GROWING IN NUMBERS


GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

1.    Numbers continues the story of deliverance of the nation of Israel that was begun in the book of Exodus.

 

2.    Numbers begins about a month after the Tabernacle is built and the people are ready to march the rest of the way from Sinai to Palestine.

 

3.    Name of the book

A.   “In the Wilderness” is the Hebrew title.

1)    Because of the words of the first verse of chapter 1

2)    Because Israel spends its time in these pages wandering around the desert area of the Sinai Peninsula since they would not enter the Promised Land when God told them.

B.   “Numbers” is also a valid name, for twice in the book a census is taken of the fighting men. 

4.    Time element - forty years

A.   Refers to the time it took Israel to get from Egypt to Palestine.

B.   The time is long because of rebellion, not distance.

1)    The straight distance from Rameses in Egypt, the starting place, to Jericho in Palestine is approximately 210 miles.

2)    Throughout the 40 years the people traveled just under 1,000 miles!

3)    Instead of the 40 years, the journey could have been made in ELEVEN DAYS!!! (Deut. 1:2)

C.   Why such a long delay?

1)    After hearing the report of the spies that Moses sent from the Wilderness of Paran into the Land of Promise the people refused to enter the land because of unbelief. (13:1-14:3)

2)    “The people had obeyed God in sprinkling the blood (Ex. 12:28) and coming out of Egypt, but did not enter the Canaan rest because of unbelief (Heb. 3:18,19). Therefore, although members of a redeemed nation, they were forty years grief to the Lord.” (cf. Heb. 3:7-12.) (Quote from Scofield Bible, page 186; 14:23 note).)

3)    A fit picture of many Christians; they are saved but never enter into the full blessing of the Christian life.

4)    The entire population of that unbelieving generation perished under the judgment of God.

a.    There were 603,550 fighting men of the ages of 20 or older. Num. 1:46

b.    Add in the women and children and it is estimated that Israel numbered about 3,000,000 souls.

c.    Of the 3,000,000 only two believing men entered the Land of Promise: Joshua and Caleb. (Num. 14:30; 46:65; 32:11,12)

 

MESSAGE OF THE BOOK

1.    Numbers is typical of the believer’s walk and service on the way to full blessing and rest.

 

2.    Beware of unbelief (cf. Gal. 5:7; Heb. 3:19)

 

3.    In Israel each person had his definitely assigned place and task for the welfare of the whole nation. It reflects the message of service.

A.   In the church each member of the Body of Christ has his particular place and function.

B.   The order of the books also spells out the proper order of the message:

       In Genesis, man is ruined by the Fall.

       In Exodus, man is redeemed.

       In Leviticus, man is worshipping.

       In Numbers, man is serving.

C.   We learn of the severity of God in the old generation which fell in the wilderness and never entered Canaan. We see the goodness of God in the new generation which was protected, preserved and provided for, until Canaan was possessed.

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

  I.    ORDERLY SERVICE IN THE WILDERNESS (chs. 1-10)

A.   The Lord’s service

1.    In battle (ch. 1)

2.    In a well-ordered camp (ch. 2)

3.    In the Tabernacle (chs. 3,4). (Showing the various services of the different families that make up the tribe of Levi.)

a.    The sons of Aaron (3:1-39)

b.    The dedication of the first-born Levites (3:40-51)

c.    The service of the Kohathites - to carry the holy vessels of the Tabernacle. (4:1-15)

d.    The service of Eleazer - the oversight of maintaining the vessels. (4:16-20)

e.    The service of the Gershonites - to carry the outer structure of the Tabernacle. (4:21-28)

f.     The service of the Merarites - to carry the supports of the Tabernacle. (4:29-49)

4.    In a pure camp (ch. 5)

5.    In a Nazarite life (ch. 6)

6.    In unsolicited gifts (ch. 7)

7.    In order of worship (ch. 8)

a.    Cleansing of the Levites (vs. 5-21)

b.    Service of the Levites (v. 22)

c.    Limitations of the Levites (vs. 23-26)

d.    Regulations of the Passover (9:1-14)

B.   The Movement of the Camp (9:15-10)

1.    Determined by the cloud and pillar of fire (9:15-23)

2.    The methods of summons and order of march (ch. 10)

 

 II.    SAD FAILURE IN THE WILDERNESS (chs. 11-25)

       Eight murmurings are recorded indicating the spiritual failure of Israel.

A.   Against the WAY God led them (because of their hardships) (11:1-3)

B.   Against the FOOD God fed them (11:4-35)

C.   Against the LEADER God set over them (ch. 12)

D.   Against the LAND God promised them (chs. 13,14)

E.   Against God’s righteous VERDICT pronounced against them (14:36-45)

F.    Against God’s APPOINTMENTS (chs. 16,17)

1.    Moses for his administrative leadership (ch. 16)

2.    Aaron for his spiritual leadership (ch. 17)

G.   Against their THIRST (20:2-13) cf. Exod. 17:1-7

H.   Against God’s PROVISION (21:4-9)

 

 

III.   GLORIOUS VICTORY IN THE WILDERNESS (chs. 26-36)

       The prominent note of this section is victory, though there are some failures. The old generation had passed away as punishment for their sin at Kadesh-barnea, and God now takes up Israel again.

A.    Victory over King Arad (21:1-3)

B.   Victory over King Sihon and King Og (21:21-35)

C.   Balaam and Balak (chs. 22-24)

D.   Second census (showing a decrease of 1820 since the first census in ch. 1) (ch. 26)

E.   The law of the inheritance (27:1-11)

F.    Moses prepares for death (27:12-14)

G.   Appointment of Joshua to succeed Moses (27:15-23)

H.   Repetition of sacrificial laws (ch. 28-30)

I.     Victory over Midian (ch. 31)

J.    Preparations to enter and settlements of the tribes in their various portions. (chs. 32-36)