Our God is a promise keeper Number 1
๐ The book of Numbers ๐
๐ This book relates the story of Israel’s ( 38 years ) wandering in the desert. Some scholars called this book as :
~ The Book of Wandering.
~ The Book of Murmuring .
๐ This book presents God’s unchanging Character as he responds with both mercy and justice.
๐ซ In mercy He heard their complaints and supply their needs.
๐ซ In justice He allowed them to reap the consequences of their lack of trust and disobedience.
๐ This book can be divided into three sections :
(i) 1:1-10 These chapters describes how God organised the people to prepare them to enter and possess the promised land.
(ii) 11:1-25:18 These chapters narrates how the Israelites behave ( disobedience and rebellion) as they began the journey to the promised land.
(iii) 26:1-36:13 These chapters portrays how God refined and prepared the second generation to conquer and possess the promised land.
๐ Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth writes , “For God is not the God of disorder ..” 14:33. In other words He is the God of order who organize the things in such a way that no human beings can think of it. His orderly commands in the book of Numbers includes :
1) The Census (1:5-46)
~ For military preparation .
~ Preparation for distributing the promised land according to the tribe, clan and family ( in the later part )
2) Camp Organization (1:48-54)
~ Levites are to set up their tents around the tabernacle
~ Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting maintaining a specific distance . The tribes are arranged in 4 divisions of 3 tribes each positioned at East , West , South and North .
3) Duties of Levites (3:14-48)
The Lord said to Moses , “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelitesโฆ the Levites are mine..” 3:11-13
They have a special role and responsibilities in and around the tabernacle.
They were divided in three clans /groups : Gershonites , Kohathites and Merarites.
Age permissible were 30-50 years (4:3,23,30).
4) Purity in the camp :
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Ceremonial Uncleanness (5:1-4) . Send them outside the camp so that their presence will not defile God’s Sanctuary.
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Restitution ( 5:5-10) . Need to confess and make amends for wrongs done to others.
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Adultery ( 5:11-31) . Unfaithful woman was to stand before the Lord .
5 ) Nazirite Vows (6:1-21)
~ It focus on the purity of an individual who voluntarily dedicates himself/herself to the Lord.
~ Nazirite means separated or set apart .
~ They were bound by three rules :
(a) Abstain from all types of drinks
(b) Not allowed to cut their hairs
(c) Not to go near a dead person.
๐ Beloved, as we read and study the book of Numbers, may we learn to stand firm by trusting God for provision and protection ; accepting His anointed leaders and submitting to His discipline.
Glory to God๐๐ผ
โ๐พ Mark Boje, ArP ๐ฎ๐ณ
Our God is a promise keeper Number 1
The number of men above 20 and who are able to go to war were 6,03,550.when women, children, and men under 20 and very old are included, the total population would probably have been 2.5 million ..In Gen 22:17, the angel of the Lord called Abrahamโฆ..and saidโฆ.. I wil multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore.
This demonstrates God’s mighty power. He was turning the small family of Abraham into a mighty nation. Lord’s aim of founding a great nation was coming true.
Cynthia Sathiaraj
Chennai