At the beginning of the Book of Numbers, the action of the story has not moved forwards since the end of the Book of Exodus. God’s people are in the wilderness, camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, where they had received the law from God. The Book of Leviticus – which comes between Exodus and Numbers – is a manual for the priests, providing a wealth of information concerning the requirements necessary for the worship of the people. It revolves around the theme, 'Be holy'. But the action of the story doesn't move on at all. So as we begin the Book of Numbers, we are still in the Sinai Peninsula.
Numbers is a book about the Wilderness wanderings. Not only are the people wandering through the physical wilderness, but in a spiritual sense, we get a glimpse of what it means to be in a spiritual wilderness. We read about a people who fail to trust God. It could just as easily be entitled the Book of Murmurings - murmurings and rebellion against God. ‘The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ‘How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.’ (Number 14:26-27) There is severe resistance to going God's way. We catch a glimpse of God's views on the events recorded in the Book of Numbers in the book of Psalms:
'For 40 years I was angry with that generation; I said, 'They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways' (Psalm 95:10).
Yet despite the people's failures and mistakes, there is another side to this theme of wilderness wandering. God is always close to the people; He will discipline those whom He loves, and His purposes will always prevail. And ultimately, God's love, discipline and purpose bring us back to the way of holiness. The events in this book parallel the story of God's love for all His people of every age, as we too make our pilgrimage towards God. God’s presence with His people finds its fulfilment when we come to the realisation that God is with us in Jesus Christ. We know that God is with us, to protect us and to care for all our needs.
So how does this book begin?
The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: ‘take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you.’ (Number 1:1-4)
These opening verses remind us of some important truths.
· God always takes the initiative in his dealings with his people. The story begins: 'The Lord spoke to Moses....' It is the Lord who sets the mood for this book. The Lord is not dependent upon our faith or upon human activity. Similarly, it is the Lord who calls us to follow him. Jesus says to his disciples in John's gospel. 'You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go out and bear fruit...' How easily we think in terms of having to bring God into line with what we want. But prayer, at heart, is about bringing our wills into line with God, and His purposes. God tells us how we should live, and what we should do.
· Our relationship with God is rooted in the here and now. God is with us in history. He is not just an aspect of our imagination, or a vague philosophical thought. He is real, and bases His relationship upon real events, in real time. The Lord speaks to Moses 'in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year, after they had left Egypt.' Time and place are important. We need the memory of specific occasions so that we know when the Lord has spoken to us.
These forty wilderness years are not an easy time for the nation, and inevitably there is discontent amongst the people: dissension, resentment against the authority of Moses, and on more than one occasion, open rebellion. It is only the character of Moses, combined with the presence of God in the tent of Meeting which stands in the centre of the community, which hold the group together.
The first attempt to occupy the Promised Land is abortive. Numbers 13 contains the account of the twelve spies, sent to Moses to spy out the land and assess how best to take it. They return with a good account. It was indeed ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’ but ten of the spies maintain that they could never succeed. They were ‘grasshoppers’ compared to the inhabitants. Only Joshua and Caleb were in favour of entry. This lack of faith incurred the Lord's wrath, and it is only when the original generation has died out, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, that the people are enabled to enter the land.
Consequently, the Book of Numbers is set entirely in the Sinai Peninsula, and highlights, (or maybe ‘lowlights’) some of the significant events of the wilderness wanderings. The story ends with the people on the threshold of the Promised Land.
The main themes of the book, which we can learn from, are as follows.
The census: this stresses the importance of discipline and order in what we do. A bit of sensible administration is essential for good order. It reminds us that we need to be ready to serve God.
God is always close and caring. Despite the ‘murmurings’ and complaining of the people, God is faithful and ever-present. He is involved in the story, working on behalf of his people, in history, as depicted by his presence in the cloud:
'The cloud covered the Tent of the Meeting by Day, and in the evening a brightness like fire appeared over it till morning. So it was always. The cloud covered it by day and a brightness like fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted from the tent, the Israelites struck camp, and at the place where the cloud settled, there they pitched their camp.' (Numbers 9:15-23)
God describes Himself as being with His people, which puts obligations upon them. As they are about to enter the Promised Land, He says to them, 'You must not make the land which you inhabit unclean, the land in which I dwell; for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites'(35:34).
God will discipline when necessary. God’s love demands a sense of holiness and obedience to His will. When the people wander away from God, they are given a suitable punishment. We see instances of the people rebelling against God, mumbling, and doubting Him, and we also see that the Lord tests His people with trials. Disobedience leads to judgement:
Judgment is pronounced on the sins people. There are consequences to actions.
11:1-3 The people complain about their hardships. The Lord punishes them with
fire.
21:4-9 The people become impatient and complain about their troubles. The Lord
punishes them with snakes.
25:1-5 The people begin to worship other gods and indulge in sexual sin. They are
punished with death.
25:6-13 This is a specific incident, concerning the sin of one man, which is
symptomatic of the sins of the whole nation.
Judgement is pronounced on the leaders:
14:36-37 The spies who went in Canaan and brought back a poor report and made the people complain were killed by plague.
Chapter 16 refers to an incident of rebellion from amongst the Levites, and the consequent judgement upon sin.
Judgment is pronounced on Miriam.
12:10 Even Miriam joins in with a complaint against Moses and is given leprosy for seven days.
Judgment is pronounced on Moses and Aaron.
20:12 Because they failed to trust God, they will not lead the people into the Promised Land.
God's purpose will always prevail. Despite the peoples' murmurings, the Lord will have His way. Promises were made to the Patriarchs, (32:10-12), and even though the people have consistently disobeyed God, He will bring about what He has promised.
God's love, discipline and purpose are always holy. The story of Numbers shows that God demands that we take him seriously. He is a God of love and faithfulness, but He calls us to be honest with Him, and to live in a way that honours Him. We are called to serve Him faithfully. The Law is not an automatic formula for achieving holiness, but it offers us safeguards against taking God's holiness for granted. Familiarity breeds contempt. The people must maintain their vigilance and strive to lead holy lives. Time and care have to be taken to prepare oneself to approach God.
God's blessing is upon the people. The Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27) is one of the best-known passages in the Old Testament. It stands as a reminder that God is with His people:
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ (Numbers 6:22 – 27)
· The Lord's face: this is an image that is used metaphorically. The face of the Lord is depicted as the source of light. In His face, we see His character and attitudes. When the Lord turns his face away, it is seen as a sign of His displeasure (see Ezekiel 39:23). When He sets His face against some one it is seen as a sign of hostility (see Jeremiah 21:10).
When we use the phrase ‘put his face to’ we see it as a sign of determination that he intends to accomplish that task (Jeremiah 42:17). In Luke 9:51, we read that Jesus ‘set his face to go towards Jerusalem’.
· The Lord is setting His face to confer a blessing: i.e. to give his people good gifts of crops, herds, fertile seasons, children, general prosperity, and to protect them from bad harvests, enemies, and all that can harm them.
· The Lord is making His face to shine: literally, He is pleasuring in the company of those He shines upon. He is accepting Israel straight from the heart. This is a picture of the joy of a new dawn, a new beginning with hope and a promise of good things to come.
· The Lord is a gracious God: he shows undeserved favour to His followers.
· And to give His peace: the shalom, the wholeness, the successful issue of all that which we embark upon.
· The goodness and graciousness of God shines through this passage, and depicts a God who is with His people, and stands by them throughout their murmurings.
The Book of Numbers ends with the people standing on the threshhold of the Promised Land. In Chapter 27, we see Moses passing on the leadership to Joshua, and some of the more important aspects of the Law are re-stated. The stage is now set for entry into the Promised Land. But we, as readers, are not quite there yet. The Bible story includes the Book of Deuteronomy before the action finally moves forwards!
Comments