Views: 1<\/p>
[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-1<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The Old Testament book of Numbers is named after the four important censuses of the Israelites which it records. It could also appropriately be called \u201cThe Book of Wanderings\u201d since it traces the wanderings of Israel from Sinai to Canaan. Likewise, it could appropriately be called \u201cThe Book of Murmurings\u201d because several times it records occasions of rebellion and unbelief that caused God\u2019s people to murmur against Him. This book is classified as one of the books of Law in the Old Testament, which accurately describes some of its content. However, most of the book is the history of the Hebrews in the Wilderness, on their way to Canaan. Numbers must have been written near the end of the journey to Canaan, perhaps about 1,400 BC. Moses has universally been accepted as its author by conservative scholars and no good reasons exist to even consider others as its author. The time span covered by the book is in excess of 38 years.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The theme of Numbers is \u201cservice\u201d: how the Levites are to serve in and around the tabernacle, consequences of failing to serve, and readying an army to serve in the coming battles. The purpose is three-fold:<\/span><\/p>\n Numbers contains a wealth of miraculous activity which modernists ridicule as \u201cmyths\u201d and \u201cimpossibilities.\u201d However, the New Testament writers and the Lord Himself attribute complete historicity and authenticity to the events recorded in Numbers (e.g., John 3:14; 19:36; 1 Cor. 10:8\u201310; 2 Pet. 2:25; Jude 11; Rev. 1:14, etc.). We personally have more confidence in the Lord, John, Peter, and Paul that in the modernists.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Besides being an extremely important historical account of an interesting period in the development of the Jews as a nation, Numbers is also a book of many practical principles. It teaches that murmuring, complaining, and \u201cfussing\u201d are intolerable to God. The same evil traits are condemned in the New Testament as well (1 Cor. 10:10; Phi 2:14). Such a spirit indicates unbelief. In Numbers, it is made clear that God is a God of precision and order. This great book shows that to rebel against God\u2019s appointed leaders is to rebel against God Himself (Num. 12). The folly of trusting only in one\u2019s own strength is shown (Num. 13\u201314).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong>\u00a0I wrote this article for, and it was published in the \u201cBible Thoughts\u201d Column for the Hood County News<\/em>, Granbury, Texas, October 21, 1979.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-1 page.] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Old Testament book of Numbers is named after the four important censuses of the Israelites which it records. It could also appropriately be called \u201cThe Book of Wanderings\u201d since…<\/p>\n\n