READING: Review of Numbers 1-5
“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. . .”
Numbers 2:1
The book of Numbers begins, not surprisingly, with a lot of numbers. It seems like the first several chapters are filled with commands to take a census. Indeed, we can be amazed that Israel had 603,550 warriors (Num. 1:46), a number that may have suggested 2 million Hebrews ready to enter the Promised Land. What’s even more amazing to me, though, are these recurrent phrases:
- “The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. . .” (Num. 1:1)
-
“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. . .” (Num. 2:1)
- “The Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.” (Num. 3:1)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses. . .” (Num. 3:5)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses. . .” (Num. 3:11)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai. . .” (Num. 3:14)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses again. . .” (Num. 3:44)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. . .” (Num. 4:1)
- “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. . .” (Num. 4:17)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses. . .” (Num. 4:21)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses. . .” (Num. 5:5)
- “The Lord spoke to Moses. . .” (Num. 5:11)
I realize all of this sounds redundant and repetitive, but each phrase carries with it a sense of the miraculous. The Lord—the eternal Creator who spoke the world into existence, who is fully independent of His creation—speaks to His people. He’s a personal, loving, communicative God who lowers Himself to humanity while also granting us access to His throne.
And, even today He speaks to us through His Word. He teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and trains us so that we might be equipped to do His work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). That’s a sweet, sweet God.
ACTION STEPS:
- On this Lord’s Day, listen closely for whatever the Lord has to teach you.
- Praise Him for the access He gives you to His Word.
PRAYER: “Lord, I can’t believe I have opportunity to hear from You and speak to You. Thank You.”
