Numbers

1.       First Impressions

·         What do you see in this book that tells you about the original reader?

The original readers of Numbers would have been the Israelites who God had taken out of Egypt. The book covers a long time period so although all the Israelites who left Egypt are recorded in the beginning of Numbers. The book would have been written to the younger generations of the Israelites because in chapter 26:64 it says” Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai.”  

·         What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

The author of Numbers is Moses. He keeps very detailed accounts and records throughout Numbers. In Numbers there are eighty claims that the Lord spoke to Moses or instructed him (Numbers 33:2). The Sourceview Bible claims that Moses wrote Numbers around 1406 BC, about 40 years after the exodus.

·         What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the “main idea?”

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The main idea of Numbers has to do with God disciplining His rebellious people. The Israelites are disobedient and then we see God’s wrath come upon them. In many ways we see Gods judgment and mercy in the way He deals with the Israelites. In chapter 14:34 we see God’s divine judgment come upon them because of their unbelief. God teaches them and punishes them for their sin however in His punishment He is just and merciful each time, for example in Numbers 21:6-8 God justly punishes the people but He is merciful in the midst of everything. In one sentence I would sum up Numbers as “The journey of God disciplining His rebellious people as they continuously disobey and God pours out righteous anger on them as they wander the desert for 40 years.”

·         What is the primary reason this book was written?

Numbers is written for several reasons. One of these is to keep record of the number of people counted and to document the journey of the Israelites including important historical information like the places they went through but also the stories of what they endured. It covers a time span of about 40 years of wandering in the dessert. The Sourceview Bible says it well: It is to document their story, a story of their past to shape their future.  The content of the book would have been very important to the original readers so that they too can obey and be disciplined through what they read. Keeping record for future generations is also important. We can learn from the disobedience of the Israelites as well, we learn to trust God and His faithful provision and exceptional patience.

2.       Theme Tracing

·         What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

Numbers highlights many different parts of God’s nature and character. We see God’s wrath so clearly in this book, He gets angry however His anger is always righteous.  In Numbers 16, God’s wrath is poured out on Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the other 250 people who rebel against Moses as God’s appointed leader. The other thing I saw in that story is the fact that God comes to our defense. He will defend the righteous.

God is faithful and He keeps His word. Although He gets angry with the Israelites He still plans to give them the land He promised them. God is also a God of discipline, not only does he want his people to be self disciplined but He disciplines His children when they are sinning (Numbers 11:1). After all the complaining, unbelief and processes of God disciplining His people we see how patient God is with the Israelites. Although He punishes them there are times when they complain and yet God just provides for example in Number 20:2-13.

·         What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

The rock which was hit and provided water to the Israelites is a symbol of Jesus coming. In the fourth oracle proclaimed over Israel (Numbers 24:17) there is possible reference to Jesus although it could have been said to be literally fulfilled during the time of David, the spiritual fulfillment points to Jesus.

Possibly the most clear example of God’s redemptive plan is found in Numbers 21:8. God tells Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole to heal the people. The next reference of this incident is in John 3:14, Jesus himself indicates that it was a foreshadowing of Him. The snake, a symbol of sin was lifted from the ground and put on a pole (pole made from wood, this is a symbol of a curse- Gal 3:13). Therefore the snake lifted up and cursed, healing those who turn to it is a symbol of Christ who takes away sin from anyone who looks to Him in faith.

3.       Application questions

·         Personal application:  There are so many timeless truths which I can apply to my own life found within Numbers. Ideas such as putting God at the centre of all we do as the Israelites are told to do in the way they camp (Levites in the center – 2:17).  Possibly one of the most important lessons I can learn from Numbers lies in learning from Moses to vent my anger with God and not with people. I so easily fall into the trap of speaking out in frustration and yet by coming to God with our anger and frustration we not only get to share with someone who genuinely is interested but we can also leave with peace and trust in God to take control. We will have much more wisdom to handle situations well. Then I also saw the importance God places of celebrating the festivals He gives the Israelites. Most of the festivals are celebration of good things God has done for them or blessings they have received from God. It has really spoken to me to celebrate and share the blessings and good things God does in my life on a daily basis. Other than these things there are many other lessons to be learned from Numbers. Things we discussed such as the fact that time is not the essence but God is and we can learn not to abuse God’s grace.

·         Point of Passion:

Throughout the whole book of Numbers God is disciplining the Israelites. Discipline is a key part of education not necessarily only in schools but specifically in the life lessons young people learn from those in authority around them. It is a quality that younger generations increasingly lack just as the Israelites did.  As God works among His children we see that some of the reasons we have discipline is in order motivate repentance from the guilty person (Numbers 12: 10,11), to warn others (Numbers 16:30) and to have us obey His commands (Numbers 16:22-27, 16:41-50 & 35:30-34).Discipline is also important in order to maintain respect.