May 2008

A word
on the Word

A monthly series on the Bible by Carrie Boren, Missioner for Evangelism

Numbers

he Book of Numbers begins with the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai as they prepare to move into new life in the land God has promised them. They have received the Law and built the Tabernacle, and God has assigned priests to preserve their purity and worship. A sense of expectancy pervades
the camp.

The title, "Numbers," refers to two censuses that God orders in chapters 1 and 26. The first census is to determine which men will be able to fight battles along the way to the Promised Land. However, the book incorporates much more than a list of people and rules. It also contains adventure, military triumph, and God's longing to see His chosen people live a holy life. Unfortunately, the book could also have born the title, "The Book of Grumbling," because, just as God is ready to lead His people into great blessing, they doubt Him and complain, leading to God's discipline in the wilderness.

Numbers has much to teach the modern reader. As we enter into the story of God's longing to bless His people in spite of their rebellion and distrust, we can see ourselves. God longs to use His chosen people in His service and gives them everything they need to succeed. He has already delivered them from their greatest enemy, Egypt, and provided them with daily sustenance and civil and sacred order. Yet, just before their greatest blessing, they turn away from God with unhappy results. Their story compels us to avoid their mistakes, and it provides hope for God's mercy in the midst of our unfaithfulness.

Covering the period between the second year after the Exodus to the moment right before the Israelites enter the Promised Land, Numbers is a story of Israel's' preparation for life in the Promised Land. They will soon be transitioning from a nomadic people to an established community settled in one place — a people of land
and covenant.

God now calls them to live in obedience to the Law He has given them. Whereas Leviticus focuses on the details of a holy life in areas related to food, clothing, sickness, societal moral ethics, and worship, Numbers calls for a higher dedication to holiness and utter commitment to God. God wants His people to have success in the Land. When they fall short, He treats their disobedience and rebellion with severe punishment. However, "the [promptness] and severity with which these rebellious outbreaks were rebuked are relieved by the signal mercy and forbearance of Heaven in listening to the prayers of Moses in behalf of the offending people"
(Notes, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Numbers by George Bush, 1858, reprint 1981). Numbers teaches us much about God's unfailing, just, and merciful character in the midst of human weakness.

Numbers 1-10 — Preparation for a military expedition in a holy war.
Chapter 1 — Census of males for armed service. Levites are exempt to serve in the sanctuary.
Chapter 2 — Organization of the Israelites' camp around the tabernacle, demonstrating that God's worship and service are to be central to their lives.
Chapter 3-5 — Explanation of the Levites' role in caring for the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant.
Chapter 6 — Description of the Nazarite vow: a voluntary separation unto the Lord involving abstinence from any grapevine product, uncut hair until the vow's fulfillment, and rigid separation from ceremonial uncleanness.
Chapter 7 — Lists of tribal chiefs' contributions of items for use by the Tabernacle and for sacrifices.
Chapter 8 — Consecration of Levites to service in the tabernacle.
Chapter 9 — Celebration of the second Passover and appearance of a cloud by day and fire by night to guide the Israelites.
Chapter 10 — Description of two silver trumpets that Aaron's sons blow to signal an assembly or alert the camps to set out for travel or battle.

Numbers 10:11-20:13 — Journey to Kadesh with challenges to Moses' rule.
Chapter 10:11-chapter 11 — First rebellion, as the people complain about their hardships and lack of meat. In desperation, Moses asks the Lord, "Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now — if I have found favor in your eyes — and do not let me face my own ruin" (11:13-15). God appoints 70 elders to help Moses in civil administration and causes a wind to drive in quail from the sea for the people to eat, but they also face the consequences of their rebellion.
Chapter 12 — Miriam and Aaron's jealous challenge of Moses' authority and God's punishment of Miriam with leprosy, which is healed through the intercession of Moses and a repentant Aaron.
Chapter 13 — Evil report from 10 of the 12 spies sent to explore the land of Canaan, who, in spite of the land's abundance and God's promise of victory, are fearful of the Canaanites' stature and military strength.
Chapter 14 — Fear, unbelief, and grumbling of the people who, despite Caleb and Joshua's testimony of God's promise for victory over the Canaanites, plot to stone Joshua and Caleb and return to Egypt with a new leader. God threatens to destroy them all, but Moses intercedes and God relents. However, He directs that none of that generation will enter the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua. God had been ready to bring the people into the Promised Land, but because of their distrust and grumbling, they must turn back and wander for
40 more years.
Chapter 15 — Laws related to possessing the land.
Chapter 16 — Rebellion against Moses and Aaron by 250 men led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who say, "Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey [Egypt!] to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards" (vs. 13-14) [as if this is Moses and Aaron's fault!]. After God destroys the insurrectionists with an earthquake and fire, "The next day the whole Israelite community [grumble] against Moses and Aaron. 'You have killed the Lord's people,' they [say]" (vs.41). God sends them a plague, but once again, Moses and Aaron intercede and save many.
Chapter 17-18 —- Restoration of Aaron's authority as he assumes the priestly role of purifying the people in relationship to God.
Chapter 19 — Process by which the people can cleanse themselves after touching a dead body, instituted by God because of their wholesale contact with so much death during the desert years
Chapter 20 — Grumbling over a lack of water ["If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" (vs. 3-5)]. God instructs Moses to speak to a rock and it will pour out water. Instead, Moses strikes the rock twice with his rod and takes credit for the issuance of water. Therefore, God tells him, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (vs. 12). This chapter also reports the deaths of Miriam
and Aaron.

Numbers 20:14-36:13 Conquest of the land.
Chapter 21 — Israelites' grumbling [again!] despite their victory over the Canaanites ["Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" (vs. 5)]. God sends venomous snakes among them, but when they repent, He instructs Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole in their midst. If a snake bites anyone, that person can look at the bronze snake and live.
Chapter 22-24 — Failed attempt by Balak, king of Moab, to crush Israel by asking a pagan diviner, Balaam, to curse them. As Balaam is on his way to obey Balak, the Angel of the Lord blocks his way three times and commands him to speak only what God commands. Balaam tells Balak, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it" (23:19-20).
Chapter 25 — Israel's sexual immorality with Moabite women and worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord to order the death of those involved. Then, an Israelite man brings a Midianite woman to his family, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people. Phinehas, a priest, sees this, follows the Israelite into his tent, and drives a spear through him and the woman, thereby stopping God's punishment of the Israelites.
Chapter 26 — Second census ordered by God in order to apportion the land.
Chapter 27 — Assignment of Joshua as Moses' replacement as Moses explains to the people why he cannot enter the Promised Land.
Chapter 28-30 — Laws about inheritance, vows, and worship in preparation for life in the Promised Land.
Chapter 31 — Defeat of the Midianites in battle.
Chapter 32 — Requests of the tribes of Reuben and Gad for the conquered territory outside the Promised Land, demonstrating their unbelief and desire to avoid war. However, they compromise and agree to join their brothers in fighting in Canaan before settling down.
Chapter 33-34 — Summary of the journey from Egypt and directions for the conquest and allotment
of Canaan.
Chapter 35-36 — Instructions for the establishment of Levitical cities and cities of refuge, and laws of
female inheritance.

At the end of Numbers, the old hard-hearted generation has died, and God has built up a new people who will soon be a settled community under His authority. In the midst of Israel's rebellion, God's faithfulness has never failed as He preserves His people according to His promises.