Jesus in the Old Testament, Numbers

Christ in Numbers

So far we have seen, Genesis speaks of Creation and Fall, Exodus tells the story of Redemption.
Leviticus is the book of Worship and Fellowship. And now we are on Numbers which focuses upon Service and Walk.

The first nine Chapters of Numbers is filled with every detail, you would ever want to learn about every Tribe and every Family and how they all had their own Work and how they carried it out. I want to zero in on one in particular. The Nazirite.

The Nazirite {or, Nazarite} in Chapter Six, says a Nazirite was a Layperson {ie., a Common Person, unrecognized as a Religious Leader} who was bound by a Vow of Consecration to God's Service. Certain practices characterized the Nazirite. First, he did not touch Wine. Second, the Nazirite never allowed a Razor or Shears to touch his Hair. His unshorn Hair demonstrated that he had taken the position of Weakness. 1 Corinthians 11:14

“Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him”

As we read in Philippians 2:7-8,

“but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 

 2 Corinthians 13:4. Says this.

“For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.”

Third, the Nazirite kept himself from Defilement, even while among good People. Similar circumstances in the life of the Lord Jesus are indicated in Matthew 12:47-50.

“But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””

Jesus was the Cloud and Pillar of Fire  Chapter 9

After the Israelites were all numbered, in place, and ready to go forward, then the Cloud would lift and they would march by day {Numbers  9:15-19}. Whenever the Cloud settled, they camped. The Pillar of Fire by Night and the Cloud by day indicated God's Leading by His Presence.
Similarly, we, the Child of God today, have the word of Christ. John 8:12

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Let’s look at the Bronze Serpent in Chapter 21. After yet another, the eighth time I believe, the Children of Israel Murmured and Complained. So God sent fiery Serpents among them in Judgment. When they were bitten by those Snakes, the Venom spread throughout their bodies. All across the camp of Israel, people were dying. So God commanded Moses to prepare a Bronze Serpent, that looked like the ones that had bitten the people, and place it upon a Pole. We know that this Bronze Serpent was a type of Christ lifted up on the Cross and made Sin for us because He said,

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” {John 3:14-16}

Notice this Fact. The Bronze Serpent on the Pole was Divinely Provided. God gave it to Moses. Salvation is of the Lord. A Gift to us, provided to us by God.

We then see that The Messiah would be a King. In Numbers 24:17

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.” 

Jesus IS the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and as predicted in Genesis, then told in detail in Revelations, that Jesus is the Mighty Conquering King that will defeat Satan.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”” {Genesis 3:15}

Revelations 20:1-4

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Then we come to Chapter 35, and something called the “Cities of Refuge.” Now, what does that have to do with Jesus? Well, the Cities of Refuge were a type of or foreshadowing of Christ. In essence, they were used for the sheltering the Sinner from Judgment.

“The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.” 

Those that accept Jesus are protected, even though they are deserving of Death, from the Condemnation of their Sins. We can take refuge in Jesus. John 10:28-29

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

The Believing Sinner, even though he is guilty, has the Promise from God's Word in
Romans 8:1

''There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus'' 

All throughout Numbers we see God foreshadowing the coming Jesus. To summarize,

Jesus is our High Priest in the order of Levites.
Jesus was a Nazarene.
Jesus is our Cloud and Pillar.
Jesus is the Conquering King of Kings.
Jesus is our Refuge.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, Be Blessed, Be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!