Survey of the Book of Numbers

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The book of Numbers records Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, marked by cycles of rebellion, judgment, and God's enduring faithfulness. Written by Moses during the wilderness period (1440—1400 BC), it bridges the giving of the Law and the conquest of Canaan, featuring two censuses and critical events that shaped the nation. The structure of the book follows their travels in five sections. The first is at Mount Sinai, the second is their travel from Mount Sinai to Paran, the third while they are in the region of Paran, the fourth as they travel from Paran to Moab, and finally it ends in Moab as they wait to cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land. While this trip should have taken around two weeks of travel, it took the Israelites forty years because of their rebellion against God. The central themes of the book of Numbers are obedience, rebellion, and the holiness and faithfulness of God despite Israel’s repeated failures. New Testament writers use Numbers to warn believers against idolatry, unbelief, and testing God, emphasizing its enduring relevance. Ultimately, Numbers shows that while God disciplines His people, He remains committed to His promises and blesses them with undeserved grace.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Author: Moses is believed to be the author of the book of Numbers. Numbers 33:2 refers to him recording some of the information contained in the book.
• Date of writing: The book of Numbers was likely written between 1440 and 1400 BC, during the wilderness period following the exodus. This dating is supported by the book’s content, which records events during Israel’s forty years of wandering after leaving Egypt (Numbers 1:1; 33:1–49), traditionally dated to that era. Additionally, Numbers fits within the Pentateuch framework traditionally attributed to Moses, who led Israel during this time and is considered the author (Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:9, 24). References in later biblical books also align with this timeframe, reinforcing Numbers’ composition during the late 15th century BC to early 14th century BC (Joshua 8:31; 1 Kings 2:3; Nehemiah 8:1, 14).
• Purpose: The book of Numbers bridges the gap between the Israelites receiving the Law at Sinai and their entrance into the Promised Land. It begins with a census of the men able to go to war after the exodus (Numbers 1:1–3) and includes a second census forty years later of the new generation preparing to enter Canaan (Numbers 26:1–2). The book records the Israelites’ repeated rebellions, such as their refusal to enter the land after the spies’ report (Numbers 14:1–4), and explains why that generation wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14:29–35). It also contains laws and instructions for proper worship and living as God's covenant people (Numbers 15:1–31). In many ways, Numbers serves as both a historical record and a guide for the new generation of Israelites preparing to conquer Canaan. Its lessons remain instructive to us today (see 1 Corinthians 10:1–13).
• Themes: Two of the main themes in Numbers are obedience and rebellion, as well as the gradual fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham as the Israelites are about to enter Canaan (Genesis 12:1–3). Israel rebelled against God in various ways throughout the book: They complain against God for the lack of water and lack of variety in food (Numbers 11); Miriam and Aaron question Moses' authority (Numbers 12); Korah and others question Moses and Aaron's authority and try to mutiny against them (Numbers 16); Moses rebels against instructions and takes matters into his own hands (Numbers 20). God's faithfulness to His people stands in stark contrast. While there were consequences for their rebellion, God never abandons the Israelites or breaks His promises to them.
• The theme of God's holiness from Leviticus is also fleshed out in the book of Numbers. In Leviticus, God sets out His guidelines and parameters, His rules and rituals for holiness, as well as the consequences for living in sin, so that He could dwell in the Israelites' midst (Leviticus 19:2; 26:11–12). In the book of Numbers, we watch as the people try to act according to the laws God set—for example, in the arrangement of the camp and duties of the Levites (Numbers 2:1–2; 3:5–10)—and we also see what happens when they choose to live in sin, such as in the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:1–35) or the idolatry at Peor (Numbers 25:1–9). Not surprisingly, the results are exactly as God had said they would be in Leviticus, demonstrating that His holiness is not to be taken lightly (Numbers 11:1–3; 14:22–23; 20:12).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In 1 Corinthians 10:1–11, Paul refers to several events from the Book of Numbers, including the people’s craving for evil things (Numbers 11), their idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25), and the incident with the fiery serpents (Numbers 21:4–9). Paul explains that these events were recorded as warnings so that Christians would not follow the same path of rebellion or test Christ.
• In Hebrews 3:7–19, the author reflects on the Israelites’ unbelief and refusal to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14), urging readers not to harden their hearts as those in the wilderness did. This serves as a warning to remain faithful and obedient to God’s voice.
• In John 3:14–15, Jesus compares His future crucifixion to the bronze serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9). Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the bronze serpent, Jesus teaches that those who believe in Him will receive eternal life.
• Several New Testament books, including 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, and Revelation 2:14, reference the story of Balaam (Numbers 22—24; 31:16). Balaam is portrayed as a false prophet who led Israel into sin for personal gain, serving as a warning against corrupt leadership and compromise in the church.
• In Romans 11:4, Paul quotes God’s words from 1 Kings 19:18, which echo themes found in Numbers 11:14–17, where Moses expresses his exhaustion in leading the people and God responds by appointing others to help him. This illustrates God’s care for His leaders and His provision in times of weariness.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The continual wavering of the Israelites between rebellion and victory looks a lot like the average Christian. Referencing the Israelites in the wilderness, Paul writes a warning to the Christian, "Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play'" (1 Corinthians 10:6–7). Paul warns Christians "We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:8–12). These temptations were not unique to the ancient Israelites; we are to watch ourselves lest we fall in the same areas.

The writer of Hebrews also warns against hardening your heart against the voice of God and harboring unbelief in our hearts like the Israelites did in the wilderness that caused them to fall away (Hebrews 3:7–9). It says that instead we are to "exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

The book of Numbers has a lot of "what not to do" examples that serve as a warning, but the most striking part about this book is the faithfulness of God amidst the faithlessness of the Israelites. God granted them victory against their enemies even when their hearts rebelled against Him between battles. When they spent their time complaining in the wilderness, God saved them from the enemy that they could not see. God could have rightly used Balaam to curse the Israelites for their rebelliousness, but instead he blessed them, saying, "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted" (Numbers 24:5–7). God was faithful to the Israelites when they were faithless, and He is an unchanging God who promises to do the same for us (2 Timothy 2:13).

Key Verses:

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24–26).

"And he said, 'Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?'" (Numbers 12:6–8).

"Not one shall come into the land where I swore that I should make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure" (Number 14:30–34).

"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19).

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth" (Numbers 24:17).

UNDERSTAND

• The Book of Numbers records Israel’s forty-year journey from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land
• The journey recorded in Numbers was prolonged by the Israelites’ repeated rebellion and unbelief.
• The book of Numbers powerfully displays God's unchanging faithfulness despite Israel’s grumbling, disobedience, and rejection of God’s plans.

REFLECT

• Where have you seen yourself repeat the same mistakes, like the Israelites? How might God be calling you to respond differently this time?
• In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to trust in God's faithfulness, even when you know His promises are true?
• How have you been tempted to grumble or resist God's direction? What does it look like to respond with obedience instead?

ENGAGE

• What patterns of rebellion and grace in the book of Numbers mirror patterns we see in the church or Christian community today?
• How does the contrast between Israel’s failure and God’s faithfulness shape our understanding of His character?
• What practical ways can we help each other avoid spiritual complacency and keep our hearts tender toward God’s voice?