Introduction & Overview

Overview

Travel Log of the Israelites from Sinai to Canaan
- This trip should take two weeks by foot... it takes forty years
- So we covered about one year and 3 months since Israel left Egypt through the wilderness of Sinai, through the receiving of the Law, the golden calf, the building of the tabernacle, consecration of the priests and all those laws.
- The end half of Exodus and all the way through Leviticus and the first half of Numbers covers about 1 year and 3 months. The second half of Numbers covers 40 years
A good understanding of Numbers will help you to have a good understanding of the rest of the Bible

Chapter 1-10: Mt Sinai
- Taking the first census and arranging the tribes (1-4)
- Laws about ritual purity (5-10)
Chapter 10-12: Traveling
- Complain about Manna (11)
- Miriam and Moses complain (12)
Chapter 13-19: Wilderness of Paran
- Twelve Spies (13-14)
- Rebellion of Korah (16-17)
Chapter 20-21: Traveling
- Complain about water and Moses (20)
- Bronze Serpent (21)
Chapter 22-36: Plains of Moab
- Balaam (22-25)
- New Generation Census (26)
- Tribes begin to settle (32-36)

Israel's Rebellion vs God's Faithfulness
- This book contains the majority of Israel's complaining:
  - Complain about Manna (11)
  - Complain about priesthood (Aaron, Miriam) (12)
  - Complain about the land (13-14)
  - Complain about Priesthood (Korah, Dathan) (16-17)
  - Complain about water (20)
- God still provides and has mercy
  - Gives them Manna and water
  - Gives them the bronze serpent
  - Promise of the Messiah
- OT References
  - Isaiah 63
  - Ezekiel 20
  - Jeremiah 7
  - Psalm 78
  - Psalm 95
  - Psalm 106
- NT References
  - 1 Corinthians 10
  - Hebrews 4-5
God brings judgment... AND shows mercy
- "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:22)