November 1st, 2009..."One Year:Numbers - Generations"

Introduction:

In our study through the Bible in a year we come to the book of Numbers. A book that appears at the outset to be a little bit incoherent. It doesn’t seem to have a unifying theme like Leviticus or Galatians. It doesn’t seem to have a central figure(s) like Genesis or Joshua. But we should not lose heart. There is hope if we remember the larger picture.

The Bible, as a whole, is about God and His Kingdom. The creation, establishment and continuance of His Kingdom is there from start to finish. As King of this Kingdom He alone is worthy of glory. We took the past two weeks to consider the book of Leviticus that is fully established in the complete “otherness” of God…His holiness. The book of Levitcus occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over a month. The book of Numbers occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over 40 years.

Number can be divided into three main sections. Chapters 1-10 marks the Old Generation. Chapter 10-25 marks the transition of Generation. and Chapter 26-36 marks the New Generation. In each of these portions we see how painstakingly God prepares His people to actually be His people. It’s a book that isn’t just “theory” about being God’s people but it is the nuts and bolts, so to speak.

A word about the two censuses recorded. I know very few people who enjoy reading the list of names and numbers recorded in the book of Numbers. Most people I know find them tedious at best and absolutely boring at the worst. Imagine, God’s Word boring? I hope that in the next few minutes we spend together we will begin to get a deeper appreciation for the God who deemed these lists important enough to inspire them into existence.

Main #1: God sets things in order.

The first ten chapter of Numbers show us part of the effort that God makes to set things in there proper place so that our relationship with Him would be healthy and right and good. He has Moses number the men who are able to fight in war. Remember that soon they will be entering the Promised Land and the people that live there are not just going to hand over the keys. It makes perfect sense to record a military census at this point.

God organizes the camp around the tent of meeting. Every tribe and person has their place in relationship to meeting with God Himself. Even those who are without their own land, the Levitical Priests are rightly related to Him in time and space. There is even a chapter or two dedicated to those who are unclean because of sin and how they are to relate to God and to the rest of the nation/camp. God goes to great lengths to tell His people how they must relate to Him.
In Numbers there is a link between Eden and the Promised Land. God places Adam in the garden and now He has promised and prepared a land for His people. The Promise/Covenant begins to gain substance. And we see a strong connection to God in the blessing that Aaron is to pronounce upon the people in Numbers 6.24-26. Then in Number 6.27 the name of God is to rest upon His people. There is an all together “new” relationship that is being forged here in the Kingdom of God. Recall the Commandment not to take the Lord’s name in vain.

Then it is time to move. Numbers 10.35-36 Moses words echo throughout history in this fine example of obedience of the Israelites. They would be wanderers but to my knowledge and reading of Numbers I haven’t come across a passage where when God moved or rested they disobeyed. It might be there. I may have overlooked it but it appears to me that they were faithful in this command.


Main #2: Learn the lesson of causing trouble. [Israel’s faithlessness]

As they head out to begin the conquest of the Holy Land. Everything is set in order. When the Lord’s presence moves they move. When He is still they are still. And so the cloud of His presence moves and they head out. Only, to fall flat on their faces. Almost immediately they begin to complain and murmur about their everyday lives. Food and Water and Leadership complaints come forth from them before they even get to the corner. Illustration: Road trip with the family…I forgot my [fill in the blank]

God in His grace and mercy provided, God’s faithfulness, for them at every turn and at the brink of the Holy Land they send in 12 spies to check things out. A little recon is in order. The spies check it out and come back and give report. The vote is ten to two against going into the Land. The same people who watched God provide for them everyday. Water from rocks thought that they couldn’t trust God to overcome the people of the Land. [1 Corinthians 10.1ff…1 Corinthians 11 = Communion] All except Caleb and Joshua. These two said, “With God nothing is impossible.” The people rebel and go with the larger report and God is not pleased. HE determines that not a single person from that generation of unbelief will be allowed into the Promised Land and so the nation of Israel wanders in the desert for 40 years. Not really learning their lesson…there is no second chance for these people. They had their chance and they wasted it in unbelief. Joshua and Caleb they were the only ones left alive after 40 years and they took the next generation into the Promised Land.


Main #3: Accept God’s new beginnings.

When they Old generation was dead the next generation needed a recommissioning of sorts (a reorganization is better). They were renumbered. The census was again taken. For the same reason the first one was taken. The regulations of life and offerings were reiterated to this new generation. And they were told exactly what they needed to do to take the land and how to live in it. You see God hadn’t changed. In the thousand of years since God hasn’t changed. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to the people of Israel. He reveals Himself to us in the person of Christ and that doesn’t negate all that He shows of Himself in the Hebrew Scripture for Christ did not come to abolish the Law but rather to fulfill it.

The bronze serpent connection to Christ from Numbers 21.9 to John 3.14-15. As a historical type of “salvation” when the serpent was lifted up and the men and women of Israel looked to it they were saved from their poisonous snake bite. When men and women look to the cross in faith they are saved because Jesus completed the work of salvation upon the cross. By His death and resurrection we can have out sin forgiven.


APPLICATION:
1. Two sets: generation [1-14 & 26-36]; numberings [1 & 26]; travels [10-14 & 21-27]; instructions [5-9 & 28-36] illustrating both the kindness and severity of God.

2. We follow God in trust and dependence.


3. Looking unto Jesus: for salvation = John 12.32 ff.
4. Looking unto Jesus: for our walk = Hebrews 12.1-2