The book of Numbers reveals what happens when people fail to trust God and disobey him. It is the tragic story of a nation poised to enter a fruitful land God has promised them. Because of fear and unbelief, they refuse to enter it. The first section of Numbers tells about the generation that drew back and who ended up wandering in the wilderness. The second section of Numbers centers on their descendants. They are preparing to enter the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.
Numbers ends with that second generation poised to enter the land but it closes with nothing settled. The reader is left with the question: Will they trust God and take the land or will they too draw back?
What does it say?
The book of Numbers covers the wilderness wanderings of the nation of Israel. In fact, the Hebrew title appropriately means "in the desert." After their stay at Mount Sinai, God wanted Israel to enter the Promised Land. However, they failed to trust God and refused to take the land. As a judgment from God, they wandered in the desert for nearly forty years.
Numbers focuses on two distinct generations. The first generation, and their disastrous rebellion, is the focus of the first 25 chapters. They are carefully "numbered" and prepared to take possession of the land of Canaan, only to reject God's promptings. The second generation is the focus of chapters 26 through 36. They, too, are numbered and prepared, being reminded of their ancestors' failure. The book closes with Israel camped across the Jordan river from the Promised Land, again poised to enter.
Faces & Places
The central character in the book of Numbers, as in Exodus and Leviticus, is Moses. He serves as God's voice to the grumbling and rebellious children of Israel. Moses' brother Aaron also plays a significant role, primarily as the leader of the priests. Caleb and Joshua stand out as courageous men willing to trust God, and are rewarded accordingly. A fascinating character by the name of Balaam emerges in this book. He is summoned by a foreign king to curse Israel, but can only respond with blessings.
Significant places include Mount Sinai, the starting point in this book. A location called Kadesh in the desert of Paran is where the Israelites camped while waiting to see if they were to enter the Promised Land. The land of Canaan is entered only briefly by twelve men, but still looms large throughout Numbers as the ultimate goal. The dominating "place" in the book, however, is the desert. A number of different deserts are mentioned, emphasizing that this was truly a desert experience for Israel.
Key Verses & Themes
Blessing:
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Disobedience:
Numbers 14:22-23 "Not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times—not one who has treated me with contempt will ever see [the Land]."
Worship:
Throughout this book, despite the repeated rebellions by the people, attention is given to Israel's worship of God.
So what?
Numbers presents two strange bedfellows: God's wrath and his blessings. The focal point of the book is God's extreme displeasure over the Israelites' refusal to trust and obey (chapter 14). Their penalty was years of wandering around the desert. How do I experience God's displeasure? What does discipline or chastening look like? Has God ever placed me in a "desert" in order to shape me (as he did Moses), to discipline me (like the Israelites), or for some other reason?
Another major thrust of this book is that God deeply desires to enrich his people. He even instructs the priests how to ask God to bless! (6:22-27) Because of God's leading, a strange man (Balaam) can only utter blessings rather than the curses he was hired to pronounce. What blessings from God's hand am I aware of today? If I am not experiencing his riches, is there something that might be getting in the way?
