The
name, ‘Numbers’ comes from the fact that this book contains
numberings, notably in chapters 1 and 26. In the fifth word of the
first line of the Hebrew text, we have a far more appropriate title -
‘in the wilderness.’ What is the meaning of the events
which took place while Israel was ‘in the wilderness?’ This
is the question we must ask as we read the book of Numbers. From this
book, we learn that the wilderness was both a place of promise and a place of danger.
There was the Promised Land, lying ahead of them. There were the
dangers which kept them ‘in the wilderness’ for much longer
than they really needed to be.
The
story of Numbers begins two years after Israel’s Exodus from
Egypt. The people, who had been brought out of slavery in Egypt, are
now learning to trust God in the wilderness. They are not, however,
very good learners. For thirty-eight years, they were virtually at a
standstill. As we read of their wilderness wanderings, their failure to
move forward in faith and obedience, we are challenged regarding our
own spiritual progress. If God’s people had advanced in their
obedience to God, they would not have wandered in the wilderness for
such a long time. Numbers tells us about their wilderness wanderings so
that we might learn from their mistakes.
The events in the wilderness speak of danger, the danger of standing still when God wants His people to move forward. The events in the wilderness speak of promise, the encouraging assurance that God did not give up on His wayward people. In His sight, they were chosen, redeemed and holy.
Apply
this to today’s Church. Where will we be thirty-eight years from
now? There is the danger of drifting into years of spiritual wandering
with no significant forward movement in God’s work. There is the
promise of God’s faithfulness, the assurance that He will provide
us with all that we need to carry His work forward. We must believe the promise and overcome the dangers.
How
are we to enjoy God's blessing? In chapter 2, we learn that God’s
people were to be united around the tabernacle with no gaps in the
ranks. This is a vital lesson for today’s Church. We are not to
pull in different directions. We are to pull together, embodying in our
worship and witness the beautiful spirit of co-operation which we see
in chapter 7. If the work of the Lord is to make progress, there needs
to be unity and co-operation. Everyone has their place in the ongoing
work of the Lord. All who are willing to serve the Lord will find a
place in His service.
Before we ever had thoughts of serving the Lord, He had thoughts of calling us into His service. Chapter
3, with its emphasis on numbering ‘every male from a month old
and upward’, underlines the fact that God had been calling us
into His service long before we ever had thoughts of serving Him. In
chapter 4, we read about the numbering of ‘the sons from thirty
years old to fifty years old, all who can enter the service, to do the
work in the tent of meeting’. This emphasizes that the service of
the Lord calls for maturity. There are two lessons for us here. (i) The
Lord laid His hand upon us in salvation long before we ever reached out
our hands for Him in service. (ii) If we are to be worthy servants of
the Lord, we must press on to spiritual maturity.
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This is the second part of an article which was published in Evangel.