BIBLE BOOK: Numbers

Lessons from Moses’ Fourth Book…..

The five books of Moses, commonly known as the Pentateuch, must be considered together. Although the events recorded in Genesis took place before his time, they were divinely revealed to Moses. Genesis is the book of beginnings and deals with Creation, the Fall, and the Flood. It explains how God chose Abram and called him from idolatry, promising to make of him a nation which would be blessed. Abram became known as Abraham and was the father of the people of Israel with their twelve tribes. These tribes descended from the twelve sons of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham.

While Genesis concludes with Jacob and his sons living in Egypt following a terrible famine, Exodus begins with the journey taken by those same people as they set out to find their Promised Land. In addition to describing their experiences in the wilderness, Exodus contains detailed instructions given by God to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle – a tent-like structure where God was to be worshipped.

The third book in the Pentateuch is Leviticus which explains the Old Testament priesthood, with its offerings and sacrifices. Leviticus, along with the later chapters of Exodus, is set in the vicinity of Mount Sinai where the Law of God was revealed to Moses. If Exodus concerns the way out as God’s people departed from Egypt, Leviticus is all about the way in as worshippers discover how they can enter the presence of God.

The fourth book, Numbers, also commences beneath Mount Sinai before the people of Israel resumed their journey to Canaan, as recorded in chapter 11. The remaining chapters of Numbers, along with the whole of Deuteronomy, relate their journey through the wilderness – though most of Deuteronomy contains the record of Moses’ lengthy farewell address to the people before his death just outside of Canaan. This brief summary is intended to provide an understandable context for Numbers.

NUMBERED

As its name suggests, this book is concerned with the numbering of the people of Israel in order that they might travel as an orderly group to their destination. However, the people were also “numbered” in another sense at Kadesh-Barnea when spies were sent into Canaan. One man was chosen from each of the twelve tribes, but only Joshua and Caleb were men of faith. The others claimed that the conquest of the land would prove an impossible task – in spite of God’s promises to the contrary. The result was that the entire congregation over twenty years of age, apart from Joshua and Caleb, were destined to wander in the wilderness for the next forty years, until each one had died. The price of disobedience proved to be extremely costly, with an eleven day journey taking almost 40 years!

The experiences of the Israelites over those forty years are almost unrecorded – apart from brief references to Moses’ act of disobedience when he struck the rock and the occasion when serpents were sent to bite the complaining Israelites. After these instructive incidents a second numbering of the people took place – recorded in the closing chapters of the book.

OUTLINE OF NUMBERS

Numbers opens with the divine instruction that Moses should number “all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names … from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel” (1:2-3, KJV). Following this, clear directions were given as to where each tribe was to camp – the tabernacle being pitched in the centre of the camp. The Levites had their priestly responsibilities outlined, and directions as to their cleansing and consecration were given.

God’s purpose was that His people should travel, and in Numbers 9 we discover the means which He employed to guide them through the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. Two silver trumpets were to be used to convey those instructions clearly to the people. Yet the people complained and frequently “murmured against Moses and against Aaron” and expressed the wish that they had either died back in Egypt or in the wilderness (14:2). Such thinking is amazing but yet very human! There are the further sad accounts of Korah’s rebellion (Num.16) and of the criticism of the priesthood which resulted in God stamping His approval on the tabernacle.

A new section opens in Numbers 20 at the time when Miriam died. Moses and Aaron both received the sad news that they would not lead the people into Canaan on account of their personal unbelief (20:12). Shortly after this Aaron died on Mount Hor (20:28). The people’s travels, accompanied by repeated murmurings and complaints, are recorded in this part of the book, along with Balak’s attempts to get the prophet Balaam to curse Israel. The second numbering of the people of Israel follows – those “from twenty years old and upward … all that [were] able to go to war in Israel” (26:2). This is similar to the numbering recorded at the beginning of the book but concerns different people. Further instructions for the priests and for the people follow, and their journeyings are recorded in chapter 33 as they headed towards Canaan. The book concludes with the people encamped “in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho” (36:13).

PRACTICAL LESSONS FROM NUMBERS

Although many of the details may appear somewhat irrelevant for God’s people in this age, they are nevertheless very helpful. A prominent theme in this book is pilgrimage, and this relates to the believer’s present walk through this world. The warning of unbelief has already been stated but bears repetition because it is so necessary to heed. If we fail to believe God and trust in Him, we will be the losers. The Israelites often illustrate what we should not be. For instance, there should be “no complaining in our streets” (Ps.144:14). Rather, we are exhorted to “be content with such things as ye have” (Heb.13:5). Disobedience, as in the case of Moses, can rob us of blessing. These are salutary lessons to have before us.

The incident recorded in the opening verses of Numbers 21 was referred to by the Lord Jesus and is often used to illustrate the gospel message. Just as the “fiery serpent” which was set on a pole was the means of imparting life to the dying Israelites, so the Lord Jesus would be “lifted up” on the cross. All who look to Him in faith can be delivered from the curse of sin which results in death. (See Num.21:8 & John 3:14-15.)

A further helpful lesson which has blessed many believers is found in Numbers 9. The Lord wants to guide His people through this world – not by means of a pillar of cloud or fire any more but by His Word and Spirit. It was said of the Israelites, “At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed” (9:23). Only “when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed” (9:21) – and at no other time. We need that same dependence on the Lord, looking to Him to guide us along life’s pathway until we reach our Promised Land – the heavenly Canaan.

1 When Israel, by divine command,
The pathless desert trod,
They found, throughout the barren land,
A sure resource in God.

2 A cloudy pillar marked the road,
And screened them from the heat;
From the hard rock the water flowed,
And manna was their meat.

3 Like them, we have a rest in view,
Secure from hostile powers:
Like them, we pass a desert too,
But Israel’s God is ours.

4 His word a light before us spreads,
By which our path we see;
His love, a banner o’er our heads,
From harm preserves us free.

5 Jesus, the Bread of life, is given
To be our daily food;
Within us dwells that spring from heaven,
The Spirit of our God.

6 Lord, ’tis enough, we ask no more;
Thy grace around us pours
Its rich and unexhausted store,
And all its joy is ours.

J. Newton (1725-1807)