Numbers

The Great Story: "Past and to come seem best, things present, worst."

Five Studies in the Books of the Law (#4)

Mark Dever

2/17/02

 

     In Shakespeare's play 'Henry IV', the Archbishop of York reflects on his role in the rise and fall of kings. He has helped to put the current king on the throne but is now unsure of the forces on his side and those on the king's side, and so says, 'past and to come seem best, things present, worst.'  We have all experienced changes in our judgment and feelings as the facts present themselves.  The present often seems a seedbed of discontent.  The culmination of human discontent can be found in the book of Numbers. 

     Numbers can be divided up into three sections--Chapters 1-10 detail the Israelite's stay at Mt. Sinai, chapters 11-19 detail their wanderings in Kadesh, and chapters 20-36 finds them in the plains of Moab, overlooking the promised land.

I.  God prepared the people (ch. 1-10)

     The Israelites had been camping in Mt. Sinai since Exodus 19--camping and rebelling.  God forgave a multitude sins and laid out the designs for the tabernacle.  Then came the laws for sacrifices and purity in Leviticus.  Then in Numbers 5-6 the Israelites received more teaching on purity.  The Nazirites were voluntarily set apart to a higher standard of purity--they were a walking reminder of the specialness of the Israelites.

     The first four chapters are the ones that give Numbers its name.  A census is taken, along with the locations of each tribe.  Chapters 3-4 focus on the Levites, the priests that camp around the tabernacle.  Chapters 7-8 deal with the sacrifices.  God prepared His people by His presence with them in the tabernacle. 

     In chapters 9-10 the Israelites celebrate the first Passover.  This was a reminder of what God had done for them in Egypt.  The cloud was a visible reminder of the presence of God Himself.  Whenever the cloud lifted the Israelites set out--at the Lord's command they moved.  In 10:11 the cloud lifted and the Israelites set out and did not stop until they reached the desert of Paran. 

     So the first 10 chapters are a summary of how God prepared His people--with His priests and with His presence.  He prepared then and He prepares now.  Have you thought about that?  You have been made by God in His image--you are able to reason and understand.  All of creation has been put here to give testimony so that you will understand this.  Your conscience is part of the preparation God has given you to be able to know the truth and the Good News of Christ.  If you're a Christian, God has brought you to know Him.  That's what Christians mean when we say we know God--we mean we have a relationship with Him.  We have His Word and His Spirit dwelling in us--we are indwellt far more fully than Israel was. 

     God's presence is not limited, but Christ is especially present by His Spirit.  God gifts us with teachers and parents.  He didn't have to, but He provided Himself.  Do you see God's preparing hand in our blessings?  These things are not the work of individual people but of God.

II.  The people didn't trust God (ch. 11-19)

     This is the tragedy of Numbers.  God redeemed and led His people with Moses through the desert.  He miraculously called them.  Yet they didn't trust Him.  People constantly complained and accused God--the God who delivered them with signs and wonders.  The God who delivered them publicly.  Yet the response of these very people was to complain about absolutely everything.  Even Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses.  Yet God meets these challenges and the people still rebel. 

     Chapters 13 and 14 are the center of Numbers.  The hope is about to be fulfilled.  In 13:27 the spies have gone out and come back.  They report of a land flowing with milk and honey.  Yet in 13:28, the same spies are conveying their doubts, worries, concerns and fears to the people.  They spread a bad report--they gossip.  Can you imagine a clearer picture of the importance of leadership?  They summarize their trip and a report that was intended to encourage the people instead gave them fear.  It contradicted the promises of God.  It was absolutely ruinous.  These leaders led the people into rebellion.  In 14:1 the people raised their voices, grumbled, and wept.  Caleb and Joshua plead with people not to rebel or be afraid--and the assembly talked about stoning them.  They would not tolerate the truth. 

     So God punished them.  Sin is always personal--do not deceive yourselves into thinking that it isn't.  The Israelites had sinned against God.  Moses intercedes for the people--an example of good leadership.  Concerned for God's glory, Moses asks God to pardon them.  So the Lord withdrew and forgave them.  Yet the people would be punished.  They would spend 40 years wandering and that generation would not see the promised land.  The 40 years of wandering is not a 'time-out' on a large scale.  No, it was God's death sentence on an entire generation.  For them, the wilderness would be a cemetery.  In 14:36 we see the leaders of the rebellion struck down.  God executed judgment on them quickly to make a point. 

     Does this sound harsh?  Romans 6:23 says that because of our sins, our action against God, we have forfeited our lives.  We all have this in common.  God picks up whole nations and brings them down.  Consider the seriousness of sin.  Surely the punishment fits the crime.  It is spiritually suicidal to trifle with the seriousness of sin.  One sin is never content to be alone.  Sin is boundless and nothing but grace and the grave can limit the desires of the heart.  Your sin will find you out. 

     Consider the roots of sin and avoid it.  Notice the connection between sin and dissatisfaction.  We should not complain about God.  The Israelites were supernaturally delivered and saved, yet they were blind.  Dissatisfaction always tells us more about our soul than our own circumstances.  From imagined evils to ingnored blessings it is a very short step to complaining about God.  When you complain you're saying 'I'd rather have these things than You.' 

     That's why, in this church family, we have tried to encourage an atmosphere of encouragement and mutual devotion to the Word.  Covenant Life church does an excellent job of this--expressions of encouragement to the glory of God abound in that congregation. 

     Gossip and mistrust leads to death.  We know we're sinners--we don't need to spread details.  God is worthy of complete trust and praise.  See God's love and concern for you.

III.  God persevered with the people

     What would happen after this dreadful rebellion?  God could have just cut the Israelites loose.  But no--there is enduring hope.  He punished the people but forgave them.  He continued to provide instruction (ch. 18-19) on purity, offerings, and faithfulness (ch. 28-30). 

     The people don't become docile and obedient.  We must never think that sin is done away with by indulging it.  The Israelites told Moses they would die, twisting what God had said in His mercy. 

     In 20:9-12 we read of Moses' sin against God.  He disobeyed the Lord and we see that leaders are held to a stricter standard.  Yet Moses remains God's leader. 

     In chapter 25 we read of Israel's seduction by Moab and the adultery and immorality that resulted.  We see the disobedient generation dying off and the next generation arising.  Even out of sin comes deliverance. 

    In chapter 14 the defeat of the Israelites by the Canaanites is recorded and in chapter 31 a victory over the Midianites.  There is a new census in 26, with new leaders.  They would succeed--that's why there is so much recorded about the land in Numbers.  God wasn't thrown.  He is still confident about His plans--we can almost hear Him saying in the face of disobedience, 'now, as I was saying.'  He will persevere despite the sinful rebellion of His people. 

     Does this surprise you?  One who is so just and yet so merciful.  Mercy is meaningless without justice.  God is a god of justice and mercy.  This is the riddle of the Old Testament--how could God punish and yet be merciful?  The answer can be found in the New Testament--Christ.  Christ died for us to have eternal life.  We all need a new beginning, a fresh start.  We've been given a new life.  As Christians we should be forward looking, looking to where we're going, not where we've been.  You are not defined by your past mistakes.  If you think that you've not understood God at work.  Think on the local church.  It's God's idea--He will make it succeed.  God perseveres with His people.

     Jesus refers to Numbers in the New Testament in John 3.  He says the Son of Man must be lifted up.  God proved Christ as a remedy for sins.  We must just look and live.  That is the Good News--repent and believe on the one who had been tempted and not rebelled.  God made Him to be sin so that we would not.  In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul urges the Christians to be careful--that they should think on this.  Learn from the negative examples and don't rebel.  Trust God, for He is always right. 

     Nothing is beyond God's power.  Are you thinking (if you're not a Christian)  how could God save me?  or (if you are a Christian) how could God use me?  Find the source of your discontent.  Confess honestly your struggle and meditate on the picture of God.  If God is not like this, then we don't have a chance.  A clear-eyed hope for the future is given to us.  We have Immanuel, so we have hope.