Chapters 1-4

God spoke (1:1). His people obeyed (1:54). This is
the constant pattern of the life of the life of faith. We hear the Word
of God. We obey the Word of God. The names of God’s people differ
from place to place. The pattern of their life remains the same.

We find the same pattern in chapter 2. God speaks (v. 1). His people obey (v. 34).

The pattern is also repeated in chapters 3 and 4.
Both of these chapters begin with God’s Word (v.1). They end with
our obedience (3:51; 4:49).

When we read so much that is unfamiliar to us, we
must look for the Word that comes to us in our present day as a Word
from the Lord, who is “the same yesterday and today and
forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Hear and obey. Listen to what God is saying. Do what He has said.



Chapters 5-6

We must take sin seriously. It can lead to a
withdrawal of God’s blessing. This is the important and
challenging message of chapter 5.

We must not lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives. We are to be “dedicated to the Lord” (6:6).

It is God’s intention to bless us in His
love. He still speaks His Word to His people. His promise of blessing
is still the Word of the Lord to us. It is a Word that never ceases to
be relevant to God’s people: “The Lord will bless you and
watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord
will look on you with favour and give you peace” (6:24-26).



Chapters 7-8

Following on from the bringing of gifts by each of
the tribes (chapter 7), we read of a special ministry, entrusted to the
Levites.

For this ministry, they need to be made
“clean” (8:5). Through cleansing, they were made
“ready to do the Lord’s work” (8:11).

In a very special sense, God said of them, “the Levites shall be mine” (8:14).

Between the giving of the whole people of God
(chapter 7) and the special ministry of the Levites (8:5-26), there is
8:1-4 – the seven lamps on the lampstand, lighting up the area in
front of them.

This lampstand was made of “gold”.
This is the precious light of God’s Word, shining like gold,
which is greater than all the other metals.

God’s Word is the light which inspires both the giving of the tribes and the ministry of the Levites.

Without God’s Word at the centre, everything else means nothing.



Chapters 9-10

The Israelites were travelling towards the
Promised Land. As they travelled, they were to celebrate the Passover
(9:1-14). In their journey, they were being led by the Lord (15-23). In
the course of their journey, they faced opposition from their enemies.

In their conflict with the enemies of the Lord,
they looked to the Lord for victory. They trusted the Lord’s
promise: “the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from
your enemies” (10:9). They prayed to the Lord: “Arise, O Lord! Scatter your enemies! Make those who hate you run away from you!” (10:35).

Our journey takes us from the past through the
present and into the future. We give thanks to God for His blessing in
the past. We look to the Lord for victory in the present. We look to
the Lord to lead us as we travel towards the future.

In every part of our journey, we are travelling with God.
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The Message of Numbers (Part One)

The Message of Numbers (Part Two)

The Message of Numbers (Part Three)

The Message of Numbers (Part Four)

The Message of Numbers (Part Five)