Almost to the Promised Land: Looking at Numbers

Leading up to the story of Joshua, the Israelites had journeyed to Canaan under the leadership of Moses, also Aaron the priest and his son, Eleazar. The stages of that journey will have to be in my next post because it would be too extensive here.

"Notes on Numbers"

In Numbers, chapter 26, a census of all the men twenty years old or more was recorded, just as it had been done the first time under Moses in the book of Numbers, chapter 1. The census served a purpose in that it was taken by tribe to determine the population and land size needed for each tribe.

This second census ended with a total amount of men of Israel as 601,730. All of the male Levites (the priestly tribe) were counted starting at a month old or more and numbered 23,000. The Levites were not counted along with the other Israelites because they were not to receive the same kind of land inheritance. The Lord had said in Numbers 18:23, that because they received a tithe, they would not receive a land inheritance.


The Israelites from Numbers 14 who had grumbled and complained along the journey and rebelled against Moses had not survived, except for Caleb, who the Bible says had a different spirit and served the Lord whole-heartedly, and Joshua, son of Nun.

After the Israelites defeated the Canaanites, the divisional boundaries of the tribal lands are specified in Numbers 34. In addition, the Levites were supposed to receive towns with pasture lands: 48 of them to live in, and 6 more were to be Cities of Refuge, for a total of 54 allotted cities.

The 6 refuge cities were supposed to be for people (whether Israelite or alien) who were accused of murder and waiting for a fair trial. If a person murdered with pre-meditation and hostility, then he was not allowed refuge. The Bibles says, "they shall be put to death" by an "avenger of blood." The rules for determining accidental death and murder are found in Numbers 35:16-21, and 22-24.

Cities of Refuge

Within the clan of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manassah, the daughters of Zelophehad had been given land, so they were instructed to marry whomever they pleased, as long as they married men within the tribal clan of their father. No inheritance was supposed to pass from tribe to tribe; the Israelites were supposed to maintain their tribal inheritance. So Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah all married their (hopefully!) distant cousins on their father's side, descendents of Manassah, son of Joseph.

This is a brief summary of all the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

Abundant Living: The Ten Commandments

Mount Sinai

In Exodus 20, God spoke to the Israelites from Mount Sinai. He reminded them of how He brought them out of slavery in Egypt and how He desires to stay in their presence and to be their Lord God. By God declaring these “rules,” it is as if He is explaining that this relationship requires holiness, and these commandments will guide them in how to live an abundant life, in His presence, with His protection and provision for generations to come. God describes himself in verses 5-6:

“...I am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments” (vv. 5-6).

1. Do not have other gods before Me.
2. Do not make an idol of anything and bow down to it or worship it.
3. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God because He punishes those who do that.
4. Remember to dedicate a Sabbath day of rest—do all your work on 6 days, and then set a 7th day apart as a holy day devoted to God. Even the Lord created the heavens and earth, the seas, and everything in them in 6 days and then rested on the 7th day and declared it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. Do not covet, or be jealous, or your neighbor’s house, his wife, his male or female slave, his livestock, or anything that belongs to him.

After God spoke (Exodus 20:1-17), the people were afraid and told Moses that they would listen to Moses, but they were afraid for God to speak to them directly. Moses assured them to not be afraid. Moses explained that God was putting them to a test so they would be afraid, but the fear of God would produce in them an unwillingness to sin. The people remained at a distance from the cloud where God was, but Moses approached the thick darkness where God was so he could receive more instructions and laws.

In Exodus 21-24, and throughout Exodus to chapter 40, God gives instructions to Moses. 

The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain
and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets
with the law and commands
I have written for their instruction."
(Exodus 24:12)

(Luke 10:25-28)

Exodus 14: Parting of the Red Sea

Although I’ve heard some of these Old Testament stories since I was a child, I always forget the details. So reading through the Old Testament is proving to be an adventure. Just as I finished reading about how the Israelites are freed from slavery in Egypt after ten plagues, including death of every firstborn Egyptian male and cattle, here comes a twist in chapter 14.

It begins with Pharaoh and his officials changing their minds and saying, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” And so begins a pursuit. Pharaoh and his army of horses and 600 of his best chariots, in addition to “all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over them,” horsemen and troops. They overtake the Israelites. The Egyptians pursued and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth (see map).

(Click on the map link above to enlarge the map.)

And as I read about the Israelites desperation in the desert, I find a little bit of comic relief in Exodus 14:10-12. As Pharaoh and his tremendous army approach the Israelites, who had been boldly marching out of Egypt up to now, they are suddenly terrified and cry out to the Lord. They said to Moses,

“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 

Moses answered the people,

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Then the Lord questioned Moses as to why he was crying out to God? He commanded the Israelites to keep moving, and reminded Moses that he had been given a supernatural staff to be used to accomplish miracles, or “signs and wonders.” As explained in Exodus 4:5, “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

So Moses listened and did as God told him:

“Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved to behind them, separating the Israelites from the army of Egypt. Throughout the night, the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side, so the two armies remained distant.

This is a tiled mural of Exodus 14 from Mozaico.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided and the Israelites were able to go through the sea on dry land with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

One of many famous paintings done by artist Arnold Friberg for the Hollywood movie, "The Ten Commandments."

Pharaoh’s tremendous army of more than 600 chariots, horsemen, troops and officials pursued, but the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots.

The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

Then at daybreak, the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back…” The entire army of Pharaoh was covered by the sea. None of them survived (Exodus 14:26-27).

"But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant” (Exodus 14:29-31).

The Contest with Pharaoh (Exodus 5-11)

When reading through this story, my first thoughts are, “How does this apply to me in real life?!” Does God still cause plagues or perform supernatural signs and wonders anyway? This post will help explain the how and why of the Exodus with a practical application for today.

In Exodus 4, Moses and Aaron obeyed the Lord and made plans to travel to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. They first met with the elders of Israel and explained how the Lord wanted to deliver the Israelites out of their 430 years of slavery in Egypt. The elders were greatly moved when they heard that God had heard their cries for help and was concerned with them. The elders bowed down and worshipped the Lord.

According to my textbook, the story of the Exodus (exiting) of Egypt is one of great struggle between Yahweh, “God of the Hebrews,” and Pharaoh, “King of Egypt.” God’s command of “Let my people go,” is said repeatedly, and so is the king’s refusal, “I will not let Israel go.” In addition to not knowing anything about this “God of the Hebrews,” Pharaoh was a king and had economic reasons to cause him to not want the Israelite slaves to leave; it would mean less productivity and maintenance of the social and economic system of Egypt at the time. Likewise, God did not want a half-hearted partial surrender of the Israelites; God wanted Pharaoh to choose to drive them out of his land entirely to ensure that future generations would know they are free.

Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh 10 times, and each time Pharaoh responds.

Exodus Chapter & Verse	Sign or Plague	Meaning in Story	What Happened Next
7:8-13	Snake or sea monster	God unleashes chaos over which God is sovereign; he controls.	Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign. God’s snake swallows up their snake.
7:14-25	Blood in all water	God has power over water, the source of life.	Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign so Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
8:1-15	Frogs in Nile, houses, bedrooms, kitchens, everywhere!	God has power over the sacred Nile River.	Pharaoh acknowledges the power of God and asks Moses to pray for God to stop. Moses prays. When the plague stops, Pharaoh hardens his heart again.
8:16-19	Dust of the ground turns into gnats.	This is a reminder that mankind one day returns to the dust.	Pharaoh’s magicians cannot replicate this sign.
8:20-32	Flies cover the land and ruin the crops, except not in Goshen, where the Israelites are living.	God has power over all the land. God makes a distinction between “my people and your people.”	Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron they can leave for 3 days to offer sacrifices to their God in the desert.
9:1-7	Diseased livestock	God has power over animal life.	Pharaoh sent men to investigate; none of the Israelites animals were diseased. Pharaoh still remained unyielding.
9:8-12	Boils on men and animals	God has power over human well-being.	Pharaoh’s magicians are covered in boils.
9:13-35	Hail, “the worst storm in the land of Egypt’s history”	God has power over plant life.	Some of Pharaoh’s officials by now fear God; Pharaoh admits he has sinned.
10:1-20	Locusts now destroy any remaining crops.	God has power over all creation.	Pharaoh’s officials now plead with Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh almost allows the men to leave but not the women and children.
10:21-29	Darkness (except not in Goshen)	Judgment against God’s enemies	Pharaoh will now allow all slaves to go, just not the livestock. Moses explains, “not a hoof is to be left behind.” Pharaoh: “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
11:1-10; 12:29-30	Death of the firstborn male and firstborn cattle of all Egyptians.	God claims Egypt’s future.	The firstborn of all Israelites are protected (Passover). Pharaoh commands the Israelites to leave.

Pharaoh learned that this God of the Israelites is “beyond his control.” Egypt was not autonomous and all powerful as Pharaoh willed. The plagues were acts of judgment to demonstrate God’s sovereign rule over Egypt and over Pharaoh’s heart (i.e., his will or disposition). It is worth noting that before each plague, Pharaoh was warned a day in advance so he could take action or change his mind.

The signs and wonders that God performed through Moses and Aaron (through the staff that God supplied them) are obviously supernatural and cannot be explained exactly. To believe these supernatural occurrences is a willingness to believe that there is a God over Creation and this God often uses nature (and science in nature) to accomplish his exact purposes.

The plagues are a type of “reversal of creation” in that there was contamination of water and land, affliction of humans and animals, destruction of plants, and removal of light. The act of darkness was in response to the Egyptian’s worship of the sun god Re (or Ra). The Nile had also been associated with several Egyptian deities: Hapi, Isis, and Khnum. With each plague, the Israelites in Goshen were spared because God said he was making a distinction between “my people” and Pharaoh’s land.

Eventually, Pharaoh receives mercy in the form of the Israelites leaving Egypt.

Application:

1. God intends to separate “His people” from those who do not worship Him.
2. God hears our prayers and answers but not always in the timing or way we imagine.
3. God’s nature shows compassion and mercy, as well as judgment and discipline.
4. God makes a distinction between those who are called “His own” and those who are indifferent to serving and obeying Him. This is a theme that runs throughout the Bible.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ (John 1:12)

Exodus 3-4: The Calling of Moses

Exodus chapter 3 begins with the "calling" of Moses on Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, "the mountain of God." Moses encounters three mysterious events: the appearance of an Angel of the Lord, a burning bush that is not being consumed by the fire, and the voice of God sounding from the fiery bush. When Moses hears the voice of God calling his name, "Moses! Moses!" he says, "Here I am." But when God answers Moses and demonstrates his presence and power, Moses hides his face because he is afraid to look at God.

Eugene Pluchart (French painter, 1809-1880), "God Appears to Moses
in Burning Bush" (1848), St. Isaac of Dalmatia Cathedral, St. Petersburg.

The idea of "calling" someone seems so commonplace and ordinary in vernacular English. From reading online definitions of "call," the general meaning is "to call [out for someone], to command, to request, to summon." This reminds me of a parent calling out for a child to come home, or to come for dinner. The parent knows where the child is (most likely), but it requires a tone of authority or urgency to get the child to answer in obedience. In this story, it requires creativity and a dramatic burning bush to get Moses to leave his daily task of tending to his father-in-law's flock (Exodus 3:3).

In Exodus 3:4 through 4:17, we read there is a conversation between Moses and God. We learn from this conversation a little bit about the nature of God. The setting here is that the Israelites are enslaved by the Egyptians, and God has come to answer their cries for help and rescue them from their misery. God asks for Moses to help! Moses must go to Pharaoh and speak with authority and bring God's people out of bondage. In a bold (yet honest) move, Moses objects by giving 5 reasons!

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (4:13).

From these answers, we can identify with how Moses feels. He already has survived a complicated life. By decree of the king of Egypt, all Hebrew boys were to be thrown in the Nile and only girls allowed to live. So even at birth, his life was in danger. His mother placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile to be found and spared. He was found by the Pharaoh's daughter who had compassion on him and raised him as an Egyptian in the royal household. She named him Moses, meaning, "I drew him out of the water." (Exodus 2).

Forty years later, Moses has fled Egypt, the tyranny of Pharaoh and his harsh oppression of the Israelites, and he is wandering in Midian. He comes upon the priest of Midian, Jethro, who gives him a wife (his daughter Zipporah) and a job. He is busy taking care of his father-in-law Jethro's flock, and he is married. He has a place in a family, a new identity and a purpose. But suddenly, God is calling him and summoning him to do something else?

Location of Ancient Midian.

Just as a reminder, here are his 5 objections:

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it" (4:13).

God answers:

1. God says he will be with Moses and assures him of his presence, "I will be with you" (3:11-12).
2. God reveals his name to Moses, which is a sign of authority, trust and a relationship with God. "I AM WHO I AM" (3:14-15).
3. God gives Moses three miraculous signs, which he can share with others to cause them to believe. (4:1-9). 
4. God assures Moses that he made man and his ability to speak and hear so even in Moses' weakness, God can use him as he determines (4:10-12).
5. God allows Moses to have Aaron as a helper to do the talking. At this point, God is angry with Moses' disobedience, but he is determined to still use Moses in his plan, "I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do" (4:15).

It is noteworthy that God has remained patient with Moses during his first four objections. After his fifth objection, it says, "the Lord's anger burned against Moses" because of his disobedience. Although Moses didn't feel like he was worthy to even be in God's presence, God had a plan for the Israelites and determined to include Moses in the plan. This communication with God was not easy, and Moses even argues with God. After Moses questions God, then God reveals even more about his nature to Moses: his name, his power and authority, his miracles, and his assurance of faith, knowledge and peace. The final word of advice from God to Moses is, "But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it" (4:17). Moses knows he is going out to do a risky mission and God knows he will face hardship, opposition, and will be in need of miracles. But God sends him and Aaron anyway, and Moses and Aaron go. (Wow!)

Application: Relationships require time and energy, open communication and honesty. When talking to God, it is okay to be truthful and disagree. In ourselves, we cannot do anything miraculous. We will have trials in this world. God knows what we are capable of doing when we turn to Him for wisdom, discernment, validation, power, and strength. God sends us helpers.

Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world" (John 16:33). And apostle John wrote to early church believers in his letter: "...everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).