We continue our journey through the first five books of the bible with the book of Numbers. Numbers marks a return to storytelling seen in Genesis and Exodus by mixing long sections of narrative with additional sections of law. It chronicles the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the desert and is filled with highs and lows. There are three major themes which include preparation for the journey to the promised land, rebellion, and preparation for entering the promised land. 

Preparation for the Journey: Numbers 1-10

The book of Numbers takes its name from the great census which occurs in chapter 1. “Take a census of the whole community of the Israelites by clans and ancestral houses, registering by name each male individually. You and Aaron shall enroll in companies all the men in Israel of twenty years or more who are fit for military service.” (Numbers 1: 2-3) The census is necessary to build an army which will lead the people into the promised land. Only the men of the tribe of Levi are excluded as the Levites were set aside for priestly ministry. The remainder of the section provides rules and regulations for organizing the military or the priestly service of the Levites. 

Rebellion: Numbers 10-20 

 Did you ever wonder why it took so long for Israel to reach the promised land? Actually, it didn’t. Israel arrives at the promise land in Numbers 13. Unfortunately, they do not trust God’s promise and rebel. You may remember the story. Moses selects 12 spies to scout the land. The land was indeed fruitful, yielding bunches of grapes which it took to men to carry (Numbers 13: 23). Yet, ten of the spies dissuade the people from entering the land. 

“They told Moses: “We came to the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. However, the people who are living in the land are powerful, and the towns are fortified and very large… They spread discouraging reports among the Israelites about the land they had reconnoitered, saying, “The land that we went through and reconnoitered is a land that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge.”  (Numbers 13: 27-28, 32)

All of Israel then rebelled. 

“At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries, and the people wept into the night. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, the whole community… So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”” (Numbers 14: 1-2, 4)

Only Joshua and Caleb resisted. They encouraged the people and supported Moses saying,

“Only do not rebel against the LORD! You need not be afraid of the people of the land, for they are but food for us! Their protection has left them, but the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14: 9)

However, it was no good. Israel wouldn’t listen. And so, they were sent back out into the desert. This was God’s punishment.

“Of all your men of twenty years or more, enrolled in your registration, who grumbled against me, not one of you shall enter the land where I solemnly swore to settle you, except Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun. Your little ones, however, who you said would be taken as spoil, I will bring in, and they shall know the land you rejected” (Numbers 14: 29-31)

The remaining narrative until Numbers chapter 20 chronicles Israel’s wandering in the desert. This time is filled with grumbling and agitation.

Return to the Promise Land: Numbers 20-30

Numbers 20-30 mark a return to the banks of the Jordan river and preparation for the new generation to enter the promised land. This will eventually take place in the book of Joshua. Still, even this return is not without event. The people once again grumble and the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes. The people are then only healed when they look upon the image of a bronze serpent which is held aloft. Jesus, will later harken back to this event as a foreshadowing of his own crucifixion. 

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3: 14-15)

A Warning for All

Numbers is more than just a book recounting the long hard journey of the Israelites. St. Paul, holds it up as an example of the battle that must take place in our own hearts. 

“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did.” (1 Corinthians 10: 1-6)

Too often we look back on the Israelites and think we would have acted differently. Yet, we are often tempted to turn back despite God’s powerful action in our own lives. Numbers is a reminder to us that faith is not a single event. It must be acted upon each day. Everyday, we must choose to be faithful otherwise we will find ourselves wandering in our own deserts and fail to enter the promised land of heavan.