Numbers

Author: Moses
Date of Writing: 1450-1410 BC
Type of Book: Fourth book of the Pentateuch, the book of the Law
Theme: The children of Israel wandering in the wilderness

The book of Numbers contains two major census events. In chapter 1, the fighting men who were able to go to war were counted. The second census took place almost forty years later as the children of Israel were preparing to enter the land of Promise, which is recorded in chapter 26. As we think of two million people wandering in the wilderness for forty years, we are impressed with God's grace as He allowed the children of Israel to survive. Had God not provided manna and water for them, how could they possibly have survived?

The overall message of the book of Numbers is the tragedy of unbelief. The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land should have taken forty days, at most. Instead, because of their unbelief, they spent almost forty years wandering around the wilderness in circles. In fact, just a few days after leaving Mount Sinai, they came to Kadesh Barnea the entrance to the Promised Land but the people were too afraid to enter.

First Corinthians 10:6 reminds us that all these things are recorded as an example for us and for our admonition. The book of Hebrews says, "For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come up short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it" (Hebrews 3:16-4:2)

We face the same choice: we can believe in the promises of God and enter in to the victorious life of faith, or we can reject His promises and live in unbelief, griping and complaining, walking in circles, never entering into His promised rest.

I want to experience victory and purpose in my life. I want to move forward in the Spirit. The wilderness is a nice place to visit, but I don't want to live there.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible