Numbers is called Numbers because Moses was asked by God to number the people twice, once at the start of their wanderings in the wilderness and then 39 years later in the plains of Moab. This last one took place just before Israel entered the Promised Land.
THE FIRST CENSUS
Not everyone was counted, only men aged twenty and over and able to fight (1v3). They were to be enrolled by tribes and then by families. I suppose God was taking a motley group of people, straight from Egypt, where they were slaves, and was knocking them into shape. He was turning them into a fighting force, yes, but more than that, organising them for administration, for justice and for travel through the wilderness. The Bible lists the numbers of each tribe which vary considerably. We are told in Chapter 1v46 that their total number was 603,550 people.
GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS PEOPLE
Notice that the Levites were not enrolled (v48,49) for they were given the special task, as we know, of looking after the tabernacle, the place of God’s presence and they even camped around it (v53) to give it additional protection. Chapter 2 tells us that all the other tribes were to camp around the Levites, in fact, facing the tabernacle on every side (2v2). There was a group of 3 tribes on the east (2v3), 3 on the south, west and north. God was where he wanted to be, right in the middle of his people Israel, surrounded closely by those devoted to His work and everyone else facing towards Him. In chapter 3 we read how the Levites were also organised into 4 groups, one on each side. There were Aaron and his sons the priests (3v1-4) and 3 groups of Levites. It is here in verses 11 to 13 that the Lord tells us that, although all the firstborn belong to Him, He accepted the Levites to be His, instead. Notice the Levites were also counted, but this time with everybody included, not just those over 20. They were not going to be fighting men, or even administrators, for that matter, except in their own specialist field of looking after the temple. Notice (3v10) that if your name wasn’t on the priesthood list you did not go anywhere near God’s presence, otherwise you would die.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE LEVITES
The Merarite group of Levites(v33) moved the frame of the tabernacle, Gershonites (v21) moved the tent and soft furnishings and, lastly, Kohathites (v27) had the critical job of moving the holy equipment like the ark and lampstand. In chapter 4 we find interesting details of how they moved the tabernacle with the priests covering the holy things with cloths before the Levites could move them. Notice that by using the inner curtain to cover the Ark of the Covenant (v5), even the priests could cover it up without looking at it. Chapter 6 introduces to us the Nazirite vow, remember Samson and John the Baptist, and one particular portion I like is verses 22-27, the priestly blessing, which encourages us to speak out our blessings to others. Chapters 7-9 cover some interesting practicalities of the tabernacle and it is significant that gifts were received from tribal leaders. Here is also the purification of the Levites, but we must move on.
FOLLOWING GOD’S PRESENCE
Chapter 9v15-23 gives us a fascinating account of how they followed the cloud when it moved. Interestingly in v22 we find out that sometimes they might only stay a day and, other times, they stayed over a month but the Israelites always set out at the command of the Lord. Chapter 10 gives us details of how they moved. The trumpets were sounded in a certain way and all the tribes and Levites gradually left, always in the same order (v14). It seems appropriate that the largest tribe of Judah, the tribe from which Jesus came, was the one to lead the way.
ON THE OFFENSIVE
The people of God were now on the offensive, look at 10v35, “Whenever the ark set out Moses would cry ‘Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before you”. This was a reminder to the Israelites, and to us as well, that our lives are not just about worship and godly living; we also, in Christ’s name, have spiritual battles to fight and win, an inheritance to be claimed. Notice, though, that this victory declaration coincided with the ark setting out (v35) and we also need God’s presence for a victorious life.
COMPLAINERS, GRUMBLERS AND MURMURERS
So far so good for God’s people but all was soon to change. It is clear from Numbers that God just cannot stand complainers, grumblers and murmurers. There was a particular incident in chapter 11 that caused God to send a consuming fire and God gave the people meat that they craved, quail in sickening abundance (v20). In Chapter 12 verse 1 even his own brother and sister spoke against Moses but be careful if you speak against leaders, especially humble people like Moses (v3), and especially if they know God face to face (v8). Miriam on this occasion became leprous until Moses pleaded with God to heal her (v13).
THE SPIES
Chapter 13 when the Lord asked Moses to send out spies into Canaan and we know what happened. Joshua and Caleb came back believing that it was time to claim their inheritance while the 10 other spies quaked with fear. In Chapter 14v1 we read that the whole congregation raised a loud cry, wept all night and (v2) the complaining started again. They went a fateful step further this time, suggesting that a captain be appointed to take them back to Egypt (v4). What is it that God hated so much? (v11) perhaps the lack of respect and trust in his power. Who should we be like? surely, Caleb (v24) who followed God “wholeheartedly”. In verses 26 and 27 we read that the Lord had heard their complaining, and notice v28 that no-one listed on the census would ever enter the promised land (apart from Caleb and Joshua). Israel were to stay as shepherds in the wilderness until the last one of them had died. One fact I did not know before, some Levites did get there, but remember they were not listed in the census (consider Eleazer,son of Aaron). The 10 fearful spies (v37) died of plague. Never presume God is with you for He will only work through us if we go His way (14v44).
KORAHS REBELLION
In Numbers 16, we read of a very serious rebellion, known as Korah’s rebellion. It involved 250 respected leaders and without God’s intervention would almost certainly have ended Moses’ leadership. Korah was a Levite who really wanted to be a priest; the 250 stood before the Lord with their incense and (v35) fire came out from the Lord and consumed them all. Dathan and Abiram refused to obey the call from Moses and stayed near their tents and, there, the earth opened, swallowed them up alive then (v32) closed back over them. The next day the whole congregation rebelled yet again (v41) and God would have consumed the whole lot if Moses and Aaron had not intervened. Even so, 14,700 people died from the plague. In Chapter 17 we read how God demonstrated that Aaron was the anointed priestly leader. Each tribe had to place a staff in front of the ark of the covenant and an amazing thing happened, Aaron’s staff not only budded but it also produced blossoms and, finally, fully ripe almonds (v8). This staff was to be kept in the Ark (v10) as a warning to the rebels, “so that you may make an end of all their complaints against me”. The problem with complaints is that they result either in us going nowhere or going back to our own personal Egypt. Even though they may seem to be made against leaders, the complaints actually may be against God and signify our lack of trust in Him. Chapter 18 explains how the priests receive the offerings as a priestly portion, but the Levites were paid for out of tithes. Chapter 19 explains how ashes of a red heifer were added to water for purification.
And then to chapter 20 which quickly jumps to the 40th year of their wandering through the desert. We hear a lot about the first year and now the final year, but nothing in between. If you look at the map you can see the nonsense of the wanderings for they were, now, actually back to the place where they sent out the spies nearly 40 years before, Kadesh Barnea, and this time Miriam died and was buried (v1). Aaron was to die soon afterwards on Mt Hor (v28) and Eleazer, his son, became the chief priest.
MOSES STRIKES ROCK
In chapter 20 we also read about the waters of Meribah where Moses was asked to speak to the rock. Someone asked me recently why God was so hard on Moses, and also Aaron (v12), to actually disqualify them from entering the promised land a year later? There is no doubt that God expects a higher standard for leaders because without good leadership, nobody is going to go anywhere.
ON THE LAST STRETCH
But now they are moving fast towards the promised land and a few scuffles began to break out with local tribes. Look at the map: they came to the border of Edom, who were the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau, and wanted to take the obvious route, called the kings highway. They even promised (20v19) to pay for their own water but the Edomites, instead, came out with a fighting force and forced Israel to detour around their land. When Canaanites from the Negev (21v1) attacked God gave them victory but, soon afterwards, they started complaining once again (v5) and this time the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them. After they repented, God instructed them to make a bronze serpent (v8) and, if they looked, they would be healed. Jesus used this story to describe to Nicodemus how He would be lifted up on the cross for us (John 3v15).
SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES EAST OF JORDAN
Next, they came to the region of King Sihon of the Amorites and, again, wanted to travel on the king’s highway. Sihon mustered an army but this was comprehensively beaten by Israel who (v25) settled in all of their towns. The same thing happened to another king with a great name, King Og of Bashan (v33). By this time, the king of Moab, Barak, had become very worried and so would we if two million people arrived on our doorstep who had already defeated, in Sihon, a powerful neighbour. The only response he could think of was to summon a man called Balaam to curse Israel (v5,6). Sadly, we do not have time to look in detail at other events which included a talking donkey. We can say, though, that Balaam ended up without pay because God insisted that he blessed Israel instead of cursing them. Furthermore, Balaam (end of ch 24) prophesied about the future kingdom of David, Jesus and possibly even the Greek and Roman empires. If God is leading you, nobody can stand in your way, except perhaps yourself.
THE BIG TEMPTATION
Just as Israel were on the verge of entering Canaan, Satan used one last magnificent temptation to stop their progress (ch 25). It was a sin that has destroyed many lives and promising ministries, sexual sin. The problem was that the women of Moab were so beautiful and irresistible and, of course, one thing led to another, as it always did, and the Israelites started worshipping the Moabite gods (Baal). 24,000 people died in the resulting plague.
SECOND CENSUS
Chapter 26 and we come to the second census of the Israelites and a careful look at the numbers shows that, despite all difficulties the people had experienced during their movement through the wilderness, the population was roughly the same as 39 years earlier. Verse 53 tells us that the reason for this second census was to assist them in dividing the land, fairly, between the twelve tribes. God wants each one of us to receive our divine inheritance. Many of the remaining chapters of Numbers discuss plans for division of the land, along with a few godly reminders on how they should live when they get there. Moses was to send them to an amazing victory against the Midianites where, miraculously, not a single Israelite soldier went missing (31v49) and among the dead was (31v8) our old friend Balaam, son of Peor. So what can we say about the book of Numbers. There were important matters to resolve when they left Egypt; they had to be organised and prepared to fight God’s battles. They could have arrived in Canaan within two years. Instead, it took 40 years and there is a gap of 37 years, barely noticeable, right in the middle of the book. Sadly, that time was wasted and so many people missed out on their inheritance. For all time, this can be a reminder to us that it is so easy to miss out on our inheritance in God, for even Moses did. In Numbers 32v11, God summarises why they missed out, “because they have not unreservedly followed me, only Joshua and Caleb”. Notice this desire of the Lord was, firstly, mentioned in Numbers 3v9 when the Levites were “unreservedly given him from among the Israelites”. “The Levites shall be mine”. God’s passion is that we become unreservedly his.
We end this study by reading the mandate for the people as they enter the promised
land, Numbers 33:50-56.