NUMBERS

Numbers Chapter 10

• Numbers 10:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, 
• 2 Make 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. 
• 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

This is probably more like the sound of the shofar rather than the type of trumpet we have today but no matter what it was, the sound of the shofar sends chills running down my whole being. It is awesome to hear. It reminds me of the coming of the Lord and when the trumpet sounds we all rise to meet the Lord in the air. Awesome is the thought. At the sound of the trumpet, the dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and remaining will then rise and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Here we see the trumpet used to gather the whole congregation of Israel to hear the words of the Lord. 

• Numbers 10:4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 

One trumpet signals only the heads of all tribes to gather for instructions. 

• Numbers 10:5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 

I don't know exactly what the difference was between an alarm and a normal blast of the trumpet but they knew and that is what counts. All this was to prepare them to gather quickly and different signals would tell them the purpose and which tribe was to come first, or who among the tribes was to come. 

• Numbers 10:6 When 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. 
• 7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 
• 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 
• 9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 

This was a guarantee and a special promise to Israel that the Lord would go with them in battle. The only thing that would make this promise void would be if Israel sinned without repentance especially the sin of idolatry. Worshipping other gods was very grievous in the sight of God. Not just because of all the things God did for them to save them from Egyptian bondage but because God knows the evil spirits that lurks in false religion and idolatry. That evil spirit will cause the eternal loss of the soul of each individual who worships idols without ever coming to repentance and being reconciled back to God. Idolatry is a blatant affront and a slap in the face of God. 

• Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God. 

The trumpets were also a sign to them and to the Lord that they were remembering Him and bringing themselves before Him to worship as well as going to battle against enemies.

We need to worship God after we come to Him whether it was before the coming of the Messiah or after we have be reconciled back to God by faith in Jesus who is the Messiah. We need then to worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is something our spirit needs to be revived and stay spiritually alive. Sincere praise and worship ushers in the presence of God and we greatly need His presence with us. That is why the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us after our conversion to Jesus Christ. He knew that we would need a constant witness of the presence of God and when Jesus went back to heaven to dwell with His Father, He did not leave us alone but sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us. 

• Numbers 10:11 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 
• 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
• 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 
• 14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 
• 15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 
• 16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 
• 17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 
• 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 
• 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 
• 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 
• 21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 
• 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 
• 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 
• 24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 
• 25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 
• 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 
• 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 
• 28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 

The standard was probably something like a symbol or a flag to show which tribe they were. Notice the order and the leadership that was set in place to keep people from being disorganized and have confusion. God is not the author of confusion. Everything was done to assure the safety of all including the young children. 

Disorder and confusion never brings God any glory. 

In saying that though I want to make clear that I'm not against spontaneous worship that is unplanned. That is common and should be welcomed. We can make plans in our worship but we need to give place to the Holy Spirit and yield to His presence when He wants to change the order or our service to be what He sees is the need at the time. 

We do not do this enough. The true gifts of the spirit will not be disorderly and confusing. We need regular visitation by the Lord and we need to allow people who are not particularly in the ministry that we think of as being "the ministry or the leadership" to be part of our worship services. 

There is a place for tongues, interpretations and prophecies among all of us and not just those called to be pastors or leaders. If we yield to the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit and not just do things to bring attention to ourselves, then it will glorify God and be orderly. 

All the congregation needs to worship God and not just have everything done for them by clergy. All singing should not be done just by a choir or a group but by the whole congregation. We need to get away from entertainment and return to congregational worship. 

• Numbers 10:29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 
• 30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 
• 31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 
• 32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 

Apparently Moses father in law was going to go back to his own land but Moses entreated him to remain with them and share in the presence of God and the blessings of the land of Canaan. 

• Numbers 10:33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. 
• 34 And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. 
• 35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 
• 36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel. 

As long as the presence of the Lord was with them, they needed never to fear anything or anyone. God led them and showed them when to travel and when to rest. Enemies would flee from before them as long as they remained faithful to the Lord. 

The only time in history when Israel suffered at the hands of their enemies is when they were not faithfully serving the Lord. 

Except for the cause of Christ and suffering for the cause of Christ by persecution, the same is true for the Christian church. If we faithfully serve the Lord and do not depart from His teachings, we will be protected from our enemies. There are times when we may have to suffer persecution and tribulation for the gospel's sake but as a general rule God will protect us in times of trouble if we stay faithful to Him. 

Nevertheless like the man called Job once said, 

• Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 

True faith is not having everything good all the time and increasing in riches. True faith is trusting the Lord no matter what. 

The faith chapter in Hebrews 11 is a good chapter to study on faithfulness. -DC