10 Reasons Numbers Is Not a Boring Book of the Bible
Most of the Old Testament has a reputation for being boring and difficult to read. While the Old Testament books are not quite as succinct and readable as the New Testament gospels or epistles, they offer amazing content and demonstrations of the character and faithfulness of God in history.
Numbers is a book, which gives modern readers a clear glimpse of what life was like for those in Ancient Israel, along with several key events that have major implications for the future of the nation.
Numbers is one of the less popular books for Bible studies and sermon series, and this is unfortunate. With battle, spies, revolt, a talking donkey, and even more, Numbers is a very engaging book!
Here are 10 reasons why the Book of Numbers is not boring.
1. Life in the Wilderness
One of the major turning points in the Old Testament is when Israel is left wandering through the wilderness for 40 years.
While this may seem like a cliche idea for those who have been attending church for a long time, take some time to imagine this.
What if you had been wandering in the wilderness since the year 1980? That’s crazy to imagine!
There were hundreds of thousands of Israelites who sojourned through the brutal wilderness for decades. This was no walk in the park.
They walked through the desert, eating nothing but manna for years. Numbers gives modern readers a glimpse at what this life was like for the people of Israel.
It may seem pedestrian, but it is a major time period in biblical history, and Numbers offers amazing detail into what these years were like for God’s people.
2. Spies
Admit it, no story involving covert spies can possibly be boring. After 40 treacherous years wandering in the wilderness, the people of Israel have finally made it to the land of Canaan, and as they prepare to enter in, they send spies into the land to scope it out.
Imagine being one of these spies, being the first Israelites to finally enter into the Promised Land. What did they find? Great, strong people groups with fortified cities.
It seemed like the land of Canaan was impenetrable! Most of the spies thought so. However, they did see that the land was good and worth pursuing. Did they enter in and take it from the strong tribes?
Not exactly…
3. National Rebellion
So, the people of Israel have finally made it near the Promised Land, and what do they do as soon as they arrive? They rebel against Moses and Aaron, God’s appointed leaders who have guided them through the previous 40 years in the wilderness.
This is crazy! As a reader, it is so exciting when they arrive, and then everything goes sideways. How frustrating it must have been for the nation to rebel against him after finally arriving.
What a plot twist!
4. Battle
Similar to stories about spies, stories about combat and conquest are also inherently fascinating. Israel has managed to make it near the promised land, but they cannot take it without a fight.
At first, when the people of Israel are still mourning and rebelling against Moses, they are ambushed by the Canaanites and Amalekites, defeated by the local tribes.
There are several more battles that the people of Israel fight as they remain on the edge of the Promised Land. How do they fare in these battles?
You will have to read Numbers to find out!
5. Another Rebellion Plus Mass Execution
As if there had not been enough setbacks to get the people of Israel into the Promised Land, one of the Levites, Korah, came forth asserting that all people ought to be allowed into the holiest place in the tabernacle to be in God’s presence.
However, this is directly contradictory to God’s appointment of priests and the laws He set forth. Korah was challenging the leadership of Moses and Aaron, claiming that they sought authority for their own gain, rather than being appointed by God.
Korah, along with others, led a mass rebellion, but God audibly calls out to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the congregation, get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram” (Numbers 16:24). The suspense built, as the nation wondered what was about to happen.
Moses cried out, asserting that he was the appointed leader by God. As he finished, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and all of his followers. Not only that, but fire came down from heaven killing hundreds of others who supported their rebellion!
This mass execution showed God’s tolerance for false teaching and rebellion against His laws. God’s judgment was swift and decisive.
A heavenly mass execution of Israelite rebels is certainly a lot to unpack.
6. Moses’ Punishment
As faithful readers of Scripture know, Moses led the people of Israel to the Promised Land, but he never was able to walk in. He died on the opposite side of the Jordan River, in full view of the Promised Land, but condemned to never enter in.
Joshua is the one who led the people of Israel into the land of Canaan, and it is in Numbers that we find out why this was so.
Moses failed to obey a command from God, a command to show God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel. God told Moses to speak to the rocks, and water would pour forth to quench the thirst of the nation.
However, out of exasperation, Moses struck the rock with his staff rather than speaking to it. Moses was frustrated with God, and he did not trust that water would come from the rock by just saying the word.
Due to Moses’ rejection of God’s command, he was rightly punished. It is unimaginable how devastating this must have been for Moses.
Imagine traveling on foot for 40 years to arrive at a certain place, and then dying only a few hundred feet short of your destination. How heartbreaking!
However, such is the punishment for direct opposition to God.
7. Balaam’s Donkey
This may be the most well-known event in the Book of Numbers, and for good reason. Israel had arrived before the nation of Moab, and the Moabites were afraid because the people of Israel were great in number. The king summoned Balaam, a pagan prophet, to curse the people of Israel.
However, God became angry at Balaam for this and sent an angel to stop him. However, Balaam could not see the angel in his path, but his donkey could. Out of fear, the donkey stopped, and Balaam whipped it.
After the donkey continued to refuse, Balaam continued to beat it. Then, the donkey opened its mouth and spoke to Balaam!
Afterwards, Balaam’s eyes were opened, and he could see the angel in his path. He bowed down in repentance and reverence before the angel.
This story is just awesome. God is so intent on accomplishing his purposes that he even enlists animals to speak to those who do not listen.
What an incredible demonstration of God’s sovereignty!
8. God’s Faithfulness on Display
Throughout the Book of Numbers, God’s faithfulness to His people is evident. Despite rebellion from His people throughout the book (and throughout the Bible), God does not waver in his pursuit of His beloved people.
In this way, Numbers serves as an encouraging reminder to Christians today. God’s nature does not change.
In the same way that He was faithful and devoted to the people of Israel in Numbers, He is faithful to us today.
God’s love for His people is unceasing, and He is continually at work for the good of His people.
Praise God for His faithfulness!
9. Revenge Against Midian
The people of Midian are remembered for seducing the people of Israel into committing idolatry against Yahweh.
They convinced Israelites to worship Baal and Peor, rejecting the God who has been so faithful. God has no tolerance for idolatry, and He quickly mobilized the people of Israel for battle through Moses.
Moses assembled an army of 12,000 men of Israel, and they set out to enact the Lord’s vengeance against the Midianites. Not only did they get revenge, but they annihilated the Midianites.
Every Midianite male was killed. All five kings were killed. Balaam was killed. The cities were plundered and burned.
All of the loot, women, and children were taken and brought back to Israel.
What we must remember is, “while the violence peppered throughout the Old Testament can be troubling and confusing to believers, we are to take heart and know that God loves us. He hates evil and will punish when necessary.”
10. God’s Relationship with Moses
Despite God’s eventual punishment preventing Moses from entering the Promised Land, Numbers provides great insight into the close relationship that Moses shared with Yahweh.
There are 48 instances in Numbers of the Lord speaking to Moses — that is a lot of dialogue! God consistently speaks to Moses and enables him to be the leader and hero that Israel needs in order to make it to the land of Canaan.
God’s close, intimate relationship with Moses is an example of the kind of relationship that He desires with all of His followers. God desires us to know Him and be known by Him.
Moses sets a phenomenal example of one who consistently and continually is engaged with the Lord, and He demonstrates legendary leadership of God’s people when it counts.
The relationship between God and Moses is often neglected, yet its importance is on full display in the Book of Numbers.
Numbers is not the most widely preached book in the Bible, and it never will be. However, to neglect its content is to miss out on amazing accounts of God’s faithfulness to His people, and Israel’s journey to the Promised Land.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/JerryGrugin
Originally published December 03, 2020.
