Lord’s Day, Vol. 12 No. 15
Opening the Book of Numbers
As God’s people draw near to Him, they shall find God drawing near to them. Just as the man with the withered hand was told to stretch forth his hand by our Lord Jesus, he obeyed, and his hand was restored whole as the other (Luke 6:10). Jesus was there right in front of him to heal him, all he had to do was to obey the Lord to stretch out his hand.
Luke 6:10 (KJV) And looking round about upon them all, he (Jesus) said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
We see there the nature of the first act of faith when a soul is converted to God. That first act of faith must bring forth subsequent acts of faith trusting in Christ as evidence of true faith and conversion.
As we open the Book of Numbers, it is recorded in Numbers 1-10 how the LORD organised the children of Israel to inherit the land according to His promise and they were obedient and fully compliant to His guidance with the rearing up of the Tabernacle. However, from Numbers 11:1, the children of Israel in the wilderness had doubts, hesitations and questions concerning God’s ability, willingness and resolve to see them through life in the wilderness to enter the Promised Land.
Numbers 11:1 (KJV) And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
The first sign of faithlessness was the complaining spirit that stifled their passage to the Promised Land.
The word “complain” means “to find fault”. Wherein lies the source of discontentment? Matthew Henry observed well, “There were some secret grudgings and discontents among them, which as yet did not break out in an open mutiny. But how great a matter did this little fire kindle!”
It is traced to “the mixt multitude” in Numbers 11:4 as the source of the discontentment “… the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again…” The mixt multitude were not the children of Israel but Egyptians who followed them out of Egypt seeking the prosperity of entering the Promised Land. The harsh conditions of the wilderness, to this faithless opportunist, exposed their faithlessness. It affected the steadfastness of the entire Israelite camp – Song of Solomon 2:15 (KJV) Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
In response, the LORD said unto Moses rebuking the children of Israel for their faithlessness, “Is the LORD’s hand waxed short?” (Numbers 11:23a). The children of Israel doubted God’s ability to supply the food they wanted in the wilderness. It was a needless worry!
The climax of Israel’s rebellion was when ten of the twelve spies who were sent to scout the Promised Land returned with an evil report causing the people of Israel to doubt God’s will for them to inherit the land – Numbers 14:36 (KJV) And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
“To murmur” is to grudge obstinately or complain against God, to grumble, to howl, to distrust God’s will and ability to overcome their foes to inherit the land. This was the climax of the Book of Numbers for it is recorded from here the reason for their 40 years wandering in the wilderness till the entire murmuring generation perished in the wilderness.
There is recorded also in Numbers 16 the rebellion of the Kohathites led by Korah against Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership. The LORD caused the earth to open and swallow up the rebels – Numbers 16:30-32 (KJV) But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. The divine appointment of Aaron to the high priest’s office was affirmed by the almond rod that budded – Numbers 17:10 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
Numbers 21 further records Israel’s rebellion, their failure to trust God’s care for them – Numbers 21:4-6 (KJV) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Numbers 11-21 records internal conflicts within Israel whilst Numbers 22-25 records external temptations by the Moabites that caused Israel to fall when they committed harlotry instigated by the prophet Balaam whom the Moabite king Balak engaged to curse Israel – Numbers 25:1 (KJV) And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Numbers 26-36 records the new generation that arose in the wilderness and the preparation made for them to possess the land. The second census that was made in Numbers 26 to number the new generation is contrasted with the first census in Numbers 1 of the old generation who perished in the wilderness after 40 years of wandering.
God appointed Joshua to lead the new generation to inherit the Promised Land – Numbers 27:22-23 (KJV) And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
The Levitical laws were reiterated in Numbers 28-30. Numbers 31 records the victorious battle of the new generation against the Midianites. Numbers 32 records the division of the land East of Jordan to Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh. Numbers 33 gives a chronology of Israel journey after they left Egypt to the plain of Moab, at the brink of entering the Promised Land.
The borders of land of their inheritance in Canaan were mapped out and given to the children of Israel in Numbers 34. In Numbers 35 was assigned the cities of the Levites and six cities of refuge with Numbers 36 closing the book with special instructions pertaining to the allocation of inheritance. Amen.
Yours lovingly
Pastor Lek Aik Wee