Numbers
03.23.22
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it. (Numbers 14:22-23)
We come now to the Book of Numbers. As we look at each of these books, we are focusing finding Jesus Christ in their pages.
‘Numbers’ is derived from the two numberings of the tribes of Israel found within its pages. It is important to notice that the generation numbered at the first and the one numbered at the last are not the same.
While Leviticus dealt with the believer’s worship, Numbers deals with their walk. Its original name in the Hebrew Bible was ‘In the Wilderness.’ Some have suggested that the book be called ‘Murmurings’ for all of the complaining that went on. There are seven accounts of murmurings, concerning various things such as the way, the food, the giants and their leaders.
It is the fourth of the Five Books of Moses. Numbers resumes where Exodus left off. There is a one month gap between the two books, with Leviticus coming in-between.
The key verses noted at the beginning of this article concern the generation which would not see the Promised Land because of their lack of faith. Their failure to trust God in particular concerns the events at Kadesh-Barnea, when the nation believed the ten spies and ignored the faith of Joshua and Caleb. As a result the people wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The writer of Hebrews makes a strong point about this was a watershed event in the life of Israel (Hebrews 3:7-19). Paul also comments on this (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). In this we see both the goodness and the severity of God.
We see throughout that our God is a God of order. The Israelites, numbering 2-3 million, were no mob in the wilderness. God planned things out in orderly fashion: the tribes were arranged in encampment around the Tabernacle, an encampment which may have entailed 10 square miles. The Levites were divided into three groups and given specific duties. The tribes marched in order as they traveled.
The first twenty-five chapters concern the first generation of Israel that left Egypt and entered the wilderness. The last eleven chapters concern the next generation, that group which would enter Canaan. The central geographical point in the book is Kadesh-Barnea.
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is seen in this book in many places. We will note four of them. First, He is the Rock smitten by Moses, not once but twice. The first smiting points to Christ dying once for all for the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 10:4). Moses’ striking of the rock the second time cancelled out that picture and led to his failure to enter the Promised Land.
Second, Christ is the Brazen Serpent set upon a pole. Lifted up upon the cross, He is the way of deliverance from sin for all who look to Him in faith (John 3:14).
The Cities of Refuge in Canaan point to Christ. Only in Christ do we find refuge from the storms of life and of death. (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 6:18)
Finally, the red heifer pictures Christ in that it was without blemish, wore no yoke, and was slain outside the camp as Jesus was for us. (Hebrews 13:12)