Numbers (Introduction and Outline)
Numbers is a rather overlooked book of the bible for most people. It begins with a long list of names and numbers and has a lot of legalese. (Though not as much as the book that precedes it, so Numbers is even overlooked in that it is not infamous!)
However, if the Exodus is the most impactful event in Old Testament history—illustrating the way that God rescues His people because of His love and not their merit—Numbers is just as important in the way it metaphorically looks at the life of the saved this side of eternity.
Perhaps the Hebrew title, “In the Wilderness” would be a better description of its theme and mission. This book is a lesson for all the people of God (including those who follow it in the Old and New Testaments). We all need the reminders that it gives us. That being saved does not mean we have arrived. That being saved does not make us immune from sin and rebellion. And that we would do well to work on becoming more and more the people God wants us to be while we wait on the promise of God’s eternal rest.
General Outline:
I. The Exodus Generation Prepares to Travel to the Promised Land (1:1-10:10)
II. The March from Sinai to Kadesh (10:11-12:16)
III. Rebellion and Failure Followed by 40 Years in the Wilderness (13:1-19:22)
IV. The March from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (20:1-22:1)
V. The Next Generation Prepare to Enter the Promise Land (22:2-36:13)
However, if the Exodus is the most impactful event in Old Testament history—illustrating the way that God rescues His people because of His love and not their merit—Numbers is just as important in the way it metaphorically looks at the life of the saved this side of eternity.
Perhaps the Hebrew title, “In the Wilderness” would be a better description of its theme and mission. This book is a lesson for all the people of God (including those who follow it in the Old and New Testaments). We all need the reminders that it gives us. That being saved does not mean we have arrived. That being saved does not make us immune from sin and rebellion. And that we would do well to work on becoming more and more the people God wants us to be while we wait on the promise of God’s eternal rest.
General Outline:
I. The Exodus Generation Prepares to Travel to the Promised Land (1:1-10:10)
II. The March from Sinai to Kadesh (10:11-12:16)
III. Rebellion and Failure Followed by 40 Years in the Wilderness (13:1-19:22)
IV. The March from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (20:1-22:1)
V. The Next Generation Prepare to Enter the Promise Land (22:2-36:13)
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