Part 1: Youth | Part 2: Exile | Part 3: Call | Part 4: Confrontation | Part 5: Deliverance | Part 6: Preparation | Part 7: Covenant | Part 8: Law
God’s plan for Israel, after the Law has been given and ratified at Sinai, is that they now proceed to the Promised Land and take it, according to his promise. But of course he knows that Israel’s faithlessness will result in 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai to allow time for the faithless generation to die. So his first command is that Moses take a census of the men of military age (20 and above, excluding Levites) (Num 1.2, 47). We’ll note the reason for this in the next post. Israel’s “army” amounts to about 600,000 (Num 1.46).
Next is the plan for organizing the tribes around the new Tabernacle (Num 2), specifying the roles of the Levites in transporting the Tabernacle (Num 3-4), and provisions for cleanliness, both physical and moral, within the camp as it travels (Num 5-6). This section ends with the well-known Aaronic blessing (Num 6.24-26)–a fitting preparation for the move to the Promised Land.
Now the tribes bring their gifts for the consecration of the Tabernacle (Num 7), following which God calls Moses into the Tabernacle for a conversation (Num 7.89) about the consecration of the Levites (Num 8). There is the second celebration of the Passover, a year after the Exodus (Num 9), and the settling of the visible presence of the Lord over the Holy of Holies (Num 9.15-23) and a provision for signaling by trumpet to the people when it was time to decamp (Num 10.1-10)
With these logistical preparations made, it is now time to move. The cloud of God’s presence rises and moves (Num 10.11), and the people follow (Num 10.12). “We are bound for the Promised Land!” (Num 10.29).
They travel for 3 days (Num 10.33), and the complaining starts again (Num 11.1); the people even complain about the manna, the bread of heaven (Num 11.5-9). And now Moses has had it up to here with these people and with the Lord’s calling of him to lead them (Num 11.10-14). He asks God to kill him and end the misery (Num 11.15).
Many of God’s servants have had similar experiences. But God knows his servants better than they know themselves; he is ever working sanctification and spiritual growth in them, and he, more patient than Moses, continues his work. He gives Moses helpers to carry the load with him (Num 11.16-17) and he answers the people’s cry for meat–in spades (Num 11.18-35).
Surprisingly, Moses faces resistance from his own siblings, Aaron and Miriam, and God endorses Moses’ authority in no uncertain terms (Num 12).
Now comes the inspection of the Land, on the border of which God’s people are encamped (Num 12.16-13.25). As we know, most of the spies bring a mixed report–great resources, fearsome inhabitants (Num 13.26-33)–and the people respond with faithlessness (Num 14.1-4), despite the pleas of two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb (Num 14.6-9), and refuse God’s offer of the Land (Num 14.10).
God’s response, after extended patience previously, is swift and just. The promise of the Land will be delayed for a generation–40 years–while the faithless generation dies off; their children, for whom they feared, will take the Land as adults (Num 14.11-39).
The people respond like children, by assuming a do-over (Num 14.40-45), and God justly puts a stop to that. But at the same time he instructs Moses on what to do when they enter the Land (Num 15.1-31), thereby reaffirming that the Covenant still holds.
And now begins the Wilderness Wanderings, with ongoing disobedience and discontent: Sabbath violation (Num 15.32-36), rebellion (Num 16) and reconfirmation of Moses (Num 17), more complaining (Num 20.1-5; 21.4-9), all interspersed with further instruction for when the Land will be theirs (Num 15.37-41; 18.1-19.22). Human faithlessness and divine grace, all along the way.
It is during this time that Moses reaches the end of his rope, striking the rock to provide water for the people (Num 20.6-13). His angry pride will prevent him from entering the Land–for several centuries (Mt 17.3).
But God still uses him. Most notably, he will deliver Israel from a judgment plague by creating a bronze serpent on a pole, an act that Jesus himself will cite as an anticipation of his atoning death (Jn 3.14).
But the 40 years must occur, and they must pass.
Next time: approaching the Land.
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
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