Numbers

Book of Numbers

First Impressions

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

According to the introduction to the book of Numbers in the Sourceview Bible, the book of Numbers was written “To God’s people – the children of Israel.  Numbers is Moses’ memoirs about the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert. He wrote it to document their story, a story of their past to shape their future, to show God’s judgment against sin, in the context of his constant faithfulness and patience with his beloved Israel.”  Throughout the book of Numbers, God is giving instructions to Moses to give to the people of Israel (see Numbers 8:23-26; Numbers 9:2-3; Numbers 9:9-10, etc).  The book of Numbers concludes with the following verse, “These are the commands and regulations that the LORD gave to the people of Israel through Moses while they were camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River across from Jericho.” (Numbers 36:13).  It is clear from these verses and many others throughout the book of Numbers that the Israelites were the original readers (or hearers) of this book.

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

According to the introduction to the book of Numbers in the Sourceview Bible, Moses wrote the book of Numbers around 1406 BC.  There are numerous instances throughout the book of Numbers which state that, “the LORD said to Moses” (see Numbers 3:5; Numbers 3:11; Numbers 3:40, etc).  It is very clear from these Scripture verses in Numbers as well as many others throughout the Bible that Moses is indeed the author of the book of Numbers.

- What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the "main idea"?

Some of the main themes or repeated ideas in the book of Numbers include the following: belief versus unbelief, obedience verses disobedience, faith versus fear, clean versus unclean, blessings versus curses.  Numbers 1:2-4 states, “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You [Moses] and Aaron must register the troops, and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe.” Numbers 1:54 concludes with, “So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.”  This is an example of the Israelites being obedient.  However, there are examples of the Israelites being disobedient as well.  For example, the LORD said to Moses, “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.” (Numbers 13:1-2).  Moses did as the LORD commanded him and sent out the twelve spies.  The spies explored the land for 40 days and returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel and gave them a report (see Numbers 13:25-14:9 for more details).  In summary, ten of the spies gave a bad report while two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave a positive report.  The bad report led the people of Israel to whine and complain.  The people of Israel then became filled with fear and unbelief.  Their faith faltered and the people of Israel became rebellious and disobedient to the LORD.  What was the LORD’s response?  Numbers 14:34-35 states, “’Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years – a year for each day, suffering the consequences for your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’ I, the LORD, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!”  (See Numbers 14:10-11 and Numbers 14:20-35 for more details regarding the LORD’s response).  God was very angry with these Israelites and did not allow them to enter into the Promised Land.  However, God was very pleased with Caleb and Joshua and allowed them to enter into the Promised Land.  God expects His people to believe in Him.  God expects His people to have faith in Him.  God expects His people to trust Him.  God blesses the obedience of His people and punishes the disobedience of His people.  In this way, God is disciplining His people. God disciplines those He loves. 

- What is the primary reason this book was written?

The primary reason the book of Numbers was written was to document the Israelites’ 40 year journey through the wilderness and instruct them on how they are to live their lives as set apart for Him.  Throughout the book of Numbers, God through Moses gives His people, the Israelites, instructions on what they are to do and what they are not to do.  God blesses their obedience yet God punishes their disobedience.  God loves His people; therefore, He disciplines His people so that they may learn how to live their lives as set apart for Him.

Theme Tracing

- What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

The book of Numbers demonstrates that God is holy and He desires His people, the Israelites, to be holy as well.  God desires His people to be set apart for him.  God desires to bless His people.  For example, Numbers 6:22-27, states, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you peace’. Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.’”  However, God is holy and He will not tolerate sin. God will punish rebellion and disobedience.  For example, see Numbers 14:34-35 to read God’s punishment of the Israelites’ sin against Him.  Fortunately, God is patient and merciful and desires to bless us.  For example, the LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hem of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!” (Numbers 15:38-41).  This passage in the book of Numbers demonstrates many things about God.  For example, God is holy and He expects His people to be holy as well. It also shows that God knows His people and He cares for His people; therefore, He teaches them how they can remember to be obedient to Him and His commands.  Their obedience to Him will result in His blessing them and God desires to bless His people.

- What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

Throughout the book of Numbers, God through Moses, teaches His people how they are to live their lives as set apart for Him.  For example, God through Moses teaches the Israelites what they must do if one of the individuals commits an unintentional sin.  That guilty individual must bring a one-year old female guilt for a sin offering (see Numbers 15:27-29 for more details).  Throughout the book of Numbers, God through Moses teaches His people what they must do in order to be made right and acceptable with God.  God through Moses instructs them on how they are to make sacrifices to God.  This is just a foreshadowing of what Jesus will do for all of us on the Cross.  Jesus will make the ultimate sacrifice so that all of us may be in right relationship with God.  

Application questions

- Personal Application

Studying the book of Numbers has really challenged me to examine my faith in God.  What would I have done if I was one of the Israelites who was about to enter into the Promised Land?  Would I have joined the vast majority?  Would I have complained like them?  Would I have given into my fears and unbelief like them?  Would I have been rebellious and disobedient to the LORD like them?  Or would I have joined Caleb and Joshua?  Would I have believed in and have had faith in God like them?  Would I have been obedient to God like them?  Of course, I would like to think that I would have joined with Caleb and Joshua and entered into God’s Promised Land.  When I examine my own life, I often see that I have allowed my fears, unbelief, and disobedience to prevent me from entering into the inheritance that God has in store for me.  I am a long-term, full-time volunteer staff member with YWAM Kona; however, I am a DBS student for this fall quarter of 2013.  As a volunteer YWAM staff member, I rely on God (through others) for my personal financial support.  For far too long, I have allowed myself to settle for far less than I believe God has for me.  As an application, I am choosing to believe what God has told me regarding personal financial support. I am choosing to obey God and do what He leads me to do. 

- Point of Passion

My point of passion is to know God and to make Him known – especially among teenagers and young adults.  As I study the book of Numbers, I realize that the vast majority of us (myself included) have allowed ourselves to stop short of entering into God’s Promised Land.  I would like to learn from Caleb and Joshua’s example and enter into God’s Promised Land.  I would like to help others enter into God’s Promised Land as well.  May we all enjoy God’s Promised Land together!