4. Jesus In Numbers

Kevin Dodge

10/31/2021

Introduction

This morning we will be partaking of communion together. In 1 Corinthians 11:24 we are told to do it in remembrance of Jesus. As we prepare for communion then, we are going to consider a few aspects of how the book of Numbers points us to Jesus and His work of redemption. We have looked at Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus in the past. So we are continuing on to see how different books of the Bible point to and help us remember Christ and our salvation.

Overview

To begin with, it would be helpful to have an overview of what is going on in the 36 chapters of the book of Numbers. That will help us better understand how it points to Christ and will help us have a better point of reference for some of the quotations and allusions that occur in the New Testament.

The book of Numbers recounts the 40 year wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. It also records the two censuses that occurred during that time (which is where the name “Numbers” comes from for the title of the book). One census occurs at the beginning of their time in the wilderness and starts out the book (ch. 1, and 3). Another happens at the end of their 40 years in the desert shortly before they finally enter the land (ch. 26).

After that first census the book begins with some of God’s instructions and preparations for them to enter the promised land. Among other things, this included the consecration of the tabernacle, instructions on how they were to set up and break camp with the tabernacle, as well as the order in which they were to camp and march. After all that the book then devolves into repetitious patterns of rebellion, judgment, and intercession.

Throughout Numbers there are numerous incidents of sinful rebellion against God. Then there is God’s judgment, which usually included death. This was followed by intercession from Moses, Aaron, or Phinehas the priest. This rebellion is what caused the delay in entering Canaan and made it such a lengthy sojourn. Unfortunately, it was a pattern which characterized that generation.

• In chapter 11 the people complained and rebelled over their lack of meat. God gave them quail with a deadly plague. Moses then interceded for them (Numbers 11:2).
• In chapter 12 Miriam and Aaron complained and rebelled against Moses because of his Cushite wife. God directly rebuked them and Miriam got leprosy. Moses then interceded for them (Numbers 12:13).
• In chapter 14 the people outright revolted at Kadesh when the spies came back and gave the bad report. Because of that none of that generation would be able to enter the promised land. Thus their wilderness journey went from a couple years of preparation to a full 40 years wandering. They were also beaten in battle when they attempted to enter the land anyway after God’s words of judgment. Moses interceded so that God did not immediately destroy them all (Numbers 14:13-20).
• In chapter 16 the Levites revolted in Korah, Dathan, and Abiram’s rebellion. The ground swallowed some, fire and the plague got others. The rest of the people grumbled about God’s judgment there. Moses and Aaron then needed to intercede and make atonement so that God did not destroy them all because of that (Numbers 16:46-50).
• In chapter 20 Aaron and Moses themselves dishonored God when they took credit for God’s actions and Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. They themselves could now no longer enter the promised land.
• In chapter 21 the people had to journey around Edom’s territory. They complained and rebelled over the food and their hard journey. God sent fiery serpents which bit and killed many of them. Only looking at a bronze serpent on a pole that God had Moses make saved them (Numbers 21:7-9).
• In chapter 25 the people again rebelled. This time it was with both immorality and idolatry with the Moabites and Midianites at a place called Ba’al Peor. 24,000 died in the plague which God sent. It only stopped when Phinehas speared through two of the leading brazen offenders (Numbers 25:7-13).

Here in the book of Numbers we see that a holy God will not tolerate sin. The just judgment for defiant rebellion against Him is death. The full carrying out of that judgment is only affected by the intercession or atonement that is made to Him on behalf of the people. That intercession, coupled with His promises and mercy, are all that kept Israel from being completely wiped out on many occasions.

Although they were not wiped out, God’s judgment for their unbelief meant that this whole generation of men died in the wilderness and could not enter the promised land themselves.

These events are interspersed in the book with the censuses, some additional laws and instructions, wars which occurred on the eastern side of the Jordan river, Balaam’s 3 blessings with his prophecies, and God’s initial and then second preparation for them to enter the land.

Throughout all of these events in the whole book only two men from the original generation leaving Egypt do not in some form or way rebel against God. They are Joshua and Caleb.

The five daughters of Zelophehad also emerge as an example of faith (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah). They had no brothers, but wanted to be sure to have their family line continue within the promises of God’s inheritance in the land (which normally only went through the male heir). Twice they are mentioned (ch. 27 and 36), and they are seen as acting honorably in faith.

They believed God’s promises about the promised land or they would not have bothered to ask to be included in that future inheritance. They did not complain or rebel. Instead they believed in God’s promises. Because of that they acted by faith in the present to pursue being included in those promises for the future. Then when some extra marriage restrictions were placed on them to keep land from ever going out of their specific tribe they continued to walk by faith. They made sure to abide by the guidelines God gave to ensure they could still receive their part in His inheritance blessings.

With all of these accounts the book of Numbers shows us God’s holiness, the sinfulness of people, and the need for intercession and atonement. It also shows us the importance of faith in God’s promises and in His way of atonement and life. Doing things our own sinful way, shrinking back from obedience, and dishonoring God only bring dishonor and death—the consequences of sin.

“For the wages of sin is death...” can be abundantly seen in this book. But, the rest of this verse in Romans 6:23 can also be glimpsed “…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How so?

How Does The Book Of Numbers Point Forward To Christ And Help Us Remember His Sacrifice?

Time and again God showed mercy when atonement or intercession was made. Even despite sin and His justice upon it God also remains merciful. He continues to be faithful to His promises. Without that none of us would have any hope. Just like the Israelites we too would deserve death and judgment. Like with the Israelites our sin is a rebellion and defiance of God. It deserves God’s wrath.

Yet, when the people turned to Moses and asked him to intercede for them he did, and God halted His judgment. There were still consequences for sin here in this life, but God has always honored those who turn to Him in faith. Unfortunately, this generation of Israelites did a very bad job of this. There were so many instances of unbelief and rebellion against God. Each time it brought swift consequences. That should be a warning to us. Thus we should take this book with these accounts as examples for our lives to learn from on all sides of this. God is holy. Sin will receive judgment. The only way our sin can be dealt with and judgment avoided is to live by faith in His atonement and promises.

For us, we are called to trust in Jesus’ work of atonement and redemption which He accomplished on the cross. We are pilgrims on this earth and God is preparing for us our eternal promised land. He is also preparing us for it, just like the Israelites. Because of that we need to continue to walk by faith and trust Him despite the hardships that we have to go through. We too will have things that we want to complain about, or that we want changed in our life experiences. But God is calling us to go through them and trust Him instead of complaining or rebelling. We will not always know the why’s, yet we need to trust Him that He is preparing us for the rest of the journey and He is preparing our destination in His heavenly kingdom.

To be able to see some of the more specific connections with Christ that are present in this book we will now focus the rest of our message on briefly looking at five ways Numbers is quoted and used in the New Testament that relate to Jesus. Then we will conclude by reading a rich passage that refers to a number of the incidents found in the book of Numbers and gives its own applications.

How Is Numbers Used In The New Testament And In Jesus’ Work Of Redemption?

1. Numbers 24:17 – Balaam’s Prophecy

In Numbers 24:17 Balaam gives a brief prophecy of the Messiah’s distant future coming and reigning. He said:

Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

This uses the same kind of language that is used in a number of other Messianic prophecies.¹ Here it is a reminder that despite all the unfaithfulness that was occurring even within God’s own people God would still bring about His previously promised redemption and reign over the world.

Things may look very dark at times in the world, and even among those who are supposed to be God’s people. Unfaithfulness may abound. But God will be faithful. He will fulfill every one of His promises. He is trustworthy. We can safely put our faith in Him.

As we remember Jesus’ work on the cross today we can look back into history and see the book of Numbers. We can see God’s promises to Israel and His fulfillment of them. He did bring them into the promised land. We can also see God’s far distant prophecies of Jesus and His coming. We can see how God fulfilled the first part of that. Now we can look at Jesus’ promises to prepare a place for us, to come back for us, and to reign over all things. We can be encouraged to know that He will fulfill those promises like He has fulfilled these previous ones.

2. Numbers 21:4-9 In John 3:14– “Moses Lifted Up The Serpent In The Wilderness…”

Sandwiched in between accounts of Israel defeating wicked Canaanite kings on the eastern side of the Jordan river is an account of the Israelites complaining about their journey.
They had to detour around the land of Edom because the Edomites would not let them pass through their territory. The challenges led them to complain about it and the food and water situation. This is recorded in Numbers 21:4-9.

Numbers 21:4-9 Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6 The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” 9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

The complaining came out of a heart of unbelief. They were not trusting God’s promises to them to bring them to the promised land. When they recognized their sin and cast themselves on the mercy of God He heard them and made a way of salvation. Everyone who was bit and was receiving the consequences of this sin could look on this bronze serpent on a pole and they would be saved. They trusted in God’s means of salvation and were forgiven and cured.

In the New Testament Jesus mentioned this incident in His discussion with Nicodemus about being born again. He compared Himself to the serpent that was lifted up and had to be looked upon to save them from the consequences of their sin and to give them back life.

John 3:14-18 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of what that episode in Numbers pictured. We have all sinned. We have disbelieved God’s Word. We have complained against God and His way. We have disobeyed His Word, and just as effectively rebelled against Him. Our just judgment is death as well. But when we see our sin, with its reality and consequences, we too should do what the Israelites did. We should go to God, acknowledge our sin and ask for Him to save us. We must turn from our way and look in faith on God’s way of salvation.

In order to save us Jesus was lifted up on the cross. He bore our penalty and sin upon Himself, and He died and was buried. Then He rose again and conquered sin and death. He offers life and forgiveness to all who will look to Him. He tells us to believe on Him. He promises that we will not perish. He promises that we will have eternal life. Will we entrust all our sin and disbelief to Him to pay in full for us? Will we surrender trying to be the God of our own life and trust Him to be our Lord and Savior? Have you?

Here with communion this is what we remember. We remember what Jesus did in order to bear our sin on Himself and bring us life. In remembering this we are filled with thankfulness, because we know that our situation in sin was just as hopeless as those who were bitten by these deadly poisonous snakes. There was nothing they could do to save themselves. They had to trust God and look to Him to rescue them. It is all an amazing, undeserved, free gift of God. That indeed, is love.

3. Numbers 12:6-8 In Hebrews 3:1-6 – Faithful In All God’s Household

When Miriam and Aaron questioned Moses’ authority God Himself responded by defending him.

Numbers 12:6-8 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. 7 “Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household; 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, Even openly, and not in dark sayings, And he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant, against Moses?”

Moses was the most exalted prophet that there had been. God spoke to him directly. God also declared that Moses was faithful in all of God’s household. In the book of Hebrews this declaration about Moses is quoted in the comparison that is made between Jesus and Moses. In Hebrews 3:1-6 it says this.

Hebrews 3:1-6 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. 3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Moses was indeed faithful, and a great servant of God in His house. But Jesus is the son of God, the maker of the house. Jesus rules over it all. He is greater than even the greatest prophet. Moses could intercede for the people, but Jesus could both intercede and provide the atonement Himself for all our sin.

As we have seen, while Moses faithfully shepherded the Israelites out of Egypt, he was not perfect. He did fail to honor God in the incident with the water out of the rock at Meribah. Jesus was and is perfect. His atonement for our sins is once and for all. If we have trusted in Him for that it completely deals with all our sin. Jesus Himself is the builder of the household of God. He is the One who has called us to Himself. He is the One who has saved us and made us part of His house. He is completely faithful. Because of all that we can have confidence that He will complete what He has started in us down here.

Just like Moses was faithful and brought the Israelites to the Promised Land. Jesus will bring us to our eternal Promised land. We can trust that—no matter what we have to go through in the wilderness wandering of this life. We must remember that our hope is in Jesus and boast of Him until we go to be with Him forever. We do not have anything worthwhile to boast in of ourselves. But in Him we have everything worth boasting, praising, and proclaiming. May we trust Him who is faithful.

4. Numbers 27:17 In Matthew 9:36 And Mark 6:34 – Sheep With No Shepherd,

In Numbers 27:17 Moses was concerned for who would lead Israel after him. He did not want them to be “like sheep which have no shepherd.” Thus God had Moses appoint Joshua as the next leader.

In the gospels Jesus uses this expression in Matthew 9:36 and Mark 6:34 in reference to the people of Israel in His day. They did not have a real leader and needed one. They were distressed and dispirited. In Matthew 9 this expression is followed by Jesus’ declaration to the disciples that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” And the exhortation is given for them to pray to the Lord to send out workers. In Mark 6 this expression is followed by Jesus beginning to teach them many things.

The book of Numbers really shows the need for people to have God as their shepherd. Even with a leader, the Israelites in Moses’ day complained, rebelled, and went in the wrong direction. The problem was that their faith was not in God. They needed Him to truly be their shepherd and leader. That was the same issue in Jesus’ day, and in our day. We need Jesus to be our Shepherd and leader. We need to trust God and His Word. We need to listen to what He will teach us through it and truly follow Him.

As we partake of communion it is worth remembering this real need which we have to be led. It is also important to remember that Jesus is our good shepherd (John 10). May we follow His lead in every area of life!

5. Numbers 16:5 In 2 Timothy 2:19 – “The Lord Will Show Who Is His”

In Numbers 16:5 Moses is dealing with the rebellion of Korah and the other Levites. He warned them about what awaited them as they prepared to come before God the next day:

Numbers 16:5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself.

In his last letter before his death, Paul is giving Timothy last instructions on leading the church and dealing with false teachers. In 2 Timothy 2, after mentioning two false teachers in particular who were upsetting people’s faith, he references that passage in Numbers 16:5 and says this:

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

The Lord will show who is His, just like He did with the rebellion of Korah. The Lord will reveal who is holy and who is not. The evil of those who are presuming on God will be seen. His judgment will not allow anyone who is perverting His Word to ultimately get away with that—whether in doctrine or life. Because of this Paul also gives this concluding exhortation that “everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

We can trust God to bring ultimate justice on those false teachers who pervert His Word and slander His true people. We should also use these verses to remind us to examine our lives and make sure that we are abstaining from wickedness and walking in holiness. God sees everything. When we stand before Him He will see through to every false teaching and sin! This is a comfort when other people are attacking the truth or living in an evil manner. It is a warning when we consider our lives.

The same is true when we come to communion. There is both comfort and warning. God is holy, and His redemption is an amazing comfort when we consider that He has paid for our sins in full and adopted us as His children. But it is also a warning if we have strayed from Him and allowed sin into our lives. God is indeed holy, holy, holy. He will not allow His children to wallow in their sin. He will deal with it. He has saved us and given us His Spirit and His Word to make us holy. So as we come to communion we must not presume on His grace, ignore His Word, or despise His righteousness. We need to confess any sin that might have come in between our fellowship with Him. Then we need to live with Him as our Lord and Master. To do otherwise is to trample His grace and invite His discipline upon our lives. May we be comforted and warned by the Lord’s revelation of who is His and who is holy.

Conclusion

Before we partake of communion, there is one other passage for us to look at. While we looked at this passage in 1 Corinthians 10 when we had communion from the book of Exodus (since the beginning of it mentions passing through the sea) the rest of the details of this passage even more closely connect here with the book of Numbers.

Because Paul himself takes the time to apply his connections with the book of Numbers we will try to keep interjections to a minimum and allow him to make his own points. It is worth pointing out beforehand that within this passage he mentions the cup of blessing and the bread which we break. He is talking about partaking of communion like we are doing. It is also worth mentioning that it is at the end of the very next chapter in 1 Corinthians that Paul goes through the details of the communion observance. Thus all of this is very relevant for us to think about as we remember Christ.

The Whole Story Of Numbers

1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? 23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

God has called us to trust Him for our salvation, and then to walk faithfully in obedience to Him. He has made us part of His body. He is making us holy. We must not allow sin into our lives to ruin and destroy that. God does not take that lightly—as we seen from our look at the book of Numbers. Instead, we are to do everything for the glory of God. We should live in a holy way that builds one another up and that is a testimony of God’s redemption so that others may be saved from their sin too.

Let’s remember now what Jesus has done to save us from our sins and to give us this new life. Let’s remember that He is the fulfillment of all the prophesies made about God’s redemption and will reign over all things. Let’s remember that He is the one who was lifted up on the cross to die and rise again to bring life to all those who turn to Him in true faith. Let’s remember that He is the faithful one who will take us to our eternal promised land. Let’s remember that He is the good shepherd that we all need. Let’s remember that He will take care of dealing with false teachers and immoral deceivers. Let’s remember that He is holy and calls us to be separate from sin. Let’s remember to trust Him through the hardships of life and not grumble.

If you have not trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do so today! Think about what you have heard concerning your sin, concerning Jesus, and what we are remembering here now. Taking this bread and fruit of the vine cannot save you. It only pictures what Jesus did and helps us physically remember Him. But what we must all do to be saved from our sin is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We must turn from our sin and place our trust in Him. My prayer is that you will do that today. Then you will have all these promises yourself, and you will be a fellow partaker of this eternal life in Jesus.

As we prepare to take communion now we will have a moment of quiet while we think on these things. It is a time for each of us to pray quietly to God in our heart to deal with any issues in our life and to personally thank Him for His amazing love in Jesus. Then we will pray and partake of the elements together as we corporately remember and give God thanks.²

© 2021, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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