manslaughter in the land, this is what he says.

Numbers 35:34 (ESV) --- 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”

Time and time again, God points to the fact that he is dwelling with Israel and must remain holy. They have to deal justly with those who are evil so that God's people and God's land is holy. God cannot dwell among people and in a land that is full of murder.

Why Is This Important?

Numbers is a book full of twists and turns that we don't see coming. I wonder how many of us have felt aggravated when we read this book. The people start out great, but then they make so many mistakes. They can't wrap their mind around trusting in God when times get tough. It alternates between stories of rebellion and God giving them more laws. These rebellious acts start out bad, but they seem to somehow get worse over time. At the end God has them lift up a serpent and stare at it to find healing, but they still don’t get it. They can look right at the root of their problem and still completely miss the point. But God is patient and willing to bless sinful people if they would only turn and trust him. He purges all of the evil from them and raises up a generation that ought to know better. The book ends with a new generation poised to go into the promised land. It ends with us hoping in God's patience and faithfulness, not in Israel's ability to get it right. They have shown that they are hopelessly sinful. Before we go into the promised land (with Joshua), Moses has a few sermons to give Israel in Deuteronomy.

Application

The primary lesson we learn from Numbers is that God expects his people to have faith in him. He wants them to stand firm when he makes promises. Shrinking back is not an option. This whole book is an illustration of what we will tend to do after entering into a covenant relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 10:1--14 (ESV) --- 1 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. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

This text uses the events of Numbers to encourage Christians to learn the lesson they did not learn before it's too late. We are in the wilderness, enduring various trials and temptations. If we fail to put our trust in God, we can lose everything God promises us. Faith in God's goodness and God's ability is the single most crucial aspect of our relationship with Him. Paul tells the Corinthian Christians that these things were written down for us to learn their lessons. If we are tempted to grumble about what God gives us in life, rebel against God's word, or engage in some form of sin like the world around us, we can expect God's judgment.

They were blessed like we are, but they still failed to honor God as holy or follow his commands. I have tended in the past to look at them in disgust or with disbelief, but how easy is it for us to fall into the same traps that they fell into? How often have we seen people around us grumbling or complaining over the trial that they have to go through? How often do we grumble against our leadership or desire to usurp authority? We do the same things they were doing! We had better take care, lest we fall as they did. For those who believe in the notion of "once saved, always saved," you might want to rethink that. We can fall from grace and lose the sacrifice God has provided us. More on this tonight as we pick up our study of Hebrews.

But Paul reminds us that God is faithful. He is not removing the temptation, but he is restricting the amount of temptation so that we can escape without shrinking back to the ways of this world. If we do fall, we must confess our sins and look to our mediator and high priest, who will plead with God on our behalf. He might not save us from the consequences of our sin, but he will bring us the reconciliation we need with our creator. We can still have hope of obtaining the promises and living with God forever.

Conclusion

Numbers shows us that adults can be, and often are, just as unreasonable as children. We are selfish, disrespectful, and untrusting of our Heavenly Father. He has everything under his control, yet we struggle to submit to his will with all our heart. The amazing thing is that through all of this rebellion, God still wants to have a people who are holy and faithful. He wants us to have the opposite heart of those in the wilderness. He wants us to be devoted to God when our trials come. What testing have we gone through lately? Have we shown trust and faith in God, or have we complained? How easy was it to complain! Have we stood firm, or have we shrunk back? How will we handle our wilderness journey to the promised land? Will we enter in by God's grace, or will we rebel and fall as they did? God gave us Jesus to reassure us that he will always love us and provide what we need to serve him faithfully. All we need to do is put our trust in his will and his ways.