Num 1-6, God is a God of order

• Background:
• Jewish title comes from fifth word in Hebrew test, bemidbar, meaning "in the wilderness"
• The book has two censuses. One near the beginning (chps 1-4 and one near the end, chp 26)
• First is taken, first day, second month, second year
• Final is taken, tenth month, fortieth year
• Three major areas
• How the nation ordered itself
• How the priests and Levite were to function during the mobility
• How the people were to prepare for the conquest
• Theme: Constable suggests obedience
• Audience
• Older generation, chps 1-25
• Newer generation, chps 26-36


Num 1:1-5, 16 (NIV) The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. 3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:


from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; ...


16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.


• Why a census?
• Important organizational tool
• Helps in planning
• Useful in the historical records
• Highlights the miracle, at the time and over the 40 years in the wilderness
• 1 Cor 14:40 (NIV) But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
• APPLICATION: God is a God of order and not chaos and confusion.  Planning does not show a lack of faith.  Disobedience shows a lack of faith (latter section of Jeremiah makes that argument -- Jer 40-43 -- difference between Gedaliah (no planning, all trust) and Johanan (all planning, no obedience))
• Order shows up more strongly in the verses that follow
• Why the selection of persons by name from each tribe?
• Each tribe prevents any disagreements
• Men were probably selected on two criteria
• Ability -- not easy to record and count in a systematic manner 30-70 thousand people
• Integrity -- the names were trusted, not only in the tribe but among the tribes


Num 1:44-46 (NIV) These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.


• The 603K does not include the Levites which number 22K (Num 3).  That would place the number at about 625K.  Since this only includes men, the number would at least double to include women, or about 1.25M.  And finally, children are excluded which would at a minimum double the number to 2.5M, and probably closer to 3 million (since most nations have a greater than 2.0 ration of children to parents)
• So, 3 million people wandered in a desert for 4o years.  God fed them with manna, and at times with quail.  God provided water, although sometimes with a wait
• This is an incredible miracle, which is why so many don't believe the story in the bible
• The writer relates the story in a passive tone.  There is no attempt to make the story any more than it was, which was a simple fact.  Only at the end of the story does Moses add some more details, such as the shoes and clothes not wearing out
• This story did happen, there is too much to it to deny as a myth.  It carries none of the characteristics of a myth.  It is a historical narrative that was carried on in the story of Judges and the other historical documents without any suggestion of its factual nature. 
• What does it say to us? 
• God is powerful enough to do whatever it takes to bring history to its ultimate conclusion.  A day of tribulation is coming, a day when God pours out his wrath on all the earth.  While God does not promise rescue from suffering or tribulation caused by the world toward the believer( but rather a promise of a better future), he does specifically promise rescue (rapture) from the tribulation which he brings upon the earth.  But he only promises that to the person who has been born again.  After the tribulation starts, it will be too late.  Not too late for salvation, but too late for rescue from that time of great sorrow. 


Num 2:1-9 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."


3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.
9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.


• This is only one fourth of the details in this chapter regarding the 12 tribes.  It does not include the Levites
• Having defined the number, two other things follow -- what are they?
• The 4 groups are placed in relation to the tabernacle (discussed later)
• The order of march is defined
• Why this detail?
• Because it would have been a mess to move 3M people with no order
• Also, it would be a mess to place 3M people
• If there is this much detail given at the strategic level, what do you think happened at the level below it and why?
• There was also division and order
• Why? God set an example and the people probably duplicated the example down to the family level
• Otherwise, there still would be chaos
• Also, other tribes were waiting on the tribes in front to move before they could move (your actions affected others)
• APPLICATION: This is really a principle of life.  Our actions do affect others.  There is no such thing as independent action or sin between consenting adults that does not affect others.  We were designed to be interdependent


Num 4:1-6 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.


4 "This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6 Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.


• Not only are the twelve tribes placed, but the four major families in the Levites are also given specific responsibilities during the move and also places to lodge in relationship to the tabernacle
• What is the common theme?
• Everything is in order
• Everything is planned out
• Everything centers around the tabernacle
• Note (Constable):
• Geshonites are in charge of software (curtains and coverings)
• Kohathites are in charge of furniture and utensils
• Mararites are in charge of hardware (boards and bars)
• APPLICATION: How do we plan our life? Is it centered around a walk with God?  Is there even a plan?
• Did the Levites get to pick their ministry?
• No, whole family groups were told what their ministry was
• No one asked them if they felt fulfilled or empowered
• The important thing was that they served the master, not that they were served by ministry


Num 6:22-27 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:


24 "'"The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace." ' 


27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."


• First line is 3 words,15 letters; second line is 5 words, 20 letters; and third line is 7 words, 25 letters
• First line is general, to bless and keep
• Second line is more specific, the Lord's face to shine upon them (his favor), and to be gracious (kindness and generosity)
• Third line is even more specific.  God is to specifically look at you and give you peace.
• The prayer is not spontaneous, showing that not all prayer has to be spontaneous nor cannot be repeated