NUMBERS

“Adonai spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt.”
Numbers 1:1

Today we start the fourth book in the Torah, the book of B’MIDBAR. The English title given to this book is more than likely based on the fact that a census was taken within its scriptures. Truth be told, the English title almost makes the book sound as boring as Leviticus. Not many believers venture into this book unless they are math wizards or accountants. But within its pages are the events of the Isra’elites for the 39 years before Joshua led them into the Promise Land. With that in mind, the Hebrew title is based on the opening words of the book, “Adonai spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert.” In Hebrew it would begin as, “Adonai spoke to Moshe b’midbar.”
For those out there who believe that the Old Testament, or the Torah, was overwritten by Yeshua, I point out I Corinthians 10. It is in this New Testament passage that Paul, who was converted after Yeshua ascended to heaven, writes verses 1-11 which shows specifics related to the book of Numbers. Paul saw that the book of Numbers was not only a literal history, but also a prophecy of what was to come.
In closing our very brief entrance into Numbers, I want to point out that this book shows the wandering in the wilderness of the Negev, the Sinai, and some believe the Arabian Peninsula. Based on this, we again see reason for the name B’midbar, and how the wandering in the wilderness fits. The opening verses of chapter 1, however, do also show the count within the tribes of Isra’el. While this can be a dull start, let us keep in mind that as Adonai weeds the older generation out based on their sin, the numbers decrease. I say this as a reminder, lest we forget that our sin carries punishment.
Come with me, wander with me through this book, as we move from learning about the customs and traditions, to seeing them put into motion, along with Adonai’s mighty hand.

Numbers 1:1-19
Numbers 1:20-54