The Desert Wanderings. Part 1: The Book of Numbers

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1 Part 1: The Book of Numbers Overview: Numbers is so called because of the two censuses in chapters 1 and 26. The first is of those Israelites that originally came out of Egypt, but who died in the wilderness because of their sins. The second is that of their children who actually enter the promised land. I. [Numbers 1-10]: Israel at Mt. Sinai before their departure: A. [Chapters 1-4] Preparing the Levites. 1. Numbers begins where Exodus left off at Mt. Sinai. The book opens up with a census of the twelve tribes except for Levi, which would make 13 tribes. Why 13? Because Joseph s blessing was divided between his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. 2. The Levites have become the new priests. In these opening chapters they receive their liturgical duties to protect, upkeep and transport the tabernacle and its furnishings. a) Remember, because of Israel's sin at the golden calf, they lost the common priesthood of the first born son. The Levites take their place and new laws are given to them (see Num 3:41, 45). (1) Gal 3:19 says, Why, then, the law? It was added for transgressions, until the descendant [Jesus] came to whom the promise had been made. (2) Hebrews 7:10 says, When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well. 3. Thus, for one year after the golden calf, the Israelites received new laws, directions, and instructions on how to worship in the context of the new Levitical priesthood, the newly erected tabernacle and the liturgy celebrated by the Levites in the tabernacle. These directions are recorded in the last chapters of Exodus, the book of Leviticus, and here in Numbers a) Leviticus means having to do with the Levites. It is a users manual for the Levitical priesthood. The main point is to help the people become holy. You must be holy for I am holy. (Lev 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). Holiness occurs 87 times in this book! (1) What is the purpose of all these various ritual, dietary and sexual laws? They are to set Israel apart from the other nations and make them remember their vocation as a royal-priestly people (Ex 19:6). They teach Israel that God is the source of all life and holiness. Once Christ comes, these laws pass away. B. [Chapter 6] The Nazarite vow provided the opportunity for certain people to consecrate themselves to God, even though the priesthood has been restricted to the Levites. 1. Samson in Judges: he was dedicated as a Nazarite. His story is the breaking of each vow: a) He kills a lion and comes back to eat honey out of his corpse. b) He marries a philistine woman and drinks with his friends. c) He cuts his hair. 2. This chapter ends with the special, Aaronic priestly prayer in 6: C. [Chapter 7-9] All the lay tribes make offerings for the liturgical service of the Levites, who are consecrated to God. Then, Israel celebrates the passover before their departure for a fresh, new start. The glory cloud leads them. 1/5

2 II. The Desert Wanderings [Chapters 11-21] From Mt. Sinai to the plains of Moab. A. Complaining to God at Taberah (11:1-3). B. Complaining about the manna (11:4-35). C. Aaron and Miriam challenge Moses authority (Num 12) D. Spies sent into Canaan (Num 13-14): 1. One spy from each tribe (except Levi). 2. What they found: a fruitful land (13:23), but many tall and frightful people of them give an evil report to the people (13:32), they try to choose a captain to lead them back to Egypt (14:4), and they even try to stone Caleb and Joshua (14:10). a) This is a total lack of trust and unbelief. They are rejecting God s promises. b) God gives Moses another opportunity to intercede for the people (14:13-19). c) They will not enter the land, as they said, but will die in the desert (14:28-35). E. The revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abriam (Num 16-17): 1. They are challenging the priesthood. Since losing the priesthood at Sinai, they now want the priesthood back. 2. They spoke of Egypt as though it flowed with milk and honey (16:12-14). 3. The people continued to rebel after Korah and his ilk were punished (16:41ff)! 4. Aaron s rod buds as a sign of his authority against the rebels (chap 17). F. The waters at Meribah (Chapter 20): 1. They complain again and Moses is commanded to speak to the rock, displaying God s power. He struck it relying on his own power in disbelief. Thus, he and Aaron cannot enter the land. 2. Miriam dies (20:10); Aaron dies (20:28). G. The Bronze Serpent: 1. More complaining resulting in another plague, the remedy of which is a bronze serpent hung on a pole. John 3:14 talks about this as a type of the cross. III. [Chapters 22-25] The new generation at the plains of Moab: A. Balak tries to defeat the Israelites spiritually. He pays Balaam to curse them. 1. Balaam can t help but to bless the people. The fourth blessing is a well known prophesy about the Messiah (24:17-18). 2. Balaam advises Balak to lead them into idolatry at Beth-Peor (Num 25:1-4; see Num 31:16). What the calf was to the 1st generation, Beth-Peor was to the 2nd Generation. 3. Phinehas wins the high priesthood for his zealousness in punishing an idolater ,000 thousand die in the plague. IV. [Chapters 26-36] Starting over... again. A. A new census is taken (Num 26) B. There are some final words and instructions for the upcoming conquest and division of the lands. He reviews the 40 stages of their wanderings during the 40 years. C. Moses last words on the plains of Moab are found in the book of Deuteronomy. Conclusion: St. Paul refers to Numbers as a great lesson for us Christians (1 Cor 10:1-13). 2/5

3 Part 2: The Book of Deuteronomy Overview: I. As a quick review, when Israel sinned, God gave them a new priesthood and new laws for remedial and penitential purposes. A. Gal 3:19 says, Why, then, the law? It was added for transgressions, until the descendant [Jesus] came to whom the promise had been made. B. Hebrews 7:10 says, When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well. II. After Sinai, throughout their desert wanderings, they continued to rebel and sin, thus bringing more laws. Now, after the grievous sin at Baal-Peor (Num 25), Moses must give them a second, albeit temporary, imperfect law, which is what Deutero-nomy means second-law (Deut 29:1). III. Deuteronomy functions very much like Israel s national constitution. Dr. Scott Hahn has given a very interesting comparison between the establishments of Israel and America as an easy way to remember this period of salvation history. A. America was oppressed, escaped tyranny through the Declaration of Independence, had a temporary government under the Articles of Confederation, developed a final Constitution from the fathers with the ability to amend it in the future. B. Israel too was oppressed, escaped tyranny through the Exodus, had a temporary government under Leviticus, received their final Constitution from Moses with the ability of amendment. Structure and main highlights of Deuteronomy: The Desert Wanderings I. [Chapters 1-4]: Moses recapitulates the history of Israel since Egypt and reminds the people of God s great love and their disobedience. He explains the law and exhorts them to obey it. II. [Chapters 5-11]: Reflections on the law of Mt. Sinai and words of warning. A. Moses reminds Israel of the covenant at Mt. Sinai and focuses on the 10 commandments (Chapter 5). B. The Shema is Israel s greatest commandment; it must be taught to their children (6:4-7). C. Because Israel is God s holy people, they must stay away from the Canaanites lest they fall into sin again like the golden calf (Chapters 7-9). D. The desert wanderings helped to humble them and make them dependent on God (8:1-5). E. He warns them to be obedient and circumcise the foreskins of their hearts (10:12-15). III. [Chapters 12-26]: The second law. A. This second law will be Israel s national constitution until Jesus. These new laws come directly from Moses, not from God. This is important because many of these laws were concessions to their sin and were never part of the original plan. They are too hard hearted to follow God s original call for holiness! This is a law of concessions! 3/5

4 1. I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not have life. (Ezekiel 20:21-25). 2. [Jesus] said to them, Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so (Mt 19:8). B. Remember, these various liturgical, dietary, and ritual laws are given because of Israel s continuous lapse into sin. These laws are to remind them that they are a people set apart from all other nations, that they are to lead all other nations to true worship of Yahweh. C. Some key themes: 1. The setting apart of a future, central place of worship Jerusalem (12:5-14). 2. The limits of the future kings power (17:14-17). 3. The coming of a future prophet like Moses (18:15-18). 4. Genocidal warfare is only permitted because the people will fall into idolatry (Dt 20:16-17). a) Original Plan: Israel is a kingdom of priests (1) (Exod 4:22; 19:6) b) After the Golden Calf: Destroy altars and make no covenant with them (1) (Exod 34:11-16) c) After the Plains of Moab: Drive out the inhabitants and destroy their altars (1) (Num 33:50-56) d) Deuteronomy: utterly destroy inhabitants of the land (1) (Deut 7:1-11; 12:29-31; 20:10-18; Josh 6:17) 5. Divorce and remarriage is permitted to avoid murder of wives; Maimonides (Dt 24:1-4). IV. [Chapters 27-28]: The renewed covenant with its blessings and curses: A. The swearing and renewing of the covenant is to take place on two opposite mountains in the land (chapter 27). B. Various blessings and curses are enumerated for obedience and disobedience to the covenant (chapter 28). C. Moses tells them in advance that they will indeed fail and suffer the various curses because of disobedience. They will fail because they don t want to succeed. They haven t circumcised their hearts! Moses commands them to do so in 10:16, but says God will do it in Dt 30:6. It means that they must be cut off from sin in their hearts, not just in their organs. 1. Ezekiel 36:26-27 prophecies that God will give them a heart of flesh. D. Moses warns them once more to choose life through obedience! (Deut 30:19-20) V. [Chapters 31-34] Moses final words: A. God tells Moses once more that they will play the harlot (31:16) and commands him to sing two songs as a final warning to the people. B. After viewing the promised land from Mount Nebo, Moses dies as Israel s greatest prophet (chapter 34). 4/5

5 Jesus as the New Moses: [Dt 18:15] The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren him shall you heed. [ John 6:14] When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world! Moses & Israel Persecuted by Pharaoh as a child. Moses & Israel come out of Egypt. God feeds his people with manna through Moses. Moses delivers his people from slavery to Egypt. Moses & Israel are consecrated through water. Moses fasted for 40 days & Israel was tested for 40 years. Moses went up the mountain to get the law. Moses interceded for Israel s sins. Moses had 70 elders, with 12 chiefs, and a circle of 3 men. Moses fashioned a national church. Jesus, a new Moses and Israel Persecuted by Herod as a child. Jesus and the Holy Family come out of Egypt. Jesus gives his people manna from heaven. Jesus delivers us all from slavery to sin. Jesus is consecrated through water. Jesus fasted and was tested by the devil for 40 days. Jesus went up the mountain to give the new law. Jesus offered himself as the perfect intercessor for everyone s sins. Jesus had 70 disciples, with 12 apostles, and a circle of 3 men. Jesus founded an international church. 5/5