Numbers 9:15-10:10; Divine Guidance ~ 20260201 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

2026 02/01 Numbers 9:15-10:10; Divine Guidance; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20260201_numbers-9_15-10_10.mp3

Where We Are in the Story

We are jumping back in to our study through the Old Testament book of Numbers. Because we’ve taken a break for the holidays, we’ll start with a brief review to see where we are in the story. Numbers is the fourth book in the Torah, the five books of Moses.

Genesis begins at the beginning, and takes us through creation and rebellion, through God’s gracious preservation of humanity through his judgment in Noah, through his choosing to bless Abraham’s descendants, and to bless the world through them. It takes us through Abraham’s descendants Isaac, and Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons, preserved through famine because God sent Joseph to Egypt.

Exodus picks up 400 years later, the descendants of Jacob (or Israel) now a significant slave force in Egypt, oppressed by the Pharaoh, cry out for rescue, and God hears, and God sends Moses to be his instrument to deliver them from slavery through 10 mighty acts of judgment on Egypt. Exodus brings the people through the sea and to the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God gives them the terms of his covenant with them, and instructions to build a tent for him to dwell with them as they journey to the promised land. After their immediate rebellion, God shows grace and they spend the second half of Exodus building God’s worship tent according to plan.

Leviticus recognizes God’s presence among sinful, rebellious, wayward people is dangerous. God is holy, and must judge every sin. We are sinners, so Leviticus gives animal sacrifices as a way for the sins of God’s people to be covered, and instructions on how those who have become unclean may be cleansed and restored to a condition fit to be part of God’s people.

Numbers begins with a census of the people at Sinai, organizes their camp and their marching order, and then follows their journey through the wilderness to the border of the promised land, where (spoiler alert) they rebel, and want to return to slavery, and follows them as that generation perishes in the wilderness, up to the next generation again at the border of the promised land poised to enter in.

Deuteronomy is Moses’ second giving of the law, preaching to this next generation who would enter and possess the promised land under Joshua, exhorting them to obey God, unlike their fathers.

We are in the middle of Numbers 9. So far in Numbers, chapter 1 God commands Moses to take a census of the men, those who would fight to possess the promised land. Chapter 2 God organizes the camp around his own tent, which is the central focus of the people. Chapters 3 and 4 the tribe of Levi is numbered as substitutes in service to YHWH in place of the firstborn who belong to God, and the families of Levi are assigned their duties in setting up, taking down and transporting God’s tabernacle. Chapter 5 they are instructed to cleanse the camp to prepare for the presence of God among them. Chapter 6 gives instructions for cleansing the Nazirite when he or she violates or completes this special vow, and concludes with the blessing of Aaron on all the people. Chapter 7 chronicles 12 days of giving as each of the tribes presents a gift to God for his sanctuary. Chapter 8 instructs how the light from the lampstand is to be focused in God’s tent, and how the Levites are to be focused on serving the Lord. Chapter 9 begins with a reminder to keep the Lord’s Passover at its appointed time, and gives allowance for those who are prevented from keeping it due to uncleanness to keep it one month later.

Numbers 9:15 and the Chronology of Exodus

Numbers 9:15 starts this way ‘On the day that the tabernacle was set up’; giving us a clue to where we are in the sequence of events. This is parallel to Numbers 7:1, which puts the offerings of the tribes ‘On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle’. We have to go back to Exodus 40:17 to see that the tabernacle was erected ‘in the first month, in the second year, on the first day of the month’, which was 14 days short of one year after that first Passover and the exodus out of Egypt (Ex.12:1-50). Here’s a list in chronological order of those passages that give us a date counting from the birth of the nation as they emerged out of Egypt. From this we see that Numbers 7-9 jump back one month before Numbers 1-6, giving us some back story to make sense of what’s going on now.

The Glory Cloud and the Guiding Cloud

Numbers 9:15-23 is parallel to the end of Exodus, 40:34-38.

Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

There, at the end of Exodus, the focus was on the glory of YHWH’s presence filling the tabernacle, in the midst of his people. Here in Numbers 9, the focus is on the guidance of YHWH directing the steps of his people through the wilderness.

Numbers 9:15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.

God is present as sovereign over his people, even in the wilderness. He is guiding their every step, directing them when to move, where to stop, how long to stay, and when to move on.

We first saw this glory cloud of God’s presence as the people left Egypt.

Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Then, in Exodus 14, when God led them to a place where they were trapped between Pharaoh’s pursuing army and the sea,

Exodus 14:19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

God’s glorious presence, God’s protecting presence, God’s illuminating presence, God’s guiding directing presence.

God’s Supernatural Direction and God’s Will

Many of us might wish for such clear direction in our lives today. If God would just show up, give me a message in the clouds, then I would know what to do, I would follow his leading. This is kind of like Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus (Lk.16:19-31). The rich man, in torment in Hades, asks Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his family to repent so that they don’t end up where he is.

Luke 16:29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

We think if we only had God’s clear direction in the clouds, we would surely follow, but we have God’s word and God’s will written on paper in our hands, and how often are we reluctant to follow? What is God’s will for my life? Here’s just a few explicit examples:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Jesus makes it clear this extends even to our private thought lives. This is God’s will; your sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

God’s will for you is that you cultivate gratitude in both the good times and the bad. How are you doing following God’s will for you in this? One more:

1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live above reproach. Do what is right and good. This is the will of God for you.

We tend to want to know things like what school I should go to, who I should marry, where I should live, what job I should take. Those are important decisions for which we should seek God’s direction and wise counsel, but God’s revealed will is our character in the midst of whatever circumstance we are in.

Outward Obedience and God’s Presence

Here in Numbers 9, the picture is painted of God directing and the people obeying; this passage is punctuated with ‘at the command of YHWH they camped, and at the command of YHWH they set out’ (v.18,20,23), and in between we see them immediately obeying, remaining as long as the cloud remained, and moving as soon as the cloud moved, stopping wherever the cloud stopped.

Numbers 9:23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses

But even as we see them obeying outwardly, following God’s physical leading, the story we see unfold through Numbers shows us that ‘their hearts were far from him’ (Is.29:13; Mt.15:8). It is a tragic chronicle of a people who had God’s visible presence manifest among them, and yet they walked in unbelief, disobedience, grumbling, complaining, rebellion.

But here’s the amazing thing. God’s presence never left them throughout their wilderness wandering. Sometimes God’s presence meant judgment on those who disobeyed, but God had promised to go with his people (Ex.33:14), and in his great grace, his holy fire and covering cloud never left them or forsook them. God’s glorious, protecting, illuminating, guiding and directing presence was continually with them.

Jesus promised even more to us. Jesus said in John 14

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

God’s Holy Spirit was with his people through the wilderness, but Jesus promises that the Spirit will live in us, his followers!

The Silver Trumpets

Numbers 10:1-10 YHWH gives instructions for two silver trumpets to be used in summoning the congregation and in breaking camp. God’s guiding presence was with them, and God gave them a way to communicate with the 603,550 fighting men, plus Levites, plus women and children. Both trumpets summoned the congregation; one trumpet gathered the heads of the tribes. The first alarm signaled the tribes under the first standard camped to the east of the tabernacle to set out; the second alarm the tribes under the second standard to the south, and so on as arranged in chapter 2. The use of these trumpets was restricted to the priests, the sons of Aaron.

But the trumpets had a purpose beyond the wilderness encampments. They also looked forward to the promised land, where they would be used to gather the troops to defend themselves in the land, and they would be used ‘on the day of your gladness’ and your appointed feasts, over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. They were given to the people as a form of prayer. In times of battle, ‘you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies’ (v.9). And at all the feasts and offerings and appointed times, ‘They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God’ (v.10). They were a signal to the Lord to remember his people, and they were to be a regular reminder to all the people that God was paying attention to them. As in the exodus,

Exodus 2:23 ...the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Exodus 3:7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them...

You are seen, heard, known; God has come down to save you.

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Numbers 10:1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”

2026.02.01 Sermon Notes

Numbers 9:15-10:10; Divine Guidance

On the day the tabernacle was set up

Year/Month/Day Event (Reference)

Y M D

1 1 14 Exodus from Egypt (Passover) (Ex.12:1–50)

1 3 14 Arrival in Sinai Desert (Ex.19:1)

2 1 1 Tabernacle Erected (Ex.40:17)

2 1 1–12 Israelite Tribe Dedication Offerings (Nu.7:1)

2 1 14–21 Passover & Unleavened Bread (Nu.9:1)

2 2 1 First Tribal Military Census (Nu.1:1)

2 2 14 Late Passover allowance (Nu.9:11)

2 2 20 Departure from Sinai (Nu.10:11)

God’s glorious protecting illuminating guiding presence

Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-20; 40:34-38

Supernatural divine guidance?

Luke 16:29-31

God’s revealed will for your life:

1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18; 1 Peter 2:15

God’s gracious presence never left his sinful people

Exodus 33:3, 14-17; John 14:16-18

Trumpets a reminder of you before your God

Numbers 10:9,10; Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-8

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org