Ep. 48. Numbers 10-12 | Leaving Sinai

EPISODE 48

LEAVING SINAI: NUMBERS 10-12

Finally, after arriving at Sinai in Exodus 19, it is finally time to depart. They would remain at Sinai for the other 21 chapters of Exodus, the twenty-seven chapters of Leviticus, and the first nine chapters of Numbers. The people left Egypt in Exodus 12, and between that point and this one in Numbers 10, only one year, one month, and five days have passed, though the drudgery of Leviticus has made it feel much longer.

In chapter ten, we see these words, "In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the people of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai for the first time." I know we don't normally pay attention to the dates and times mentioned in the narratives of the Old Testament, but they have a lot to offer in terms of giving us guidelines for understanding and enjoying the Bible.

Their first trip will just be a three-day journey, as we see in 10:33, but from Sinai to the Promised Land was only an eleven-day journey if not for a few issues along the way. The people once again complain about their misfortunes. You'd think after nine to ten months next to Sinai, they'd be excited to be moving, but they've complained since before they left Egypt, and old habits die hard.

A group of the people "have a strong craving," longing for the food they left behind in Egypt. God is angry with them and promises them meat to eat, enough meat to eat for a month. But after miraculously supplying the food to the ungrateful crowd, God puts to death those who had evil desires and failed to trust in him. This event is written about a few times throughout the Bible, but Paul uses it to warn believers in First Corinthians.

In chapter twelve, Aaron and Miriam complain against Moses. God rebukes them and covers Miriam with leprosy. God could not cover Aaron with leprosy as well since he was consecrated to minister in the tent of meeting, and being covered with a skin disease would have made him unholy and disqualified from bearing away the sins of the people. It is mind-boggling how unfaithful to God the Israelites are and how often they deny him by their grumblings.

ADDITIONAL READING: Hebrews 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Psalm 78:30; Psalm 106:14; Deuteronomy 1:2