Why Should We Bother Reading the Book of Numbers?
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Of the sixty-six books of the Bible, some books are more widely read than others.
Unfortunately, many readers avoid certain books of the Bible, not because they see them as less important, but often because they don’t know very much about them or don’t know where to start.
For some Christians, Numbers is one of these books.
The book of Numbers, named for the two numberings of Israel following the Exodus from Egypt, is set in the thirty-eight-year period of Israel’s wandering in the desert. Though many Christians may gloss over the book of Numbers because of the extensive list of names and numbers found in chapters 1 and 26, the fourth book of the Bible explores several important and beautiful theological themes that Christians today should study.
Of course, there are some Christians who also downplay the significance (or relevance) of the Old Testament altogether, choosing instead to focus solely on the gospels, fulfillment of the Law, and New Covenant established through Jesus Christ.
While the Gospel is the center of the Christian life and faith and should be the starting point of Christian study, discounting or disregarding the Old Testament robs the believer of important context for Christ’s ministry and mission in the New Testament.
It would be like reading the final book in a trilogy and skipping the first two novels entirely. Yes, the last book may detail the ultimate triumph of the heroes and final victory over the forces of evil, but without the previous books and their set up, it would be difficult if not impossible to fully understand or even appreciate what the final victory really means.
The same is true of the Bible.
We must remember that Scripture exists as one narrative, inspired by God and told in many parts. Old and New Testaments must, therefore, be studied together.
So how does this influence our reading and understanding of the book of Numbers?
What Is Numbers Really About?
By all historical accounts, the book of Numbers begins about a year after the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, as recorded in the book of Exodus.
In their first year free from slavery, the Israelites had journey to Mt. Sinai and there entered into a covenant with God, receiving the Law handed down though Moses.
Authorship of the book of Numbers, the Bible and most scholars affirm, belongs to Moses, who likely wrote the bulk of the text in the final year of his life (Joshua 8:31; 2 Kings 14:6; Nehemiah 8:1; Mark 12:26; John 7:19). Remaining portions were likely completed and edited by Hebrew scribes after Moses’ death. The main text, however, came from Moses’ hand.
However, where the book of Leviticus covers about a month in Israel’s post-Exodus history, the book of Numbers spans closer to forty years (1444-1405 B.C.).
Although the book of Numbers is named in the English language for the numbering of Israel’s fighting forces as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, the original Hebrew title focuses more on Israel’s “wandering in the desert” as the prominent theme of the book, more than the actual census taking.
In many ways, Israel’s “wandering” might be a more appropriate starting point to frame our understanding of the book of Numbers.
But why did an 11-day journey to the Promised Land become a nearly 40-year experience of wandering in the desert?
Disbelief and Punishment
As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land (Numbers 1:1-10:10), God instructed Moses to number the fighting men for battle (Numbers 1:2). If the count presented is to be read literally, Israel’s army could have numbered close to 600,000 fighting men, putting the actual Hebrew population in the range of 2 to 2 ½ million.
With the army counted and final preparations in order, the generation of Israelites who’d been delivered from Egypt was now ready to begin the conquest of Canaan and enter the land God had promised them.
However, in Numbers 14, doubt and disbelief got the better of God’s people, who now refused to cross the Jordan River.
It did not matter that God had parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-31), struck the Egyptians with plagues (Exodus 7:14-12:51), and defeated Israel’s enemies. It did not matter that Israel had entered into a covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, been handed the divine Law of God, or been led to their destination by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. It did not matter that God had delivered His people from Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm (Deuteronomy 4:34). It did not matter that the report of the land was as good as promised (Numbers 13:27).
When ten of the twelve spies saw the people of Canaan, they reported back, “we are not able to go up against the people, because they are too strong for us… the land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature… and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:32-33).
Rather than turning to the more accurate report of Joshua and Caleb, who encouraged the people to be courageous and trust in the power and promises of God, the Israelites trembled, refusing to take another step.
As punishment for their disobedience and disbelief, all adults over the age of twenty, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, would be forbidden from ever entering the Promised Land. They would wander the desert until every member of the older generation who’d been delivered from Egypt had died off (Numbers 14:26-38).
Thus, a people who had seen the miracles and wonders of God firsthand, forfeited their inheritance and never got to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. They instead would spend the rest of their lives wandering through sand and rock rather than enjoying a land “flowing with milk and honey.” That land would be reserved for their children.
From then on (Numbers 15-25), the older generation would begin to die off as a new generation came of age, a span of roughly thirty-seven to thirty-eight years.
Most of the events, therefore, recorded in the book of Numbers take place in the second and fortieth year following the Exodus from Egypt.
According to John MacArthur, “the lack of material devoted to this thirty-seven-year-period, in comparison with the other years of the journey from Egypt to Canaan, communicates how wasted these years were because of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord and His consequence judgment.” (166)
That being said, God was not done with the nation of Israel.
Only after the previous generation had died off would the next generation be given the opportunity to finally enter the Promised Land as they settled on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River (Numbers 26:64-65).
In Numbers 26, a second numbering of God’s people begins the history of the second generation. This group, led by Joshua, would hold to the promises of God, trust in God’s power, and act in obedience to God’s Word.
Their story and the story of Israel’s conquest of Canaan continue into the books of Deuteronomy and later Joshua.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Christoph Auer
Why Is Numbers Worth Reading?
The book of Numbers is an important chapter in Israel’s history and the relationship God shared with His covenant people. It’s easy, however, for Christians today to get lost in the names and numbers, genealogies, and customs of the Old Testament, particularly the Hebrew Torah.
Historical context is always key to understanding a book like Numbers. Studying the law, sacrificial systems, and customs of ancient Israel, as outlined by God during this time, is also important to identifying the various ways Christ Himself fulfilled the Law, ushered in a new covenant, and became the ultimate (and final) sacrifice for man’s sin in the New Testament.
Of course, the book of Numbers includes important foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice in the story of the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:9-20) as well as God’s ability to turn what man meant for evil into good in the story of Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:22-41).
However, the pattern of human sin and disobedience, in contrast with God’s faithfulness, is a resounding theme throughout the Bible and human history; and there are several important takeaways from the book of Numbers that Christians of all generations should pay attention to.
God Is Faithful and True to His Promises
Long lists of names and numbers may not be that interesting to most contemporary readers; and some readers aren’t as interested in ancient histories as they probably should be.
It’s worth noting that, as Israel began to forget its history and the goodness and faithfulness of God, they soon forgot who they were and all God had promised to do in and through them.
However, the history and numbering of Israel’s population in the book of Numbers should, at the very least, be recognized as a testament to God’s faithfulness and the ongoing fulfillment of His promise to the nation of Israel.
Failure to learn from the past often proves calamitous for the present and future.
God Himself had promised in His covenant with Abraham that He would make him into a “great nation” and “bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you” (Genesis 12:2-3).
He would, “establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land where you live as a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:7-8).
Furthermore, God promised that He would, “multiply your (Abraham’s) seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand, which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies” (Genesis 22:17).
From Egypt to Canaan, God remained faithful and true to His promises from even generations past.
There Are Consequence for Disobedience and Disbelief
On the flipside, as God was faithful in His end of the bargain, Israel often rebelled against God and doubted Him even after He had proven Himself time and time again.
The memories of God’s people, even those who have seen the miracles of God at work in their lives, are often short. And as we see in the book of Numbers, there are consequences for disobedience and disbelief.
There’s a reason why, after Moses had passed away and Joshua had been called to step into the mantel of leadership, that God frequently told His servant to “be strong and courageous” and “do not fear” or “be dismayed” (Joshua 1:9).
Fear and doubt are often what cause us to turn our attention away from God or forget His promises. In doing so, we begin to see the world through what we can and cannot do, not what God wants to do and can do in and through us. We make our situation about ourselves, and we trust, not in God’s power or promises, but in our own achievements and abilities.
Taken to one extreme, we become the god of our own lives, governed by pride and not submission; taken to other, we begin to see ourselves as grasshoppers in a world of giants. Both fail to acknowledge God as just, powerful, and faithful lord and king.
In any case, pride and rebellion often lead to defeat, fear and doubt often lead to despair, and disbelief and disobedience often lead to wandering and wasted years.
Courage and obedience, on the other hand, allow us to enter, experience, and enjoy God’s promises in our lives.
These are lessons Christians today can learn and apply from the book of Numbers, a book that is insightful, relevant, and useful for teaching and encouraging believers in their faith.
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