The Book of Numbers recounts the history of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 39 years after fleeing Egypt. It details census results, priestly instructions, and camp placements. Through rebellion and testing of God, it shows His constant guidance as they journeyed to the Promised Land, and teaches that God expects obedience from His people.

1. The Book of Numbers
This book of Numbers is a narrative running from the second
years after the Israelites leave Egypt up to almost the end of
Moses‘ life-a total of about thirty-nine years’ wandering in the
wilderness. It takes its name in the Hebrew Bible from
“bammidbar” (in the wilderness). The Greek translation of the
Septuagint, however, prefers to call it “Numbers”, and the
Latin follows suit. As a title this is less than satisfactory,
because the counting of the people does not take up much of
the book, which really is a history of the main events of the
wanderings in the desert.

2. The book begins with God’s express command to Moses to
make a census of the people, the effect of which will be to
show that God indeed has kept his promise to Abraham: “I will
indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the
stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And
your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies”
(Gen. 22:17). The seventy-member family of Jacob which
entered Egypt, now, some 450 years later, numbered around
600,000. Even if this statistic is not mathematically exact (that
is not the purpose of the Bible) there is no doubt about the
Jews being a very numerous people.

3. The book can be divided into three parts:
1. In Sinai. This part, which goes up to chapter 10, presents
Israel as a holy people, in line with its vocation: its holiness
comes from God, not from its own merits. It is divided into
twelve tribes, according to Israel’s twelve sons, taken in groups
of three. They all gather round the tent of meeting, with the
Levites in the place of honour. The Israelites closeness to the
tabernacle, with which they journeyed, meant that they had to
have a high degree of legal purity; the regulations contained in
chapters 5ff were aimed at ensuring this.

4. 2. The journey through the wilderness. This is described in
chapters 10-21. Moses maintains order while they are
encamped in the Sinai. Then the entire people starts out again
on its journey, conscious that they travel under the protection
of Yahweh, who appears to them in the form of a cloud. They
reach Cades, where they stop. Moses uses this respite to
reconnoiter the land of Canaan and to promulgate a series of
laws aimed at clarifying the basis of Moses’ and Aaron’s
authority. Then, because of the opposition of the king of Edom
they have to backtrack. Their entry into Canaan is delayed for

5. thirty-eight years. If they had been docile to the Lord’s they
would not have had to undergo all these privations. As it was,
most of those who set out from Egypt did not live to enter
Canaan.
3. On the plains of Moab. The third and last part of the book,
up to chapter 36, describes events just prior to the entry into
the Promised Land. Almost at its gates, Israel meets its last
obstacle, Balac, King of Moab. Balac had tried to get Balaam, a
seer, to put a curse on the chosen people, but providentially
not only does Balaam not cooperate: he extols the privileges
and promises God has given his people.

6. After this, when the Israelites cavort with the daughters of
Moab and turn from Yahweh, a second census is held and
towards the end of the book Moses establishes new laws to
govern the life of Israel -laws more suited to a settled than a
nomadic people, which will apply as soon as the Israelites
take possession of Canaan.
The events narrated in Numbers do bring out into the open
the infidelities and rebellious nature of the people of Israel.
However, we would be mistaken if we thought that the
lessons and punishments contained in the book applied only
to these people. We are guilty of the same faults as they. We
may be surprised at their hardness of heart, given all the

7. miracles God worked for them, but the truth is that the same
thing happens among Christians. If we carefully examine our
own attitudes, we will be even more surprised: the Son of God
dies for us to reconcile us to God and redeem us from sin and
from the power of the devil; he gives us the great gift of divine
sonship, and we respond not just ungratefully but with daily
signs of infidelity, even to the point of insulting God’s majesty.
Israel’s pilgrimage through the wilderness has a deep religious
meaning for Christians. We are “a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may
declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of

8. darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). God lives in
our midst, in each of us personally, provided we stay faithful
to his grace. But just as the people of Israel fall foul of
temptation by dreaming about advantages of life in Egypt, so
too Christians are easily deflected from the search for
holiness and union with God by being attached to material
possessions, ambition, sensuality or the easy life. The history
of the chosen people as they make their way through the
desert is often reflected in each Christian’s own story.

9. Why is the Book of Numbers Important
The Book of Numbers takes us on a long and winding path
through a desert of excruciating detail. The book records
census results for all twelve tribes not once, but twice; it
documents priestly instructions for handling the Ark of the
Covenant and the tabernacle; and it even spells out the
placement of the tribes when they camped. But through it all,
we cannot doubt God’s unfailing direction over the nation.

10. As a history of the nation of Israel not yet established in the
land promised them long ago, this book unveils significant
events sometimes referenced later in Scripture. Joshua and
Caleb alone among the twelve spies encouraged Israel to take
possession of the land (Numbers 13–14; Joshua 14:7); Moses
struck a rock and water spouted forth (Numbers 20:11; Psalm
106:32); Moses lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole so that
believing Israelites might be healed of their snake bites
(Numbers 21:6–9; John 3:14); and Balaam was rebuked by his
donkey (Numbers 22:21–34; Revelation 2:14).

11. What's the big idea?
In this book, the people of Israel tested God’s patience, and
He in turn tested their endurance and faithfulness. Though
the people failed many times, God showed His own
faithfulness by His constant presence leading the way:
through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

12. More than just a history lesson, the book of Numbers reveals
how God reminded Israel that He does not tolerate rebellion,
complaining, and disbelief without invoking consequences.
He taught His people how to walk with Him—not just with
their feet through the wilderness but with their mouths in
worship, hands in service, and lives as witnesses to the
surrounding nations. He was their God, they were His people,
and He expected them to act like it.

13. How do I apply this?
What we can take away from the book of Numbers- not only
a thorough history of Israel’s early days but also a renewed
sense of God’s delight in obedience. He is our God, too, and
He wants us to live righteously, worshipping Him through
our words and works.
The journey of the Israelites through the wilderness earned
the Apostle Paul’s notice when he penned his first letter to
the Corinthian church. “These things happened,” he wrote in
1 Corinthians 10:6, “as examples for us, so that we would
not crave evil things as they also craved.”

14. Discussion Starter:
1. Do you see any resemblance between the
grumbling, rebellious Israelites and yourself? What
things are you grumbling about today?
2. With humility and sincerity, what do you pray to God
for guidance and to happen in your situation?