CHAPTER FOUR

Looking Forward to Canaan

SCRIPTURE COVERED: Numbers-Deuteronomy

TIME COVERED: ca. 1600-1400 B.C.

Israel's encampment in the environs of Mount Sinai lasted for nearly one year. While there, additional instructions were given to the new nation. These are recorded in the first part of the book of Numbers. After an eleven-day march to Kadesh, spies were sent into Canaan, which precipitated a crisis, and the divine verdict that prolonged the wanderings. Thirty-eight years later they proceeded to the Plains of Moab where Moses gave his farewell speeches as found in the book of Deuteronomy.

ORGANIZATION OF ISRAEL

Detailed instructions regarding organization for their encampment and journey are summarized in Numbers. These chapters are not necessarily in chronological order. They may be outlined as follows:

I. Numbering Israel

II. Camp Regulations

III. Religious Life of Israel

IV. Provisions for Guidance

Israel was numbered before leaving Mount Sinai. Very likely this census also represented a tabulation of the count taken when they left Egypt a year earlier (Ex. 30: 11 ff.; 38:26). Excluding women, children, and the Levites, the count was about 600,000. Almost forty years later after the rebellious generation had perished in the wilderness, their manpower was approximately the same (Num. 26).

A. Marching Order

Law and order were essential for God's people. The Levites were substituted for the firstborn of each family and assigned to care for the tabernacle. In the camp of Israel the tabernacle was in the center with the Levites surrounding the tabernacle and three tribes in each direction beyond the Levites. When en route, six tribes preceded the Levites who carried the tabernacle and six tribes followed.

B. Tabernacle Dedicated

Impressive in the memory of the Israelites must have been the events during the first month of the second year after they left Egypt. The tabernacle with all its furnishings had been completed and erected. With Moses officiating, the tabernacle was dedicated and became the center of Israel's religious life (Ex. 40:1-3; Num. 6:22-9:14). Offerings were presented, Aaron and the Levites were publicly presented and dedicated for their services, and the congregation was divinely blessed with these words:

The observance of the Passover marked their first anniversary of deliverance from Egypt. Special emphasis was given that everyone, even strangers, should participate.

C. On to Canaan

On the twentieth day of the second month the Israelites were alerted to break up camp in preparing for their journey to Canaan. Divine guidance was provided in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Observe carefully the importance of divine guidance, as well as the requirement for efficient organization and procedure. Proper coordination of the human and divine are exemplified in these instructions for Israel and deserve consideration and application for the mission of the Church today.

WILDERNESS WANDERINGS

Israel's movement from Mount Sinai to the Plains of Moab is briefly summarized in Numbers 10: 1 1-22: 1. Comparatively little is known about the thirty-eight years they spent in wilderness wanderings as may be observed in the outline below:

I. From Mount Sinai to Kadesh

II. The Kadesh Crisis

III. The Years of Wandering

IV. From Kadesh to the Plains of Moab

En route to Kadesh the Israelites complained and rebelled. Seventy elders were appointed to share responsibility with Moses in controlling the people as they murmured about the manna. When an abundant supply of quail was divinely provided, the people were so intemperate and indulgent that many died in the resultant plague. Even Aaron and Miriam complained against Moses whom God vindicated as leader.

A. The Kadesh Crisis

Spies were sent into the land of Canaan as Israel moved north to encamp at Kadesh, approximately forty miles south and somewhat west of Beersheba. The twelve men unanimously reported both the excellency of the land and the potential strength and ferocity of the inhabitants. But as to the prospects for conquest they were not agreed. Ten declared that occupation was impossible and stirred up public sentiment for an immediate return to Egypt. Two, Joshua and Caleb, confidently asserted that with divine aid conquest was possible. The people were swayed by the majority's report and became an insolent mob, threatening to stone Joshua and Caleb, and even considered selecting a new leader to replace Moses.

Divine judgment followed. This generation which less than two years before had seen God's mighty acts in delivering them from the clutches of Pharaoh should have had enough evidence to believe that God would aid them in the conquest of Canaan. When God contemplated annihilation, Moses intervened. Even though pardon was extended to the nation, the ten spies and all people aged twenty and older were consigned to death in the wilderness because of their lack of faith.

B. The Years of Wandering

The great rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram represents two mutinous groups, mutually strengthened through their cooperative effort (Num. 16:1-50).' Korah and his supporting Levites challenged the leadership of Aaron and his family who were responsible for the priestly ministry in Israel. Dathan and Abiram aspired to replace Moses as political leader, since they were the descendants of Reuben the oldest son of Jacob. Both Moses and Aaron were vindicated when the earth swallowed up Dathan and Abiram and their families and Korah.2 Before this rebellion completely subsided, more than 14,000 people had perished in the camp of Israel. The miraculous sign of the budding rod also confirmed Aaron's place as priest.En route to the Plains of MoabAfter marking time for approximately thirty-eight years in the area of Kadesh-a time during which many more murmurings and rebellions may have occurred than are recorded here-Israel was led by the way of the Gulf of Aqaba to the Plains of Moab. Among the numerous events along the way, it is significant to note that Moses in response to the complaints of the Israelites became irate and impatient. For his disobedience in smiting the rock instead of commanding it to bring forth water, Moses was denied the privilege of entering Canaan. The experience of the Israelites when punished by a scourge of serpents is also significant. Through simple obedience and faith, those who looked at the bronze serpent erected by Moses were saved. The Lord Jesus used this incident as a symbol of His death on the cross, applying the same principle-anyone who turned to Him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-16).

By moving southward, the Israelites circumvented Edom and later Moab as they settled in the plains north of the Arnon River and east of the Dead Sea. Although forbidden to fight against Moab, the Israelites fought against Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, as they occupied this land north of Moab.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTERING CANAAN

The experiences and instructions that came to Israel while encamped on the Plains of Moab conditioned God's holy nation for possessing the land of promise. A brief survey of these developments is provided in the following outline:

I. Preservation of God's Chosen People

II. Preparation for Conquest

III. Anticipation of Occupation

A. Balaam and Balak

King Balak of the Moabites was disturbed when the Israelites encamped to the north of him. He endeavored to persuade Balaam to come to his aid, hoping that this prophet would curse Israel. Enticed by the reward offered, Balaam went but was shockingly reminded by his donkey and the angel that he was limited in this mission to speak God's message only. Four times Balaam blessed Israel and subsequently was shamefully dismissed by Balak. However, through Balaam's advice (Num. 31:16), the Moabites seduced many Israelites into immorality and idolatry which brought judgment upon God's people. Balaam was killed in a battle between the Israelites and Midianites. God, however, would not allow His people to be cursed.

B. Decisions and instructions

The territory east of Jordan appealed to the Reubenites and Gadites as excellent grazing land. In response, Moses reluctantly granted permission to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh to settle east of the Jordan but exacted a promise from them to participate in the conquest of Canaan. Three cities of refuge were appointed in this territory.

Most significant among other instructions and plans outlined by Moses was the designation of Joshua as the new leader (Num. 27). He had already distinguished himself as a military leader when they repulsed the Amalekites (Ex. 17), and as a man of faith when he was sent in to spy out the land.

RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

Moses' ministry was nearing completion. In the wake of new leadership and conquest and occupation of the promised land, Moses addressed the nation he had led out of Egypt in a number of public addresses. They may be considered under the following divisions:

I. History and Its Significance

II. The Law and Its Significance

III. Final Preparation and Farewell

Vital and significant were the messages Moses delivered to his people. No one knew the Israelites any better than Moses, nor was anyone else in a better position to anticipate the future developments.

A. History

In his first address Moses reviewed Israel's history. He began with their encampment and departure in the Sinai Peninsula. He highlighted this review by reminding them that the generation that came out of Egypt murmured and rebelled repeatedly and in consequence was denied entrance into the land of promise. Clearly and distinctly he pointed out that the conditions for obtaining God's favor were obedience to the Law and a wholehearted devotion to God.

B. Law

In his second address Moses vividly reminded them that they were God's covenant people. He repeated the Ten Commandments and pointed out that these were basic to a life acceptable to God. Genuine love for God would issue in a life of obedience which would maintain them as God's holy people in the midst of pagan surroundings. Idolatry together with idolatrous people were to be removed. Moses also set forth rules and ordinances to guide them in their civil, social, and domestic responsibilities. The blessings and curses outlined by Moses were to be read publicly to the entire congregation after they entered Canaan.

C. Farewell

When Moses resigned, he entrusted Joshua with the leadership and the priests with his teaching ministry. He provided them with a copy of the Law. How complete this copy was is not indicated but it was stored with the ark, making it available to be read publicly to the congregation every seven years according to provisions previously made. Moses once more recounted the birth and childhood of the nation that he had led from Egyptian slavery to the border of Canaan and uttered a blessing for each tribe. Before he died, Moses was instructed to ascend Mount Nebo from which he viewed the land the Israelites were about to enter.

CHAPTER FOUR

Looking Forward to Canaan

ORGANIZATION OF ISRAEL

WILDERNESS WANDERINGS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTERING CANAAN

RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

Study Guide Questions