Scripture 101: Numbers - Part 4
Looking Forward to Christ
Part of Sunday Morning—Sermons

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Scripture 101: Numbers

Part 4: Looking Forward to Christ
June 15, 2025, Pastor Scott Simon

1. The Bronze Serpent (Num. 21:4-9).

a. The people were discouraged as they continued wandering in the fortieth year out of Egypt.

b. They then spoke against God and Moses because of food and water (which God had supplied).

c. Yahweh sent fiery serpents against the complainers who died after being bitten by the serpents.

d. The people repented and asked Moses to pray to remove the serpents from them.

e. In response, Yahweh instructed Moses to fashion a bronze serpent and put it on a pole.

f. Moses then instructed Israel to look at the bronze serpent to live, even if they had been bitten.

g. Jesus identifies Himself as the fulfillment of the bronze serpent of Moses (John 3:1-17).

h. Jesus’ mission was to be lifted up on a cross so that everyone who has faith in Him will be saved.

2. Cities of Refuge (Num. 35:22-34).

a. Premeditated murder or murder in the heat of anger required the death penalty for the guilty.

b. The avenger (next of kin) was required to execute punishment on those who commit murder.

c. However, accidentally causing a person to die was not automatically a capital crime.

d. Under this provision, a “manslayer” could flee to a city of refuge in the hope of saving his life.

e. His situation remained unchanged until the death of the high priest, which would set him free.

3. Typology drawn from the Cities of Refuge.

a. Every person is guilty of sin before God, a capital offense.

b. The avenger and adversary of man pursues them to destroy them (1 Pet. 5:8, John 10:10).

c. Through Jesus, God offers sinful man a place of refuge in Him against the adversary (Ps. 46:1).

d. The Holy Spirit calls us to flee from sin (1 Cor. 6:18) and come to Jesus (Matt. 11:28-30).

e. The death of the High Priest, Jesus Christ, has granted believers freedom and a full acquittal.

4. Inheritance rights of daughters (Num. 27:6-11; 36:5-9).

a. If a man died without sons, his tribal land allotment would be inherited by his daughters.

b. To preserve the tribal allocations, the daughters had to marry within the same tribe.

c. This provision ensured that allotments would be preserved as long as Israel was in the land.

5. Theological Impact on Christ’s Genealogy.

a. Joseph was in the royal lineage of David, and a rightful heir to the throne (Matt. 1:1-17).

b. God had pronounced a blood curse on the royal line of Judah after Coniah (Jer. 22:24-30).

c. God promised David and Mary that an heir would take his throne (1 Chr. 17:14; Luke 2:32-33).

d. The provisions given in Numbers 27 and 36 provide the legal basis for Jesus’ royal heritage.

6. Principles and takeaways.

a. God has a sovereign master plan for humanity, and He is well able to bring it into reality.

b. God is faithful to work out all things for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28).

c. Sins, mistakes, and disappointments are merely opportunities for God to reveal His glory.

d. In every situation and circumstance, it is better to be on God’s side than to oppose His will.