Numbers 9 and 10: there’s a lot to cover here. After the Aaronic blessing and the tribal parade of gifts to God in gratitude, the nation of Israel is going to experience its second Passover (Numbers 9). The cloud is mentioned again and God is giving the very clear instructions regarding setting up or camping based on the guidance of the cloud’s movements.
HAYLEY’S BIBLE BENDER:
My Bible bender came through trumpets! Susan pointing out the importance of the trumpets and how they show a full circle moment in the Bible was mind-blowing. Here are just a few of her comments:
“The first biblical mention of a trumpet was when God called the Israelites to meet with him in Exodus 19: 16-19.
On the morning of the thrid day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it with fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
The last mention of trumpets is huge. It marks the time when Christ will rule the world for eternity and of course, this announcement is made by the 7th angel, God’s number of completion. Revelation 11:15-19:
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small– and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
This is a full circle moment in the Bible.
- In the beginning of Israel, the Lord called the Israelites in Exodus with a supernatural trumpet blast, thunder, and lightning to build his Tabernacle and be his chosen people to carry light and life and the glory of God to the world.
- And in the end of the battle for God’s people on earth in Revelations, the Lord will appear with a trumpet, lightning, and thunder, not to build the Tabernacle but to show us the perfect Tabernacle, God’s temple in heaven will be opened up, and we will see that ark of his covenant.”
What was your Bible bender from Numbers 9 and 10? Did you learn anything new?
VERSES MENTIONED:
SHOW NOTES:
Marching Diagram by Jan Luyken (Rijksmuseum)
Moses Timeline
Route of Exodus
The Path to Good or Evil
This article was written by Hayley Mowatt, producer of Bible Book Club.
