Numbers Class 01 introduction and census

Study of the book of Numbers

Class 1

Introduction to the book

The Census

Study of NumbersIntroduction

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.


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.


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.


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.


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”.


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.


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.


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.


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.

Study of Numbers – Chapter 1The 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.


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


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.


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).


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.


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).


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.


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.


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.


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.


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).


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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:


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.


The sword of the enemy This refers to attacks of the devil, but principally to

accusations and public denunciations of sin.


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.

Numbers Class 01 introduction and census

Spiritual

study of numbers introduction

book of numbers class

study of numbers chapter

book of history

book of leviticus

book spreads

english term numbers

census chapter