Andrew Stepp | Session 4: Numbers
HA HAPPY VA VALE LENTINE’S DA DAY, MY Y LOV OVE! E!
Review of last week The Setting The Plan The Disaster A Few Major Themes A Mix Tape for the Wilderness Wanderings Weekly Reading Plan
1. Because it’s in the Bible 2. To be equipped to respond to “America’s Favorite Straw Man” 3. We are currently reaping the consequences for not (never?) taking the time to study Leviticus the Pentateuch the Old Testament Anything that doesn’t readily make sense (or agree with us )
Israel is reordering it’s nation around God’s presence… and God’s presence demands a higher standard. You are to be holy to me because I, the L ORD , am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. Leviticus 20:26
Israel is encamped at the foot of MT. Sinai; a wilderness area, where they will spend a full year being molded into a people before God will lead them toward the conquest of Canaan. Their old context is totally pagan; the Promised Land is inhabited by crazy Hammites!!!! The Israelites have a new identity. They are a people on the move, vulnerable to illness, disease, enemies, heat, internal strife etc.
This is not about rules and regulations but more importantly relationships Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18 Pay attention to the “Covenantal Moments” – compassion, mercy, generosity, justice, holiness etc. - “Remember how I brought you up out of Egypt, therefore…”
In Genesis 12, God promised Abraham that he would make them into a great nation with lots of people (stars and sand!!) as well as the entire land of Canaan. After they grow into a multitude in Egypt over a relatively brief period of time, God delivers them miraculously from slavery. At Mt. Sinai God gives them a new identity – no longer slaves but a treasured possession. They receive the Law as both national and religious law to reinforce that new identity and provide structure for their existence. They spend 1 year at the foot of Mt. Sinai preparing to follow God into the Promised Land.
They travel north from Sinai, to Kadesh Barnea, and enter the Promised Land from the south following their Warrior God the whole way. Mt. Sinai is 2 weeks journey from Canaan.
Ch. 1-4 – Organizing them into an army – 603,000 men over the age of 20 fit for battle. 1:1-3 – The L ORD spoke to Moses…: “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families… all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army.
5-10:10 – More laws confirming purity and holiness of the people 6:22-27 – The Aaronic blessing The L ORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The L ORD bless you and keep you; the L ORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the L ORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it… Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the L ORD ’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. …They obeyed the L ORD ’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, L ORD ! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” 36 Whenever it came to rest, he said, “Return, L ORD , to the countless thousands of Israel.”
Numbers 1-10: What could go wrong??????
Now the people complained... (11:1)
11:1 – Now the people complained… 11:4-35 – The Epic Quail Storm! 12 – Miriam and Aaron try to overthrow Moses 13-14 – the 12 Spies
15-19 – Then some more laws 20 – More complaining – Moses in trouble! 21 – More complaining 22-24 – The Curious Case of Balaam the pagan prophet and his talking donkey 25 – Those dirty Moabites! …and those meathead Israelites!
26:1-65 – The second census – 601,000 …all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” More Preparations for conquering the land and living in the land: More laws (27:1- 30:16). Vengeance taken against the Midianites (31:1–54). Land Allotment East of the Jordan River (32:1–42). A Recap of the wilderness wandering (33:1–49). Directions concerning the conquest of Canaan (33:50–35:34). More laws (36:1–13).
The primary driving force behind everything is God’s promise/covenant with Abraham that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan. “Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the L ORD , dwell among the Israelites.” Numbers 35:34 “The Land I am giving…” “…I promised” Genesis – Numbers = 35x Deuteronomy = 48x
The conquest involved the second phase of the holy war – phase one was Egypt. In Phase One God was the only one who fought; In Phase Two there will be greater expectation on Israel to participate. Exodus 13:17-18 – The “Way of the Philistines” – Why didn’t God let them take the more direct path out of Egypt? The first census prepares to take the land from Kadesh, but they don’t trust God. Total: 603,000 soldiers (Probably a total population of 2-3million people) The second census is taking the land by way of the “Transjordan.” Total: 601,000 soldiers.
Israel is a disappointing mess through Numbers. Remember Ex. 15:22-17:7 - complaining against God We are constantly reminded that this is not Israel’s story. This is God’s story above all else, and God will keep his part of the covenant with Abraham regarding his descendants and the land.
Israel Road Trip 1400BC
“If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11)
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Numbers 12)
“If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14)
They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the L ORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the L ORD ’s assembly ?” (Numbers 16)
“If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Numbers 20)
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” (Numbers 21)
God always provides enough; We just want more. greed, lust, addiction, gluttony, hoarding etc. Vs contentment, joy, gratitude, modesty etc.
Covers the 40 years in the wilderness The Israelites’ long stay in the desert as they journey from MT. Sinai to the plains of Moab, East bank of Jordan River It’s a mix of genres: narrative, law, census lists, oracles from pagan prophets etc.
Psalm 106 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy. (43-46)
Option 1: Numbers 1-36 – 7,7,7,7,8 Option 2: 9-10 – Preparations to take the P.L. Pt. 1 11-12 – Complaining 13-4 – Rebellion 16, 17, 20 – More of the same 22-25 – The Balaam Incident and the Temple Prostitutes
CSMITH@FPCHOUSTON.ORG
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