The Bible’s book of Numbers detailing the Israelite’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land is often considered boring, because it is seemingly repetitive. It takes censuses, lists rules in minute detail and sets Israel in order. However, after being compelled to read it in 4 versions recently, I found it to be loaded with wisdom for today.
1) Everything should be carried out precisely as God says. Don’t add your own spin to it. He has a reason for everything. Just because you don’t know the WHY, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Be confident that He knows WHY!
Num 20: To provide water to a thirsty Israel, Moses was told to speak to a rock and it would gush out water to glorify God. Instead in anger against the people, he hit it with a stick, glorifying himself. God wouldn’t allow him to enter the Promised Land.
2) God chose Moses, the most humble man on the earth, as leader. He was not a braggart (Num 12:3). Most leaders in the world are arrogant, thinking of themselves as great. God is not looking for great but obedient and humble! Want to lead? God will exalt you when you’re ready.
3) Animal sacrifices must be perfect, spotless, unblemished, and without defect including money and offerings (Num 28-29 & Mal 1:6-8). These removed sin, and sanctified His people as well as objects. Therefore, if you obtain money from crime and give it to God, it isn’t perfect. A church might unknowingly accept it, but God won’t bless it. See: A Godly Principle: Would You Buy This Barrel of Apple Juice?
Why is a perfect gift so important? Because there was so much sin in the world, there wasn’t enough animal blood to wash away all the sin. So, God gave Jesus as a perfect blood sacrifice for all sin – once and for all time! God’s sacrifice had to be much better than anything man could do, so He gave His only Son. Your job is to accept the free gift!
4) God considers grumbling and complaining as rebellion. Rebellion brought about plagues and disaster (Num 11, 12, 14, 16, 21, 25)! Only Moses’ and Aaron’s intervention kept the Israelites from being wiped out. Thank goodness for Jesus being our perfect sacrifice to wipe out the sins against us.
5) Rebellion against Moses and God were by those closest to them: Moses’ brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, (Num 12); and those inside the priesthood (Levites) and leaders of the people (Num 16). If you don’t like what’s going on in your church, it is suggested that you obey or leave. Note: Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (I Sam 15:23). While 8 tribes increased in number, the tribe of Simeon lost 63% of their men as a result of rebellion.
6) It’s God’s job not yours to oversee what ministers do with offerings. It’s your job to present clean offerings to God. If you think you are paying too much, remember, you gift is going to God!
7) Don’t forget God’s miracles in your life! The Israelites forgot how God parted the Red Sea; how He liberated them from slavery in Egypt with 10 incredible miracles; how He got water from a rock; how He fed them everyday for 40 years; how he healed them of plagues and poisonous snakes. Keep counting your blessings while you are in the midst of problems. You can count on Him!
God permits you to do things, but it’s not His perfect will. In Num 22 King Balak sent for Balaam who asked God if he could go. God said NO! That should have been enough. However, Balak sent more important people to ask Balaam. “God, this is really important and I’ll make big money. Can I go?” The reply was, O.K. (But God was angered. He doesn’t change his mind just because your situation changes.)
The result was: The Angel of the Lord nearly killed Balaam 3 times, finally God using Balaam’s donkey to speak to him. Not only did Balaam not get any money for his trouble, but was eventually killed by the Israelites. God’s permissive will is NOT his perfect will for you!
9) God repeats his instructions over and over and over with a definite purpose! (Many consider this boring.) But, it provides no “wiggle room” for any interpretation. Example: 17 times He states animals for sacrifices must be without defect! If He only mentioned it once, people would say, “I only have to give the perfect, once.” If it was 13 times they say, “This time, we can give any old and sickly critter. It doesn’t apply to us!”
Finally
On every page of the most extraordinary Bible are golden nuggets from God. Repeated reading, asking the Holy Spirit to open your mind will uncover them for you. They have been placed there to help lead, guide and direct you into all Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. He has a wonderful plan for your life and sent His son so you would have life and that more abundantly. You are invited to seek, knock and ask Him for help.
Final Interesting Statistics
Two censuses by tribe were taken of men above 20-years old and able to go to war. The first was at the beginning of the 40-year journey. The second was nearing the end of the 40 years in the wilderness. In between those censuses there were a number of rebellions against God and Moses, which were punished in plagues, snake bites, a fire and other judgments from God.
During the 40 years the population went from 603,550 to 601,730 men able to go to war. Some tribes flourished, but others lost significant populations of the men of battle age. While it doesn’t indicate which tribe rebelled, the censuses identify which group was most punished.
| Tribe Name |
1st Census |
2nd Census | % Diff |
% Gain/Loss |
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 | 94% | + 6% |
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 | 37% | – 63% |
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 | 89% | – 11% |
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 | 103% | + 3% |
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 | 118% | + 18% |
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 | 105% | + 5% |
| Manasseh* | 40,500 | 52,700 | 130% | +30% |
| Ephraim* | 32,200 | 32,500 | 101% | + 1% |
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 | 129% | +29% |
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 | 103% | + 3% |
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 | 129% | +29% |
| Naphali | 53,400 | 45,400 | 85% | -15% |
| Total | 603,550 | 601,730 | 99.7% | -0.3% |
| Levi** | 22,000 | 23,000 | 105% | + 5% |
* Manasseh and Ephraim were children of Joseph.
** Levites were given to God’s service, so counted 1-month old and above.
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