Why study the Book of Numbers?

The Septuagint called this book Numbers because the of the censuses at the beginning and end of the book. But in the Hebrew Scriptures, the book is called Bamidbar, which means “In The Wilderness.” This title comes from the first line of the book, which says, “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” (Numbers 1:1).

“In The Wilderness” is a more appropriate title because this book will describe Israel’s travel in the wilderness from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land. Numbers is the sequel to Exodus, which we can see by reading the first verse, and we are picking up where we left off. The dating tells us that it has been one year since the exodus. They have been at Mount Sinai for 11 months. During those 11 months, God taught the people his laws, as revealed in the second half of the book of Exodus and all of the books of Leviticus.

The Book of Numbers tells the story of a people who live between accomplishing their redemption and its consummation. They live between the exodus and the promised land. They live in between the times, enjoying the exodus but not yet fully realising God’s promises and the promised land. It is so easy to declare these Old Testament books irrelevant to our lives. They are stories of the past, and we might sometimes see good points that we can learn from today.

After describing some of the events recorded in the book of Numbers, the apostle Paul declares: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:11-12 ESV)

Notice that the apostle Paul says these things were written down for us, not for them. They are examples for us. We live as they did, between salvation accomplished and salvation completed. We live between the work of God in accomplishing our salvation exodus at the cross and when that salvation will be brought to its consummation when Christ returns. God did not bring Israel out of Egypt to abandon them to make their own way through the wilderness.
In the same way, God does not abandon us to make our own way to the promised land of eternity as we walk through this wilderness. Exodus is what God has done to set you free. Numbers is what God is doing to bring you to the promised land. Thus, the NT makes many references to the events that happen in the book of Numbers.

We face similar temptations of living in the wilderness.

1. Barrenness. Temporal and material things cannot satisfy spiritual beings.

2. Homelessness. The soul cannot find rest in this wilderness world.

3. Pathlessness. If left to himself, man is bound to stray and lose himself.

4. Perilousness. The wiles of the devil, the seductions of the world, and the lusts of the flesh.

5. Aimlessness. The years pass, opportunities come and go, and so little seems accomplished, so little progress made in our character, so little actual work done.

But God is never silent. He is ever speaking and working in the wilderness - if we would listen and learn.

Application Question:

God gives each of us a specific calling. What has He called you to do for Him?

Quote:

Temptation exercises our faith and teaches us to pray. - A. B. Simpson

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that the events in the book of Numbers are examples for me on dealing with temptations. Help me to learn from them. Amen