Journal Through the Bible: Week 22 Tuesday

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Numbers 9:15-10:36

It is time for the Israelites to finally move! After approximately a year of camping around Mount Sinai the cloud/pillar of fire that had settled over the tabernacle lifts and the people begin their journey toward the Promised Land once more. They walk in formation with the tribe of Judah leading the way and the tribe of Dan acting as rear guard. The three family divisions of the tribe of Levi: Gershon, Merari, and Kohath, are interspersed among them. Since Gershon and Merari were responsible for the actual tabernacle tent materials they walked ahead of those from Kohath so that they might have the tabernacle pitched before the men of Kohath arrived with the furnishings.

Question: Did Moses convince his father-in-law to go with them or did Jethro (Hobab) return to Midian?

Does God make any promises in this passage?

• God promised that the blowing of the trumpets would be a sign of remembrance. They would be remembered by God and He would save them from their enemies.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• There are no direct mentions of the Angel of the Lord (who is believed to be a theophany) but as the pillar of fire/cloud that leads the people Jesus would be present in that cloud since He and the Father are one.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• One of the things that the silver trumpets did was to let the people know that their departure was at hand. That is exactly what will happen to the people of God awaiting Christ's return. The trump will sound, the dead in Christ will arise first, then those who are alive will be caught up in the air to meet him. The sound of the trumpet means departure is imminent!
• Another purpose of the trumpets was as a sign of remembrance by God. He promised that the blowing of the trumpet would remind Him that He would save them from their enemies. That is exactly what will happen in the future. The trumpet will blow and God's people will be saved from their enemies: Satan, sin, death, hell, and the grave!

Does God issue any commands?

• Through the movement of the cloud God told the people when to move and when to set up camp.
• God told Moses to have two silver trumpets made for calling the assembly together, calling just the tribal representatives to meet, for sounding an alarm, or for bringing attention to the fact that the pillar of cloud/fire had moved and departure was imminent, and on the solemn holy days when the sacrifices were being offered.