It's all about Him

Numbers - Chapter 26

At the start of this book there was a census and over 600,000 men were counted.  Now we have a second census, as the people prepare to enter the promised land, nearly 40 years later.  Virtually all the men in the first census have died (only two of them

Numbers - Chapter 25

The Israelites are camped in an area where they start to establish a relationship with the local Canaanites.  The men have relationships with the Canaanite women.  The people join in the worship of the foreign idols.  And God is angry that his people are not keeping themselves separate - set

Numbers - Chapter 24

In this Chapter Balaam continues to prophesy, and he gives in verse 17 a prophecy about the coming Messiah - Jesus. “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the

Numbers - Chapter 23

We continue the story of Balaam, and we see here him prophesying over Israel.  In verse 21 he says: "No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them." It has already

Numbers - Chapter 22

We read here the strange story of Balaam -  a prophet who is working with the Moabites - enemies of God's people.  God is angry with Balaam and deals with Balaam through Balaam's donkey.  In the story the main character is the angel of the Lord.

Numbers - Chapter 21

We read here the story of the bronze serpent on a pole lifted up by Moses.  The people were being killed by snakes, but when they looked at the serpent they lived.  Bronze represents judgement; the serpent represents sin; and sin being judged is lifted up on a wooden pole.

Numbers - Chapter 20

We have in this chapter more grumbling by the people; this time because there was no water for them to drink.  A similar thing had happened 40 years earlier and at that time God had instructed Moses to strike a rock with his staff and water came out. In 1

Numbers - Chapter 19

In this chapter we have the description of the sacrifice of the red heifer: Bring a red heifer, a perfect animal that has no defects and has never been yoked to a plow. Give it to Eleazar the priest, and it will be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in

Numbers - Chapter 18

In this chapter we see the duties and responsibilities of the priests, as well as the provision for them.  In the promised land the country will be divided among the various tribes; but the Levites will not be included in that land allocation.  In verse 20 God says: "You

Numbers - Chapter 17

In this chapter God says that he will show the person he has chosen to lead the Priesthood – he will demonstrate beyond doubt that it is Aaron.  The staff of a leader from each tribe is given to Moses – with Aaron’s staff clearly marked. Aaron’s staff not only

Numbers - Chapter 16

In this chapter we read the story of the rebellion of Korah.  Korah gathered some followers and challenged Moses’ leadership. God opened up the earth and swallowed the rebels, their families, and all their possessions.  Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the other 250 men who were party

Numbers - Chapter 15

In this chapter God tells the Israelites to wear fringes or tassels on the hems of their clothes: "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and

Numbers - Chapter 14

We see in this chapter the consequences of the people's failure to trust God to lead them into the promised land.  In the book of Hebrews there is a warning against unbelief based on this story. "For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just

Numbers - Chapter 13

In this chapter we see 12 leaders - one from each tribe - going into Canaan to see the land that God is leading them into.  The names of the leaders are listed, and from the tribe of Judah (Jesus' tribe) there is Caleb, who is one of the

Numbers - Chapter 12

In the previous chapter we saw Moses facing grumbling from the  people.  Today that grumbling comes from within his family.  His brother and sister began to talk against him.  By the end of the chapter Moses has spoken out for them with grace before God and they are restored. This

Numbers - Chapter 11

We now move on to the story of the wilderness wanderings.  And this begins with the people complaining.  Even when they are eating the bread (manna) provided for them, the people are complaining. "We have lost our appetites; we never see anything but this manna!" And John chapter

Numbers - Chapter 10

Moses is told by God to make two silver trumpets.  These trumpets are to be used for various purposes - including "calling the people together." In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians (Chapter 4) Paul gives details of the return of Jesus to call his people

Numbers - Chapter 9

There is a minor detail about the Passover mentioned in verse 12.  They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning or "break any of its bones." In the description of the crucifixion in John chapter 19 the Roman soldiers are sent to break the

Numbers - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 begins with God giving instructions on setting up the seven lamps in the lampstand.  The golden lampstand does not produce light - it is used to hold the lamps, which light up the tabernacle. Similarly in Revelation chapter 1 we read that the lampstands which John sees represent

Numbers - Chapter 7

In this chapter the tabernacle is set up ready for use, and each of the leaders of the Israelites presented their offerings to God.  Moses then hears God speak to him in the tabernacle. "Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard

Numbers - Chapter 6

Jesus makes an appearance in this chapter in the priestly blessing (sometimes called the Aaronic blessing, in verses 24 to 26. This is how you are to bless the Israelites.  Say to them "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and

Numbers - Chapter 5

In this chapter there is a test to be carried out when a man suspects that his wife has been unfaithful - described as the law of jealousy. There are some interesting links in the rules to the incident in John chapter 8, where a woman who was caught in

Numbers - Chapter 4

In Chapter 4 there is a census of the Levites.  In this census the men counted are those from thirty to fifty years of age - as this was the period during which they served. Although Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, he did have the role as

Numbers - Chapter 3

We have seen before that in the Bible prophecy comes in patterns.  And in Chapter 3 we are once again looking at the pattern of substitution.  We saw this idea in Genesis, when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, but a ram was substituted.  In Exodus 13, verse 2 we

Numbers - Chapter 2

In this Chapter, God sets out some precise rules about the arrangement of the Israelite camp for the duration of the wilderness wanderings (40 years).  In the centre there are the Levites (we know from Chapter 3 that there are 22000 males in the Levite camp. Three tribes are camped