Numbers

Author

Moses. (See Luke 24:27 and John 5:46.)

Date

Unknown. It is believed Moses wrote the book of Numbers when he was at Moab, towards the end of his life.

Audience and Purpose

Number is the continuation of the book of Exodus, and records the history of the time God’s people spent wandering in the wilderness. It picks up the story of the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai, after the law (Leviticus) had been given, and the tabernacle had been built. It follows the people of Israel through the rest of their wilderness journey, all the way to the banks of the Jordan River.

Major Themes

  • Faith and Perseverance. The people of God must look beyond their present circumstances, and continue to persevere in the hope of God’s promise to come.
  • God’s Provision. The people of Israel, who had been living full lives in Egypt, must come to fully trust in God’s provision of their needs: manna from heaven, water from a rock, protection from enemies, and more. The life of faith depends on His provision in everything. 
  • Human Rebellion. From murmurings agains Moses, to the 10 spies unwillingness to take the land by faith, we see the deep heart of humanity that lacks trust in God. God’s response to this rebellion is severe.

Key Scriptures

  • Numbers 6:22-27 — “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 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.’ So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
  • Numbers 14:18 — “‘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.”

Outline

  • Numbers 1:1-10:10 — Preparing to Leave Sinai and Take the Land
  • Numbers 10:11-12:16 — From Sinai to Kadesh
  • Numbers 13:1-19:22 — Remaining at Kadesh (almost 40 years)
  • Numbers 20:1-21:35 — From Kadesh to Moab
  • Numbers 22:1-36:13 — Remaining at Moab

Gospel Summary

The time God’s people spent in the wilderness was not a test of God’s faithfulness to them. Rather it proved His faithfulness in the face of the people’s continual rebellion and unrest. God proves Himself to them over and over again with His power, signs and miracles. Had it not been for God’s grace, continually at work to bring the people through the wilderness, none of them would have entered the promised land.

Once again, this story parallels the life of the Christian, that though we have been brought out of bondage to sin, death, and the devil, we have not yet fully “entered God’s rest.” Day by day, we are learning not to trust out own experience and abilities, and learning to trust Him as our Guide, Provider, Protector, Healer, and more.

Christ is revealed symbolically, many times in Numbers. He is the Rock that gives water (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). He is seen in Moses raising the serpent to give life to all who gazed upon it (see John 3:14-15). He is prophesied as the star rising out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel.


© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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