The Faithful Guide, Salvation Lifted, and
the Promised King
Numbers follows Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, revealing both God’s faithfulness and His people’s repeated unbelief. Though God visibly guides Israel by His present and remains faithful to His covenant promises, the people continually grumble, rebel, and refuse to trust Him (ch. 9:15-23; 13-14). Their unbelief delays their entrance into the land and brings God’s judgment upon an entire generation. Yet even in the wilderness, God doesn’t abandon them. He instead preserves them, provides for them, and continues leading them to the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This book points to Jesus in several remarkable ways. The LORD’s faithful guidance of Israel anticipates Jesus, the Good Shepherd who leads HIs people through the wilderness of this world (John 10:11-18). When God instructs Moses to lift up the bronze serpent so that those who look upon it may live (ch. 21:4-9), Jesus declares that this event forshadowed His own crucifixion: “As Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14-15). Numbers also contains one of the clearest messianic promises in the Law when Balaam foretells that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (ch. 24:17), pointing forward to the coming King who will reign over God’s people.
While not every chapter of Numbers is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the faithful guide, salvation lifted, and the promised King. You’ll see God’s presence leading His people (ch. 9), Israel’s tragic unbelief at the border of Canaan (ch. 13-14), God’s provision of salvation through the bronze serpent (ch. 21), His sovereign blessing through Balaam’s prophecies despite his attempts to curse Israel (ch. 22-24), and the commissioning of Joshua as Israel prepares to enter the land (ch. 27:12-23). Together, these passages remind us that God remains faithful even when His people fail, that salvation comes through looking in faith to His provision, and that all of God’s promises ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the greater Joshua and the promised King!
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Numbers!
- May 29 — ch. 9
God calls His people to keep the Passover and faithfully guides them by His presence, pointing to Jesus, our Passover Lamb and Savior. - May 30 — ch. 13
God’s people see the promised land but doubt God’s promise, responding in fear instead of faith. - May 31 — ch. 14
God’s people rebel against Him, but through Moses’s intercession God shows mercy even as He brings judgment. - June 1 — ch. 21
God provides salvation from judgment through the lifted serpent, pointing to Jesus who was lifted so that whoever believes may have eternal life. - June 2 — ch. 22
God shows that His Word stands and His people cannot be cursed because He alone determines blessing and judgment. - June 3 — ch. 23
God declares His unchanging Word, showing that He does not lie and His blessing cannot be revoked. - June 4 — ch. 24
God reveals the coming King from Jacob, a star and scepter who will rule and reign over all. - June 5 — ch. 25
God judges His people’s sin, but atonement through a faithful priest turns away His wrath, pointing to Jesus, the high priest of a greater atonement. - June 6 — ch. 27:12-23
God appoints Joshua to lead His people after Moses so they are not without a shepherd, pointing to Jesus who is greater than Moses or Joshua.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Deuteronomy!
Just Keith Harris 