Numbers

· This book is all about the direction of a nation- the major theme

· Numbers is the book of wandering and the numbering of the children of Israel.

· The title of this book in Hebrew is taken from the first three words in the book, in the wilderness.

· Numbers cover a time period of thirteen months after the exodus and the end of the forty years of wandering.

· The spiritual lesson taught in this book is that God’s people cannot get into the promised land of his blessing without first going through the wilderness of his blessing.

· In numbers the lesson that they are learning is their direction, their direction by god. As Israel wandered the wilderness they were led by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud at day. The cloud provided shade and the fire illuminated their path and provided protection for them. When the cloud moved that’s how the people of Israel knew to move, their job was just to follow the cloud.

· Moses wrote the book of numbers.

· When- covers 38 years between the thirteen months of exodus and the 40-year wandering, and before Moses’ death.

· Who- there are two groups included in the book of numbers. The first group is the disobedient older population who died in the wilderness because of their sin Which was unbelief. The next group was the people who were twenty years or younger when god gave commands.

· Where- the overall location of the wandering Israelites is in the Sinai Peninsula.

· Why- three purposes

1. The historical purpose- the book of numbers provides a history of Israel’s wandering from mount Sinai to mount Nebo, it accounts for most of the forty years in which god punished the unfaithful older generation. He also used this book to prepare the new generation.

2. Doctrinal purpose- there are several important truths that are taught in numbers- the providential direction of God is clearly seen- God is leading his people, God’s perseverance for his people is shown and because of this there are no shortcuts to Gods blessings trials and testing’s are used to refine the faith of Gods people

3. The Christological purpose- THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF CHRIST in numbers, the rock in numbers is pictured as Christ, Jesus said that the serpent on the pole portrayed his crucifixion, the daily manna that was a picture of the bread of life, Balaam was the one who prophesied about the star of David, The pillar of cloud that guided the people, God being the director of his people, numbers are all about god leading his people numbers is also about their pilgrimage, numbers are historical, numbers are a call to faithfulness to God. Emphasis shifts from sanctification before God to salvation before god.

· Outline- CH 1-10 Israel’s direction from the lord, four subsections- the position of the people (CH 1-4), There is a highly symmetrized for how they had to be camped around the tabernacle, (Ch. 5-6) the precepts from God These precepts taught his people how to handle uncleanliness and sin in the camp. Ch. 7-9a deals with the provision of cleansing, before the people moved forward there were directions for his provision, Ch. 9b -10 pilgrimage toward the promised land, god prepared his people to move forward as he led them into the place of blessing. Ch. 11-14 Israel’s disbelief in the lord Ch. 11-12 talks about how they were discontent with gods provisions. Even before Israel’s disbelief and God’s promise they wanted to return to Egypt because they were displeased with what god had given them. Aaron and Miriam were angry with Moses’ leadership. 13-14 this came at a place called Kadesh Barnea. This is where the spies returned with the reports of the giants in the land. The spies spent forty days in the land and they were given one year in the wilderness for each day. 15-36 talks about Israel’s discipline from the lord. The passing of the old generation (Ch. 15-26) The death of the disobedient generation even though at this time God was showing them to keep this generation holy. God vindicated Moses constantly. There were more regulations for the Levites and Aaron. Ch. 27-36 the preparation of the new generation, following the discipline of the faithless god begins the help for preparing the new generation to take the land Moses lays down some rituals of the law to live in the land, there is a revenge mission on the Midianites who have corrupted Israel previously there is a request made by the Reubenites and they wanted to live east of the Jordan river and it is granted but they had to cross to fight with the rest of Israel. He retells there wandering. He establishes the cities of refuge that would be provided for the Levites and the people who commit involuntary manslaughter. The old generation died all that was needed was for Moses to give the great farewell address.

Numbers

· This book is all about the direction of a nation- the major theme

· Numbers is the book of wandering and the numbering of the children of Israel.

· The title of this book in Hebrew is taken from the first three words in the book, in the wilderness.

· Numbers cover a time period of thirteen months after the exodus and the end of the forty years of wandering.

· The spiritual lesson taught in this book is that God’s people cannot get into the promised land of his blessing without first going through the wilderness of his blessing.

· Moses wrote the book of numbers.

· When- covers 38 years between the thirteen months of exodus and the 40-year wandering, and before Moses’ death.

· Where- the overall location of the wandering Israelites is in the Sinai Peninsula.

· Why- three purposes

· Outline- CH 1-10 Israel’s direction from the lord, four subsections- the position of the people (CH 1-4), There is a highly symmetrized for how they had to be camped around the tabernacle, (Ch. 5-6) the precepts from God These precepts taught his people how to handle uncleanliness and sin in the camp. Ch. 7-9a deals with the provision of cleansing, before the people moved forward there were directions for his provision, Ch. 9b -10 pilgrimage toward the promised land, god prepared his people to move forward as he led them into the place of blessing. Ch. 11-14 Israel’s disbelief in the lord Ch. 11-12 talks about how they were discontent with gods provisions. Even before Israel’s disbelief and God’s promise they wanted to return to Egypt because they were displeased with what god had given them. Aaron and Miriam were angry with Moses’ leadership. 13-14 this came at a place called Kadesh Barnea. This is where the spies returned with the reports of the giants in the land. The spies spent forty days in the land and they were given one year in the wilderness for each day. 15-36 talks about Israel’s discipline from the lord. The passing of the old generation (Ch. 15-26) The death of the disobedient generation even though at this time God was showing them to keep this generation holy. God vindicated Moses constantly. There were more regulations for the Levites and Aaron. Ch. 27-36 the preparation of the new generation, following the discipline of the faithless god begins the help for preparing the new generation to take the land Moses lays down some rituals of the law to live in the land, there is a revenge mission on the Midianites who have corrupted Israel previously there is a request made by the Reubenites and they wanted to live east of the Jordan river and it is granted but they had to cross to fight with the rest of Israel. He retells their wandering. He establishes the cities of refuge that would be provided for the Levites and the people who commit involuntary manslaughter. The old generation died all that was needed was for Moses to give the great farewell address.