Introduction to the book if Numbers The Census

1. Study of the book of
Numbers
Class 1
Introduction to the book
The Census

2. Study of Numbers
Introduction
 Historically, numbers is the continuation of Exodus; it
continues the story exactly at the point where Exodus
leaves off.
 God’s purpose for the book of Leviticus is not to tell a
story, but to give instruction in the administration of the
sacrifices and duties of the priesthood.

3. Study of Numbers
Introduction
 The largest part of the book of Numbers tells the story
of the pilgrimage of Israel from the moment that Israel
left Mount Sinai until, through a new generation, arrived
at the Jordan River.
 The first year and a half of the 40 years of pilgrimage
are recorded between Exodus 12:37 and Numbers
14:45, and the last months of the journey from
Numbers 20:14 to the end of the book. Between
Numbers 14:45 and 20:14, 30 years of history pass.

4. Study of Numbers
Introduction
 The central point of the book of Numbers is the
episode at Kadesh-Barnea, the sad story of Israel’s
rebellion described in chapters 13:1 to 14:45. After that
day God rejected the generation that came out of Egypt
and only their children could enter into the land of
Canaan.
 A distinctive characteristic of the book of Numbers is
the people’s murmuring and God’s constant discipline
of his people.

5. Study of Numbers
Introduction
 But numbers is also a book of great wonders, because
almost 3,000,000 people were fed, kept alive, dressed,
and cared for etc... in the midst of a burning desert.
 The people lacked nothing during the pilgrimage. Even
though they acted like unbelievers, God remained
faithful in meeting all of their needs.

6. Study of Numbers
Introduction
1. The name of the book
 In Hebrew, following the custom of designating the book
by its first few words, the book was called ‘‘Be-midbar’’,
which means ‘‘in the desert’’.
 The translators of the Septuagint (LXX) gave the book
the name ‘‘Arithmoi’’. This word is the origin of the
English word mathematics.
 In the Latin Vulgate, the name was ‘‘Numeri’’ where we
get the English term “Numbers”.

7. Study of Numbers
Introduction
2. The theme of the book
 The scope of the book is the journey of Israel from Egypt
to the promise land. Numbers is a book of history and
also of instruction.
 The history of the journey is not only narrative but also
interpretive: the author makes constant affirmations
about the causes of the failure of the people.

8. Study of Numbers
Introduction
3. Author
 Both Christians and Jews consider Moses as the author
of the book of Numbers.
 Some scholars affirm that the book was merely dictated
by Moses and copied by an aide, Joshua or Caleb. This
however is irrelevant, since during centuries Moses has
been recognized as the author.

9. Study of Numbers
Introduction
4. Date
 The narrative history of the book spreads across a
period of approximately 40 years. The date is commonly
accepted among historians as being the period of
pilgrimage, between 1450 and 1410 AC. The book was
written during this period.

10. Study of Numbers
Introduction
5. Outline
The book can be divided into four main parts:
 Preparations for departing Sinai - 1:1-10:10
 From Sinai to Kadesh - 10:11-14:45
 The 38 years of pilgrimage - 15:1-25:18
 Preparations to enter the promised land - 26:1-36:13.

11. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 In the book of Numbers we see two different aspects of
the service of God’s people.
 The military service of the Army.
 And the ministry of the Levites in the Tabernacle.

12. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The ministry of the Levites is related to life, just as we
minister life to others and fellowship with God.
 Therefore there are two corporate ministries:
 The Army for battle against enemies
 And that of the Levites before God

13. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
1. The census (Chapter 1)
 The first topic that we come across in the book is the
census of the people of Israel. This census was related
to both aspects already mentioned.
 The Tabernacle was built one year after the Exodus from
Egypt, and the census was taken one month after the
construction of the Tabernacle, or in other words, one
year and two months after the Exodus from Egypt.

14. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
We will examine four important aspects related to this
census:
a. The issue of blood-line
 Only the children of Israel should have been counted,
those who were descendants of Abraham, the chosen
people of God. Today we as the church are the chosen
race or chosen people of God (1 Peter 2:9).

15. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
b. The matter of maturity
 Only the men aged 20 years and above were to be
counted in the census (1:3). To count those who are 20
years or older means to count those who have already
reached maturity. These are the men who were able to
go out to war.
 There was no limit to the age of those who could serve in
the army, contrary to the service of the Levites to which
only men between 25 and 50 years of age could serve.

16. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 This shows us that we can never retire in the matters
concerning spiritual warfare against Satan.
 We can see this illustrated in the life of Caleb, who at 85
years of age, felt as young as he did at 40 and was still
ready to go to war (Joshua 14:6-11).

17. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
c. The matter of authority
 Each tribe had a leader or a prince (1:4-16). For each
one of the 12 tribes, God determined who would be the
leader. Notice that God calls these leaders by name.
 In the church, these leaders are the elders constituted by
God to lead the flock.

18. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 However, God only recognizes those who serve
regularly. Although in a church there may be many
leaders, God recognizes those who regularly come
before him into the holy of holies, to stand before him
in intimacy.

19. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The leaders are designated to help the flock and not to
dominate over it. Spiritual authority is not to be
exercised with an attitude of superiority.
 Spiritual authority is one of the most important and
dangerous matters in God’s house. All those who are
listed in God’s army must recognize who is the
authority to whom they must to submit. We should
never wander outside of the chain of authority.

20. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
d. The matter of order
 The census should be according to the houses of their
fathers. This shows us that the organization of the army
is not according to personal preferences. Everything
followes God’s determination.

21. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The example of the census of David
 The Word of God mentions three accounts of a census:
the first is in Numbers 1, the second in chapter 26 and
the third was taken by David (2 Samuel 24).
 Many Christians have a wrong attitude with respect to
numbers in the church because of the census that David
took.
 In Numbers, the Lord commanded that the census be
taken, but the census that David commanded came from
the evil one (1 Chronicles 21:1).

22. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 David’s sin was the sin of many pastors and leaders
today: the worship of numbers.
 It was not wrong to count the people, since God himself
commanded Moses to do so, the problem is that David
wanted to take a census so that he didn’t have to
depend on God.

23. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 After this incident, David never again went to war. Thus
God never again blessed him with the conquest of
more land. Even though he repented and was forgiven
by God, his kingdom could no longer expand.
 The enemy hates the growth of the church. He rose up
against Israel and not against David. That is why when
David sinned, Israel suffered. The sin of the leader
always reaches the flock.

24. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The growth of the church can be a strong temptation
for pastors to fall into the same error as David did.
 Let’s see some signs of problems with numbers in the
church.

25. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 It is rare to see a pastor of a great ministry with a
sensible heart toward God. David only perceived his
error after nine months (2 Samuel 24:8).
 David’s motive for recounting Israel was to have
independence of God in battle. He was trusting more in
the number of his soldiers that in God. Some church
leaders today trust more in the size of the church than
in the power of God.

26. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 Insecurity is different than dependence. Insecurity
leads us to trust in man, but dependence is the choice
of trusting and waiting on God. we need dependent
leaders and not insecure leaders.

27. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The sign of the pride of a leader is his inability to follow
counsel and suggestions. See the case of David and
Joab in 1 Chronicles 21:3-4
 Church growth cannot be the fruit of covetousness, but
must be the result of a heart for God. When growth
comes from impure motives it results in losses.

28. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 Those who worship growth normally use the church to
promote themselves and act as if they were the owner
of the God’s work.
 There is a principle of solidarity between leader and
followers. The leader sins, but the flock also suffers the
consequences. God commanded David to choose his
punishment:

29. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 Hunger
 In some ministries the supply of the bread of the Word of
God seems to have come to an end and spiritual hunger
increases. Wherever there is no food there will be
weakness and the results will be a decrease of size.

30. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The sword of the enemy
 This refers to attacks of the devil, but principally to
accusations and public denunciations of sin.

31. Study of Numbers – Chapter 1
The census
 The sword of the Lord
 In the specific case of our text the sword of the Lord
represented infirmity. Leaders can fall into sickness, but
entire churches can also become spiritually sick and
unable to advance.