Let’s remember, Egypt had enslaved the nation of Israel for 430 years. Yahweh provided a powerful exit, or exodus, from Egyptian oppression, and now Israel is free. But the men, women, and children are also exhausted and scared—they have only begun to live as free people. They have a lot to learn. So Yahweh has been camping with them at Mount Sinai for a year, teaching them to relate with him and one another. Now, he plans to lead them on a long journey toward the land he promised their ancestors.
Before they leave the mountain, Yahweh orders a headcount—a census to number all the people. Spoiler alert: those same people will die (we’ll get to that part in a second), and after their death, Yahweh counts the next generation. All of this people-numbering gives the scroll its title—Numbers. But beyond these census records, the book of Numbers teaches us about Israel’s grueling journey from Mount Sinai to the promised land.
Will these Israelites, whom Yahweh rescued, learn to trust him as he leads them through the wilderness and into the land? Or will they choose another way? The rest of the scroll holds the shocking answer.
