“For all the people have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tempted me now these ten times, and have not obeyed me, they will by no means see the land that I swore to their fathers, nor will any of them who despised me see it” (Numbers 14:22-23).

Numbers contains the records of two generations, two censuses (numberings, chapters 1-4; 26), and two sets of instructions for enjoying the “rest” of experiencing God’s blessing in the land of promise. The book opens with Israel’s 11-day march from Sinai to Kadesh (Numbers 1:1) and ends almost 40 years later (Deuteronomy 1:3). Only a year has passed since the exodus of Egypt. In spite of God’s merciful and bountiful provision, the dissatisfied people murmur and complain (11:1). This attitude undermines their faith in the goodness of their God and leads to disbelief and disobedience (14:22-23). The descendants of Jacob had learned that they were God’s special people (Genesis); they had experienced the delivering power of their redeeming God (Exodus), and they had learned that He is a holy God (Leviticus).

Now, in a dramatic test within sight of the Promised Land, they will fail to trust Him enough to do what He says. Numbers, the book of missed opportunity due to disobedience, contrasts the faithfulness of God with the fickleness of His people. God will discipline the Exodus generation to purge their unbelief from His people (1-25). Then, He will return the new generation to their place of testing—poised once again at the doorstep of the Promised Land (26-36). The account is selective according to Moses’ purpose “to compel obedience to Yahweh by member of the new community by reminding them of the wrath of God on their parents because of their breach of the covenant; to encourage them to trust in the ongoing promises of their lord as they follow him into their heritage in Canaan; and to provoke them to worship of God and to the enjoyment of their salvation.” (Ronald B. Allen, “Numbers,” in Genesis-Numbers, vol 2. of The Expositor’ s Bible Commentary, p. 662)

Numbers is the book of wanderings. Two generations receive instructions on how to enjoy intimacy with God in the land He promised them. One mistrusts Him, disobeys, and does not enter the “rest” of the blessing of obedience. The next is told to learn from the 40-year object lesson of the discipline of their parents. The theme of Numbers is the correlated truths of grace and devotion: God makes covenants of grace with His people, but to experience the full blessings of His grace demands wholehearted devotion. The object lessons for God’s redeemed people of the church age are clear: The pattern of Israel’s frequent failures to trust and obey God is set at Kadesh. During times of trial and testing they complained and disobeyed—focusing on their circumstances rather than their God. Consequently God postponed the blessing. Most generations of Israel will never enjoy the benefits and blessing of God’s promises to His people:

Numbers is a map for God’s people of every generation to follow during the wilderness experiences of life.

I. OBJECT LESSON OF MISTRUST AND DISOBEDIENCE: The redeemed who witness God’s miraculous acts of deliverance and provision will miss their blessing and experience discipline if they mistrust Him and disobey Him (1-26; key verses, 11:1; 14:22-23).

A. PREPARATIONS: God instructs the generation that witnessed His miraculous acts of deliverance and preservation to prepare to move on. They are to march forward to experience the full blessing and potential of their redemption from slavery in Egypt. The old generation is numbered and told that they must trust and obey on the march to the Promised Land. Even as the journey begins they are complaining (1-12).

Numbers: Walk by faith toward your destiny or wander in circles in this world!

B. PUNISHMENT: With the Promised Land in sight, the people draw back in unbelief at Kadesh. They are judged by disinheritance and death. The generation of the Exodus will not be the generation of the conquest. The next generation learns that unbelief brings discipline and hinders God’s blessing (13-25).

Messiah: A type of Christ—the bronze serpent. Only those who believed God and looked on the serpent lived (21:4-9). The Lord Jesus uses this incident as an illustration of His vicarious death on the cross and of the necessity of personal faith for salvation (John 3:14-15).

II. PROMISE: When the transition to the new generation is complete, the people move to the plains of Moab, directly east of the Promised Land. Before they can enter the land they must be ready. Like their parents, they receive instructions, take a census, and are told to follow God’s appointed leader—Joshua (26-36).

A. COUNTING THE PEOPLE: Now that the journey is virtually over, it’s time for a second census—both to assess Israel’s military strength and to apportion the soon-to-be conquered territory of Canaan. Sadly, the nation has actually lost over 1,800 fighting men over forty years. The new army is 601,730 strong (26-30).

B. CONSIDERING THE PAST: Moses’ final days see him intensely preparing the people for their conquest. Midian is destroyed completely for its idolatrous influence. Reuben and Gad stay east of the Jordan. And Moses retells the story of their journey for the new generation (31-33).

C. COUNTING ON THE PROMISE: God assigns borders to the tribes and laws to govern life in the Promised Land. His promise to Abraham is so sure, even before they enter the land and fight their enemies, the land is divided among them, and life there is described (34-36)!

III. God’s people must walk by faith, trusting in His promises, if they are to move forward.

1. Numbers warns us that unbelief leads to discipline and hinders God’s blessing (1 Corinthians 10:1-

   12).
   The Slippery Slope towards Discipline:

   Murmuring-Complaining-Mistrust-Disobedience-Discipline

2. Numbers also comforts even the “unhappy wanderers” among God’s people that in spite of their discipline and diminished experience of relationship with God, His grace still prevails!

   “Perhaps the most prominent theme is that of the gracious providence of the Lord in caring for all of Israel’s needs—militarily, physically, nutritionally, and spiritually—in spite of constant rebellions by the people, both leadership and rank and file.” (Walter Riggans, Numbers, Daily Bible Study Series, Westminster Press, p. 2)

   God loves and cares for His “wilderness wanderers”!

3. Numbers also encourages the boldness of faith required to experience the “rest” of God’s full blessing—everything He had in mind when He saved us (Ephesians 2:10; Cf. Hebrews 3-4; Matthew 11:28-29).

   Facing your “Kadesh”?
   Will you trust Him enough to enter the “rest” of the adventure of life He wants to give you?

   “Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest,
   so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11).