Faithful to His Promises (Numbers 1:1-2-35)
When I was growing up, there were just 3 Star Wars movies. Almost everyone knew Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Yoda. Today, there are over 20 Star Wars movies and series. The modern creators have even made a cuter version of Yoda in the form of Grogu.
Although each new saga is entertaining, it is not always easy to see how they relate to one another. I have found it helpful to google Star Wars explained to understand the events in chronological order and place each saga in the larger narrative.
Similarly, whenever we read a new Bible book, it is important to locate where the events are in redemptive history. Although the Bible consists of 66 individual books, they are connected in God’s overarching plan of redeeming a people for Himself through Jesus Christ.
Today we begin a new sermon series in the book of Numbers. This is the fourth book of the Bible and a key link between the Exodus and Israel dwelling in the Promised Land. The book of Numbers focuses on Israel’s journey from Sinai to the edge of Promised Land. It unpacks Israel’s history in the wilderness.
In the first 10 chapters of Numbers, the Lord prepares His people who had just come out of Egypt for the journey ahead. First, God orders a census where the fighting men of Israel are numbered. This numbering of Israelites is where the book gets its name. Then God gives His people instructions on how they were to be arranged in their camp. God appoints Levites and Priests to help Israel be holy so that He can be in their midst.
In the next section that runs from Numbers 10:11-19, Israel’s journey to the Promised Land starts and stops because of their rebellion. The people sin repeatedly and test God’s patience. Hence God judges them and bars them from entering the Promised Land. They are left to wander around in the wilderness.
In chapters 20-25, movement towards the Promised Land resumes. God gives Israel victory over some enemies but, Israel still sins. Hence God judges the entire generation that had repeatedly rebelled and not one of them was left except Joshua and Caleb who kept the faith. It is no wonder that Caleb and Joshua are two popular names at Grace.
In chapter 26, a new census is taken on the plains of Moab to make a new beginning. The people receive further instructions in the remaining chapters and await God’s timing to take possession of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership.
From this overview, we see the contrast between God’s faithfulness to His promises and the faithlessness of His people. Although the Israelites rebelled repeatedly, God preserves a remnant and brings His people a step closer to taking possession of the Promised Land.
The faithfulness of God is a key theme in the book of Numbers and especially evident in the opening two chapters which we will study this morning.
Firstly, in Numbers 1:1-46, we will see God’s faithfulness to Abraham. Secondly, in Numbers 1:47-2:34, we will see God’s faithfulness in restoring access to Him.
God faithfully keeps His promise and restores our access to Him.
So the big idea of today’s sermon is: God faithfully keeps His promise and restores our access to Him.
God’s faithfulness to Abraham (Num 1:1-46)
Let us read Numbers 1:1-21.
This was just one tribe. Numbers 1:22-43 give us the strength of 11 more tribes. And in Numbers 1:44-46 we read, “These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ house. So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— all those listed were 603,550.”
These 46 verses describe God’s instruction to Moses to take a census of the people He had delivered from slavery.
The census was targeted at counting only men who were combat fit. In National Service terms, that would be counting those who are PES A or B. And the results were impressive. Israel consisted of 12 tribes with 12 chiefs. Together, they had a combined strength of 603,550 men who were able to go to war.
That is a very sizable army. Much larger than even our own army that has an active strength of around 40,000 personnel and can mobilize roughly 240,000 reserve personnel. It is indeed apparent that God had made Israel into a great nation.
But we must not stop there. The census must be understood in light of Israel’s history. The census is a fulfilment of God’s promise to the Patriarchs of Israel. Every Israelite numbered in the census was a testimony to God’s faithfulness because God had kept a promise He has made centuries before.
In Genesis 12, God called Abraham to follow Him and promised to make him into a great nation so that through him, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. But for Abraham, there seemed to be a glaring problem. He and his wife Sarah were very old and they still had no children. There were no fertility treatments back then, and it was common knowledge that a woman could not bear children after a certain age. However, God shows His power to do the impossible by giving Sarah a child when she was 90 years old.
Isaac, their son, marries Rebekah who also grappled with barrenness. But once again God performs a miracle and gave them twin boys named Jacob and Esau.
God graciously protects Jacob from being killed by Esau and blesses him with 12 sons. But a prolonged famine threatens their existence. There was no more food in the land, and they were going to starve to death. But God had sent Joseph ahead of time to Egypt to secure food and shelter for his family.
With the protection and resources of Egypt, Jacob’s family is safe and multiplied greatly. To the point that a new Pharaoh felt threatened by the large Israelite population. And so he enslaved the Israelites and ordered the death of their baby boys.
At this point, the survival rate of Abraham’s descendants was extremely low. But the Lord delivered His people with a mighty hand. God performs numerous wonders, revealing to everyone that He is the One True God. Pharaoh concedes defeat and the Israelites leave Egypt with great wealth.However, Pharaoh changes his mind again and pursues the Israelites with his chariots and mighty army. For a moment Israel was trapped between the Red Sea and the soldiers of Egypt.
In their fear, “They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? (Ex 14:11).”
But God parted the Red Sea and brought Israel safely to Mt Sinai. He then closed the sea over Pharaoh’s pursuing army so that the threat was permanently removed. Hence God’s ordering of a census at Mt Sinai served as a testimony of His faithfulness and an exhortation for Israel to keep trusting Him.
Despite multiple threats, God was able to grow the descendants of Abraham into a mighty nation. From one man, Abraham, God had brought forth a nation with 603,550 fighting men. And the total population would have been much larger when women, children, and other groups not included in this military census are considered. Friends, Numbers 1 is not just telling us how impressive Israel had become. It is also telling us how faithful God was and will always be.
God wants us to trust Him and encourages us to look at His track record.
God wants us to trust Him and encourages us to look at His track record. If God says he is working out things for our good, believe it, even if things at present seem bleak. We can relate to the Israelites who wondered if God would really deliver them when Pharaoh increased their burdens and made life more difficult.
Despite praying for months, your prayers have been unanswered, and your troubles have only increased. Instead of your child getting well, the bug has passed from one family member to another. And now you yourself are down.
Instead of getting recognition from your boss, you have received criticism and are worried about being unemployed.
We can relate to the Israelites who wondered if they had wrongly trusted God when they were caught between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s pursuing army. Bills have piled up and plans need to be cancelled. Health is failing and you are no longer able to carry out your daily routine. Present threats can be so overwhelming that our faith cracks and we throw up our hands in despair and think God has forsaken us.
But the census of Numbers 1 is a historical record that God does not let His people down. God may not tell us why He has allowed a particular trial, but He promises that no suffering experienced by His people is outside His good purposes.
First Peter 1:7 tells us that God allows us to experience trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
So take heart that God is sovereign and faithful.
God allowed the Israelites to experience the might of Pharaoh so that they could experience the surpassing greatness of His salvation. This is why Israel broke into song and praised God when they had seen the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians.
The census of Israel serves as tangible proof that God was faithful to Abraham and is faithful to His people.
Our second division also shows us God’s faithfulness in restoring access to Him (Num 1:47-2:34).
God’s faithfulness in restoring access to Him (Num 1:47-2:34)
As we read the military census, did you notice that two sons of Jacob had been omitted? Although Jacob had 12 sons, both Joseph and Levi are not mentioned. Instead of naming Joseph, two of his sons are mentioned, Ephraim and Manasseh. This is because Jacob had given Joseph a double portion. Hence each of his two sons are counted as a tribe of Israel.
The other son of Jacob that is missing from the list is Levi. That is because in Genesis 34, Levi had committed an egregious sin by murdering people whom his father had declared a truce with. So instead of blessing Levi at his deathbed, Jacob told him that his descendants would be scattered throughout Israel.
However, during the incident of the Golden Calf, the tribe of Levi had shown fierce loyalty to the Lord. They stood with Moses and executed God’s judgment on those who broke faith and worshipped the idol they had made. As a result, God transformed the curse into a blessing. Although Levi would not be counted among the 12 tribes of Israel and inherit their own land, God will give them a special place in the nation.
God explains in Numbers 1:47-54. The exclusion of the Levites in the earlier military census was not because the Levites were all given PES E status or declared Unfit for Service.
Though they were excused from serving in the army, they still had national service obligations. In fact, God had given them a more sacred form of service.
They will serve God by being the caretakers of the tabernacle. They would be responsible for managing the physical tent and all its furnishings. When Israel was on the move, it would be their job to dismantle the tabernacle and the furnishings and carry each item. When Israel set up camp, their duty was to assemble the tabernacle and arrange the furnishings. Very importantly, the Levites were to guard the tabernacle from unauthorized access. They were like the King’s own bodyguards who surrounded His dwelling 24/7. Their watchful presence showed the importance of God, and they prevented uninvited guests from trespassing.
God is the King of Kings who should be revered. No one can approach Him without His approval.
Chapter 2 explains the arrangement of the entire camp. At the centre of the camp is the tabernacle that represents God’s presence. Then the Levites surround the tabernacle. Finally, we have the other 12 tribes encamped around the Levites.
The Lord also groups the tribes into 4 larger groups and assigns them a particular facing. Many of us might prefer North-South facing homes to avoid the harsh afternoon sun. But in the Bible, the East side is highly significant because it was the side toward the sunrise and the side in which the opening of the tabernacle was placed. It was the way into the presence of God.
Hence the priests camped on the East side, facing the tent. And behind them were the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Then in clockwise motion, the other groups are placed in the South, West and North of the tabernacle.
The God who cannot be approached casually had chosen to dwell in the middle of His sinful people.
The arrangement of Israel’s camp was unique and extraordinary. Not because of the square arrangement, but because of who was at the centre of the camp. The God who cannot be approached casually had chosen to dwell in the middle of His sinful people.
The theological significance of this is huge.
In the beginning, God had created man to dwell with Him in the Garden of Eden. But because of Adam and Eve’s sin, the Lord had to evict them. God’s holiness cannot tolerate sin and so Adam and Eve were both banished from His presence. Two cherubim with flaming swords guarded the entrance back to the Garden.
From that point on in human history, man lived apart from God. Sure, God did speak to some of his people like Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. But God did not dwell with them.
Thus, the arrangement of the Israelites camp in Numbers 2 communicates significant progress in God’s plan of restoring fellowship with His people.
Although sin disrupted God’s plan of dwelling with His people, God did not scrap His plan entirely. God was intent on restoring fellowship with His crowning creation. God desired for man to once again enjoy His presence. He sought to restore our access to Him.
Therefore, what took place at Mt Sinai was a key moment in history. God formalized His adoption of Israel as His people and gave them specific instructions in Exodus 25-27 to construct a special tent called the tabernacle or tent of meeting.
Although heaven is God’s throne and earth is His footstool, God will give Israel the privilege of experiencing His dwelling presence.
But how could a holy God dwell among sinful people?
The Israelites knew firsthand the dangers of violating the boundaries of God’s holiness. God had repeatedly warned them that if they came too close to His holy mountain, they would die. The people were so afraid of God’s presence at Mt Sinai that Exodus 20:21 says they stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was (Ex 20:21).
Yet here in Numbers 2 we are presented with a picture of God dwelling right in the heart of the Israelite camp. God had graciously provided a means to live among people deserving of death. The Levites will form a special kind of barrier between a holy God and His sinful people.
On one hand, the barrier is not so thick and strong that the people are not able to see God’s tent.
In contrast to other nations, ethnic Israel was blessed with the physical presence of the One True God. The God who created the entire universe had chosen to dwell amongst them. The people of Israel would rise each day to see the tabernacle in their midst. They could probably smell the aroma from the various burnt offerings their priests made. They could see the smoke rise when a sacrifice was made.
Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:7, “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us.”
On the other hand, the barrier was not so thin and flimsy that God’s holiness was desecrated by sinful men. The Levites encamped around the tabernacle, creating a no-go zone between God and the rest of the nation. They actively guarded the perimeter so that they could protect the people from God’s wrath that burns against sin.
In this manner, the holiness of God could be upheld whilst He lived in the heart of Israel’s camp.
Friends, let us take a moment to consider this significant milestone in the history of mankind. God had not abandoned the human race after Adam’s first sin in Eden. God had been faithfully working out a great plan of redemption. God had preserved the line of Adam and Abraham.
And here in Numbers 2, we have a partial restoration of fellowship between God and man. Our holy God had provided a way for Himself to live amongst imperfect people. The Israelites must have felt immensely blessed that God had chosen to dwell among them. The most powerful God who had defeated Pharaoh was in their midst. He would ensure their protection from hostile neighbours. The God who parted the Red Sea and provided food from heaven was in their midst.
Surely, He will watch over them and take care of their needs. He will lead them to the Promised Land and give them peace. God had indeed given Israel a huge blessing and exalted them over the other nations.
But as we progress further in the Bible, we learn that the picture of the tabernacle in the centre of Israel’s camp was a just foreshadow of God’s ultimate plan. A day would come when the camp of God would not be restricted to ethnic Israel. A day would come when there will no longer be a need for Levites to stand between God and His people. A day will come when there will no longer be a need for a tent.
And the good news is—that special day has already come. John 1:14 says, ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Word refers to Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God.
And the phrase “dwelt among us” is translated from the Greek word that means “to live or camp in a tent”. The Apostle John wants us to see the connection between Jesus’ coming and God’s tabernacle or tent in Numbers 2.
Jesus’ incarnation and entrance into our world is even more special than the tabernacle that was in the center of Israel’s camp. Jesus, who is fully God, came down to our level by taking on human flesh. He left the comforts of heaven to enter our broken world. He did so by being born of a virgin who belonged to the tribe of Judah, the tribe that was the largest in the census, the tribe that was placed at the favoured East side of the camp, the tribe which was first to march out.
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and lived among men. He ate with people, healed the sick and taught God’s truths. A very sick woman was instantly healed the moment she touched his garment. A blind man received sight when Jesus applied mud to his eyes.
Most significantly, Jesus went to the cross to die in the place of sinners. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice bore the judgment our sins deserved and satisfied God's righteous justice. In this manner, He removed the barrier between us and God. Through Christ we are given access to God. This is why God can send His Spirit into the heart of every believer. Because Jesus has made us holy, God the Spirit can dwell in every Christian.
Is it not amazing? What had been destroyed by Adam’s sin has been restored by Jesus Christ. What was previewed by the arrangement of Israel’s camp is greatly improved by Jesus’ work on the cross.
This is why there is no tabernacle today and no Levites to bar us from entering God’s presence. Instead, God graciously invites everyone, regardless of our ethnicity, to have fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ.
All who put their faith in Jesus receive forgiveness of sins and are adopted by God into His family. All who trust in Jesus’ work on the cross are given His righteousness and welcomed into His presence.
This is why Christianity is simultaneously inclusive and exclusive. On one hand, God is holy and no one can stand before Him. On the other hand, everyone is invited to experience reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
So let us acknowledge our unworthiness to stand before our Holy God and receive the salvation that Jesus offers.
Please talk to the person who brought you to church or any of our members after service. We would be happy to hear your questions and share more about becoming a Christian.
Church, let us appreciate where we are in salvation history. Old Testament Israel had many reasons to rejoice that God had chosen to dwell in the heart of their camp. Yet they did not enjoy unrestricted access to God. The Levites stood between them and the Lord, reminding them that they were marred by sin.
We however live in an age where Jesus has already atoned for our sins. He has removed the barrier that once stood between us and God. We now have direct access to the Lord. We can pray to God at any time of the day and worship Him anywhere in the world.
As Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Therefore, we should frequently and confidently approach the Lord in prayer, bringing before Him our praises and petitions.
Friends, how often do you pray to God? Do you feel comfortable praying with others? Or are you afraid of people seeing you pray? The Christian’s access to God is a privilege that we should treasure, not something shameful that needs to be hidden. In fact, I have found non-Christians to be rather appreciative whenever I offer to pray for them. Our ability to pray to God is a testimony of God’s faithfulness in restoring our access to Him. We who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The picture of God’s dwelling in the camp of Israel also reminds us that God intends for us to enjoy His presence corporately. God desires His people to worship Him together. Therefore, Sunday service is not merely a weekly event that we attend; it is a gathering of God's people around our Lord.
This is why our service begins with God calling us to worship Him. And then we sing in response to His greatness, entering His courts with praise. We come to church, expecting to hear God speak to us through His Word. We spend a lot of time in prayer, because Jesus has given us access to our Father. So friends, let us not overlook the significance and privilege of gathering with one another every Sunday. Our corporate worship is a testimony that God has not just redeemed a few individuals but many people from all walks of life. Our passionate singing is a pleasing offering to God, telling Him that He alone is worthy of praise.
And unlike the Levites who had to safeguard the tabernacle, we invite everyone to come and hear about the Good News of Jesus. We want people to see the transforming power of the gospel and learn how they too can be reconciled to God. We want people to hear our voices recount God’s faithfulness.
At first glance, Israel’s census and camp arrangement might seem to have little to do with us. But when we locate it in God’s Big Story, we see its significance and relation to us.
God had not given up on His sinful people. Instead, He had faithfully preserved the seed of Adam and the line of Abraham so that the promised Messiah could come. Through Jesus we are forgiven and can approach the throne of God with boldness. Therefore, we have much to give thanks for and every reason to keep trusting God. We may not know how every trial will unfold, but we know God is faithful to His promises. Our problem is often not that God has given us too little evidence to trust Him. It is that we forget what He has already done.
Israel’s failure to remember God’s faithfulness will be their downfall. They will eventually stand at the edge of Canaan only to waiver in their faith. Instead of allowing God’s faithfulness in the past to give them strength to obey, they focus on their present fears and rebel. Instead of letting God’s faithfulness give them hope, they reminisce about their old life and reject God. As a result, God did not let the rebellious generation enter the Promised Land.
The tragedy of Israel is that they forgot God’s faithfulness. So friends, when our suffering is painful, remember God is faithful. When obedience is hard, remember God is faithful.
When the future is uncertain, remember God’s faithfulness.
The God who has kept His promises will keep His promises. He will see us through from earth to glory.
Let us pray.