Written by Paul J Bucknell on May, 09, 2026
Numbers00 An Introduction to the Book of Numbers | The Bible Teaching Commentary
The Backdrop of the Book of Numbers
The greatest truths that stream through Numbers are not about man’s great faith and activities, but God’s unwillingness to accept sin and unrestrained determination to accomplish what He has promised.
The Lord set His objectives even from before captivity’s time (Gen 15:13-18). The Lord determined to bring His people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. They did not want to leave Egypt, but He drove them out. They later refused to go into the Promised Land because of their fear, but the Lord drove them into the land. Although many found their graves along the way, God determinedly raised up a generation that would follow Him and take part in a mission He was determined to fulfill.
Today, we likewise live under the charge of the Great Commission. Are we ready to fulfill it in this generation, or does the Lord need to raise another generation more true to Him because of our unfaithfulness and lack of belief?
An Outline of the Book of Numbers
The Book of Numbers has three central focuses, with brief descriptions below.
(1) Mobilizing His People (Numbers 1-9)
(2) Displeased With His People (Numbers 10-19)
(3) Readying a New Generation (Numbers 20-36)
(1) Mobilizing His People (Num 1-9)
A Time of mobilizing the people and clarifying the law
Although God called the Israelites to meet with Him at Mount Sinai to establish His covenant with them, we see another focus on preparing the people to possess the land of Canaan. The Lord authoritatively organized His people. Total submission was essential for success. Their trust and submission mattered more than their physical readiness, the quality of weapons, the size of ammunition, or a well-planned strategy.
(2) Displeased With His People (Num 10-19)
A Test of Their Faithfulness to the Lord’s Commands
Numbers is a book of tests, and unfortunately, this group failed to pass. God tested and proved that His people were ready for the demanding job. In a negative sense, the people tested and proved God. The Lord is not asking us to see whether we have enough faith for a certain action but merely to obey Him. Obedience always precedes real success.
Numbers could have been a much shorter and glorious book! Disobedience delays the completion of certain tasks, which would have made everything easier.
(3) Readying a New Generation (Num 20-36)
Readying the Second Generation for His Mission
Although some may feel sympathy for the generation that died in the desert, we must be eternally grateful that God raised up a new generation to fulfill His great promises. This second chance for His people came purely by God’s grace.
The Lord again prepares them as He did in the first phase, but also tests their hearts once more. He leads them through smaller battles and trials to see if there is any sign of faith. Most of this time was spent in Moab beside the Jordan River (see Deuteronomy). Numbers emphasizes the preparations and the display of faith among His people, contrasting them with their parents’ generation. We do not see perfect people; God still hates and judges their sin. But we see God, with perfect patience and wisdom, equipping them for a task that the world would scoff at as impossible. They were weak and frail but considered ready.
They passed the test.
Marks of Time, Space and Numbers
1/14/01 Passover/Left Egypt (Ex 12:2)
1/15/01 Left Egypt (Ex 12:2)
1/1/02 Tabernacle erected (Ex 40:17)
1/14/02 Observe Passover (Nu 9:1-3) *
2/1/02 The Census (Nu 1:1)
2/20/02 Left Sinai (Nu 10:11-12)
1/?/40 Returned to Kadesh (Nu 20:1)
5/1/40 Aaron died on Mt. Hor (Nu 33:38)
11/1/40 Renewed Covenant in Moab (De 1:3)
1/10/41 Crossed the Jordan (Joshua 4:19)
1/14/41 Ate the Passover in Canaan (Joshua 5:10)
* Note the forty years in the wilderness here.
First census (Nu 1:46) 603,550
Second census (Nu 26:51) 601,730
THE CHALLENGE
The younger generation often criticizes the older one for a lack of faith and boldness. The accusation is often accurate, but what about the younger generation? Will you be more faithful and true to what the Lord has put before you? Now, it is your turn. Complete the Great Commission
Thoughts on Leadership from Numbers
STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN
Underlying these many preparations is a great meeting with God. Know God before you fight His battles, but be prepared. Once you know Him, He will lead you into places you've never been before. The Lord guides His people into paths they often prefer to avoid, and the Christian’s duty is to follow. We are not our own; we do not live by our own preferences. We are here for the Lord’s battles.
Maybe Joshua was not as perfect as Moses, but sin—including Moses’ sin—never makes it easy for anyone in leadership. Thankfully, God is never so shortsighted or limited that a leader's sin hampers Him. His plans incorporate our mistakes along with His judgments. God was secretly preparing Joshua from early on. He also changed the style and responsibilities of leadership from Moses to better fit Joshua and the people’s needs.
Joshua was very suited for the task, much more than he thought himself (read Joshua 1). God protected His name and cared for His people’s well-being, leading them into the Promised Land and fulfilling His mighty judgments through Joshua, Moses’ servant.
