tom hogsed

Although the nation of Israel had escaped Egyptian bondage over one year before this time, their journey had been anything but joyous. Israel had been plagued by complaining (Numbers 11) and dissension among some of Moses’ family (Numbers 12). To make matters worse, ten spies sent to gather information concerning the land promised to Israel brought back a report which caused them to be fearful (Numbers 13). Rather than trusting in God to help them conquer the current inhabitants of Canaan, Israel cowered in fear and refused to enter the land of promise (Numbers 14:1-10). God was angry with Israel’s lack of faith in Him and judged them by sentencing adults 20 and older (except Joshua and Caleb) to die in the wilderness before ever inhabiting Canaan (Numbers 14:26-38). The older generation would spend forty years wandering in the wilderness, but never experience the blessings of dwelling in the land God had promised to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). Since the younger generation would inherit Canaan, God established a couple laws or reminders for when they were established in the land: laws of grain and drink offerings (15:1-21), laws regarding unintentional sins (15:22-29), laws concerning deliberate sins (15:30-31), penalties for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36), and ways to remember God’s commandments (15:37-41).

In the year 1445 BC, the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian captivity by the mighty hand of God (Exodus 12:29-51). Over the next year Israel would receive the Law of God (Exodus 19:1-24:18; Leviticus), construct the tabernacle as the center of worship (Exodus 25:1-40:38), and establish structure within the nation before they entered into the land God had promised to them (Numbers 1-10). On the journey from Sinai to Kadesh, the people began complaining against Moses and God brought judgment upon those who were voicing their complaints. The first incident involved the people complaining about a lack of meat (Numbers 11) and the second instance of complaining involved Miriam and Aaron, who were questioning the leadership of Moses (Numbers 12). After God had dealt with these situations, it was time for Israel to enter the land that had been promised to Abraham hundreds of years before in Genesis 12:1-3. Before entering the land, the Lord commanded Moses to send 12 spies, one from each tribe, into Canaan so that they could explore the land (13:1-16). Moses specifically told the spies to gather information concerning the land and the people inhabiting it (13:17-20).

After one year of encampment at Mount Sinai, God’s presence (in the form of a cloud) moved from the tabernacle and led them on a three days’ journey to the Wilderness of Paran (Numbers 10:11-12, 33-36). While they were traveling, the people began complaining about the lack of meat and Moses became sorely discouraged with Israel (Numbers 11:1-15). In order to relieve the incredible burden Moses carried in dealing with the people, God established 70 men who would be able to assist him in listening to the complaints of Israel (Numbers 11:16-17, 24-30); furthermore, God decided to provide the Israelites with abundant quail for 30 days so their complaints would be silenced (11:18-23, 31-35). Even though God sent quail to further provide for Israel, He was angry that they were not satisfied with His daily provision of manna and some were judged by a plague (Numbers 11:33).

In the year 1445 BC Israel was miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage by the mighty hand of God (Exodus 12:29-51). The nation of Israel had remained in captivity for over 400 years, but now God had released them in order to go and inhabit Canaan, the land God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). Although Abraham would not live to see the nation of Israel inhabit the land, God was preparing them as a people whose God was the Lord. God gave Moses the Law (Exodus 19:1-24:18; Leviticus) in order to establish them as a nation governed by His laws and He also created the tabernacle, which would become the center of worship for Israel (Exodus 25:1-40:38). God’s presence in the tabernacle was signified by a cloud that would also guide their journey into Canaan (Exodus 40:34-38; Numbers 9:15-23). Israel had been encamped at Mount Sinai for one year and it was during this time that they received the Law and instructions for the tabernacle, but in the year 1444 BC the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle and Israel left Sinai and journeyed to the Wilderness of Paran (compare Exodus 19:1 with Numbers 10:11-13). They marched according to the instructions given in Numbers 2:1-34 in order to move the approximately two million Israelites in an organized fashion (10:14-28). Before Moses set out on the journey to Paran, he requested that his father-in-law (Reuel, also known as Jethro; see Exodus 2:18; Exodus 3:18; Exodus 18) accompany him probably because he was familiar with the land (10:29-32). At first Reuel resisted Moses’ invitation, but Judges 1:16 seems to indicate that he eventually decided to accompany Moses on the journey.

One year had passed since the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, had been delivered from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 12:29-51). This delivering of Israel was accomplished by the mighty hand of God, who sent plagues on Egypt and caused Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites after nearly 400 years of captivity (Exodus 1). The tenth and final plague caught the attention of Pharaoh when the firstborn in every household died; however, the firstborn in every house where the blood of a spotless lamb was spread on the doorpost was spared (Exodus 12:1-28). The nation of Israel celebrated the sparing of the firstborn in a yearly event called the Passover. It was termed Passover because the angel of death passed over any home where the blood of a spotless lamb had been spread on the doorpost. This was a clear picture that a lamb had been slain instead of the firstborn. Celebrating God’s sparing of the firstborn was an annual reminder of His faithfulness to Israel, but as they were making their way to the land God had promised to them, they often forgot about His faithfulness.

The tabernacle became the center of worship in Israel since it is the place where the presence of God resided. After God had given the Law (Exodus 19:1-24:18; Leviticus), the instructions for building the tabernacle were given in Exodus 25:1-31:18. The tabernacle was constructed almost one year following Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 35:1-40:38) and now it was time to dedicate it. The tabernacle was unique because it did not have a permanent location, but would be taken down and reconstructed each time Israel moved from on encampment to another. Since the tabernacle and its’ furnishings were considered holy, the Israelites were commanded to handle the construction, transport, and reconstruction very carefully; in fact, God had already assigned the sons of Levi and his descendants certain items to be responsible for in the transport of the tabernacle (Numbers 4). The people of Israel had given offerings to construct the tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-29), but now they would begin bringing offerings to anoint and consecrate it (7:1). The leaders of the twelve tribes brought six covered carts and twelve oxen (7:2-3). The offerings were accepted by Moses and to be used by the Levites in transporting the tabernacle and the furnishings (7:4-6). Two carts and four oxen were given to the Gershonites (7:7). Four carts and eight oxen were given to the Merarites (7:8). More carts and oxen were provided to the Merarites because the items they were carrying were heavier. No carts or oxen were given to the Kohathites because they were to carry the holy items on their shoulders (7:9; see also Numbers 4:15). Each of the twelve tribal leaders then brought a dedication offering for the altar (7:10-11). For the next twelve days, each tribal leader would come and make his offering for the altar. Every leader gave identical offerings over the span of twelve days and the details for each offering are listed in Numbers 7:18-83. Each leader gave the following items as a dedication offering: “…one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering; one kid of the goats as a sin offering; and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year.” A total of all the offerings is given is detailed in Numbers 7:84-88. After this was completed, “Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him” (Numbers 8:89, NKJV). The fact that God spoke with Moses in the tabernacle’s most holy place shows that He is pleased with the offerings of Israel.