Numbers 1:1 opens exactly one month from the day in which the tabernacle was set up (see Exodus 40:17) and the nation is still in the wilderness of Sinai. It follows with a section of scripture that continues in the sequence began in Genesis. “As Genesis is the book of election, Exodus the book of redemption, and Leviticus the book of worship and communion, Numbers is the book of the service and walk of God’s redeemed people” (Unger). However, sadly wherein Numbers began as a hopeful book with great anticipation for what would come for the children of God, it ends with sad conclusions based on bad decisions both by the nation and by their fearless leader, Moses.
It is interesting to know that Numbers records the history of two different generations, and the book is divided quite evenly between the two. Chapters 1-19 deal with the same generation (people ages 20 and up) that came out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses; and chapters 20-36 record the history of their children who survived the period of wilderness wanderings. It was in Numbers 13 that twelve spies, one from each tribe, were sent into Canaan for a period of forty days to search the land out and bring a report back before the armies moved in to invade. However, though explicitly commanded by God to go in and earnestly urged by the God-fearing to do the same, the majority came back fearful and afraid saying that it was impossible for them to overcome the dwellers of Canaan. Based on their assessment the people refused to obey the command of God, and for that disobedience they were told that they of that first generation (all ages 20 and up) would die in the wilderness during a forty-year period of wandering, never reaching Canaan (Numbers 14:29-34). That they did, until every last single person died as promised, evident from Numbers 20:3.
However it is at this point that the nation of Israel received a new lease on life, as they then would be the heirs of Canaan, which they would obtain and inhabit. The remainder of Numbers records various events that took place as Israel traveled in route to Canaan’s border where eventually Joshua would lead them in, but its an event in Numbers 20 that defines the future of the nation and her leadership. In Exodus 17 the people ad found themselves athirst and in desperate need of water in order to survive. At this time God gave Moses the command to strike with his rod the rock in Horeb (which would have been the side of a mountain) and water would come forth in abundance; providing enough for the people and their animals. It was successful inasmuch as God had promised it and ensured its happening. However it was in Numbers 20 that again the people, this time the second generation, found themselves athirst and in desperate need of water. Again Moses sought the blessing of the Lord on behalf of the people and this time Moses was told to take his rod and speak to the rock in Meribah and water would flow forth. But, out of great anger and annoyance toward the people he smote the rock with his rod twice, bringing forth water but disobeying the command of God. Because of his disobedience Moses was told by God that he would live long enough to see Canaan, but would never set foot in it (Numbers 20:12), meaning Israel would have to enter the treacherous soil of this foreign land without the leader they had known and loved so long.
It is in this section of scripture where Christ is pictured. As Paul declared of ancient Israel in I Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Wherein Christ was the Rock from which the people drank there was significance in that He was to be smitten only once then as He would be smitten only once when He came incarnate (Hebrews 10:10). Moses was to smite the rock only once and Christ, the Rock, would be smitten only once. By smiting the rock twice, Moses broke the type God had intended, thus had to be punished. However, Christ is still that Rock from which man can enjoy the refreshing water of life which if he drinks, never has to thirst again (John 4:13).
Numbers, though a record of important history, has many lasting principles that are alive and effective today in the Christian’s walk of life. May we today be numbered among God’s spiritual army as those of long ago were numbered among His spiritual army.