Numbers

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

      The original readers would have been very similar if not the same as those who would have read or heard the other books of the Pentateuch. We know they were the Israelites and they were close to getting into the promised land. God was refining His people to prepare them for this time. They were waiting for God to lead them to this land. Num 13:22 gives us a clue that they still identified with Egypt. It says, “all descendants of Anak-lived. (The ancient town of Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyption city of Zoan)” Because Moses used this as a reference it tells us that they still were familiar with Egypt.

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

      Moses has been getting increasingly bold in his leadership. His faith in God has increased and he has no problem trusting that God will come through and continue to be just. Num 16:4-8 shows Moses coming against Korah and his followers and having God choose who He wants to lead the people. Moses was tested by even his brother, but remained faithful and trusting in God. As I read the text and paid attention to the point of view, I saw that he was writing from a leaders point of view. This giving more credit to Moses for having written this book. We see his struggles as the people complained, which is how we see them portrayed most of the time. He continues to intercede for his people as God's anger rages against them. Num 16:23-25 is just one example of Moses being an intermediary for the Israelites. He cares deeply about the people and suffers through a lot as a leader of so many people. Moses never fails to do what the Lord asks of him in this book. The faithfulness of Moses to God is so clear and evident and pleasing to the Lord.

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

      God would not allow people to get too near to His glory. Num 3:38 shows a man dying because he gets to close to the sanctuary. A main theme we see throughout is God's dedication to holiness and making His people a holy people. The tabernacle is one of the main things this book speaks about. The detail and intricate work that it took to make it. The place where God's glory dwells. A sacred place.

      Moses intercedes and this sticks out in this book, because it seems he changes the mind of God a few times. The Israelites complain and complain and complain. Even after just being brought out of harms way by a miracle they complain. God's wonders were never enough to them and they would complain when one thing became difficult. I think their forgetfulness and lack of thanksgiving are the reason for that. They never remember and they don't have faith through their current trials. As Jo said today they had a “murmur cycle.” They complained, God would get angry, there was judgement, Moses intercedes and there is relief. Apart from that cycle the real main theme of this book is refinement of the Israelites. They were a pagan people just like those in Egypt and all over the other lands. God had called them out and was bringing them to Himself. This is not something that would happen overnight and Numbers is part of the process to make them holy. We see this by God's harsh punishments when the people sin. God could not allow sin and though He did show grace, He was firm. Not because He was an angry God, but because He was setting them apart to be a witness to the world.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The primary reason why this book is written is for God to make His people a holy people. There's not much to it. God's people were no where near holy and God was slowly bringing them out of paganism to holiness. All the laws, all the customs, all the sacrifices were to set apart His people. God wanted to give the Israelites the fear of the Lord. He needed them to fear Him and not to go to any other gods. He was showing that He was their God and He was for them. They didn't need anyone else. He showed just how serious He was about setting them apart. That their sin was a serious matter and He could not allow it to infect their nation, tribes or families. Painfully and slowly God is refining His people.

Summary: The book of Numbers is about God refining His people so that they can reflect His glory.

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

      We see that God's glory is too great and He appeared not as a person but as a cloud in Num 11:25 and He spoke to Moses. God poured out His Spirit as well. Something we haven't seen too much in the first few books of the bible. But we know that God enters man and gives them the power to do things they could not do on their own (prophesy). In Num 11:25 God hears His people. He hears their cries and He hears their murmuring. Num 14:34 shows me that I don't want to have God as an enemy. His wrath is great and his punishments are firm. God desires to be feared because of His greatness. Not because of His anger, but we must know and understand this about our God. God is so serious about making His people holy, in Num 15:32-36, He kills a man for working on the Sabbath. Another crazy example is Num 16:31-34, when God splits the earth and swallows up the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. God punishes and gets angry with His people in Num 16:46. It took Aaron running out with incense to purify them as he stood “between the dead and the living.” God is King over all the lands and He proves it in Num 21:34-35. Num 23:18-24 is an excellent example of God's character and nature. One portion in verse 19 says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mnd.” God takes revenge for people as Num 31:2 shows. He is holy. He is always good on His word.

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

      I wasn't able to find too much that I could see as a picture or foretelling of God's redemptive plan, but I did think replica of a poisonous snake was interesting. The best insight I can give to that is it represented their sin. The snake in the garden was Satan and Jesus was sin for us. I see this snake as a picture of Jesus being hung on a cross and taking on the sin of the world. Its not a perfect parallel, but it seems odd that they would have chosen a snake instead of anything else. The whole scenario is a little bit odd, but it's also very powerful if that is indeed what was happening. Another passage I wasn't too sure about was Num 24:17-18. Balaam is prophesying and it seems he is speaking about David or Jesus. Perhaps he is speaking about both of them in this verse. Either way it speaks of someone who is part of God's redemptive plan for mankind. Either of David or of Jesus. We know Jesus came through the line of David so if he is prophesying of David then He is still prophesying about God's future plans for Israel.

Personal Application

      Most of what I found for application came from what Jo shared today. He did an amazing job of making the book apply to us. One thing from Numbers he shared that hit me most was “The Build up to Rebellion.” This is something we have not learned yet as people and especially as the church body. I complain in my “tent” all the time. I feel righteous, that I have a right to complain about what is happening. Here in Deut 1:27 Moses makes a point to mention this part about them complaining in their tents. This is where the damage is done. Where things get blown out of proportion, where people lose sight of what matters, where bitterness grows, where facts get twisted, and where lies or exaggerations happen. How true is that. How many times have I been wrong about something after I have been talking with everyone else except the person involved. It amazes me how prideful I can be in these situations. How fearful I become to talk to the person involved, but can easily share about them with everyone else. Though when Moses is sharing he is talking about them doubting God and complaining about God. It relates really well to anyone. How I can doubt other peoples character before I know the whole story. How I can make judgments about people I barely know. How dangerous this can be when we fail to see people the way God sees people. When we forget that God is the God who judges. He didn't create us to be His little judges all over the earth. He commands us to love. Judgment is not love. Yes we can confront people, but we must confront. We must pray and speak in love, we must actually care about the other person. We have to stop just getting everyone in line and getting off of our little soap boxes and remember that we too are sinners. That we too fail everyday. I am so glad that God is gracious and how great is a community that loves even the worst of sinners. That comes around those who are struggling and loves them back to Jesus. That confronts them in love and walks with them back to the right path. I believe we can see this principle as Moses talks about what He wrote in Numbers.