NUMBERS is a wilderness book. It gives us the various encampments of the Israelites in the desert on their way to the land flowing with milk and honey. We have, therefore, God's order concerning His people and. His care over them, as well as their sad failures and departures from Him.
Everyone in Israel able to go forth to war was, numbered according to the tribe to which he belonged. A distinct station was also assigned to each of the tribes around the tabernacle. The Levites had a peculiar place of separation unto the service of the tabernacle. The priests also had their work. Nothing could be more orderly. The law of the Nazarite is found here (chapter 6), because the wilderness was the fitting place for testing entire consecration unto the lord. The wilderness was the place of entire dependence upon God. There were no visible means of support.
God undertook to 'care for them, and was to be trusted. He alone was their helper. The pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night over the tabernacle, fully witnessed to this. By it they were guided in their way through the trackless waste. The manna from 'heaven every morning ceased not all through the desert journey. Their thirst was satisfied also by water from the flinty rock. The redemption of Israel by the blood of the lamb, was celebrated by the pass-over not only in Egypt and in the land, but also in the wilderness. (chap. 11:5.) The power of God was also put forth on their behalf to overcome their enemies (chap. 21:3), and 'in. many other ways God's presence and care of His people were fully manifested.
But they smarted for their unbelief, and their evil manners often brought upon them the severe chastisements of God. We are told, "With many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. They murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." (chap. 14:2, 29.) "They angered Him also at the waters of strife (Meribah), so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes; because they provoked his speech, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." (chap. 20:13; Psa. 106:32, 33.) The prophecies of Balaam set before us not only the security of God's people, but the future glory that awaits them; and though this wicked man knew that there could be no enchantment against. Israel, yet he succeeded in ensnaring many of them by his evil counsel, through the daughters of Moab; —they committed fornication, and there fell by the plague sent out by God four and twenty thousand. (chap. 25: 1-9) We are told, "Behold these (women) caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor; and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord." (chap. 31:16) We read also that they tempted God, and were destroyed of serpents. (21:6) That all these facts have typical significance, and are presented to us for our warning, is clear enough; for the apostle says that "all these things happened to them for ensamples (types), and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." And the inspired writer adds, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There path no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." (See 1 Cor. 10:1-13)
No doubt the Holy Ghost presents Christ to us in this book in type, in Aaron the High Priest, the Nazarite, the Light of the Sanctuary, the Passover, the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, Aaron's rod that budded, the daily Manna from heaven, the Rock that gave forth his water, the Red Heifer and Water of Purification, and various other sacrifices, the Serpent of Brass, Cities of Refuge, &c. How blessedly true it is that the Scriptures testify of HIM!