Numbers 10:1-81And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. (Numbers 10:1‑8)
The Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of silver to be used to call the people together, and also as a signal for their journeys. The silver for these trumpets came from the redemion money which the children of Israel paid when they were numbered, and would therefore remind them that they were a redeemed people. We, like them, do not belong to ourselves, but to the Lord Jesus who has redeemed us with His most precious blood. We notice that Moses was told to make these trumpets out of one piece of silver, for we are not to have double motives in what we do, but rather serve with singleness of heart as unto the Lord (Col. 3:22, 2322Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:22‑23)). There were two things that took place before the children of Israel started out on their journeys; first the cloud moved, giving them divine guidance, and secondly, the silver trumpets were blown, telling of love’s claim upon their hearts.
These trumpets were also used to call the congregation of the children of Israel together. At such a time no alarm was to be sounded, but just the call. How blessed for us to think of this in its application to ourselves, for we can hear “the call” even today, to come together and meet with the Lord and His people. (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).) It may he to remember the Lord in His death, to read His Word, or for prayer, but there need he no “alarm,” for we are perfectly fitted for the Lord’s presence as cleansed by His blood. Then, too, there is that love one for another (1 Thess. 4:99But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9)), so that we should not fear, but rather rejoice, as we come together. As these meetings roll around from week to week, may each one of us hear “the call” to assemble and make every effort to be there!
When the children of Israel were to to take a journey, however, the one who blew the trumpets was to make the sound of an alarm, though there was no alarm when they were just called to assemble, as we have noticed before. Often when we make some “move” in life, the enemy uses the occasion to bring an attack, and wp need to be very sure we have the Lord’s mind in such decisions. How often we have seen one going on quite happily, and then he decided to move to another city, or to take a new posion, and his usefulness seemed to end right there. He did not “sound the alarm”—he did not realize the danger, nor own redemption’s claim over him. Dear young reader, if you are making a move, be sure to be much before the Lord about it, and then “blow the silver trumpet” at the very start, like the children of Israel, letting your new acquaintances know that you belong to the Lord. This is of all importance if we are to be kept in the path of the Lord’s choosing, and have His blessing upon our lives.
We notice, too, that it was the sons of Aaron who were to blow these truets. They typify to us the Church (believers) who should be gathered together in God’s appointed way as members of the body of Christ. We are always to remember this relationship, and this would lead one to be exercised about moving to a place where there were no others gathered in a scriptural way. We all need Christian fellowship, and though the Lord can, and will, sustain one who cannot help being in isolation, it is quite another thing to put oneself in such a position.
ML 08/25/1951