For those of you who have been keeping up with the daily readings thus far, you’ll know that we’ve read through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and now Numbers. One of the exciting parts about reading through Numbers and now as we enter into Deuteronomy is that we’ve almost completed the entire first quarter of our Through the Bible in a Year plan. Of course we have a couple days remaining but I want to congratulate all of you on making it this far!!!

I’m not entirely sure how much you’ve dug into the Bible over the past quarter and regardless of that particular metric, I sincerely hope that God has moved your heart to see and understand the things He has placed out in front of you to see. If you’ve been reading my blog long you’ll know I’ve always struggled with many areas of my life and in sitting down to follow this annual plan of reading through the Bible, I have seen so much about who God is and the relationship with us He longs for. One of the greatest gifts we can ever receive is the gift of God’s grace and love through Jesus Christ. The struggle I’ve had in receiving this gift and one that plagues most of the discussions I’ve had with various individuals is that it is such a grand gift which none of us deserve. For me, this was a large hurdle and when I truly chose to receive the gift that only God can give, I personally broke down in tears and was filled with warmth, peace, and most of all – His love. There are still days that I truly meditate on His Word and in these moments I can’t hold back the tears that come to my eyes. I pray that God open your heart and show you what you need to see, that you may experience His love and truly receive His gift of grace and redemption.

Diving right in, we’ve read through the book of Numbers over the past three weeks. As I mentioned above, God is an ever loving God and He showers us with His grace even when we disobey Him. We see throughout the Israelites journey from Egypt to the land of Canaan (the promised land) that they, as we do, constantly battled with their obedience to God’s will and rebelled against God. Though we’ve seen a number of instances where God disciplines the people of Israel, we do consistently see how God’s grace is renewed over and over. In the book of Numbers, we see the journey of Israel and we see some important details of the forty years in the Desert.

Chapter 1 begins with a Census at Mount Sinai. We see that there are approximately 603,550 males over the age of 20 with the Levites being exempted from the census. Though this chapter is a bit mundane and difficult to engage in, we find that the people of Judah is the most populous at 74,600 and the people of Manasseh was the least with 32,200. The number of people in each tribe is important as we begin to see the layout of the nation around the tabernacle. Chapters 2 through 4 provide insight into the layout of the nation and their respective position around the tabernacle. In relation to the number of individuals within the census we see that Judah (with the most) is on the eastern most part of the camp and also the one who lead the march as the nation transitioned from camping to traveling. Each section of the camp contained a specified leading tribe with Judah on the East, Dan on the North, Reuben on the South, and Ephraim on the West. Interestingly enough, the largest part of the camp was to the East followed by the South, the North, and then the West. Laid out on the page in my Study Bible is a diagram which shows the camp laid out respectively and the entire camp resembles a cross with the tabernacle located at the crossing point of the two directional timbers. Of course, the Levites are identified as having responsibility for the tabernacle and are given the task of carrying the segments of the tabernacle within the various other tribes for protection.

Next we see a couple of laws relating to unclean people and adulterers. Additionally, we see a quantitative value for restitution which equated to one fifth of that value of which one committed the sin. I personally didn’t see too much within this section that stood out except that in general we’ve seen priests as the one who evaluates and judges on leprosy while the evaluation and judgement of adultery lies within the water of bitterness and a curse that is written. I thought it was interesting how the priest was not deemed to have judgment over a persons intents but rather the physical response or exhibition of a disease.

In Chapter 7 we see a series of offerings. Interestingly enough, the offerings were all identical in nature. Regardless of the size of tribe, each offered the exact same offering and they were offered in the same manner which clearly signifies that these offerings were to be solemn, strict, and serious offerings that each was obliged to perform. This also indicates that not one tribe was more or less than another. These offerings served to anoint the altar. This lead straight into the sacrifices and cleansing of the Levites. Stripped clean of all their clothing and all the hair upon their body, they were placed before the congregation, before the Nation of Israel and there was performed a sin sacrifice and a burnt offering. These offerings were to make atonement for the Levites who were cast into service of the Lord through the direction of Aaron and the priests. In doing so, the Levites were separated from the whole nation and presented as a cleansed and holy people to serve the Lord directly in the place of the first born of which the Lord commanded. Interestingly enough, however, is that Levites were ordered to retire from doing service at the age of fifty. Though they continued to minister, they were not allowed to perform service (meaning to me – labor).

Chapter 9 reiterates the importance of keeping the passover according to the prescribed manner but gives a slight variation to the Israelites as some were on travel or unclean. In Chapter 9 we see that the Lord provides provisions for observing the Passover to those who were unclean or on long journey. Importantly, it is strict and clear that only those who are unclean or on a long journey could wait until the second month on the 14th day and obey all the same prescribed methods. If someone were to postpone observance of the Passover without being unclean or on a long journey, they would be cut off from their people and the land which God had provided them. Last item of note in Chapter 9 is the reiteration of the pillar of cloud and fire which signified God’s presence among the nation of Israel. As discussed before and again stated here, it was God’s direction and commandment that the people of Israel would camp until He departed from them and they would then travel until He settled. Through this direct indication, they knew where they were to be and for how long, though perhaps not in advance. The important thing to note is that God directed them and they did not decide for themselves where they were to camp and for how long. God’s plan was laid out before them and they obeyed.

After one year at Mount Sinai, the Lord directed the nation of Israel to depart and He did so not only by lifting the cloud (His presence) from the Tabernacle but also through the sounding of the two silver trumpets that He directed them to make. The priests were to sound the alarms according to God’s command and these would signal the congregation to depart or to settle according to His plan. Thus the nation of Israel departed from Mount Sinai and travelled with the Lord before them in a pillar of cloud or column of fire as was the case in the Exodus from Egypt. As was the nature of the people, they complained. In clear instances where the Lord provided, the nation of Israel desired the luxuries of Egypt and complained about the direction and length of time that the Lord had placed before them. Taberah was the name given to the place where the Lord’s anger was kindled and fire was cast around parts of the camp. It is evident through the complaints from the Israelites that to follow the Lord was not easy nor was it pleasant compared to the pleasures of this world. Just as we struggle today to maintain our focus on the Lord our God as guide and director of our life, the Israelites struggled. Never-the-less, God was faithful and provided for the Nation of Israel manna as previously discussed. An interesting set of events transpired here where Moses cries to the Lord asking “Why?” as it relates to the Lord’s appointment of him over the Israelites. Moses seeks refuge from the people of Israel and raises his own complaint to the Lord for casting such a responsibility upon him. Moses seeks to provide for the people himself, to give them meat in order to silence their weeping for his own benefit and comfort. Why he does not raise the burden to the Lord and declare the Lord’s provisions to the people of Israel I do not know for he of all people would have known the splendor and power of the Lord. In either case, there are elders appointed by the Lord to aid Moses in dealing with the Israelites and the Lord provided quail to the people. It was with the quail that the Lord brought a plague to the people for they craved more and were unsatisfied with the plan of the Lord.

Now in Chapter 12 we see that there is animosity brewing within the nation of Israel. Miriam and Aaron rise against Moses and speak words which diminish him who has been chosen by God to lead the Israelites. Here we see that Moses was a “meek” man, more so than any other in the nation of Israel, and a man whom God entrusted with great responsibility. Through Chapter 12 we see that Moses was more than a prophet as the Lord dictated that He spoke with Moses mouth to mouth rather than through dreams and visions. Numbers 12:8 states: “With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.” Due to their actions, Miriam was cast out of the camp and was leprous. After seven days, as was the custom, she was brought back in and they departed from Hazeroth.

Upon nearing the land of Canaan (The Promised Land) the Israelites decided to send 12 spies before them. Men travelled forth and evaluated the land of Canaan and brought back with them fruit from the land. Unfortunately the spies provided great reports of the land but scared the congregation by providing reports of the people as large and numerous. Thus the people of Israel rebelled against Moses declaring that they would not travel forth to overcome the promised land. The people cried out about the luxuries of Egypt and condemned Moses for bringing them into the wilderness to die. They proposed to choose a new leader who would bring them back to Egypt. It was then that Joshua and Caleb who had accompanied the spies of the land spoke up declaring that the land was exceedingly good and proclaiming that if the Lord delights in the people of Israel and commands them to travel onward, they shall do so. The Lord then declared to Moses that He would rid the world of the rebellious nation of Israel and bring forth to Moses a nation greater and mightier than they. Moses, however, prays for the people of Israel and pleads with God to forgive the rebellious people. God pardons them but declares that they shall never see the promised land; only Joseph and Caleb who spoke truthfully of God’s capability would enter the land God had promised to them. It was here that the people of Israel were to turn back and wander the desert for forty years. In the nation’s ignorance and self-confidence they rose against the inhabitants of the land of Canaan and departed for battle against the words of Moses only to be defeated and pursued them out of the region. Out of 600,000+ men over the age of 20 would enter Canaan and they would be Joseph and Caleb.

Throughout Chapter 15 we read about various laws related to sacrifices, unintentional sins, sabbathbreakers, and tassels on garments. We see in Chapter 16 that another individual, by the name of Korah, also rises against Moses and attempts to claim himself equal or greater than Moses. Throughout this Chapter we see God again confirm Moses by opening the earth and swallowing the followers of Korah and his family. As the congregation rose up in anger about the death of these men, the Lord set a plague among them and in a quick furry Moses directed Aaron to make atonement for them by placing incense on his cistern with fire from the altar. Immediately the plague was halted. 14,700 people had died in that plague in addition to the deaths of Korah and his people. In an attempt to declare with unwavering evidence the leader and head of the congregation, the Lord commanded Moses to gather a staff from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and deposit them in the tent of meeting. It was here that the Lord declared whichever staff sprouted would be declared the head of the nation. Aaron’s staff budded and sprouted indicating God’s choice for the head of the nation of Israel. Beneath Aaron was the tribe of Levi. It is in Chapter 18 that the duties of the priests and Levites is reiterated.

Chapters 20 through 33 cover the forty years of wandering in the desert. Through the Halley’s Bible Handbook, there is documented an estimated 38 years between Chapter 19 and Chapter 20 which covers the time period between the first arrival at Kadesh and the final departure from Kadesh for Canaan. Chapter 33 lists out approximately 40 encampments from Egypt to the Plains of Moab with 18 of them being between Rithmah and Kadesh. It is believed that Kadesh served as a sort of home base with the nation of Israel traveling between these 18 other encampments as God directed them to do. In Chapter 20 we see a very important act performed by Moses. Again the nation is in need of water to drink, not merely as a means of comfort but more importantly for survival of the people and their flocks. God commands Moses to strike a rock and provide water for the Israelites as he had done before. Extremely important to note, however, is that in this occasion we see that Moses and Aaron sin before the congregation. Numbers 20:10 – 13 describes the events as they transpired. Key points are that Moses said to the congregation: “Here now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” This very statement indicates that Moses and Aaron performed this act for the Lord but sought to receive the credit for this deed by declaring “we” rather than giving praise to the Lord. In addition, there is some thought that because Moses struck the rock twice this signified his lack of faith in the Lord to provide the water with only one strike against the rock. In either case, through these verses we see that the Lord was displeased with Moses and thus declared that he and Aaron would not bring the people to the Promised Land and would therefore never see it themselves.

Edom refused passage to Israel which is in line with the ever lasting battle between the descendants of Esau and Jacob that I wrote about before. Both Miriam and Aaron died in Chapter 20 with Miriam being 130 years old and Aaron being 123 years old. Eleazar succeeded Aaron as the high priest of Israel. In Chapter 21 we see the fabrication of a bronze serpent set before the people of Israel as a means for redemption from being bitten by a poisonous snake. Much like Jesus Christ is our savior from sin, this bronze snake was a savior from being bitten by the poisonous snakes in the desert. It is noted in the Bible Handbook that the nation of israel began to idolize this snake and burn incense to it which led to it’s destruction by King Hezekiah 700 years after it was made by Moses (2 Kings 18:4).

Israel defeated three nations throughout Chapter 21 and leads to the summon of Balaam by Balak in Chapter 22. What we see throughout Chapters 22, 23, 24, and 25 is that God continues to favor the chosen people of Israel even in their wickedness and rebellion towards Him. Faithfully He remains true to His promises and what He says comes true as a faithful God. Through the oracles of Balaam Israel is blessed even though Balak sought their destruction. Balaam’s prophesies predicted greatly the influence that the nation of Israel would have through a star that would come from Jacob as depicted in Numbers 24:17. This “Star” as we know Him is Jesus Christ. Through their success, Israelites settled in Shittim and began to “whore with the daughters of Moab.” Through their interactions the people began to bow down to other gods and anger the Lord. As a result, 24000 Israelites died in a plague cast down by the Lord. I find it important to note that Phinehas – son of Eleasar the High Priest – was the man who rose against the people of Israel out of jealousy for God and thus God gave him the covenant of peace and perpetual priesthood to him and his descendants.

Chapter 26 is a second census that was performed. Out of the 600,000+ males of the first census only 2 remained alive. The tribe of Judah remained the largest with 76,500 and the tribe of Simeon was the least with 22,200. The nation of Israel consisted of 601,730 males above the age of 20 yet only 2 remained from the first census indicating that the wilderness was harsh and taxing on the people of Israel.

Joshua is finally chosen to succeed Moses as Moses is barred from entering the Promised Land and will surely die at the age of 120 years old prior to Israel’s entrance into Canaan. We close out the book of Numbers by recounting the offerings Israel is to perform, revealing laws regarding vows by men and women, and recounting Israel’s journey to the Promised Land. The boundaries of their inheritance are identified in Chapter 34 with the inheritance of the Levites declared as cities among all tribes rather than secluded individual land.

For those keeping up with the daily readings, we have also completed the book fo Deuteronomy and I’ll be posting about that book in the next few days. May the Lord speak through His Words to your heart and provide direction to your life. I pray that you open the Scripture with an open heart, one ready to receive the word of God and that He may plant a seed that only He can grow. God bless!

ESV Daily Reading Bible Halley’s Bible Handbook
ESV Study Bible