ESV Global Study Bible :: The Global Message of Numbers

THE GLOBAL MESSAGE OF
NUMBERS

Numbers in Redemptive History

The modern title of the book of Numbers is probably one reason that the church often neglects this important part of Scripture. The title, together with a first reading of its early chapters, may mislead the reader into believing that the book is primarily a detailed census of the population of Israel. The original Hebrew title of the book, however, is "In the Wilderness," and this accurately describes the essence of the book. The original purpose of Numbers was to warn the second generation of Israel not to lapse into the rebellion and unbelief of their first-generation parents, lest they also perish in judgment in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land. Yet its deeper purpose was to encourage them that the Lord was with them, and that he intended to fulfill his promise to their father Abraham to give his descendants the land and through them to bless the nations.

Numbers thus has something to say to Christians all around the globe today, for this book advances the history of redemption for all peoples—the story of salvation that began in Eden, was given as a solemn promise in Genesis 12:1-3, and which we see finally accomplished in Revelation 21-22.

Conquest of the Promised Land

In Numbers, Moses seeks to encourage the second generation of Israelites to advance to the Promised Land by faith and begin the war to take possession of it. This will be a holy war. The Israelite camp houses a holy army, for the Lord dwells at the center of the camp and has ordered its military configuration and census. The camp itself is arranged in three concentric circles (or squares), from greater to lesser holiness. The holy tabernacle sits at the center. The Levites, encamped immediately around the tabernacle, provide a protective space between it and the rest of the camp. The twelve tribes surround them as the outermost ring. As Israel prepares to set off from Mount Sinai toward Canaan, the tabernacle becomes the royal traveling tent of a King on the march to retake what is rightfully his. The camp is a holy army preparing for war to take the Promised Land by conquest.

Tested in the Wilderness

Israel's wilderness wandering can be seen as an "already–not yet" stage in redemptive history. Israel had already experienced God's salvation in their exodus deliverance from Egypt, but they had not yet obtained the Promised Land. The wilderness becomes the place of testing. When Israel first entered the wilderness, the Lord gave them manna from heaven, not merely to provide for their needs but also that "I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not" (Ex. 16:4; compare 20:20). The wilderness was no easy stretch of land through which to journey. Hot and dry, it offered no shelter from the sweltering heat. Like much of the world today, the wilderness was barren, harsh, windswept, and inhospitable. Plants did not grow, and humans struggled to survive. God intended the wilderness to function as a test for his people, to reveal whether their faith was genuine or not. Those with genuine faith persevered with the Lord through the hardships and trials; those who did not trust the Lord fell away into apostasy and rebellion.

Universal Themes in Numbers

Abrahamic, messianic, and new creational themes are all seen in Balaam's oracles (Numbers 23-24). Genesis 12:3 and 49:9 are echoed in Numbers 24:9. Israel is reaffirmed as the bearer of a messianic hope and the channel through which the Abrahamic promise will be realized and the nations of the world blessed. The messianic promise from Genesis 49:9 of an ultimate king of the nations from the line of Judah is picked up and expounded (Num. 23:21; 24; 24:7; 9; 17-19). This king will bear Israel's vocation upon his shoulders and will fulfill the Abrahamic promise. Through him the world will be blessed and the curses of Genesis 3 will be overcome (see "The Global Message of Genesis" compare Ps. 72:17). He will rule over the world as the king of Israel, depicted in a vision as an Eden-paradise-kingdom (Num. 24:3-7). All these hopes are finally fulfilled in Jesus

The Global Message of Numbers for Today

Murmuring rather than trusting. Grumbling plagues the global church today as it always has. Complaining when circumstances are difficult, when leaders appear ineffective, or when resources are scarce may seem like the normal and even right thing to do. The book of Numbers warns, however, that grumbling is taken by the Creator-King as treason. Whenever Israel murmured, God's anger was roused and he broke out in judgment against them (Num. 11:1-3; 33-34; 12:10-16; 14:20-23; 27-38; 16:20-35; 46-50; 20:12; 21:6-9). The Lord had set out to test Israel, but Israel tested him instead—ten times (14:22). For their stubborn rebellion, the first generation's bodies were strewn across the desert, and they never saw or entered the Promised Land.

The global church must recognize that grumbling, murmuring, and complaining all flow out of a lack of trust in the promises of its covenant Lord. By covenant, the Lord had become Israel's God and had promised to provide for their needs and protect them. He had also sworn to bring them to the Promised Land, assuring them that it was "flowing with milk and honey"—far better than slavery in Egypt. The people, however, did not trust these promises. Their murmuring reflected the deeper issue of unbelieving hearts. Grumbling, complaining, and murmuring by the church is rebellion against Christ and reveals unbelief in the promises of God. Paul warns the church against such murmuring (Phil. 2:14-15).

Adversity in the wilderness. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Paul refers to several events in Israel's journey through the wilderness. He sees the church as being "in the wilderness," on its way to a Promised Land, having been freed from slavery in an exodus deliverance (see 1 Cor. 5:7). God had tested his people Israel by the difficulties of the wilderness, in order to see if they would trust and obey him in the midst of adverse circumstances. Likewise, the span between the first and second comings of Christ can be seen as the church's own wilderness journey. In his first coming, Christ delivered his people in the exodus deliverance of the cross; at his return, Christ will usher the church into the new creation, the true and final Promised Land. The wilderness march of Israel serves as a pattern of the church's own wilderness march (1 Cor. 10:11).

Our march through this wilderness is not easy, nor does God intend it to be. It is a time of difficulty and suffering. It is a time of testing, to distinguish between those who profess faith in Christ and persevere in obedience to him (thus revealing genuine faith) and those who profess faith yet fall away in apostasy (revealing lack of true saving faith). Through difficult circumstances, the church must trust Christ as we march homeward. Christ has promised to every believer who overcomes the wilderness of this world the privilege "to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:7). He has assured the church that he will bring her safely home to this Promised Land. This is indescribably better than any pleasures that the fallen world may offer (Heb. 11:24-26).