We are starting our fourth book of the Old Testament tonight.  We are going through the first five books of the Bible.  After this, we are going through a study of Acts, but it will be a study of the whole New Testament.  This will include where the other books of the bible fit in the timeline all the way to Revelation.  I am already studying for this so it is going to be pretty exciting.

  1. In the Wilderness.  Numbers 1: 1
  1. Leviticus started like this.
    1. The Lord spoke to Moses from the Tabernacle
      1. The Tabernacle was just built
      2. God spoke to Moses which surprised him because before, he just spoke from  the Mountain.
    2. This is one month since the building of the tabernacle
      1. So the Rules given in Leviticus took one month to share.
  2. The Hebrew name for Numbers is Bamidbar which means “in the wilderness”
  3. This book is going to cover the 39 years that they spend in the Wilderness.

2. Four Wilderness of the Bible

  1. Wilderness of Death
    1. Lack of water makes life in the wilderness impossible
      1. Hagar and Ishmael think they will die in the wilderness. Genesis 21: 14, 15
      2. People accuse Moses of leading them into the wilderness to die
      3. God states they will die in the wilderness Numbers 14: 35
    2. Wilderness is the haunt of unclean spirits Matthew 12: 43
      1. Deuteronomy 8: 15 He led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water.
        1. Snakes and scorpions also represent evil spirits Luke 10: 18, 19
    3. Jesus is our wilderness guide
      1. Good shepherd leads us through the valley of shadow of death.
      2. He conquered the devil in the wilderness.
  2. Wilderness of refuge and provision
    1. Some go into the wilderness seeking to escape pursuit.
      1. Moses from Pharaoh
      2. Children of Israel from the Egyptians.
      3. David from Saul
      4. Elijah from Jezebel.
      5. Prophetically Revelation 12 Woman (Israel) escaping the devil)
    2. Though it is dry and waterless, it is also a place of miraculous provision
      1. Israel with manna and water from a rock
      2. Elijah and Ravens
      3. Woman in revelation hid for 1260 days.
    3. God wants us to remember the days in the wilderness lest we forget that He is our true provider.  “Otherwise you may say in your heart, My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth. Deuteronomy 8: 17
  3. Wilderness of Revelation
    1. Spiritual revelation comes in the wilderness.
      1. When the rest of the worlds comforts and distractions are stripped away, the wilderness is a place where creation can come face to face with the creator.
        1. Moses and the burning bush
        2. Moses and the ten commandments.
        3. John the Baptists was in the wilderness.
        4. Spirit compelled Jesus to go out into the wilderness on a 40 day fast Mark 1: 12
        5. Prophets even look back to wilderness experiences with longing.  Jeremiah 2: 2 or Hosea 2: 14 I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her.
  4. Wilderness as exile
    1. The wilderness journey symbolizes the exile and the current age.
    2. Israel did not enter the promised land because of unbelief Hebrews 3: 19
    3. There is a plot line that is going to emerge through this book
      1. Israel hates being in the wilderness,
      2. They blame God for their problems.
    4. God is still going to bring them to their desired goal
      1. Numbers 15: 1 When you finally enter into the promised land.
      2. Jesus will bring us to our final end.

3. Muster the Hosts. 1: 2, 3

  1. Count the families
    1. God cares about his people.  Jesus recognized the 1 that was gone from the 100.
  2. They are my armies.
    1. Called armies in Exodus 7: 4
  3. We sometimes forget that God is a God of War.
    1. he saves us from our sins, suit there is a militant side of Messiah. (Psalm 2: 9 – 12)
  4. Earthly things reflect heavenly things.
    1. The hosts on earth must be a reflection of the hosts of heaven.
    2. Jesus rides at the hosts of heaven prepared for battle.
      1. Jesus could call twelve legions of angels to help him in Gethsemane.(twelve tribes)
      2. Revelation 19: 14 armies of heaven clothed in linen white and clean.
        1. Revelation 19: 8in fine linen bright and clean for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
  5. Lead by one man Vs 4
    1. Zechariah 6: 12 Behold a man whose name is Branch.  Isaiah 53: 3 a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

4. Camp Placement  2: 3, 4

  1. Judah will camp to the east.
    1. Messiah is often pictured as coming from the east.
  2. Setting out
    1. There are a number of chapters about dismantling the tabernacle and what that looks like.
    2. Levi is to carry all the furnishings of the tabernacle.
    3. Judah is to lead them.
      1. Nashon son of Amminadab leads them.
      2. Aaron’s brother-in-law Exodus 6: 23 Mentioned six times in the Bible story.
      3. When Israel sets out, Nahshon sets out to lead them.
    4. Israel setting out int he wilderness. Death exile, demonic.  Nahshan leading them followed by the armies of heaven brining the ark where God will dwell with mankind.
    5. Revelations 21: 3 Behold the dwelling place of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God himself will be among them.