AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

TEXT: "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23).

INTRODUCTION

1. We come to the book of Numbers with the background of Genesis (the fall of man), Exodus (the redemption of man), and Leviticus (the worship God prescribes).

2. The central lesson of Numbers is that unbelief bars entrance into the promised life and land.

3. God's dealings with the nation in the wilderness was to teach them to serve God with reverence and explicit obedience to His commandments.

4. The same lesson is given to us from Numbers today: Beware of unbelief.

5. Today, as in Numbers, God expects humble obedience and faithful service from all people.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT NUMBERS

A. TITLE

1. The Hebrew title is bemidbar, "in the wilderness."

2. The Greek title is arithmoi, which emphasizes the lists of numbers (censuses) in the book.

3. The English takes its title from the Greek through the Latin.

B. AUTHOR

1. Moses is the author of Numbers.

2. The book opens with the phrase, "And the LORD spake unto Moses"; And that phrase is repeated over 40 times in the book.

C. DATE AND SETTING

1. The book opens on the first day of the second month of the second year of the coming out of Egypt (Num. 1:1).

2. The nation will depart from Sinai on the 20th day of the second month of the second year (Num. 10:11-12).

3. The book then covers 38 years of wandering (added to the 2 years already recorded -- we have 40 years).

4. The book closes on the plains of Moab.

D. AUDIENCE

1. The nation of Israel -- Numbers serves as a history of the wanderings of the nation.

2. To men even today Numbers serves as a record of obedience and disobedience, blessing and punishment.

E. PURPOSE--OBEDIENCE AND ORDERLY SERVICE

1. Time and again we see the necessity of obedience and the results of disobedience throughout Numbers.

2. God has given them the law, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and His presence--now they are expected to obey so that they can be blessed.

3. The tabernacle becomes the center of the camp--so service to God was to be the center of their lives; how much more so the Christian?

4. Obedience though must be faithful--faith and obedience are inseparable (Num. 20:12; Jam. 2:26).

5. Numbers shows the tragic results of disobedience; no other book shows the consequences so plainly or in sharper contrast to the blessings of obedience than does Numbers.

II. AN OUTLINE OF NUMBERS

A. ORIENTING THE NATION FOR SERVICE (1-10)

1. The first census--603,500 men of war (1:1-46)

2. The responsibilities of the Levites (1:47-54)

3. Israel in camp (2:1-34)

4. The numbering of the Levites (3:1-4:49)

a. Number all of the male Levites (3:1-51)

b. Number the mature Levites (4:1-49)

5. Cleansing the camp (5:1-6:27)

6. Offerings for the tabernacle (7:1-89)

7. The dedication of the Levites (8:1-22)

8. The retirement of the Levites (8:23-26)

9. The Passover and the delayed Passover (9:1-14)

10. The moving cloud (9:15-23)

11. The silver trumpets (10:1-10)

12. The order of march (10:11-36)

B. MARCHING FROM SINAI TO KADESH (11-12)

1. The protest at Taberah (11:1-3)--Complaining about how God leads them

2. The protest at Kibroth-hattaavah (11:4-35)--Complaining about the food He fed them with.

3. The jealousy of Miriam and Aaron (12:1-16)

C. THE TIME NEAR KADESH (13-19)

1. The mission of the spies and the national rebellion (13:1-14:45)

2. The law-giving at Kedesh (15:1-41)

a. The complete sacrifice--it must have meal (grain), oil, and wine in addition to the sacrifice (15:1-21)

b. Sacrifices for unintentional sins (15:22-31)

c. Results of breaking the Sabbath law (15:32-36)

d. Tassels on clothes (15:37-41)

3. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (16:1-50).

4. Aaron's staff blooms (17:1-13)

5. The duties and privileges of priests and Levites (18:1-32)

6. Cleansing from death (19:1-22)

D. FROM KADESH TO THE PLAINS OF MOAB (20-21)

1. Regrouping at Kadesh (20:1)

2. Rebellion at Meribah (20:2-13)

3. Encounter with Edom (20:14-21)

4. The death of Aaron (20:22-29)

5. First victory over the Canaanites (21:1-3)

6. The bronze serpent (21:4-9)

7. Journey through the Transjordan--the eastern side of the Jordan River (21:10-20)

8. Victory over Sihon (21:21-30)

9. Vicotry over Og, king of Bashan (21:31-35)

E. ISRAEL ON THE PLAINS OF MOAB (22-36)

1. Balak, Balaam, and Israel (22:1-24:25)

2. Apostasy at Peor (25:1-18)

3. The second census--601,730 men of war (26:1-65)

4. Laws for the land (27:1-30:16)

a. Law for inheritance of a family with no sons (27:1-11)

b. Joshua appointed as Moses' successor (27:12-23)

c. Calendar of public sacrifices (28:1-29:40)

d. The obligations of vows (30:1-16)

5. Retribution on Midian (31:1-54)

6. The settlement in Transjordan: the two and a half tribes (32:1-42)

7. A summary of the journey from Egypt to Canaan (33:1-56).

8. The boundaries of Canaan (34:1-15)

a. Southern border--Kadesh (34:1-5)

b. Western border--the Mediterranean Sea (34:6)

c. Northern border--Mt. Hor (34:7-9)

d. Eastern border--the Jordan River (34:10-15)

9. The distributors of the land (34:16-29)

10. Cities for the Levites (35:1-8)

11. The cities of refuge (35:9-34)

12. Inheritance must remain within the tribe (36:1-13)

III. THE ONE WORD THEME OF NUMBERS: ORIENTATION

A. THE NATION IS PHYSICALLY ORIENTED FOR CAMPING

1. Judah, Issacahr, and Zebulan are to camp on the east side of the tabernacle.

2. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad are to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

3. Ephraim, Manassah, and Benjamin are to camp on the west side of the tabernacle.

4. Dan, Asher, and Naphtali are to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

B. THE NATION IS PHYSICALLY ORIENTED FOR MARCHING

1. Judah leads, followed by Issachar and Zebulan.

2. The sons of Gershon and Merari are next--the Levites who carry the tabernacle itself.

3. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad march next.

4. The Koathites, bearing the tabernacle furnishings on their shoulders (including the ark of the covenant) are located in the middle of the march.

5. Ephraim, Manassah, and Benjamin follow the furnishings.

6. Dan, Asher, and Naphtali complete the marching order.

C. THE NATION IS SPIRITUALLY ORIENTED

1. God corrected them for questioning His method of leading (11:1-3).

2. God corrected them for questioning His method of feeding (11:4-6).

3. God corrected them for questioning His method of inheritance (13:33-14:2).

4. God corrected them for questioning His method of leadership (16-17).

5. God corrected them for questioning His judgments (14:39-45; 16:41).

6. God corrected them for questioning His ability to provide water (20:2-5).

7. God corrected them again for questioning His method of feeding (21:4-9).

IV. THE PICTURE OF CHRIST IN LEVITICUS: HE IS THE STAR OF JACOB

A. CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE STAR OF JACOB (24:17)

1. He is the Star--the Prince--of Jacob.

2. He is the Sceptre, the one with authority.

3. What a picture of the Messiah!

B.CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE SMITTEN ROCK (20:7-11)

1. Paul affirms this type of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4.

2. Just as the Rock brought forth life giving water in that desert, so does the Rock bring forth life giving water in this spiritual desert (Rev. 22:1).

C. CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE BRAZEN SERPENT (21:6-9)

1. Christ Himself affirms this type: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" (John 3:14).

2. He further describes this to us in John 12:32-33: "(32) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (33) This he said, signifying what death he should die."

3. Those persons of Israel had to physically look on that serpent lifted up to be healed; we must spiritually look upon (by obedience to His commands) upon the Son of man lifted up to be saved.

D. CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE CITIES OF REFUGE (35)

1. Safety from the avenger was found only in the city of refuge--and while numbering 6 they serve as a single example of refuge.

2. We flee for refuge to that hope that is the anchor for our souls: "(17) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb. 6:17-20).

CONCLUSION

1. The same God who recorded all of the results of disobedience, is the God that inspired the following: “(24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: (25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: (26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them” (Num. 6:24-27).

2. All of God's blessings are available to the one that will believe and obey!

3. Do you believe?

4. Do you want to obey?