Numbers: Wandering Nation, Wandering Hearts
The Bible doesn't need any marketing. It’s a best-seller with tons of five-star reviews on Amazon, authors with a huge following, and a Ghostwriter, AND YET this specific book in the Bible missed the PR department because Numbers is a terrible name. Want to know why? Well, then stop reading this and start listening!
Who wrote Numbers? Moses
What genre? Censuses, law, historical narrative, and prophecy
What is the timeline like? This book spans 39 years!
Chapters 1-10 cover 20 days as they prep for departure from Mt. Sinai.
Chapters 11-20 narrate 38 years of wandering till they arrive at Kadesh.
Then chapters 21-36 take place in only 6 months as they move from Kadesh to Moab.
Where is Numbers located in the Bible? Fourth book of the Bible
Why read Numbers?
It is wild and entertaining! The book is called Numbers because it begins and ends with a census. But in between those censuses, while the Israelites are wandering through the wilderness, some crazy things happen!
A donkey talks.
The ground opens up and gobbles up false prophets.
Moses struck a rock and water came out.
God judged His people and sent poisonous snakes. Moses crafted a bronze serpent and held it up. Those who looked at the bronze serpent were saved.
The list could go on!
This book is referenced so much throughout the rest of the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Paul commands us to read Numbers!
1 Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
Then Paul lists four negative events, three of which are from the book of Numbers! He ends with…
“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
AKA… Pay attention to what happened in Numbers because they happened so you could learn from them!
What are the challenges to reading the Book of Numbers?
The book starts and ends with a LOT of numbers. Shocking, we know. Sometimes it’s a bit dry and straightforward. Then we’ve got the laws of purification and offerings. Talk about riveting. 😜
Then comes the Nazarite vow which is weird.
The Old Testament also has some great ethical dilemmas which can deter us from enjoying reading it. In Numbers, the Israelites are commanded to kill all of the Midianites - including the women and children (Numbers 31).
As you read Numbers, keep in mind the context and search the rest of scripture to help your understanding of these difficult passages. God used Moses to write this book a certain way for a certain reason. Don’t just skip to the fun middle part! The first portion is a census of a particular generation. Then that generation sinned against God. God said they would die as their punishment. Then we read the census of the new generation at the end of Numbers. God’s layout of this book was intentional.
God’s Word never returns void.
Isaiah 55:11 says, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Application questions:
When was the last time you read Numbers?
What stood out to you in this podcast episode? What questions are you wondering about the Book of Numbers? (Great! Now go read it!)
Dedicate some time to memorizing Isaiah 55:11.
Write out a prayer that you can return to each time you come across a particularly difficult or “boring” passage. Use this prayer often as you read through Numbers.
As you read through Numbers look for pictures of Jesus. Make a list as you notice them!
Love these application questions? You gotta check out the Clearly One-Pager!
Want to ask us a question? Email question@clearlypodcast.com.
Our Recommendations:
👀 Watching: The Bible should bother you
✝️ Sermon: Jesus, Our Curse Bearer
📖 Reading:
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