Romans 15:4 (ESV) “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The Book of Wanderings

36 chapters1,288 verses

Census

38 years

MosesAaronMiriamJoshuaCaleb

Characters70 left Egypt

Num. 1 = 603,550

Num.26= 601,730

Joshua - Caleb

3,000,000

Creation - systematic logical wayArk for NoahTemple of Solomon

The camp for Israel

Census

How to set up

How to march

Everything was orderly

TabernacleTabernacle JudahJudah

IssacharIssachar

ZebulunZebulun

ReubenReuben SimeonSimeonGadGad

EphraimEphraim

BenjaminBenjamin

ManassehManasseh

DanDan NaphtaliNaphtaliAsherAsher

NN

SS

WW EE

Israel’s Numbering and Encampment:

M Judah 76,500 (74,600) A Issachar 64,300 (54,400) Pr Zebulun 60,500 (57,400)

Ephraim 32,500 (40,500) Manasseh 52,700 (32,200) Benjamin 45,600 (35,400)

Dan 64,400 (62,700) Asher 53,400 (41,500) Naphtali 45,400 (53,400)

Merarites

N

Kohathites

Reuben 43,730 (46,500) Simeon 22,200 (59,300)

Gad 40,500 (45,650)

Ger

shon

Levites 23,000 (22,300) Total 601,730 (603,550) Only Caleb and Joshua in Both

ReubenReuben

SimeonSimeon

GadGad

JudahJudah

IssacharIssachar

ZebulunZebulun

River

Sword

Lion

Lion

Donkey

Ship

EphraimEphraim

ManassehManasseh

BenjaminBenjamin

DanDan

AsherAsher

NaphtaliNaphtali

Unicorn

Ox

Wolf

Serpent

Corn

Deer

Numbers 1:52 “And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.” Standard = banner, flag

Standards - Flags - Banners

Levites Levites

Order of Israel’s MarchNumbers 2:17

“God At the Center of Our Lives”

Tabernacle

DanAsherNaphtali

ReubenSimeonGad

JudahIssacharZebulun

EphraimManassehBenjamin

Order of March

1 Cor. 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

1 Cor. 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Timothy 3Titus 1:5 “set in order”

John 4:24Matt. 15:9

Co-operate

Num. 11:1 asv “And the people were as murmurers” Complained about the manna Wanted flesh

Num. 14 = 10 spies gave unfavorable reportNum. 21 = wanted water, hated the mannaNum. 12 = Miriam and Aaron Num. 16 = Korah, Dathan, Abiram

1 Cor. 10:10 “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”ESV “nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.”

Instead of murmuring get involved and help.

Murmurers are generally shirkers !

Stumbling blockIsrael not allowed to enter land of PromiseWandered in wilderness

What if Paul had been a murmurer ?How many people would he have converted?How many congregations would he have

established?

Mob Mentality It spreads in a group “And the whole congregation --- murmured” 14:2

It is Divisive14:4 = make a captain and return to EgyptParty spirit = Gal. 5:20Does not preserve unity = Eph. 4:3

Purpose = to prove that God was speaking

Manna and Quail

Water from rock

Miriam’s Leprosy

Korah swallowed by earth

Aaron’s rod buds

Healed by brass serpent

Cloudy Pillar guided

Pillar of fire at night

Clothes lasted

None of these diseases

Not explained away as natural events

Miracle is not an ordinary natural event

If it was not a miracle then the Bible is not inspired!

Age of miracles has passed – 1 Cor. 13:8

God is the author of order

He warns about murmuring

Miracles were an important part

Numbers 1 – Moses commanded to take a censusThe Lord knew all of them by name

2 Tim. 2:19 “…the Lord knoweth them that are his.”Are you in that numberMust be born again - John 3:3-5

Israelites headed to promised landWandered in wilderness Why? Lack of Faith

Many Christians turn back

Matthew 7:13-1413. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Evening November 13, 2011