Time to Journey

INTRODUCTION: The time has come for the children of Israel to move forward. The Lord gives a few final instructions, and the children of Israel make their journey into the wilderness of Paran.

1. The Trumpets (Numbers 10:1-10)
1. Directions for the Trumpets (Numbers 10:1-2)
1. Makeup of the trumpets
1. Two trumpets of silver
2. Of a whole piece
2. Purposes of the trumpets
1. Calling of the assembly
2. Journeying of the camp
2. The Blowing of the Trumpets (Numbers 10:3-10)
1. Blowing the trumpet (Numbers 10:3-4, 7)
1. Blow both trumpets and all of the congregation assembles at the door of the tabernacle (Numbers 10:3).
2. Blow with one trumpet and the princes assemble (Numbers 10:4).
2. Blowing the alarm (Numbers 10:5-7)
1. One alarm signals that the camps on the east are to go forward (Numbers 10:5).
2. A second alarm signifies that the camps on the south are to go forward (Numbers 10:6).
3. We would assume that the same scenario would signify the journey of those on the west and north.
4. The trumpet that sounded to call Dan to move would be the last trump.
1. The last trumpet would signify that everyone in the camp was called to go (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16).
2. Just as the last trumpet call in the wilderness meant that the entire congregation was on the move, so the last trump at the time of the rapture will indicate that the entire church of the redeemed is called up: both the living and the dead.
3. This trumpet marks the departure of the Church, but it also marks a coming oppression for the Israelites (Numbers 10:9).
3. An ordinance for ever (Numbers 10:8)
4. Times for the trumpets (Numbers 10:9-10)
2. The Overview of the Journey (Numbers 10:11-12)
1. Time
1. The 20th day of the 2nd month in the 2nd year
2. The tabernacle was reared on the 1st day of the 1st month in the 2nd year.
3. The offerings of the people go from approximately the 1st day to the 13th day of the 1st month and 2nd year.
4. The passover occurs on the 14th day of the 1st month in the 2nd year, and the 14th day of the 2nd month in the 2nd year.
2. Place
1. Out of the wilderness of Sinai or the mount of the Lord in Numbers 10:33
2. To the wilderness of Paran
3. The Order of the March (Numbers 10:13-28)
1. Order
1. Judah (Numbers 10:14-16)
2. Gershon and Merari (Numbers 10:17)
3. Reuben (Numbers 10:18-20)
4. Kohathites bearing the sanctuary (Numbers 10:21)
5. Ephraim (Numbers 10:22-24)
6. Dan (Numbers 10:25-28)
1. Rereward: is another spelling for rearward and is related to rear guard.
2. Ward is congruent to guard (Acts 12:10).
1. Found six times in scripture: Numbers 10:25; Joshua 6:9, 13; 1 Samuel 29:2; Isaiah 52:12, Isaiah 58:8
2. It acts both as a rear guard and as reserve forces.
2. According to the Commandment of the Lord
1. This tells us that the people marched the way God wanted them to march.
2. Most assume that Gershon and Merari marched after Judah, but it is possible that they began taking down the tabernacle after Judah and still marched after Reuben.
1. Numbers 2:34 says so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward. They did not set forward until Numbers 10:11.
2. They would have needed time to take down the tabernacle, so it would make sense for them to get started before time to fall in rank.
3. Numbers 10:6 says, When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey. If the sons of Gershon and Merari were marching second, it would make sense that this alarm would have been for them instead of for Reuben.
4. The Invitation Given to Hobab (Numbers 10:29-32)
1. Who is Hobab?
1. Jethro is Moses father-in-law (Exodus 3:1; Exodus 4:18; Exodus18:1-6).
2. Reuel is Zipporahs father or Moses father-in-law (Exodus 2:18, 21).
3. Hobab is Moses father-in-law (Numbers 10:29).
4. Jethro is Reuel is Hobab.
5. Who is Raguel? (Numbers 10:29)
1. Non-restrictive phrases: phrases not essential to the meaning of the noun they modify should be followed, set off, or preceded by commas.
2. Notice that the phrase the son of Raguel the Midianite is set off by commas. This would tell us that this is not necessary for the understanding of the passage but is additional information.
2. The Appeal to Hobab (Numbers 10:29-32)
1. The invitation to Hobab (Numbers 10:29)
2. The rejection of Hobab (Numbers 10:30)
3. The dependency upon Hobab (Numbers 10:31)
4. The promise to Hobab (Numbers 10:32)
5. Hobab accepted (Judges 4:11)
5. The Departure (Numbers 10:33-36)
1. The Details of the Departure (Numbers 10:33-34)
1. Three days journey
2. The ark of the covenant went before to search out a resting place.
2. The Prayers of Moses (Numbers 10:35-36)
1. When the ark set forward
1. Rise up, Lord.
2. Let thine enemies be scattered.
3. Let them that hate thee flee before thee.
2. When it rested Moses said, Return, O Lord.

CONCLUSION: This lesson once again demonstrates the care that the Lord has for details. The people are to move forward, but not according to just any plans. They are to move forward according to God’s plans.