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Numbers is the fourth book of (i) the Pentateuch; (ii) the Old Testament; and (iii) the Bible.
(i) Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch.
It follows on from Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus.
It is followed by Deuteronomy.
The word, ‘Pentateuch’, is a Greek word.
It means ‘five books’.
In the Pentateuch, there are five books – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
To understand Numbers, we must go back to Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus and we must move beyond Numbers to Deuteronomy.
Genesis is ‘the book of beginnings’.
It tells us about the beginning of creation (chapters 1-2).
It tells us about the beginning of sin (chapter 3).
It tells us about the beginning of salvation.
In 3:15, we have the first promise of the Saviour.
Following the flood of judgment and the ark of salvation (chapters 6-9), the story moves on to God’s choice of Abraham.
God’s promise was given to Abraham – ‘I will make of you a great nation’ (12:2).
The nation of Israel, to whom the book of Numbers is addressed, is the fulfilment of this promise of God.
Behind the nation of Israel, there is the God who chooses.
As we read the book of Numbers, we must remember that God addresses Israel as His chosen people.
In Exodus, we see God as the God of redemption and Israel as His redeemed people.
The people of Israel have been chosen by God.
They have been redeemed by Him.
He has brought them out of their slavery in Egypt.
Leviticus emphasizes that God’s chosen people are called to be holy.
Redeemed by the Lord, they are called to live as His holy people.
The key idea in Leviticus is expressed in 11:45 – ‘you shall be holy, for I am holy’.
In Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus, the people of Israel are described as a chosen people, a redeemed people and a holy people.
In the opening chapter of Numbers, we learn that the people of God are to wage war for God.
Notice the recurring phrase – ‘every man able to go forth to war’.
If God’s purpose is to be fulfilled among the people of Israel, His people must be ready for warfare – spiritual warfare in which ‘the tabernacle of the testimony’ is to be at the heart of Israel’s life.
The worship of God and the work of God are to be the chief priorities among the people of God.
Following Numbers, we have the fifth book of the Pentateuch – Deuteronomy.
Numbers takes Israel to the borders of the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy contains further instructions given to Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy provides the link between the first four books of the Pentateuch and the remainder of the Old Testament.
(ii) Numbers is the fourth book of the Old Testament.
Following its first five books, the Old Testament story continues, in the book of Joshua, with the conquest of Canaan.
As we read of Israel’s warfare for God, we will understand why the first chapter of Numbers laid such emphasis on ‘every man able to go forth to war’.
The Old Testament story continues through times of rebellion and times of revival.
It ends with the distinct impression of incompleteness.
The final words of the Old Testament are words of promise concerning what God is going to do in the future.
(iii) Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible.
We do not look back to the book of Numbers because we want to become Old Testament Jews.
We look back to the book of Numbers because it is part of the context out of which the Christian Faith has grown.
To understand our Christian Faith, we need to go back to the Old Testament.
We need to go back to the Pentateuch.
As we do this, we will come to the book of Numbers.
This book will help us to see the divine significance of events.
It will help us to see the bigger picture.
Looking at the bigger picture – God’s saving purpose – we will see beyond the wilderness.
We will look beyond the wilderness to the Promised Land.
We will look beyond the Promised Land.
We will catch a glimpse of something greater than ‘the land flowing with milk and honey’.
Looking beyond the Promised Land, we will catch a glimpse of the promised Saviour – our Lord Jesus Christ.
The name, ‘Numbers’ comes from the fact that this book contains numberings, notably in chapters 1 and 26.
In the fifth word of the first line of the Hebrew text, we have a far more appropriate title – ‘in the wilderness.’
What is the meaning of the events which took place while Israel was ‘in the wilderness?’
This is the question we must ask as we read the book of Numbers.
From this book, we learn that the wilderness was both a place of promise and a place of danger.
There was the Promised Land, lying ahead of them.
There were the dangers which kept them ‘in the wilderness’ for much longer than they really needed to be.
The story of Numbers begins two years after Israel’s Exodus from Egypt.
The people, who had been brought out of slavery in Egypt, are now learning to trust God in the wilderness.
They are not, however, very good learners.
For thirty-eight years, they were virtually at a standstill.
As we read of their wilderness wanderings, their failure to move forward in faith and obedience, we are challenged regarding our own spiritual progress.
If God’s people had advanced in their obedience to God, they would not have wandered in the wilderness for such a long time.
Numbers tells us about their wilderness wanderings so that we might learn from their mistakes.
The events in the wilderness speak of danger, the danger of standing still when God wants His people to move forward.
The events in the wilderness speak of promise, the encouraging assurance that God did not give up on His wayward people.
In His sight, they were chosen, redeemed and holy.
Apply this to today’s Church.
Where will we be thirty-eight years from now?
There is the danger of drifting into years of spiritual wandering with no significant forward movement in God’s work.
There is the promise of God’s faithfulness, the assurance that He will provide us with all that we need to carry His work forward.
We must believe the promise and overcome the dangers.
How are we to enjoy God’s blessing?
In chapter 2, we learn that God’s people were to be united around the tabernacle with no gaps in the ranks.
This is a vital lesson for today’s Church.
We are not to pull in different directions.
We are to pull together, embodying in our worship and witness the beautiful spirit of co-operation which we see in chapter 7. If the work of the Lord is to make progress, there needs to be unity and co-operation.
Everyone has their place in the ongoing work of the Lord.
All who are willing to serve the Lord will find a place in His service.
Before we ever had thoughts of serving the Lord, He had thoughts of calling us into His service.
Chapter 3, with its emphasis on numbering ‘every male from a month old and upward’, underlines the fact that God had been calling us into His service long before we ever had thoughts of serving Him.
In chapter 4, we read about the numbering of ‘the sons from thirty years old to fifty years old, all who can enter the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting’.
This emphasizes that the service of the Lord calls for maturity.
There are two lessons for us here.
(i) The Lord laid His hand upon us in salvation long before we ever reached out our hands for Him in service.
(ii) If we are to be worthy servants of the Lord, we must press on to spiritual maturity.
Why is it that so many people, upon whom God’s hand has been laid early in life, never attain their true spiritual stature?
Is it not because they have been distracted, allowing ‘self’ to intrude where only God should be?
This was the problem with the people of Israel in the wilderness.
Instead of God-centred blessing, they chose self-centred rebellion.
God wants to bless us.
He wants us to enjoy the blessing, described in 6:24-26 – ‘The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace’.
This blessing is given to us in the Name of the Lord (v.
27).
Notice the threefold repetition of the Name of the Lord – ‘The Lord …’ (v.
24), ‘The Lord …’ (v.
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