This chapter marks an important transition for Israel. After being organized, cleansed, and prepared in the wilderness, the Israelites are finally called to move forward towards the promised land. God gives Moses instructions for two silver trumpets, tells Israel when to break camp, and then records the beginning of their journey from Mount Sinai. The main purpose of everything in this chapter points to God’s people learning to listen to God’s call, following his presence, and trusting him as he leads them forward. The silver trumpets had different purposes. They called the people together, announced movement, and signaled times of battle and celebration. The Israelites did not decide when to move. They moved when God directed them to. This points to Jesus because Jesus is the One who calls us to follow Him. The Christian life is not simply about believing in Jesus and then living however we want. We are called to listen to his voice and follow him. Throughout Israel’s journey, God’s presence was represented by the cloud over the tabernacle. When the cloud moved, Israel moved. When the cloud remained, they stayed. The Israelites set out to God’s direction. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was visibly associated with the tabernacle. In Jesus, God came to dwell among humanity in the flesh. The Israelites followed God’s presence through the wilderness. Today, we follow Jesus through the wilderness of this life. We may not know exactly where the road leads, but we know who leads us. Israel had been at Mount Sinai receiving God’s instructions. Now it was time to leave. There is a spiritual lesson here. God does not call us to remain spiritually stagnant. Jesus calls us to follow Him. Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Following Jesus means being willing to leave behind our old way of life and move forward in obedience. Israel had to trust God for every step of the journey. We have the same calling. We don’t always know what tomorrow holds, but we know that Jesus goes before us. The Ark represented God’s covenant presence among Israel, and it went ahead of them. This is a picture of what Jesus does for us. Jesus goes before us. He prepares the way, guides us, and ultimately leads us to our true place of rest. John 14:2-3 says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” Israel was looking for a physical place of rest. The Promised Land. We are now looking toward an eternal rest found in Christ and ultimately fulfilled in God’s presence. Jesus has already defeated the greatest enemies humanity faces, which is sin and death. Just as Israel depended upon God’s presence to face its enemies, we depend upon Jesus. Moses asks Hobab to come with them because he knows the wilderness and could help guide them. This is interesting because Israel had God’s presence, yet Moses still recognized the value of human wisdom and assistance. There is a lesson for us here. Following Jesus does not mean we don’t need other people. God designed us for community. We need brothers and sisters who can encourage us, challenge us, teach us, and walk alongside us. This connects well with the Christian life and discipleship. We follow Jesus together, not by ourselves. Love y’all! Have a great day!
Numbers 10:1-36
Read scripture…
“The Lord spoke to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community and have the camps set out. When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. However, if one is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans, are to gather before you. “When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east are to set out. When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out. When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones. The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations. “When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies. You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.” During the second year, in the second month on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted up above the tabernacle of the testimony. The Israelites traveled on from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from one place to the next until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran. They set out for the first time according to the Lord’s command through Moses. The military divisions of the camp of Judah’s descendants with their banner set out first, and Nahshon son of Amminadab was over their divisions. Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants, and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun’s descendants. The tabernacle was then taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting the tabernacle. The military divisions of the camp of Reuben with their banner set out, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over their divisions. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants, and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad’s descendants. The Kohathites then set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival. Next the military divisions of the camp of Ephraim’s descendants with their banner set out, and Elishama son of Ammihud was over their divisions. Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants, and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants. The military divisions of the camp of Dan’s descendants with their banner set out, serving as rear guard for all the camps, and Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over their divisions. Pagiel son of Ochran was over the division of the tribe of Asher’s descendants, and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants. This was the order of march for the Israelites by their military divisions as they set out. Moses said to Hobab, descendant of Reuel the Midianite and Moses’s relative by marriage, “We’re setting out for the place the Lord promised, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” But he replied to him, “I don’t want to go. Instead, I will go to my own land and my relatives.” “Please don’t leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. If you come with us, whatever good the Lord does for us we will do for you.” They set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three-day journey with the ark of the Lord’s covenant traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. Meanwhile, the cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say: Arise, Lord! Let your enemies be scattered, and those who hate you flee from your presence. When it came to rest, he would say: Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.”
Leave a Reply