Numbers Series

March 27, 2021

The Hebrew title of the 4th book of the Bible is “Bemidbar” or “In the Wilderness”. It is the continuing saga of God’s journey with Israel from Egypt to the border of the Promised Land {The English title, “Numbers” comes from the Greek and is named for the 2 censuses in ch. 1 and 26}.

My Favorite Thing About NUMBERS is that God chose to wander with His people = He didn’t walk away.

God had delivered, set apart and sustained Israel for His service. However, even though He had freed them from slavery and was working to get them from point A to point B, they were still thinking and acting as slaves/victims. Everything was a struggle. Everything was a crisis. The way was too hard. God’s expectations were too great. They didn’t trust. They didn’t depend. They weren’t grateful. But they sure did A LOT of complaining and murmuring and rebelling.

Remember that God was trying to get them to the Promised Land – not just to drop them off, but for the express purpose of evangelizing the World.

Clear back in Genesis 12 God had set Abram apart and promised that through him and his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

• Genesis 12:1-3 - The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

To bless the world by demonstrating, through their fidelity, who God is and to bring a knowledge of Him to all the people of the earth was to be their service to Him. Faithful people would be God’s channel of revelation to the world.

And don’t forget, that Jesus was to come through them as well – the Savior of the world.

As God’s representatives they were responsible not only for themselves but also for the world. It was a high and holy calling. However, they wanted the benefits of being “God’s Chosen People” and the occupiers of the Promised Land without any responsibility to the One who had saved them and sustained them.

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God was personally leading Israel through the activity of the cloud = When the cloud moved – they moved. When the cloud stopped – they stopped {Num 9:15-23}.

God had demonstrated over and over again His care for them. He had provided Manna for them for a year and in Numbers 11, this is apparently the problem – Manna.

• Numbers 11:4-6 - And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? 5 "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."

Their sin was great. After all their experience of the bounty and care of God, their longing for the luxuries of Egypt and their ingratitude for the sustaining power of God was a direct afront to Him.

Moses had had enough! JUST KILL ME NOW!

God:

• Appoint 70 men from the elders of Israel. They will bear the burden with you.

• I’m going to give the people what they want – Meat --- for an entire month until it comes out their noses and it becomes disgusting to them. Because they have rejected the Lord and are crying, “why did we ever leave Egypt”.

Numbers 11:34 - …. So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of lust), because there they buried the people who had been greedy. --- but He did not abandon them.

Not done yet…

• Numbers 12:1-2 - Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?"

They said these things in earshot of the Lord and He was not amused. He must deal with this quickly and publicly. He suddenly showed up and called a meeting {Numbers 12:5-8} When the cloud moved back to its place above the Tabernacle Miriam had leprosy! She must go outside the camp for 7 days. The people remained where they were until Miriam had been received back into the camp.

Not done yet…

God told Moses to gather the heads of each tribe and send them to spy out the Land of Canaan. They were instructed to check out: