Numbers 10:1-10—1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps. 3 When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5 When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey. 6 When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys. 7 And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God."
God is getting ready to order the people of Israel to leave Mount Sinai. But before He does, He needs to put in place a way for the people to know when to go, when to cease, when to assemble, when to go to battle, etc. So He gives Moses these instructions for when and how to sound these advances, He instructs him to Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work. As I have said so many times before, God is a God of order, and when He causes something to come to pass, He doesn’t do so haphazardly, but has a particular way He wants things to be done. He is no different today. In 1st Corinthians 14, we read about the gift of tongues. And we see that God gives the gift of tongues, not for each one to make some unknown sound for entertainment, which this gift is largely used for today, but to proclaim the truth and to gather His elect from the four corners of the Earth. You see, tongues is not some unknown speech, nor is it a “private prayer language”, but it is rather when people speak in a language which is known, except to that person. We read of the first instance of other tongues being used in Acts 2:6-11—6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." The Apostles did not just stand up and speak forth some gibberish, but they spoke, as directed by the Holy Spirit, the wonderful works of God in the languages of the listeners—Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs. Nowhere in this episode are the Apostles speaking to angels, but rather men of Earth in their own language.
This principle is later reiterated by the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 14:6-9—6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. Much like when the trumpet sounded throughout the camp of the Israelites to go forth or assemble or go to war, we must speak to our neighbor things they can understand, so that they may know of the things of God. If we speak gibberish to our neighbor, and he does not know what we are saying, what profit will it be to him?
I read from a MacArthur study Bible, and in his notes he makes a rather interesting hypothesis. That when you see the plural “tongues” that is the true use of the gist, but when you see the singular “tongue”, that is describing the false gibberish. And when you are reading through 1st Corinthians, this actually seems to bear it out. Further along in 1st Corinthians 14, we see Paul gets a little sarcastic with those who are speaking gibberish, 1st Corinthians 14:27—If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. When you see these gatherings where everybody is going on with their speaking in a tongue, how much interpretation do you see? You don’t. That is because the person speaking into the air is not speaking words to edify the church, but is rather speaking something that makes no sense; therefore there is nothing to interpret. There are many who say that the sign of the Holy Spirit being given is “speaking in tongues”. That may have been true in the early church in the Book of Acts, but I dare anyone to find that teaching anywhere in Scripture. Thomas Aquinas was the first to use the term “unknown tongues” to describe the false jargon that was going on in the church. He says in his commentary on this section:
And so the Apostle argues that just as if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, it is not known whether they should prepare for battle, so you, if you only speak in tongues, unless you make your speech clear by interpreting or explaining, no one will know what you are saying. By “bugle” can also be understood “preachers.” “Lift up your voice like a trumpet” (Isaiah 58:1). But the reason why it cannot be known what you are saying is that you will be speaking into the air, i.e., uselessly: “I do not box as one beating the air” (1st Corinthians 9:26).
Now, let me say this: if someone speaks gibberish, and by so doing claims they have the gift of tongues, is that person then not saved? God forbid! That is not the test of whether someone is a Christian or not. All I am saying is that perhaps they are misguided about the gift and need to be corrected. That is all.
One thing is for certain: that on the day the Lord returns, we will all hear a trumpet, and we will all know what that trumpet is signifying: it will be telling all His people to gather together, to assemble to the Lord, to join Him where He is, and to be counted as His. In Matthew 24:1-25:46 (also in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-36), we read what is called the “Olivet Discourse”: Jesus telling His Apostles of His Second Coming, and the signs which will accompany it. This discourse is, you might say, Jesus’ commentary on—and expansion on—Daniel 9:24-27. We won’t go into a study of that at this time, but one thing our Master tells us is that at that time, a trumpet will sound, and God will gather all His elect from every part of the world. Matthew 24:31—“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” This will most likely be two blasts from the trumpet, calling His people to gather at the Tabernacle of the heavens where God lives. The Apostle Paul repeats this advice in 1st Thessalonians 4:16—For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. When we hear that trumpet sound, we will all rejoice, knowing that we will finally meet our Lord, and the Father, and we will be free of our fetters that bind us to this world, we will be free to walk in His presence and see our Lord face to face. And not only those who are alive and remain, but those who have before fallen asleep. We shall all see those who have gone on before us, who believed in Christ, and we shall all be gathered at one place, even in the presence of God, when the trumpet is sounded.
Blow ye the trumpet, blow!
The gladly solemn sound
let all the nations know,
to earth's remotest bound:
Jesus, our great High Priest,
has full atonement made;
ye weary spirits, rest;
ye mournful souls, be glad:
Extol the Lamb of God,
The sacrificial Lamb;
Redemption thro' his blood
Throughout the world proclaim
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.
(“Blow Ye Trumpet, Blow”, Charles Wesley)
Numbers 10:11-13—11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran. 13 So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses. Finally—FINALLY!—after two years at the base of Mount Sinai, God commands the people to move out. Now, it says that the cloud settles in the Wilderness of Paran, but that was not the first stop. In Numbers 11, we will see the people grumbled about wanting to go back to Egypt for the leeks and melons and garlic, and they died for the quail, and this place was named Kibroth-Hataavah. Then after that incident, they moved on to Hazeroth, then to Paran. We will address Kibroth-Hataavah and Hazeroth when we get there. But for now, let’s focus on Paran. The Wilderness of Paran is significant, in that this was where Abram sent Hagar and Ishmael after the events that transpired in Genesis 21:8-14. Paran is located pretty mu to the north f Sinai, in what can only be described as a desert. If you look at a picture of the area, you can see why it was described as a “wilderness”. We will talk more about Paran when we get to Numbers 12.
Numbers 10:13-21—13 So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies; over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.) So you have about 600,000 people camped around the Tabernacle—the equivalent of having 10 Neyland Stadiums camped around a McDonald’s—there had to be some order to how they moved. If you have ever been to a University of Tennessee football game (or any game at any large stadium), you will understand why there had to be order. If there was no order, people would be tripping over each other, people would be bumping the priests that were carrying the Tabernacle, or even the Ark of the Covenant, and you would wind up with one humungous mess on your hands. So the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun set out, with the Gershonites and Merarites carrying the Tent. Then Reuben, Simeon and Gad marched after them. After them came the Kohathites carrying the holy things (see Numbers 4:15). They were carrying the Ark of the Covenant. This order is important, since the Tabernacle had to be erected, the Holy of Holies established, by the time the Kohathites brought the Ark, for the Ark was to dwell in the Holy of Holies and there God would rest in a cloud.
And I believe there is some further symbolism to be appreciated here. The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival. The Tabernacle had to be put up in order for the Ark to enter it. We all know that the Son of God received a body to dwell in, which became a Tabernacle. John 1:14—And the Word became flesh and dwelt [Greek, “tabernacled”] among us. That Tabernacle had to be prepared, had to increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). Then would that Tabernacle be ready to begin His journey, ministering to the people, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit descending on Him at His baptism (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22). Now, Jesus said that He not only wanted, but needed to be baptized by John. Why? Why would the Son of God need to be baptized in order to begin His earthly ministry? Well, if you recall, the Levites were to be sprinkled in their entrance into the ministry. Numbers 8:7—Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them. So in order to fulfill that requirement of the Law Jesus had to be baptized, to be cleansed, to be purified by His cousin. And He was thirty years of age when this happened (Luke 3:23). This was the age those who handled the holy thing were to enter in to their service. “Well now, wait a minute, Numbers 8:7 says they could enter into service at the age of 25? There’s a contradiction for ya!” Ummm…no. Numbers 8:7 relates the age the Levites could enter the service of ministry. The Kohathites—those who handled the Ark, the Altar of Incense, the Lampstand and the Table of Showbread—were to enter that service at age 30. “Well, Jesus descended from Judah, and the Kohathites were descended from Levi!” Again, no. Hebrews 7:11-16—11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. True, Jesus is descended from the Tribe of Judah (see also Revelation 5:5), but He comes with a much better priesthood—not of the order of Aaron, who ministered earthly things, but according to the order of Melchizedek. (If you ever get a chance, listen to J. Vernon McGee preaching through Hebrews 7. You’ll get a kick out of hearing him pronounce Melchizedek!).
Part 2 next week