What I Noticed Today (Numbers 10-11)
Numbers 10
Numbers 10 provides the final instructions in preparation of the Israelites setting out on their journey to the Promised Land.
In verses 1-10, God instructs Moses to have to silver trumpets made. These trumpets are the last bit of preparation before the Israelites set out on their journey to the Promised Land.
- The trumpets had six purposes:
- Long blasts of both trumpets to summon the congregation,
- Long blasts of only one trumpet to summon the chiefs (clan leaders),
- Short blasts to have the tribes set out on the march.
- Short blasts to sound an alarm for war.
- To mark the beginning of a month.
- When offerings were being made.
- The trumpets were to be blown by priests, and each time they were blown, it was to be a reminder to the people of God’s blessing.
In verses 11-28, depart from the Sinai and begin their journey to Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 10:11-14:45):
- On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud lifted up above the tabernacle, and the people set out, leaving the Wilderness of the Sinai and stopping when they arrived at the Wilderness of Paran.
- The tribe of Judah set out first, followed by the tribe of Issachar, and the tribe of Zebulun.
- The tabernacle was then taken down carried by the Levites of the Gershonite and the Merarite clans.
- The tribe of Reuben set out next, then Simeon’s tribe, and the tribe of Gad.
- The Levite clan of Kohathites then set out carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the other holy furnishings.
- The tribe of Ephraim set out next, followed by the tribe of Manasseh, and the tribe of Benjamin.
- The tribe of Dan set out next, followed by the tribe of Asher, and finally the tribe of Naphtali.
Note: About a year has passed since the people arrived at Mt. Sinai, and now the cloud lifted up, and the people set out on their march in an orderly fashion with the cloud of God leading the way.
In verses 29-32, we are now introduced to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite:
- Moses invites Hobab to join the Israelites on the journey, ostensibly to be a guide to the Israelites (vv. 31-32).
Note: I’m confused by this. Why would Moses want to ask someone else to guide the nation in the desert when he was being led by God? On the other hand, by inviting Hobab along, Moses is inviting him to join God’s family, leaving behind his old ways to follow God.
Note: Hobab is described as being Moses’s father-in-law. But we know from Exodus 18 that Moses’ father in law is Jethro. Reuel is another name for Jethro. The Hebrew word (hoten) translated father-in-law means any male in-law. So it is most likely that Hobab is Jethro’s son, and therefore, is Moses’ brother in law, and Zipporah’s brother.
In verses 32-36, the Israelites set out on a three-day journey with the Ark of the Covenant travelling ahead of them. The cloud of the Lord was above them by day.
Numbers 11
Numbers 11 is a story about the Israelites complaining to God once again.
In verses 1-3, the people began to complain openly before the Lord about the hardships they were enduring. The Lord was angry, and his fire consumed the outskirts of the camp. The people cried out to Moses, who prayed to the Lord on their behalf, and the fire of the Lord died down.
In verses 4-9, another group of malcontents complained they didn’t have meat and vegetables like they had in Egypt:
- They complained that all they had to eat was the manna that God supplied every day.
Note: Here, God is supplying them with manna, and a certain group complained that they don’t have meat like they used to have in Egypt. Really? Have they forgotten already the oppression they endured at the hands of the Egyptians?!
In verses 10-15, the Lord is angry with the people, and so is Moses:
- Moses asked the Lord, why He was bringing this trouble on him. Moses said the Lord had created these people and said he could not bear responsibility for these people himself. Moses even told the Lord if He was going to deal with him like this, just kill him now.
In verses 16-17, God has Moses bring forth 70 elders whom He anoints with some of the Spirit that was on Moses. These men were to help Moses bear the burden of the people.
Note: Moses wanted to have the Lord take away the burden of leadership, and if not to kill him. But the Lord’s response was to establish a leadership structure that allowed Moses to delegate leadership responsibility to the 70 elders.
In verses 18-23, the Lord told Moses to tell the people to purify themselves and get ready to eat meat.
- The Lord told Moses that because the people had rejected Him, He would give the people meat to eat for a full thirty days until they are sick of eating meat.
- Moses wonders how in the world this will happen since he doesn’t think there is enough meat in all the camp to do this. The Lord reminds Moses His power is not limited.
In verses 24-30, prior to the Lord sending the meat, Moses gathered the 70 elders in front of the tent of meeting as the Lord had instructed:
- The Lord took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the 70 elders.
- As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied but never prophesied again.
- Two men, Eldad and Medad, who were listed among the elders, had not come before the tabernacle, yet the Spirit of the Lord rested on them, and they prophesied also. Joshua complained to Moses, thinking this was wrong, but Moses said he wished all the Lord’s people had the Spirit to prophesy.
In verses 31-35, the Lord sent quail for the people to eat:
- A strong wind blew, and the Lord brought them quail, enough to eat for a month.
- While they were still eating the quail, the Lord’s anger burned against them and struck them with a plague killing off all the people who had the craving for the meat.
- They named the place Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of craving”).
- From Kibroth-hataavah, they journeyed to Hazeroth (south of the desert of Paran).
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- I am always struck by how organized God is in leading the people of Israel. Every detail is communicated to Moses, who leads the people. As long as they obey and follow God’s instructions, life is good. But there were those who complained, they caused others to complain, and in so doing, some of the people rejected God’s blessing.
- As a body of believers, we tend to do the same thing today. We complain about God’s blessing, about His leadership, and in so doing, we display a poor witness to younger believers and those who do not yet know God.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
